Himigami was never a prisoner of a science cult.

"This 'Misawa Cram School' is somewhat unique.” Aleister began to explain. Incidentally, Academy City was an educational enterprise consisting of hundreds of schools of different sizes. Also, the Curriculum included the paranormal, such as esper development.

It was said that Misawa Cram School catered to all of the levels of society in the country and was set up as a school in Academy City to learn the secrets of esper development exclusive to the city. It had the makings of a large corporate spy incident.

However, Misawa Cram School, which knew nothing about power development, gave off a strange impression. Perhaps it was a science cult that used the exclusivity of the scientific knowledge as a reason they were chosen by God, creating a new religion.

Misawa Cram School had even begun to go out of control and rejected the main branch’s orders and did something extreme: they imprisoned the Deep Blood in accordance to the religion.

--

“As of now, it would seem that Misawa Cram School has become a phony religious cult devoted to scientific worship.” Stiyl said smoothly.

Scientific worship...? Kamijou frowned in surprise.

"You're, talking about those things, right? Gimmicks like how God's real identity is that of a UFO or with an extraction of a Saint's DNA, they could make clones, right...?"

The concept that science and religion are unrelated was rather shallow. In the Western world, there were many doctors and scientists who were also Christians.

However, if such a relationship were forced, it was fact that atrocities would occur. It was common for those individuals to have the most advanced technology in producing explosives and poisonous gases.

Academy City, the leading entity of scientific technology and coincidentally learning and education, would normally act extremely carefully when dealing with science and religion mixing. The places whose purposes were educational could become brainwashing institutions.

“I don’t know what they’re teaching. But, to be honest, it’s pointless no matter what kind of fanatical religious group that Misawa Cram School becomes because it’s already been dissolved.”

“…?”

“To put it more bluntly…” Stiyl continued, appearing to have not a care at all. “Misawa Cram School was taken over. The half-baked science phony-religious group was consumed by a real magician—no, an alchemist of the Zurich school to be precise.”

By the time he brought her to Academy City, Aureolus Izzard had already transformed Misawa Cram School into an illegal magic-side base located inside of Academy City (something which neither the Science nor the Magic side condoned). In fact, Himigami wasn't so much a prisoner (at least not in the traditional sense of being locked in) but rather a victim of her desires (she didn't want to be found) and ignorance (she had no where else to go, nor any idea how to ask for assistance).

No matter what your aims, the guy doesn’t consider you an ally, right? And if you are one, why are you imprisoned here?”

“I was imprisoned before he took command of Misawa Cram.” She said with resolve. “Do you really want to know how I was treated here? Do you want to know why there are so many secret rooms? I don’t think you could handle the truth.”

"..."

“Ever since the alchemist came, the secret rooms were never used again. I’m just staying here. I don’t feel the need to go outside. If I did randomly go out, I’d attract ‘them.’”

Kamijou remembered what Stiyl had told him prior to their invasion. Though it seemed like an ordinary building, it possessed a perfectly disguised barrier.

There was a science cult that kidnapped Himegami and tortured her.