Chapter 3

Screams of those to die.

Upon the Grindylow and Selkie's retreat Index immediately checked on Touma to make sure she didn't miss any injuries. Other than a few scuffs, bruises and the odd cut here and there Touma was okay. But Index wasn't so sure, he seemed fine but he was silent staring off in the direction that the two fey fled in. Othinus who was in his pocket was silent as well.

"Touma, Are you alright? We did get to you in time right?" Index asked Touma worriedly as she sat in front of him tilting her head in a manner she thought was cute.

"-ots…." Touma mumbled something she didn't quite catch, it was less that she didn't hear it and more that he only said the last bit.

"Touma?" Index asked again with a concerned look showing on her face. "What is it?"

"IDIOTS! Damn it!" Touma shouted angrily Index stumbled back confused as to why Touma was angry with her and the Amakusas.

"What? Touma what is it?" Index spoke nervously not wanting to anger him more.

"Yeah Kamijou-kun what's wrong? Did we do something?" Tatemiya asked in a concerned tone.

"Yes You-..." Touma paused, took a deep breath, and then let it out before continuing on calmly. "No, It's not your fault, you didn't know. It's just..." Touma sighed and looked off towards the distance with a regretful expression. "That girl, the Selkie, and the other, Fey they were called?" Touma inquired and once he got a nod from those around him moved on. "They aren't bad people, they were scared. Terrified even. And just before you came in and smacked Muireann into the wall. I was just about to get through to her and allow her to realize I meant no harm. I exposed my back purposefully to her for that very reason. But now that she was attacked before she could make a strike, she thinks I tricked her" Touma then looked at the ground gritting his teeth in shame.

"O-oh." Index muttered ashamed of herself, why didn't she notice it sooner? When they saw the selkie about to stab Touma in the back didn't she hesitate? Did Touma look at all afraid? No Touma was looking her in the eye with calm compassion as if he was waiting. Now that Touma had brought it up it was clear to her. And they ruined that. If they hadn't attacked when they did. The young selkie, Muireann if Touma was correct. Wouldn't think he tricked her, and may have even been able to be their ally and convince the other fey to give him a chance. But they ruined that chance by acting before thinking. By not taking the situation into account and not realizing what was really happening. They ruined the chance that they could easily stop this fight.

"Shit! I'm sorry Kamijou-kun we saw her with her daggers above your back and you kneeling over a desk and assuming the worst." Tatemiya facepalmed and then pulled his hand down his face. "However, do you still think you can get through to her if you meet again?" he asked this time looking Touma straight in the eye.

Touma stood up and looked directly at Tatemiya, a fire of determination in his eyes. One that caused Index's heart to skip every time she saw it. That look was the look he had every time he went to save someone. It's the look that she admires about him he then grinned and spoke "Yes I absolutely can, I understand her now enough to be able to save her and all of the fey!" he then glared and said "and from what little I heard her say, It appears that whoever set them on this path lied to them and I'm gonna make sure to punch them."

Index smiled at Touma and then frowned "Wait, if their leader lied. Then what is Leanan Sidhe's goal? What reason could they have to lie about Touma's nature and get the other fey to attack him?"

Touma blinked and asked "La-gn Shee, what's that?" he looked a bit confused which was reasonable. It's not like Leanan Sidhe was a well known fey.

"Leanan Sidhe Kamijou-kun, they are a form of fey that give Inspiration to writers, artists, singers and more in exchange for their 'Love' but in reality feed off of their creative energy which drains their soul until they die." Tatemiya said grimacing. "As for why they would lie and what their goal could be?" he put his finger on his chin. "There may be a number of reasons, Either it does indeed believe your a threat and feels you and Index should be eliminated no matter your true nature, they wanted something and felt you and Index would get in the way, or something more obscure."

Touma raised an eyebrow "They feed off of creative energy? Like Imagination?" he asked as he looked thoughtful.

"Yes Touma that is the basics of what they feed on, why?" Index confirmed before posing her own question. Something told her she was not gonna like what he said.

"Could she substitute AIM for it, I mean It's the passive emission of one's personal reality, and a personal reality is the world one makes for themselves, Isn't that kind of like creative energy?" Touma then asked fear dawning on his face as he spoke.

Tatemiya swore "Shit! While it's true we thought that a Leanan Sidhe would be bad for espers, we didn't think of how bad it could be. If it indeed can feed off of AIM then, who knows how powerful it will be while in this city."

Touma however wasn't looking at Tatemiya, he was looking at Index who was feeling immense dread. If a Leanan Sidhe could feed off of AIM, what would it do to an entity composed of such things?

Index took off running out the door of the destroyed classroom. The school was already evacuated and sirens were heard in the distance from what was undoubtedly anti-skill. Index couldn't allow herself to be held up by them though, and ran through an alleyway to take a shortcut and avoid being spotted. "Hyouka! Hyoukaa! Please where are you!" she shouted panicked as she weaved between buildings and alleyways searching for her enigmatic friend. As she rounded a corner however and entered a large intersection she stopped.

Before her on the sidewalks and in cars crashed into buildings and street poles were bodies lots and lots of dead bodies. Or so they appeared at first glance, Index detected mana in the air flowing into each person through their ears. She then saw standing in the center of the Intersection a Young looking woman wearing irish burial garbs and holding her hands to her face Index immediately plugged her ears as she saw the woman open her mouth, and scream. People who just rounded the corner nearby immediately collapsed as if they had died.

"A Banshee!?" Index muttered in shock. Originally Banshee were non-hostile fey, who would cry and mourn when a loved one was about to die. As they were the spirit of a woman who died and would watch after her family. However due to Christianization and the misinterpretation given by modern media they had been given the power to kill any and all who heard their cries. The Wail of a Banshee, however now that Index knew what she was dealing with. She could counter it, If it was a regular banshee she'd be unable to fight it. But this Banshee was using the purposeful misinterpretation of it's wails. It was using magic, so Index could Intercept it.

"TTFOMARITIS! (Take the flow of Mana and Return it to its source)" Index spoke quickly and detected the mana that was flowing into the ears of the people around her retract and condense around the Banshee. Free from the magic of the Banshee the people around her began to breathe once more their hearts no longer being constricted by the mana. They however remained unconscious. Those who were driving on the other hand. If they had received fatal injury from the crash, they were dead.

The Banshee halted and turned. The mana had no effect on her as it affected one's physical body. A Banshee was a spirit thus had no body to be affected. She saw Index and Smiled. "Greetings Forbidden Library, I was hoping to attract the bane of all fey, but you are also high on the list" she then frowned mournfully. "I shall make your death painless, a young girl like you does not need to suffer" The Banshee then took a deep breath and let out an immense shriek and Index forgetting to cover her ears fell unconscious.