Setting

This article describes the details of the in which Toaru Majutsu no Index and other stories in the Toaru series take place, that of an alternate Earth in the early 21st century.
==Principles==
===World and Physics===
In terms of particle physics, some previously theorized particles are confirmed to be present and in certain cases, utilized in certain technology and supernatural powers, such as with s. Chapter 3 Part 14
With regards to dimensions, excluding the phases, there are multiple dimensions beyond the standard perceivable ones which have been confirmed. Chapter 4 Part 7 Some supernatural powers interact with and utilize these dimensions and phenomena tied to them, such as with Curtana's dimensional slicing and the debris produced by it, Chapter 5 Part 10 and some require them to be taken into account, such as in the calculations used by Teleporters. Prologue
Alongside conventional matter and substances, there are a number of substances which have been artificially created, Chapter 2 Part 1 or are the result of supernatural powers and phenomena. Chapter 11 Part 3 Chapter 5 Part 3
====Microcosm and Macrocosm====
A key aspect of the Toaru universe is the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm, which is crucial to the existence and mechanisms of supernatural powers.
====Supernatural Powers====
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Toaru universe is the existence of and abilities. These include both Esper abilities, derived from Personal Reality and associated with the Science Side, and Magic, derived from refined life-force as mana or other energies channeled into forms often based on religions, mythologies and folklore. There are also certain other powers which fall between or outside these two categories. Two examples of these are Imagine Breaker and World Rejecter, both powers which were crystallized from the collective wishes and desires of the world's magicians. Chapter 1 Part 1
The division between Magic and Science Sides is actually one which was drawn by Aleister Crowley using the Archetype Controller for his own purposes, and the supernatural powers and phenomena associated with the two separate sides all fall under a single unified system. Chapter 2 Part 13 Chapter 2 Part 7 While they operate under different principles and risk a deadly rejection reaction when mixed, both magic and esper abilities involve the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm.
====Phases====
Various religions and the actions of powerful beings have resulted in various layers, known as phases, being laid down upon the world. The phases act like filters, distorting the world, Between the Connected Points and often house energies and entities which can have a major impact if brought out into the main world. Chapter 13 Beyond the phases lies a Pure World of science, untouched by magic or religion.
The collisions between the overlapping phases, as a result of their changing proximity and the use of magic, produce 'sparks', which have a thin but widespread influence on the world and its people, affecting fortune and misfortune. Chapter 3 Part 11 Chapter 3 Part 13 Epilogue
====Time====
With regards to temporal mechanics, there are no (world in this case referring to the universe or reality itself). Instead the world is a straight line, compared by Kamisato KakeruIn Toaru Majutsu no Virtual-On, it is stated that this view is also shared by the Academy City Board of Directors, who calls it the . However, due to the nature of the story as a crossover, it is unknown how canonical this is. to a rubber string nailed onto a pachinko machine. Like a rubber string and like time or space, the world can stretch or contract. Partially due to this nature, there are a fair number of portions in the world that are unused, compared by Kamisato during his explanation of World Rejecter to being like the use of only ten frames when using sixty fps film, with no one noticing if subliminal footage was slipped into two or three of the leftover frames. The 'new world' which World Rejecter exiles its targets to is a region made up of unused space within the timeline. Epilogue Prologue
There are very few supernatural powers which can travel through or manipulate the flow of time; aside from the application of a Magic God's power, Chapter 1 Part 8 only the Red Player, the White Player, and Alice Anotherbible are known to possess the ability to do so.Toaru Majutsu no Index (PSP game) Between the Lines 3 There are however a number of abilities which are capable of foreseeing the future. Due to the nature of some of these abilities, producing predictions based on calculations within a set of dimensions, while the predictions made by the ability might not be overturned normally, some abilities which use other dimensions in calculations, such as the 11 dimensional calculation Teleport, are capable of defying the predictions. The power and existence of the Magic Gods can influence the rails of destiny, intentionally or not. Alice's Live Adventures in Wonderland, which allows her to form connections between subjects during her adventures, can alter reality to change how events will play out, and in at least one case, her ceasing the bridging caused events to revert and play out as they would have done without her influence. Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Epilogue
====Outer Space====
With regards to and the universe beyond planet Earth, there are only a few minor differences between real life and the Toaru universe, mainly involving a few celestial objects which only appear in the latter, such as the Arrowhead Comet. Chapter 2 Part 3 At present, there have also been no definitely confirmed extra-terrestrials.Toaru Majutsu no Index: Mars SS
There are various spells which rely on the positions of the stars and other celestial bodies in order to function, and a few very powerful beings are capable of manipulating them.
