Toaru Majutsu no Index III Episode 02

"God's Right Seat" (神の右席) is the second episode of the third season of the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime series. It was first broadcast on October 12th 2018, and was directed by Nishikiori Hiroshi.

Synopsis
In the halls of the Tower of London, in a certain cell, Stiyl Magnus and Agnese Sanctis confront Lidvia Lorenzetti and Biagio Busoni. However, they refuse to talk and Biagio is especially defiant. However, Lidvia starts speaking, asking what is happening outside, to which Stiyl says that she can make a guess on what was happening outside. Lidvia then looks toward Agnese as she's transcribing all the things that are going on during the interrogation. Lidvia then makes an incantation to activate the Roman Catholic Church crosses Agnese Sanctis has on her person to allow her to escape from her bonds. With a broken metal of her shackles, Lidvia threatens Stiyl with it, and in turn, he threatens her with his rune card. Agnese having recovered from the shock, took her weapon with her, the Lotus Wand, but Stiyl signals for her not to interfere. Lidvia demands Oriana Thomson to be released so that she can be of help to those who are caught in the unrest that is happening around the world. Stiyl comments on Lidvia's dedication in helping others but asks if she is in any position to demand that. Agnes however chimes in and says that Oriana has already negotiated with the Anglican Church, and that she requested for the leader of the weak, Lidvia Lorenzetti. Agnese says that Oriana would have never agreed to Lidvia ordering her release. Stiyl says that Lidvia should not let Oriana's resolve be for nothing, and asks once again about the God's Right Seat, believing it to be the way to resolving the chaos that is happening in the world. Satisfied, she let's go of the metal shard, and fixes up the chair, ready to give up what she knows. Lidvia says she has never personally met them, only rumors, and begins talking about God's Right Seat.

They go from place to place on the map in Avignon, Itsuwa searching for the ley line with the pendulum. They dodge protesters along the way. Finally, they find the location: Musée d' Avignon. Itsuwa says that the museum has been closed early because of the protests. With her spear Itsuwa breaks the lock and they enter the building. Itsuwa is able to notice something on the floor, the location where she needs to perform her spell. Touma says he doesn't notice anything, to which Itsuwa says it's because it has been well concealed. Itsuwa then takes out all the items she needs for her ritual: normal everyday items in the style of the Amakusa. Things like a camera, hairdryer, and even panties, much to her embarrassment. As Itsuwa sets up her spell, she says that it is impossible to sever the ley lines outright but she can manage to make the pipeline unusable. After lining up the magic circle, and making an incantation, Itsuwa dips her Friulian Spear into the floor. As she is about to alter the ley line, something attacks her from behind, destroying the museum's pillars and forcing Itsuwa to end the ritual prematurely. With her own spear destroyed by the attack, she tells Touma not to come close as another attack comes. She dodges it to get back her bag and flees the museum with Touma.

Outside, the run into a man who attacks them, but Touma negates it with his Imagine Breaker. Touma realizes it was a Roman Catholic magician. The man confirms it but says he prefers to be called from the God's Right Seat, and calls himself Terra of the Left. Terra of the Left says that since he can't use magic regular humans use, he has other spell caster use the C-Document. As such, he would like Touma and Itsuwa to help him kill some time. He attacks again, and Touma intercepts it. Seeing this, Terra of the Left realizes that he is dealing with the Imagine Breaker, the one who defeated Vento of the Front. Touma however has a plan and asks Itsuwa to follow along, to which he charges toward Terra of the Left and jumps on top of the wall before him. As Terra of the Left attacks him, Itsuwa is already behind him as she apologizes and uses steel wires to bind him. But Terra says one simple thing to escape, Precedence. Itsuwa tries to him with her spear but Terra of the Left simply says those words and phases through a wall. Behind them, Terra of the Left then uses his Precedence to attack from behind the wall, forcing Itsuwa to dodge. Lying on the ground however, she finds herself under the guillotine of Terra of the Left. Before it can cut her down, Touma arrives to negate it and get them out of the way. Terra of the Left says that he has only heard tales of the Imagine Breaker so he had some expectations with it, but is disappointed with it now. As he prepares his flour, he says that if Vento of the Front had been at her best, she would have no trouble against him. This is the power of God's Right Seat.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 14 Chapter 3 Parts 1-8

Major Events

 * Touma arrives in Avignon but is separated from Motoharu. He later meets with Itsuwa there after she and the Amakusa Christians are given a mission by the Anglican Church.
 * Touma and Itsuwa meets and comes into conflict with Terra of the Left.

