The third season of A Certain Magical Index will finally begin in October 2018! We're sure there are many people who are excited about it. It's been about five years since the movie and seven years since the second season of the anime. We can't help but be excited to see Index and the other characters on screen again after so long. In this article, we'll review the appeal of Index as we look ahead to the highly anticipated third season.
A Certain Magical Index - Who is Index?
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Do you remember? This is Index, the heroine of A Certain Magical Index (Index). She's a cute girl with beautiful, long, silver hair that reaches down to her waist and moist, deep green eyes. According to the main character, Kamijo Touma, it has a faintly sweet, pleasant scent. It has a very feminine feel to it.
A Sad and Painful Role
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Index is a nun and magician belonging to the British Puritan Church's Zeroth Cathedral District, "The Border of Necessarius (The Border of Necessary Evil)." She fulfills the role of the Index, who memorizes a vast collection of 103,000 grimoires. Because of this, she is often targeted, and the Index itself is extremely valuable. Although she has no memories herself, when she reads out the grimoires she has memorized, she speaks in a monotone, robotic voice, completely different from her previous character. Her eye color also changes, making her a completely different person.
The Strongest Outfit
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
This seemingly forced monk's robe has a secret. It's a spiritual outfit imbued with a Pope-level barrier that completely nullifies physical attacks and magic. It is an extremely valuable and expensive spiritual outfit made from a copy of the precious Shroud of Turin, embroidered and sewn with the magical elements of the association. For this reason, it is also known as the "Walking Association." Its location is also designed to be undetectable. It is truly the strongest! However, the outfit was unexpectedly torn to shreds by the protagonist Touma's ability, "Illusion Breaker," and is now almost completely ineffective.
What is his personality like?
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
He's generally always smiling. Perhaps influenced by his upbringing, he's laid-back and lacks common sense. He has a childish personality and is quick to sulk, and when angry, he snaps at Touma. 90% of the time, she gets angry because she's hungry, and the rest because she's not getting any attention, so her reasons for getting angry are childish and cute. However, when it comes to incidents involving magic or when it comes to people she cares about, she has a strong will to help even if it means sacrificing herself. Despite carrying the heavy responsibility of being a member of the Index, Index is always smiling and positive, making her a very strong girl with a strong core!
[A Certain Magical Index] Index's Power is Overpowered
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Index's most distinctive feature is her "Perfect Memory Ability." This ability allows her to unintentionally remember everything she sees and hears. At first, this memory capacity was limited to one year. However, thanks to Touma's efforts, it is now believed to be enough memory for a lifetime. He is also proficient in languages and literature, and since he loves books, it is likely that he gained his knowledge from them. It's a very enviable ability!
Lies from the Church
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
These two were told by the church that "Index's memories only last for one year. If she retains them for any longer, she will die." On the left is Kanzaki Kaori, and on the right is Stiyl Magnus. Kanzaki was Index's former best friend, and Stiyl was her former partner, currently in Touma's position. Because they believed in the above law, they both had a painful past in which they erased all of the happy memories they had shared with Index through their own powers. Both of them did this out of love for Index. Index is a person who attracts and charms those around her and is liked by everyone. Everyone cherishes Index, so they cherish her very much, too. They have a good relationship.
Why did they lie?
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
The 103,000 grimoires that Index memorizes are extremely valuable, containing many that do not exist in this world or are not normally seen. For this reason, in the name of preventing her from defecting, Lola (the Queen of England) had a spell called a "collar" carved into the back of Index's throat. He continued to tell the above lie in order to hide this fact. What a selfish and self-centered way of thinking. Touma found it and destroyed it, and now he can live a normal life without having his memories erased!
Is he still under the spell?!
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Along with the collar, he was also cast with a spell called Automatic Writing (John's Pen). To protect Index, and thus the 103,000 grimoires, he secretly casts numerous spells on her. It's cruel, isn't it? This auto-writing mode is a defensive system. As you can see, Index no longer has a will of her own. It is set to activate when something happens to Index, and is a function that counters the opponent with the most effective magic. She reaches this mode during the story, but is somehow defeated by Touma's ability, Imagine Breaker.
What is Index's greatest appeal in [A Certain Magical Index]?
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Index's greatest charm lies in her appearance and straightforward attitude. She also has a friendly personality, allowing her to quickly become friends with people she meets for the first time. Here are some of the people who have partnered with Index so far.
Past Relationships
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
This is Aureolus Izard, a former alchemist and former partner. He is the mastermind behind the Misawa School incident, and now his face has been altered by Stiyl, rendering him unable to use alchemy. Officially, he is considered dead. Of course, Index has no memory of Izard. Even after Index's memory was wiped, he continued to care about her, wanting to save her even if it meant becoming the enemy of all magicians in the world. It's amazing how attractive Index is, even going so far as to make him do this.
Now they're friends
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Touma's previous partner, Stiyl, also had his past erased. After that, he pretended to be an enemy for Index's sake and erased her memories. He is actually still in his teens. He admires Index so much that he says, "All of my seemingly arrogant behavior is for someone else's sake," and above all, he has feelings for her. When he looks at or talks to Index, his expression becomes very gentle.
Former Best Friend
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Index also had her memories wiped. Along with Stiyl, he has been wiping Index's memories with his own hands every other year. He was originally Index's best friend, and is still one of the people who cares deeply for her. While the nature of their relationship is not depicted in the anime, he remains by her side, constantly thinking about their close past. Although the two are polar opposites, Index's communication skills have brought them back together.
[A Certain Magical Index] Index's charms are endless!
Source: A Certain Magical Index ©Kamachi Kazuma/ASCII Media Works/PROJECT-INDEX
Index's childlike demeanor and mannerisms are what make her so adorable and charming. Her curiosity and trust in magic is stronger than anyone else's, and because of her talent, she is tasked with heavy and difficult tasks. The story of Index, who has become a little more free since meeting Touma, continues. Her real name and place of origin have yet to be revealed, so keep an eye out for the upcoming episodes of A Certain Magical Index!