====Classifications and States of Being====
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There are various aspects of the Toaru universe and subjects within it that are related to life and death, as well as the cycle and connection between them.
The boundary between is not clear cut, but there is a definitive line somewhere in that boudary and once that line has been crossed, one cannot restore a life that has been lost without a power capable of rewriting the world. Chapter 1 Part 1 Chapter 4 Part 6 There are a number of beings who are or have achieved a form of immortality, and a few beings which exist in a state in between life and death.
There are various beliefs and theories concerning the existence of the soul and what happens to it when the body dies, but it remains a poorly understood subject on both magic and science sides. Among those who acknowledge its existence, some believe that a person's soul may move onto an afterlife realm (such as Heaven or Hell), or begin a new life in a cycle of reincarnation, while others posit that it is destroyed when the body it is tethered to dies. Various stories hold that some spirits that haven't passed on remain in the world as ghosts.
There are multiple fields, both magical and scientific, that are connected to life and death, and there are taboos associated with them on both sides of the world.
===Planet Earth and Humanity===
The states of planet Earth and humanity within the Toaru series are much like their real-life equivalents, but there are various differences, both major and minor. As well as differences resulting from circumstances deliberately planned as part of the story, there are differences as a result of changing circumstances in real-life over the long course of the series (with a greater amount of time passing outside the story than within it).For an example of differences in the in-series world resulting from changing real-life circumstances, the United Kingdom was still a member of the European Union when and were released in 2009, and thus was written as being a member in the story, but the real-life UK would leave the EU after the 2016 referendum while circumstances meant the in-series equivalent has remained as it was so far (including the anime adaptation released in 2018-2019).Another example of differences in the in-series world resulting from changing real-life circumstances, Kilauea was described as Hawaii's largest active volcano, as it was when was released in 2011 - the larger Mauna Loa (dormant at the time of the volume's release) erupted in 2022 and began a period of activity afterwards.
The world's atmosphere, climate and weather are largely the same as in real-life, with global warming and climate change occurring. Chapter 1 Part 1 In terms of flora and fauna, excluding products of magic and science, there are no major differences in the types of life forms or individual species living in the present day.There are at least a couple of prehistoric species in the Toaru series that are not found in real-life, although they are references or parodies of real-life extinct species (B-Rex for the and Omegalodon for ).
The world's current population is somewhere around seven and a half billion.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS3: Stativarius Chapter 6 Part 5 PrologueThe figures given for the world's population in the Toaru series have gradually increased over time, possibly reflecting real world conditions. The earlier volumes give a figure of around six billion, with figures of between six and seven billion being given around the early part of Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index, and the six billion mentions being phased out in the early second half. Around the end of Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index, the figure given is seven and a half billion.
====Geography====
In terms of geography, countries are largely the same, though due to certain events, different countries have formed, such as the independent city state of Academy City in Tokyo, Japan Chapter 1 Part 1, the Elizalina Alliance which split off from Russia, Epilogue the Condroniard Republic in Central America, and the Dialine Empire in Eastern Europe.Toaru Kagaku no Railgun (light novel) Chapter 4 Part 11 There are also a few minor differences regarding landmasses, such as with Uphill Island.Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Kanzaki Kaori Chapter 2
There are a notable number of small nations and micronations, with the Condroniard Republic being a member of the UN yet smaller than a football field. The circumstances surrounding them became even more complicated in the aftermath of the Crowley's Hazards, with artificial islands and ship-towed floats set up as bases for reconstruction eventually starting to declare independence a few weeks later, resulting in a situation where countries were joining together and splitting apart in a relatively short space of time, such that problems arose noticing when a country's system or rulers were swapped out.
