Anti-magic

[ACMI: Great Power]

Joule could almost hear the confused blink from Index before she gave a response.

"Are you sure? It could hurt you?"

"Sensing magic doesn't hurt me" Joule countered "We know my ability doesn't interact with magic in the same way as normal esper abilities. I could try it at least."

Index sighed and answered "Then it depends on the method you use. Do you want to cancel the magic or just the mage's ability to use it."

"Either." Joule answered, "Doesn't matter."

Index hummed for a moment before answering "I'm able to use a song called Sheol Fear to do that but it's only because of my library that I can use it properly and it works best against a group. You'd want something easier... A hymn that defies magic perhaps? Have you read the bible?"

"No." Joule admitted "Will that cause a problem?"

"Yes~" Index hummed "You'll be missing a lot of the oomph behind the hymns. Though that kind of applies to all fields of magic."

"Let's work at it a different way then." Joule noted "What would I have to do to the brain to negate their ability to cast?"

"Remove their knowledge, limit there ability to act on their knowledge or... well there are a few other ways. What's this for?" Joule winced as suspicion filled Index's voice.

She sighed before giving an answer "There is an enemy mage is in the city and she hurt GV. I want to stop her."

There was a pause before Index answered "Right, tell me as much as you know about her magic."

"Apparently she uses paper and ink to create what were described to me as Mini-grimoires."

"Shorthand." Index spoke quickly then groaned "Oh great, full information on the function but no context. Doesn't matter. How, exactly, does she activate them?"

Joule thought back "Apparently she has a ring of flashcards that she can pull out."

"She'll only have one of each." Index noted "On top of that she'll have to have memorised each of their locations. Mess with her memory and you'll force her to start throwing spells at random."

Joule nodded at that "That will do. Any other suggestions?"

"I assume Touma is working on this too?"

"He is." Confirmed Joule.

Index sighed "Nothing is stopping him from disarming her as long as he gets a hit on the cards. Do that and you've won."

They had actually guessed that already but to get it confirmed was nice.

After a moment Index asked "I know I'm being kept out of this, but can't I help further?"

Joule glanced at Uiharu as she said "I don't think that's up to us. I've been told by multiple people that 'you can't get involved for the same reason that Misaka cannot.'"

The nun didn't respond for a bit but she finally said "I guess that makes sense." It was clear she was trying to act happier than she was but Joule couldn't do as much to comfort her as she would have liked. They both said their farewells and Joule got down to planning.

[ACMI: Confusion]

"Found her." Lumen reported. Joule passed that along but it seemed that Touma's group had beat them to the punch.

"School district 23 right?" Tsuchimikado asked.

Joule blicked "Umm, yeah? I mean, school district 11 right now but she is travelling towards 23."

From Lumen's perspective, the woman was walking along a bridge above a road. She had a slip of paper in her mouth and seemed to be mumbling under her breath. Talking with someone?

She glanced around but Lumen, in butterfly form, had a wealth of hiding places to pick from.

"We figured out the activation requirement for the cross." Touma explained over the phone "The airport in district 23 should be the place she makes the attempt. It'll likely be within the next two hours."

"At worst though we only have half an hour." Stiyl mentioned "And we'll need at least ten minutes of that to reach district 23 by train."

Joule stood up then and announced "I'm coming with you. I'll get on a train too."

"Don't!" "Stay out of this!" "It's not your battle to fight." all of them argued with her but she took a breath "I've developed a song that will render her unable to use shorthand. Let me help."

Tsuchimikado hummed "If you can get here in time maybe, it would still be a risk though."

"You don't need to get involved." Touma continued "Don't some of your songs work at range. Just send us a recording."

"This one has to be live." Joule noted but Uiharu cut in "I was here while she was composing, it does need a live connection but you could use a phone or another speaker system."

Joule looked at Uiharu, something like a soft look of betrayal in her eyes. Uiharu gave her a look though "I agree with them Joule, you need to stay out of danger. You can help fine from here."

Anger filled her face before being overcome with something like defeat. With everyone against her, it would just not be possible.

"Fine." Joule grunted "Just don't blame me if any of you get affected too."

That wasn't really much of a risk though, Joule would know the minds of those she affected.

"Lumen?"

"Still following her."

Joule nodded "Don't let her out of your sights."

End of chapter.

Don't you hate it when you can't prompt your characters to act as rebellious teenagers. The worst I get get Joule to do is moan and groan.