Toaru Majutsu no Index Episode 24

Synopsis
Within the lower levels of the Underground Mall, a young man hasten his steps in the dark, recalling of recent events that continue to occupy his mind―Kazakiri Hyouka. Her tearful words echo throughout his mind, only to be blown away by the lone sound of his footsteps. He has left him, but certainly, this Kamijou Touma will not allow for such an ending, as he continues to run into the darkness. While running, a column collapses in front of him, and filling the tunnel with dust. Touma hears laughing, and beyond the barrier that the collapsed column has made, appears the form of Sherry Cromwell. Seeing this, Touma becomes alert, concerned about Ellis, but is told by Sherry that she has made Ellis go ahead, and assumes that it either found its target or has already killed it, making Touma livid. Sherry says that he should stay with her and be her opponent, as the girl has gotten passed her somehow. Sherry is impressed on how Touma can destroy her Ellis, to which Touma asks what she is thinking. Touma reminds Sherry of the need for balance between the magic and science sides, and asks why she is willing to destroy it. She smiles, and says to Touma that when espers use magic, their body will be destroyed, and asks how anyone could figure that out. She tells that it's becaus someone tried to, around twenty years ago. She relates to Touma that there was a movement to combine magic and science, started by one of their Church's factions. Apparently, they were trying to give birth to a new type of caster that possessed both esper and magic powers, of course, this is a foregone conclusion. Finally, she tells of her friend, Ellis, an esper brought from Academy City. She tells of her teaching him spells, and ending up self-destructing. Soon after, the Knights of England came to destroy the facility, and to save her, Ellis sacrificed himself, and was killed by them. With a shout, Sherry Cromwell tells Touma that magic and science side cannot co-exist―they two factions in their own worlds. She says that if they do not make a clear boundary between them, then the same mistake will be repeated again. Touma says that she is not making sense, pointing out that if she wanted to protect the factions from each other, then why is she starting a war. However, Touma then realizes that Sherry may not intend to start a war in the first place, pointing out that if she really wanted to the factions to protect themselves from each other, she just needs to find a situation that the factions feel like a war is about to begin. This angers Sherry, and with a swing of her magic chalk, creates several magic arrays in the tunnel. The arrays begin to glow red, and the earth begins to shake, with Touma believing that she intends to destroy the tunnel. Slowly, the tunnel, its walls, ceilings, and columns, begin to crumble through her magic. Touma does not know how he could escape this, however, he recalls on what Index told him, regarding the standing position of the magician during their spell. Touma moves his eyes near Sherry, and sees a magic array there, with a distinctly different magic array upon it, an octagram, glowing red on the ground. Touma realizes that the seals on the walls and ceiling will be used to bury him alive, which means that Sherry does not need to have a seal on the ground, unless it is used to protect her. As the walls crumble, Touma run towards Sherry, and then jumps with his right hand held forward. Touma dispels the array, much to Sherry's horror. Predictably, the ceiling above her collapse, and she is nearly crushed if not for her quick use of her magic chalk. After flinching, she realizes that Touma coming towards her, and is punched for all her trouble, actually managing to make a considerable crater upon a column due to the impact of her head.

Adapted From

 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 06
 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 07
 * Toaru Majutsu no Index Light Novel Volume 08

Major events

 * Kamijou Touma ends Sherry Cromwell's short reign of terror.
 * Aleister Crowley's plans in controlling the Imaginary Number District becomes one step closer.
 * Kazakiri Hyouka disappears from the physical world temporarily.

Characters

 * Kazakiri Hyouka
 * Kamijou Touma
 * Sherry Cromwell
 * Sphynx
 * Misaka Mikoto
 * Shirai Kuroko
 * Tsuchimikado Motoharu
 * Aleister Crowley (named)
 * Heaven Canceller
 * Himegami Aisa
 * Tsukuyomi Komoe
 * Tsuchimikado Maika
 * Aogami Pierce
 * Accelerator
 * Last Order
 * Yomikawa Aiho
 * Yoshikawa Kikyou
 * Stiyl Magnus
 * Kanzaki Kaori (mentioned)

New Characters

 * Ellis (referenced)
 * Laura Stuart

Abilities

 * Ellis Golem - Pratical Kabbalah, Sherry Cromwell.
 * Long distance golem control
 * Teleport - Level 4, Shirai Kuroko.
 * Inhuman strength - Kazakiri Hyouka.
 * Regeneration - Kazakiri Hyouka.