Countries featured and referenced in the series, and featured locations outside of these countries include:
Name 	Type 	Location 	Details
Academy City 	Country 	Asia 	An independent city state occupying 1/3 of Tokyo, Japan. Headquarters of the Science Side.
Argentina 	Country 	South America 	A country in the southern half of South America, bordering Chile to the west and Brazil to the northeast.
Australia 	Country 	Oceania 	A country occupying the mainland continent of the same name and several islands. Australia is a member of the British Commonwealth.
Austria 	Country 	Europe 	A country located in central Europe, bordering the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland.
Belgium 	Country 	Europe 	A country in Western Europe, bordering the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast and France to the southwest. Its capital Brussels is also the de facto capital of the European Union.
Brazil 	Country 	South America 	The largest country in South and Latin America, and fifth largest in the world, bordering all other countries in South America except Chile and Ecuador, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
Canada 	Country 	North America 	The second-largest country in the world, located at the top of North America, with the USA bordering it to the south and north-west (Alaska). Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth.
China 	Country 	Asia 	The most populous country in the world, 3rd/4th largest overall and largest solely in Asia, with a heritage tracing back several centuries before the Common Era.
 	Country 	Central America 	A small country in Central America, smaller than a football field and bought by the Bridge Builders Cabal. Chapter 2 Part 1 Despite its situation, the country is a member of the UN and has bureaucrats. Chapter 4 Part 8
Costa Rica 	Country 	North America 	A country in Central America, bordered by the Pacific to the west and Caribbean to the east, Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the southeast.
Czech Republic 	Country 	Europe 	A country in Central Europe, bordering Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast.
Denmark 	Country 	Europe 	A country located on a large peninsula and islands north of Germany and south of Norway, and counted as part of Scandinavia.
 	Country 	Europe 	A country located in Eastern Europe. Tokiwadai student Resanerié Sadis Dialine is the country's Empress.
Egypt 	Country 	Africa 	A country in north Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, with a heritage tracing back to the civilization , lasting several millennia before the start of the Common Era.
Elizalina Alliance of Independent Nations	Country 	Europe 	An alliance of nations that have split away from Russia, with the alliance and its most well known member, the country of Elizalina, named after their leader Elizalina.
Finland 	Country 	Europe 	A country in northern Europe, counted as part of Scandinavia, bordering Sweden to the west and Russian to the east.
France 	Country 	Europe 	A country on the north-western coast of Europe, bordering multiple countries, including Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain, as well as the English Channel.
Germany 	Country 	Europe 	A country in west-central Europe, bordering Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Switzerland and Austria to the south, France to the southwest, and Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands to the west.
Greece 	Country 	Europe 	A country located in south-eastern Europe and the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Has a heritage tracing back to antiquity and is considered a cradle of Western civilization.
Guatemala 	Country 	North America 	A country in Central America, bordering Mexico to the north and west.
Haiti 	Country 	North America 	An island country located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Iceland 	Country 	Europe 	A Nordic island country in the North Atlantic.
India 	Country 	Asia 	The second most populous country in the world, located on Asia's south coast and bounded by the Indian Ocean, bordering Pakistan, China and Nepal. It is a commonwealth nation and has a heritage tracing back before the Common Era.
Indonesia 	Country 	Asia 	The largest island country and fourth most populous overall, located mainly in Southeast Asia with some territories in Oceania.
Italy 	Country 	Europe 	A country located on a peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea, sharing borders with Austria, France, Slovenia and Switzerland. Its capital Rome includes the Vatican, and was once the heart of the .
Japan 	Country 	Asia 	An island nation located off the east coast of mainland Asia. Its capital Tokyo includes Academy City.