Characters
By order of appearance:
 * Stiyl Magnus
 * Biagio Busoni
 * Lidvia Lorenzetti
 * Agnese Sanctis
 * Oriana Thompson (referenced-only)
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Itsuwa
 * Kanzaki Kaori (fantasy)
 * Tsuchimikado Motoharu
 * Terra of the Left
 * Vento of the Front (referenced-only)

New Characters

 * Unnamed Drawly Coffee clerk

Abilities

 * Imagine Breaker - Kamijou Touma, Level 0
 * Amakusa-style - Itsuwa
 * Friuli Spear

New Abilities

 * Unnamed crucifix-based binding-destruction spell - Lidvia Lorenzetti
 * Amakusa-style - Itsuwa
 * Ley line damaging spell - Itsuwa
 * Seven Blades of the Seven Teachings - Itsuwa
 * Execution of Light - Terra of the Left

Locations

 * France
 * Avignon

New Locations

 * United Kingdom
 * London
 * Tower of London
 * France
 * Avignon
 * Drawly Coffee
 * Palais des Papes
 * Italy
 * (referenced)
 * (referenced)
 * (referenced)

Trivia

 * Acqua of the Back already has his sword of Ascalon in the montage of all the members of God's Right Seat, in spite the fact that in the novels he would not receive it until much later in England.
 * The voice actress of the unnamed Drawly Coffee clerk is Abe Rika.

Referbacks

 * Touma can only recall Kanzaki Kaori without her denim jacket as he has yet to see her new outfit.

Cultural References

 * Lidvia's Italian incantation can be translated as: "St. Peter eludes the Emperor and the Magician's traps." referencing both, regarded in Christian tradition as the emperor when Peter was crucified, as well as which in one tradition had him confront St. Peter with his magic.
 * deference to the pope is mentioned.
 * The plays a central part in the lore behind how the Document of Constantine works despite not being in the Vatican
 * On the map shown onscreen when describing how the Avignon Papacy came to be, is shown but is not touched upon. Bar doors appear near Anagni when Itsuwa mentions the Pope being imprisoned in Avignon after the King of France won the dispute. In truth this refers to the Outrage of Anagni, where the King of France,  attacked and captured the Pope at that time, . The Avignon Papacy would only happen years after the events in Anagni.
 * When discussing God's Right Seat's unique ability to diminish their original sin, the Virgin Mary's lacking of any original sin in order to conceive Jesus Christ, the , is referenced. The special property of being in the or right seat of God is discussed as God's Right Seat's goal.
 * Despite being Roman Catholic, when Lidvia she instead goes from right to left like in Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions instead of the traditional Roman Catholic way of left to right.
 * As Avignon is a real world location, many scenes and backgrounds in the episode are based on real world locations:
 * Touma and Itsuwa meet each other at
 * After Lidvia reveals that God's Right Seat's goal is literally the right seat of God, famous landmarks of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Doms d'Avignon, the, is shown. The famous gilded statue of the Virgin Mary is shown briefly.
 * Immediately after the Avignon Cathedral is shown, Hôtel des Monnaies is shown where a large group of people are protesting.
 * When Motoharu is talking to Touma via phone, he is on the Remparts d'Avignon.
 * References for Musée d' Avignon, the museum where Touma and Itsuwa try to take out the ley line is based on the Avignon City Hall, the Hotel de Ville d'Avignon, specifically the back of the compound where the back entrance is located at 1 Rue Racine. The street is also where they fight Terra of the Left. The interior shot of the museum is also based on the interior of the building.

Animation Trivia

 * A different map is shown when illustrating the pipeline the Vatican and Avignon that allows remote control over the magical facilities and items found in the Papal domain. However, instead of pointing at Rome (where the Vatican is in) it points to Anagni instead.
 * Just before Touma finally receives a call from Motoharu, the animation for the protesters in the background outside the alleyway Touma and Itsuwa is in stops moving.

Unanswered Questions

 * What is Motoharu doing in the Palais des Papes?
 * Where are the normal magicians that are using the Document of Constantine in Terra of the Left's stead?

Quotes

 * Biagio: "If you wish to have the Roman Catholic Church lecture you on the Bible, ask us on Sunday." --to Stiyl.
 * Stiyl: "Our objective is clear: to rescue the lost sheep who has been swallowed up by the overwhelming power of magic. That remains the same, now as in time past."--to Lidvia.