Toaru Majutsu no Index Episode 09

"Deep Blood" is the ninth episode of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime series and the last episode of the Deep Blood Arc. It was first broadcasted on November 30, 2008, with Nakatsu Tamaki as the storyboarder and episode director, while the script is written by Minikami Seishi.

Aureolus requires Himegami Aisa to attract vampires for him, for he requires the vampire's powers but the reasons are yet unknown. Meanwhile, Index came upon Misawa Cram School looking for Touma, falling into the hands of Aureolus. Touma and Stiyl locate Aureolus' whereabouts, but when they get there they find him with Index who has been put into sleep. Seeing this, Stiyl starts talking about the reasons why Aurelous seeks power. Aurelous explains his situation but then, Stiyl informs him that his purpose is now meaningless, as Kamijou Touma has already fulfilled it. Filled with raged, Touma is confronted by Aureolus Izzard and the powerful Ars Magna, where he can bring anything into existence with only a word. Can Touma contend against him with only the power of his right hand as his weapon?

Synopsis
Touma and Stiyl have returned to the school building. Stiyl has somehow confirmed where Aureolus’ office is, and they are now heading towards there. Touma ponders on how they are going to save Aisa and now Index, who he feels has now gotten involved with the situation, from a man who can do anything just by saying it. Stiyl explains to Touma that Aureolus wouldn’t attack Index even if she did wander into the school; however, he suddenly stops his explanation and comments on how Aureolus not knowing what’s happening in the world due to him hiding for three years.

The scene cuts to Aureolus and Aisa, with Index on the table sleeping. Aureolus tells Aisa that the grief with her powers will be over soon, and that she now needs to lure a vampire. However, both Touma and Stiyl arrive in Aureolus’ office, and where Touma confirms that Index truly is in trouble. Stiyl tells Aureolus that he will not allow Aureolus to attain his objective and that Aureolus will be unable to save Index. Aureolus states that he will succeed at what Stiyl failed in doing, save Index. Stiyl states that Aureolus was Index’s partner three years ago. Aureolus continues to say on how every year Index needed to have her memories erased in order to live and Stiyl finishes his sentence by saying that conversely, Index could survive if she weren’t human. Stiyl tells Touma that Aureolus simply wants to turn Index into a vampire. To Aureolus, regardless of the consequences, Index will still be saved. Aureolus says that Stiyl should understand him as he too has experienced what happens to Index every once a year. Hearing this, Stiyl states that Index has already been saved by the young boy next to him, Kamijou Touma. Stiyl tells him that Aureolus may have not heard the news since he is in hiding. Aureolus responds to the absurdity of the situation by stating that Touma is a normal human, not even a magician or an alchemist. He is however told by Stiyl, that Touma has with him in his right hand, the Imagine Breaker – a power that is beyond what humans have. Stiyl them surmises his position: all of his efforts to cure Index were completely in vain, and tells him that Index is completely happy with Touma as her partner.

There is a moment of silence between them. However, it is broken by Index’s calling for Touma and wanting some food. Stiyl finds this hilarious and laughs, as well as Touma. Their laughter however, is interrupted by Aureolus’ sudden manic laughter, and then commands them using Ars Magna to fall to the floor, angered that his efforts were trampled on. Aureolus takes out one of his needles and stabs himself in the neck, but before he can state his command Aisa stops him. She tells him that she understand his feelings, and tells him that what he is doing is not right. However, while doing so, Aureolus has already stabbed another needle into his neck and commands her to die, causing her to fall to the floor. At the same time as this, Touma breaks out of Aureolus’ command by biting his own thumb and catches her.

The next day, Touma is in a certain hospital being treated by the same frog-faced doctor, who is amazed, himself that the reconnection surgery was successful and asks him if his body is made of fantasy. He leaves after getting bored with Touma, after telling him that he didn’t end up in the hospital just because of a nurse fetish. He is later visited by Stiyl who has brought a fruit basket with him. He states that he is visiting not because he wants to befriend him, but to see how he was doing. Stiyl says that the dragon that formed as Touma’s right arm was the despair Aureolus felt in the eleventh hour. Touma asks what happened to Aureolus, and Stiyl replies that he lost his memories and the ability to do magic but did not kill him; they changed his form and released him as so the Roman Catholic Church would not hunt him anymore. Stiyl also notes that Misawa Cram School has been closed down. Stiyl then states that he tried to thank Touma, but felt kind of stupid since all Touma did was make Aureolus self-destruct. Touma brags about his losing his entire arm off and being able to suppress the pain of it and pull-off a massive ruse to beat Aureolus. Stiyl however, notes that his senses were simply paralyzed from the pain, and that he was simply high from the shock, the same way Aureolus uses his needles to properly perform Ars Magna. This irritates Touma, and tells Stiyl not to compare him with Aureolus, who tried to save a girl using some weird magic and putting his faith on vampires whose existence is unconfirmed.