Mexico 	Country 	North America 	A country on the southern portion of North America and Central America, bordering the Pacific to the west, the USA to the north, the Caribbean to the east, and Guatemala to the southeast. Prior to Spanish colonization, it was home to several civilizations, including the Aztecs.
 	Country 	Oceania 	An island country, consisting of two main landmasses and 700 smaller islands, to the east of Australia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is a member of the British Commonwealth.
Norway 	Country 	Europe 	A country in northern Europe, counted as part of Scandinavia, bordering Finland and Russia to the northeast.
Pakistan 	Country 	Asia 	A nation in South Asia located west of India.
Philippines 	Country 	Asia 	An archipelagic country in Southeast Asia, consisting of 7,641 islands in the western Pacific Ocean.
 	Country 	Europe 	A principality in South Europe. Shin'enkouji Rurikakesu is the country's first princess, going under an alias in Japan. According to her, Platinumarea is warm and famous for having platinum and rare metals, but also has heavy oil (which she asked Mikoto not to tell anyone due to the trouble that would happen if it got out).
Poland 	Country 	Europe 	A country in Central Europe, bordering seven countries including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Russia.
Portugal 	Country 	Europe 	A country in western Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, bordered to the east by Spain and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Romania 	Country 	Europe 	A country in Central/Eastern Europe.
Russia 	Country 	Europe/Asia 	The largest country in the world, covering an area including part of eastern Europe and most of northern Asia. Formerly a major part of the Soviet Union.
Singapore 	Country 	Asia 	A sovereign island city-state in maritime Southeast Asia, located at the southern tip of Malay Peninsula. It is a member of the British Commonwealth.
Slovenia 	Country 	Europe 	A country in southern Central Europe, bordering Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia.
South Korea 	Country 	Asia 	A country located in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula.
Spain 	Country 	Europe 	A country in Western Europe, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula, bordering France to the north, Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south-east.
Switzerland 	Country 	Europe 	A land-locked country in central Europe, bordering Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
Thailand 	Country 	Asia 	A country in central Southeast Asia, bordering Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India.
United Kingdom 	Country 	Europe 	UK for short, an island nation in Western Europe, occupying the majority of the British Isles and comprised of four states; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Head of the British Commonwealth, comprised of former territories of the British Empire, and the Pound Economy.
United States of America 	Country 	North America 	USA or US for short, a country occupying much of the North American continent, a union of fifty states, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. 3rd/4th largest country overall.
Vatican 	Country 	Europe 	An independent city state in Rome, Italy. Headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
Venezuela 	Country 	South America 	A country on the north coast of South America, bordering Colombia to the west and Brazil to the south.
Vietnam 	Country 	Asia 	A country located in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north.
Unnamed island nation 	Country 	Pacific Ocean 	An unnamed small island country, located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean, which is part of Britain's Pound Economy. Its prime minister is Aili Hexenphobia and a notable resident is Emilie Fordia.Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Necessarius Special Admission Test Chapter 6 Part 4Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Necessarius Special Admission Test Chapter 6 Part 5
Antarctica 	Continent 	Southern Hemisphere	The Earth's southernmost continent, containing the geographical South Pole and mostly covered in ice.
Baggage City 	Settlement	Europe 	A city in an unknown country in Eastern Europe. After being occupied by military forces during World War III, it came under the control of the Science Guardians and was the site of events surrounding their Natural Selector tournament.
Uphill Island 	Island 	Oceania 	A small island in Micronesia.
====Calendar====
While the exact years in which the main story of the Toaru series takes place have not been explicitly stated, the Toaru universe follows the same basic calendar structure as the real world, with 's seven-day week, twelve months and year notation, with a few minor discrepancies.
