Majin Othinus, thanks for the fave!
ReadingLurking: Thanks. That means a lot to me. I try to write what I like to see in fanfics, so to hear that I've actually achieved a balance that readers like is great. I hope you continue to 'lurk' and enjoy!
With the pleasantries and the threats out of the way, the partners took off, finally setting foot outside Academy City. The two walked in comfortable silence for a long while, the boy watching the girl, and the girl paying him no attention.
The more he observed her, the more she seemed like Aleister Crowley. It wasn't just her looks. Her relaxed demeanour contrasted the sharp mind he now knew lay under her skull. He didn't doubt she was ruthless either, from the easy way she spoke of killing him, and her ability to handle dating Accelerator of all people.
And the way she read him was both frightening and creepy.
Tsuchimikado still felt like he had a million questions for her. Who was she? What was her relationship to Aleister? How did she know Aleister? How did she meet Accelerator? What was her stance with regards to magic and science? Whose side was she on? Why was she so willing to kill those who knew about Aleister?
And most of all, why could she use both ESP and magic?
Instead, he asked the most pertinent questions to the moment, "Where are we going, and what for?"
She remained silent for a moment, pensive.
"I already swore not to betray you or Aleister, didn't I?" Tsuchimikado persisted.
"We are going to find a way to summon Lucifer, and connect him to this world so Aleister can use it whenever he needs to," she answered.
Tsuchimikado halted in his tracks, shocked. "You… You're serious?!"
She paused, turning to raise an eyebrow at him. "Very."
"How?" Tsuchimikado spat out.
"I will be Lucifer's core."
"Are you insane?!" Tsuchimikado half shouted. "You're an esper! To deal with magic of that level… You'll die! Your body will be ripped apart!"
She nodded. "That is a possibility."
He gaped, sunglasses askew. "A-and Accelerator?"
"What about Accelerator?" Celeste asked, frowning. "He doesn't know about this."
"Oi, that guy doesn't have any friends. He doesn't have anybody that cares about him, the insane, deranged, psychopathic murderous maniac that he is."
"Hey!"
"And if you die, what do you think will happen to that guy?" Tsuchimikado continued, ignoring the interruption.
"He…" Celeste hesitated, biting her lip, before meeting his gaze. "He'll get over it, someday. He's strong. He'll survive."
"That's not the point!" Tsuchimikado snarled.
He didn't care about Accelerator. He never did. But when hearing the girl speak so casually about dying, about leaving behind the people who cared about her, he couldn't help but feel anger rise up. If it was him, if his little sister went and died, he would react badly. He would probably try to destroy everything.
He knew that Accelerator would as well. And unlike him, Accelerator actually had the ability to destroy everything.
"I'm not going to die," she said quietly. "Not if I can help it."
"You're insane," Tsuchimikado said flatly.
"I've heard that before," Celeste agreed. "So now that you know what I'm doing, what are you going to do? Help me? Or leave?"
The blonde studied her for a moment, and sighed. "Help, of course. But if Accelerator finds out that I've helped you die, he's going to kill me slowly and painfully."
Celeste laughed.
"Do you know where to start?" Tsuchimikado asked, curious.
"There's a grimoire."
"Index?" Tsuchimikado stiffened.
"No. An actual book," Celeste said, almost amused as she showed him a toothy grin. "And we're going to one of the places you're affiliated with."
His heart dropped. "The Church of Necessary Evil."
"Bingo."
It was suicide, he thought, feeling more depressed by the second. They were the sect of the Anglican Church that sealed Index's memories every year, the sect that used magic while the main church despised magic. They were protective about their secrets.
And they hated Aleister Crowley.
They were walking right into the snake's nest. Everybody knew Celeste Crowley was a surviving Crowley, and the Anglican Church, especially Necessarius, was furious about her existence. The moment she stepped foot into their territory, she was dead.
"If you can warp reality, why don't you just use ESP to get the book?" Tsuchimikado asked.
"Because there are magic wards, and my ability cannot get past that. I have to physically go and dispel the wards first. After that, well, I can help us both escape with my ability."
Tsuchimikado sighed. Physically going there also meant dealing with Stiyl, Kanzaki, Orsola, and a bunch of others. They were undoubtedly all going to be at the base, discussing their attack on Academy City, aiming for Celeste Crowley. And she was going straight to them. She was insane, he decided. She had lost all her screws and marbles, just like Accelerator.
"And exactly how far are we walking?" Tsuchimikado realized. "We're not walking all the way to Europe. It's physically and geographically impossible."
Celeste stopped, grinning cheekily at him. Tsuchimikado took an uncertain step backwards, dread rising from the pit of his stomach. She was going to do something. He just knew she was.
"You know a place we can hide while I regain my energy?" She asked. "In England, I mean. Preferably somewhere near St George's Cathedral."
He wasn't even surprised she knew where Necessarius was located. It was no great secret, but still not many people knew about its existence, much less its exact location. He told her.
"Grab hold of my hand," she said, and he had barely enough time to perform said action before she continued, "We are at the doors of Lambeth Palace."
It was a peculiar sensation. Something like all his cells twisting and distorting while being pulled apart, before snapping back like rubber to once again form the being that was Tsuchimikado Motoharu. He blinked once, and took in the sight before his eyes, hardly able to believe it. In mere seconds, he had been transported from Academy City, Japan to Lambeth, London.
It was unbelievable, even for someone who knew both the magic and science world, and had seen many things that a normal person would consider unbelievable.
Celeste stumbled, and Tsuchimikado reached out and caught her out of reflex. Her eyes were half closed, a soft sheen of sweat sitting on her skin as she panted. It must take a lot of energy, Tsuchimikado realized. And probably a lot of concentration too, to keep them both in one piece. If she had done something improperly or lost concentration, they would be lying in pieces, or stuck in between the fabrics of space and time.
"Come on," Tsuchimikado coaxed softly.
The girl blinked blearily. Travelling halfway across the world instantly did not do much for someone's energy levels. She nodded, weary, and simply allowed him to lead her into the palace. They had a little time to recover. The moment she did, they were going to infiltrate Necessarius.
And if he hadn't already made it clear enough, Tsuchimikado was not looking forward to that.