Their conversation is interrupted with Index going inside the room, at which point Stiyl disappears instantly, giving the plate of apples he cut to Touma.

Index climbs on top of Touma’s bed and tells him that she has heard on how he has fought for Aisa’s sake this time. Aisa comes in and is asked by Touma why she is with Index. Index tells Touma that Aisa wanted to thank him no matter what; as such she escorted her to his room. Aisa asks him why he saved her even though they only met once in a restaurant. Touma replies to her question, that he doesn’t need a reason to save someone, which surprises Aisa.

The episode ends with Touma telling Index to get Sphynx out of the hospital as animals are not allowed, after it scratches Toumas face. Aisa implies that she has somehow moved in with Touma now, without his permission but is too bothered with Index running after Sphynx who is seems to be causing damage to the room Touma is in. The episodes fades out with Aisa smiling.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 02 Chapter 3 Part 4-5, Between the Lines 2, Chapter 4, & Epilogue

Major Events

 * Touma defeats Aureolus, saving Aisa and Index and thus completing Stiyl's mission in Academy City. Aureolus is changed to a different person after his defeat.
 * Misawa Cram School is closed down after the confrontation.
 * Aisa temporarily moves in with Touma and Index.

Characters
By order of appearance
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Stiyl Magnus
 * Aureolus Izzard
 * Index
 * Himegami Aisa
 * Heaven Canceller
 * Sphynx

New Characters
No new characters were introduced during this episode.

Abilities

 * Deep Blood - Himegami Aisa
 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma
 * Ars Magna - Aureolus Izzard

New Abilities
No new abilities were introduced during this episode.

Locations

 * Academy City
 * School District 17
 * Misawa Cram School
 * School District 7
 * Heaven Canceller's Hospital

Trivia

 * This is the first time that someone has managed to completely cut-off Touma's Imagine Breaker from his body.
 * Aisa is the second girl to move in with Touma, though it is short-lived.
 * Stiyl can apparently eat apples while having a cigarette in his mouth.

Referbacks

 * Touma confuses Aisa with the wave-emitting fake magician Aogami referred to back in episode 7 of the anime.

Cultural References

 * When Index talked in her sleep during Touma and Stiyl's confrontation with Aureolus, she speaks of wanting apples from . Index is talking about the Aomori prefecture in Japan, which is famed for its apple orchards.

Differences in Adaptation

 * In the novel, Stiyl uses his rune cards in order to make an illusion for Aureolus to miss his Ars Magna spells.

Animation Trivia
Input animation trivia here.

Unanswered Questions

 * Were did Touma put Sphynx before he went into the school?
 * What happened to the Thirteen Knights of the Roman Catholic Church?
 * What happens exactly when you cut-off the Imagine Breaker from Touma's body?
 * What does Aureolus look like after Necessarius changed him?
 * Why didn't Touma's right hand come back when Aureolus doubted his ability?
 * How was Stiyl still alive despite his body skin being ripped off?

Quotes

 * Aureolus: "Inevitably, if no religion or technology can undo a wrong, why would any hesitation be necessary in taking a stary path from human reasoning."
 * Aureolus: "You simply failed at saving her. But I will save... this girl... who shoulders the burden of 103,000 grimoires and cannot escape from this curse. And regardless of this, she accepts her fate and wishes for the fortune of others more than worrying about her own misfortune." -to Stiyl, regarding Index.
 * Aureolus: "At that time, she told me... that she didn't want to forget... that she didn't want to die and go against her teachings... that she didn't want memories in her heart to be erased... she said all this with a body that couldn't even move a single finger! She told me all this while she was smiling!!!" -referring to Index.
 * Touma: "What year are you from, man?" -to Aureolus.
 * Aisa: "I yearned for magic. I attracted them. And everyone... and everyone died in front of me...I didn't want to hurt anyone anymore. His smile didn't contain a single speck of lie. It only contained one pure wish. To save a loved one. That's why... I..." -Aisa narrating her flashback.
 * Touma: "Shut the hell up already. Who cares about that?! All right, man... If you think you can do anything you want... let me destroy that messed up illusion first!" -to Aureolus.
 * Stiyl: "This floor is cold."
 * Touma: "Right, this guy's objective was... If he could distort everything just as his words command... then why didn't he order for Index to be saved? He didn't think of it? That she could be saved? That's why he couldn't say it out loud? That's how it is...This guy's power isn't one that distorts reality through his words." -Touma realizing Aureolus' Ars Magna's weakness.
 * Touma: "There's no way you can beat us. Because your power isn't one that distorts reality with your words... but one that turns your thoughts into reality!" -said to Aureolus before beating him.
 * Heaven Canceler: "I'm surprised it got reconnected successfully. Is your body a piece of fantasy?" -said to Touma.
 * Touma: "I don't need a reason to save someone." -Touma's answer to Aisa's question on why he saved her.