New Abilities

 * Earth moving magic - Sherry Cromwell.
 * Protection spell

Locations

 * Academy City
 * Underground Mall
 * Windowless Building
 * Heaven Canceller's Hospital
 * Kamijou Residence
 * A Certain High School
 * Tokiwadai Middle School

New Locations

 * St. George's Cathedral

Trivia

 * The opening theme is removed during this episode, while the ending theme and credits are played over scenes.
 * The first bits of Aleister Crowley's plans is first revealed during the episode.
 * Although featured in the ending theme, this would mark the first time Accelerator is seen wearing his collar. This goes for Last Order as well, as she wears her dress that is featured in the opening for the first time.
 * Nearly all scenes shown in the epilogue are reanimated for the second season.
 * The Daihaseisai is first mentioned in this episode.
 * A promotional image of the anime adaptation of Toaru Kagaku no Railgun is tacked in at the end of the episode.

Referbacks

 * Touma references his speech to Hyouka back in episode 23.
 * Aisa references her warning Touma of being careful with regards to Kazakiri Hyouka back in episode 21.
 * The final scene of the episode mirrors Touma meeting Index for the first time in his balcony. The sandwich he carries is similar to the one he steps on back in episode which feeds to Index; it is also a leftover.

Cultural References

 * The magic array that Sherry uses to protect herself from her own magic, is a regular Octagram star polygon. The octagram that uses a single line that intersects with itself is most often associated with the planet Venus as the goddess of fertility. Here, since it is used by Sherry to protect herself from her own spell, it may be based on Nordic countries (which is not unusual, as Stiyl himself uses runes) usage of it as an invocation of magic and a protecting ideogram carved into doors and walls.
 * Hyouka's referring to those who fight monsters must also be monsters, might be a reference to Frederic Nietzche's famous quote: "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." from his book Beyond Good and Evil.

Animation Trivia

 * Several scenes of the previous episode, as well in episode 22, and episode 21 are used in flashbacks. However, scenes from Index's confrontation with the golem are reused and are later accompanied by the scene where Hyouka saves Index.
 * Index's "common sense" lecture to Touma regarding standard magic rituals back in Episode 21, is used as a flashback during Touma's final confrontation with Sherry.
 * During the scaffolding to scene, immediately after Touma tells Hyouka that her illusion is not over yet, and after they turn to look Index arriving there, one can see that the color used to paint Touma's skin is not colored underneath his hair, making him look headless.
 * The final scene with Index biting Touma, has Komoe and Aisa in the background.

Unanswered Questions

 * What happened those twenty years ago with Ellis and Sherry?
 * What happened to Sherry Cromwell after being defeated by Touma?
 * Why is someone as famous a magician as Aleister Crowley, controlling the science side?
 * What is Aleister Crowley planning with the Imaginary Number District, Kazakiri Hyouka, and Kamijou Touma and the Imagine Breaker?
 * What had happened in the past that destroyed his illusion?
 * When will Hyouka come back?
 * What is Motoharu's job and who is he talking to?
 * What is the situation Laura Stuart talking about that warrants the usage of Index and Touma?
 * Where is Kanzaki Kaori and why can't the Church contact her?

Quotes

 * Sherry: "The clay is my ally. And in this abyss surrounded by clay, I am the ruler!"―Said to Touma.
 * Sherry: "Everything, crumble down! Like a puppet of a mud!"
 * Touma: "You point your weapon at someone, that's when real wars happen!"―Said to Sherry.
 * Sherry: "My mind was in conflict from the very beginning... I have more than one conviction, I have as many as the number of stars."―Said to Touma.
 * Touma: "Why didn't you realize... that there was only one thing you believed in from the very beginning? In the end, you just didn't want to lose your dear friend, right?"―Said to Sherry.
 * Touma: "Oh, I see... When she said she has as many convictions as the number of stars... You understood the one emotion inside you... of wanting someone... to stop you, huh?!"―Touma's inner monologue regarding Sherry.
 * Sherry: "Ellis... I can't reach you..."
 * Hyouka: "Those who fight monsters... must also be monsters!"―Internal monologue.
 * Hyouka: "I can't go back there anymore. That time will never happen again! Even so... Even so, I can't abandon her! Because... she's my friend!"―Internal monologue.
 * Touma: "I told you that there's still hope in the world you reside in, and that I'd show you that!"―To Hyouka.
 * Hyouka: "It's over... and so is the nice illusion..."―Internal monologue.
 * Touma: "Do you feel pain? Do you feel sad? If you do, then you're not a monster, okay? I know this is corny, but you're human. I guarantee it. Also... your illusion isn't over yet."―Said to Hyouka.
 * Motoharu: "What you're thinking is completely beyond me. But if you're going to take advantage of that Imagine Breaker, then be prepared. Face him with half-assed beliefs and his right hand will your illusions alive."―To Aleister Crowley.
 * Aleister: "The illusions I believed in... are already in a destroyed state since long ago..."
 * Aisa:' "Your personality of going all out when it comes to women needs a good amount of tweaking sometimes."―Said to Touma.
 * Hyouka: "Even if you can't tell... I will always be by your side."―To Index.
 * Touma: "Such misfortune!"