Yo readers who are returning, and hello to any new ones, however unlikely it may be, a few things to start first had to revise and reupload some of the prior chapters checking the doc I noticed some really really stupid mistakes from back when I tried to use the find and replace function to change a name and instead fucked up everything with the word 'ent' in it as for why? Well I had to replace every mention of ent with Grindylow as Ent is a fictional creature made by Tolkian that merely was inspired by nymphs and creatures like Grindylows. On to reviews… what little I have I encourage Reviews and especially constructive criticism as it will help me improve.
Whwsms: heh they are gonna be a right ol bastard their leader so to speak, If you noticed I gave hints to what magic they used to.
Now onto the story
Chapter 6
Calm as the storm
3 Days Until Touma's Demise
Even with the threat of the fey looming over their heads, Index and Touma still retired to their dorm for the night. The Amakusas placed themselves in areas around the small dorm room to better watch for incoming threats, and Itsuwa helped Touma directly with the house chores. Index felt her heart squeeze a little every time Touma smiled at something Itsuwa said or did. She noticed Othinus on Touma's shoulder engaging in their conversation every now and then. Eventually Index had an urge to join in, which lead to a series of events ending in Index biting Touma's head, Touma's fault of course. They turned in for the night and woke up the next morning early as a knock came on the door. Tatemiya came in and turned to the now groggily waking Touma walking out of the bathroom where he slept. Why he slept there Index didn't know, she always left space for him on the bed after all. "Kamijou-kun, someone who seems to know you is standing outside." informed Tatemiya as he spoke to Touma. "They give a name?" Touma asked, perplexed. Index was getting up but felt she was missing something in all the excitement yesterday with the Banshee.
Tatemiya frowned and replied "No, she was very nervous and kept stuttering, before hiding behind a tree on the sidewalk." he shook his head.
"She? What did she look like?" Touma then asked. Index was curious too after all, if it was another girl she didn't know about Touma was gonna get a few more bites for hiding things from her. However she was trying to figure out what she was missing, she doesn't forget things, but things do get pushed back if she's busy. She began to worry she decided to backtrack her thoughts yesterday starting from when they fled the Banshee.
"Well, she had fairly long brownish hair, large glasses, a weird pigtail-like thing coming off the side of her head, wearing the Kirigaoka girls academy uniform. And was" he then lowered his face close to Touma and tried to whisper in his ear, but Index still heard him "And was fairly gifted in the bust department" he smiled there causing Touma to blush and step back, but then a look of recognition dawned and Index recalled what she was worried about
"Hyouka!" Index lept from the bed onto her feet and rushed out the door and looked towards the sidewalk. Standing there peeking out from a tree nervously was her best friend Kazakiri Hyouka, an artificial entity made of AIM fields. Index rushed down the stairway and ran to Kazakiri with slight tears in her eyes "I was so worried for you Hyouka!" she said as she hugged Kazakiri rubbing her face into her uniform. "Um, excuse me Index-san but, why were you so worried for me? I heard you calling from me yesterday, but couldn't manifest until this morning. " Kazakiri spoke nervously as she smiled hugging Index back.
"Because I thought Leanan Sidhe might try to use you for energy!" cried Index as she looked up at Kazakiri sniffing. Index was ashamed she let the excitement of the Banshee distract her from her original goal of finding Kazakiri, but was glad that she was safe
"Leanan Sidhe? Um, Index what is that?" asked Kazakiri as she tilted her head
"I don't know what she meant by it feeding on you, but a Leanan Sidhe is a fey creature that feeds off of creative energy, or in a sense, the world one creates for themselves" Tatemiya spoke as he walked up to Kazakiri with Touma following him.
"Oh, that would explain why she was so scared for me then." Kazakiri softly smiled when she said that. "I'm glad she was worried for me."
Touma raised his left hand and waved. "Hey Kazakiri, how are you?" he asked while placing his right hand in his pocket, something Tatemiya appeared to have noticed. "I'm fine Kamijou-san, um a-and you?" Kazakiri seemed to shake a little as Touma got close but relaxed when he put his hand in his pocket.