Many real-life annual holidays, celebrations and other notable annual occasions are observed within the Toaru universe, including but not limited to; New Year, , ,Toaru Sangatsu no Zouyo Koukan Chapter 4 ,Toaru Kagaku no Railgun SS: Liberal Arts City (July 20th Prologue - September 1st Chapter 1 Part 1), , Christmas., and (before December 24th Chapter 1 Part 1 - around January 8th-10th in Academy City). Chapter 3 Part 1 Epilogue
====Politics====
There are a few differences with regards to politics. The G14 has been established, though its exact nature is currently unknown. There are also a few past enmities which have remained instead of fading, such as that between the United Kingdom and France, and a few different ties between countries.
Aside from regular governments, there are also the factions which make up the Magic and Science Sides. The main factions in the Science Side are Academy City and its cooperative institutions, while the Magic Side's main factions are the magical organizations within the major churchs, such as the Anglican Church's Necessarius, and various magic cabals. Many of these larger factions in the Magic and Science Sides exert an influence on the governments of the 'Normal Side' from behind the scenes.
One of the most important aspects of this hidden side to the world is the treaty between Magic and Science, an agreement which prevents the two sides from using the other's techniques and interfering with the others' affairs. Prologue
====Religion====
Various that are present in real-life have also been featured in the Toaru series and for the most part, their distributions and beliefs have largely mirrored their real-life counterparts, though there are a number of differences. Many of them are connected to and utilized in magic, having played a key role in the formation of the phases, with numerous religious individuals and organizations involved in the Magic Side in some way, though there are plenty of religious followers and groups who are not associated with or even aware of the Magic Side. In addition to the religions currently actively practiced in real-life, there are a number of historical religions, practiced in the past but not in the present day and often tied to mythologies, that are practiced in the Toaru series, usually by certain groups on the Magic Side.
In terms of , while there have been functional parallels depicted and described between real-life and in-story groups, few real-life cults have been featured or referenced within the series. While there are some cults on the Magic Side, Chapter 1 Part 1 Epilogue there are also many cults that are not part of the Magic Side, and though the Science Side is normally non-religious, there have been a couple of known science cults (such as the Ark of the Electronic Sea and the Cult of Science, though the latter was not considered a proper part of the Science Side). Chapter 2 Part 3 Prologue
====Companies and Corporations====
While a few real-life companies have appeared within the Toaru universe, a lot of similarities in terms of companies, corporations and brands, come in the form of parallels and parodies rather than direct appearances.
====Space====
Aside from traditional rocket-based launches, other ways of getting into space have been developed and implemented. Due to the advent of , which needs less land than multi-stage rockets, many new space programs have emerged, with smaller countries becoming able to start their own and many eager to prove themselves to sponsors. Chapter 1 Part 2 There is also a different distribution of launches between launch providers due to various circumstances, such as the agreement between India and the United Kingdom.Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Kanzaki Kaori Chapter 5
As well as the shuttles and rockets used by other spacefaring factions, Academy City and its cooperative institutions also have access to mass drivers and space planes, and have constructed a working space elevator, Endymion.Toaru Majutsu no Index Movie: Miracle of Endymion Academy City has also maintained at least three major satellites in orbit, Chapter 9 Part 2 including the Hikoboshi II and the now-destroyed Orihime 1.
There has been no colonization of other worlds, though plans have been made and technologies developed for a mission to Mars, Between the Lines 1 and technology with terraforming applications has been researched. Humanity has yet to confirm the existence of extra-terrestrials.Toaru Majutsu no Index: Mars SS
The field of space is one which has been a source of conflict between the Magic and Science Sides, being not well defined in the treaty between them.Toaru Majutsu no Index SS: Necessarius Special Admission Test Chapter 7 Part 3 There are various spells which rely on the positions of the stars and other celestial bodies in order to function, and a few very powerful beings are capable of manipulating them. Chapter 3 Part 2 Chapter 8 Chapter 19 Part 3 Chapter 19 Part 5
===Other===
==Chronology==
Though largely similar, the history of the Toaru universe has a number of differences, some due to the presence of supernatural powers, the scientific leaps brought about by Academy City and the various circumstances brought about by them, and some due to other circumstances. The years in which the series takes place aren't known exactly, though they are at some time in the early 21st century.
==Notes==
==References==
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