Tatemiya's eyes widened as he appeared to realize something. "She's made of AIM isn't she? I had heard of the artificial angel, but. Never did i think she'd be as sweet as one, so to speak" Tatemiya laughed and then greeted Kazakiri "Im Tatemiya Saiji it's a pleasure to meet you Kazakiri" he extended his hand which Kazakiri hesitantly shook. "I assume that you wouldn't have asked for Touma if you had just heard Index calling you though" Tatemiya then took a serious tone as he changed the topic.
Kazakiri shook her head and turned to touma with a perplexed look "Kamijou-san while I was walking around last night before I manifested, I noticed an odd looking tree near the entrance of district 22. When I got close, I noticed the tree had an almost humanoid structure with the placing of it's larger branches and roots. And I overheard someone talking." Kazakiri looked at Touma and said "They were talking about preparing a trap for you Kamijou-san"
Tatemiya thought for a moment while Touma frowned. Index then tugged on Kazakiri's sleeve and asked "Did you hear what type they were preparing?" Kazakiri started to shake her head but stopped before tilting her head. "Actually maybe? It was an odd thing they were talking about, something about guiding misfortune?" She then looked at Index. "But there's no such thing as Misfortune is there?" Index deadpanned at her
"I don't think you get to say that Hyouka when you're a mass of, AIM? Given sentience" Index spoke softly and Hyouka's head dropped in shame.
Tatemiya then spoke up "You think that that was Muireann?" he turned to Touma. "Possibly, though a trap based on guiding misfortune? I know it goes without saying but, Such misfortune. She clearly knows how to fight me." Touma held his head as he lamented in his lack of all luck. "But how would she guide my misfortune? Magic likely won't work."
Othinus then spoke up from Touma's shoulder "Human that's easy, have you seen you? All I'd need to do is drop a few empty cans near a closed classroom door and I could pretty much guarantee you would walk in there and trip." she stared at Touma with a narrowed gaze in her one eye as she spoke straight to his face.
Touma put his left finger up and opened his mouth to speak, paused, and then closed it hanging his head in acceptance "Such, misfortune" he drawled out.
"That's kinda the point human" Othinus said as she looked at Touma with understanding in her eyes. Index felt a little upset that Touma had some secret bond with the former magic god that allowed them to know exactly what the other was thinking and feeling. It wasn't fair, Touma knew her first so she should also share such a bond right? What did those two go through that allowed that? Touma and the one eyed god never spoke of it.
Itsuwa then spoke, having patiently listened for most of the conversation. "Then all we must do is watch Touma throughout his day in the background to notice anything out of place that would cause him misfortune." she smiled as she perked up.
Othinus and Touma both looked at her in exasperation. Index knew exactly what they were thinking and facepalmed at Itsuwa's comment. "You might as well get rid of the entire world then" Touma stated
Itsuwa looked confused and asked "Why? Surely there's a way to tell what can cause you misfortune right?"
Othinus then closed her one eye in annoyance as she put her hand to her forehead and said "That's the thing, Anything can cause this human misfortune. And now that he knows about a trap that uses that, guess where he'll end up?"
Everyone fell silent for a while before Touma spoke no worry in his voice "Well I should still try to do something, lets go try and gather more info" he smiled and looked to Othinus
She nodded and smiled "Indeed Human you're learning well, no use worrying about the inevitable. I learned that the hard way, prepare for it but don't let it worry, you focus on the task before you."
Itsuwa then shook her head before looking towards Touma with a determined look on her face. "Alright, then we shall just make sure to aid you if you get into trouble!"
Tatemiya shrugged and said "well so as long as we aren't too late it will be fine."
Index nodded and smiled "Thanks Hyouka, can you stay near us in case the Leanan Sidhe does come looking for you?" Hyouka nodded and replied "Its fine by me Index-san, especially if I get to hang out with a friend."
So after they came to an agreement Index, Touma alongside Othinus, and the Amakusas decided to look for any clues that would aid them against or save the fey.
Tatemiya called the Anglican church to check their records to see if they could find anything there. He sent Itsuwa with Touma, Index, Hyouka and the 15cm Othinus who decided to look around and visit a few people Touma knew to see if they knew anything. He made sure to give Itsuwa a communication spell item in case of emergency.
Index and the group followed Touma through into district 19 where he would stop every so often and look around before changing direction. Index noticed he was following a series of carvings on building walls, road, and even scraped into metal or wood poles for wires. These carvings had what appeared to be a roman gladiator helmet with a scepter next to it and the sun setting behind it. They brought them to a run down building which Index felt was odd, who did Touma trust that would live here?
Touma walked up to the door and knocked on it three times, then four, then thirteen. Index realized all three of those numbers shared the superstition of being unlucky, before the door opened. Standing in the doorway was a dirty-blond haired boy with a nose piercing Index recognized him as the guy with a girlfriend called Takitsubo.
"Yo Boss what brings you here" Hamazura spoke and then noticed Itsuwa and Kazakiri. "If that girl is here," he said, looking at Touma. "You've gotten wrapped up in some crazy magic shit again didn't you?" upon Touma nodding he sighed and facepalmed. "Well what do you need?"
Touma then smiled to Hamazura "Thanks, don't worry I'm not gonna ask you to do anything, I just want to know if you noticed anything weird, such as walking trees, a girl wearing a seal coat. Flaming headless men. You know, definitely not sciency kind of stuff." Hamazura deadpanned and said "You have it rough don't you boss? Well let this End of the century emperor tell you what he knows'' he smiled broadly as he said that before going serious. "Yes I have, not those specific things though, but I have seen things fitting the category of definitely not sciency." Hamazura then stepped out as he continued shutting the door. "When me and my girlfriend were out earlier today I'm still trying to find a replacement drug for the one that the Pet Breeder made since operation Handcuffs. As we were scouting underground doctors It began to rain, then pour and then outright thunder. We took cover under a bus stop and saw an Old hunched Woman with a weird looking cane, and there were dark clouds above her head. She noticed us and began chasing us. She kept throwing large gusts of wind at us. We managed to lose her and realized the storm was centered on her'' Hamazura shook slightly as he recalled the encounter.
"Gentle Annie" spoke Index "She's a fey who's similar to Black Annis but controls wind and storms, that explains why there was a thunderstorm around her."
Touma shook Hamazura's hand "Thanks Hamazura, we'll get going, I know that you don't want to be found by anti-skill after Yomikawa shot you so bye" Touma then turned and waved as he began to go walk off.
Hamazura waved back and called out "Later boss." before heading inside and shutting the door.
As they walked a drizzle began Index remembered the forecast saying there was a chance of rain today. "Touma where are we going next?" she asked trotting up next to Touma.
Touma then spoke as the rain picked up "I'm thinking of seeing if I can contact Accelerator he might have heard something."
There was a slight rumble overhead as Itsuwa spoke up nervously "Um guys?"
Hyouka spoke however, causing Touma and Index's attention to turn to her. "Well If you want I can gather info for you when I become unstable again." "No!" both Touma and Index shouted, causing the two to jump, the rain was pouring now and flashes of light were visible in the distance.
"You could run into the Leanan Sidhe and never return," Touma said as he glared sternly at her like a father warning his daughter from doing something dangerous.
"Yeah Hyouka and then I'd never see you again." Index said with tears slightly in her eyes.
"Oi Human, Look out!" Othinus shouted from her position causing Touma to jump to the side as a gust of wind cut through the air.
"I Tried to Warn you!" cried Itsuwa as she took out her weapon. A cackle was heard and they turned to the source walking down the road. Any nearby skill outs had fled when the downpour began so there wasn't anyone around.
"Why Hello there young children, I apologize for attacking you. But I will not allow us fey to be eradicated." The old woman said as she closed her palm the air swirling around it lightning striking the ground near her and electricity jumping from her toes. "Imagine Breaker child, I'll make this swift for you."
