[ Belkan ruins, Walder / September 20, 0078 07:13 ]
The ruins on Walder were the remains of an ancient monastery. No longer supported by magic, its giant main building slowly sunk into the ground under its own weight. Its pointed towers, once proudly prodding the skies, have since crumbled, giving it all the elegance of a stone slab.
Support structures flanked the monastery and the road leading south towards the archaeologist camp. Many of them deteriorated beyond recognition.
One of the dilapidated buildings, just off the main road, was occupied.
"Ich habe ein seltsames Gefühl wegen dieses Orts," [1] Signum looked up through the missing roof.
High above the ruins, the Cradle floated in the rapidly reddening skies. Its shape reminded her of a wild animal grating its teeth.
"Wie meinst du das?" [2] Agito sat anxiously on the edge of her shoulder.
"Es fühlt sich so an, als ob wir hier bereits gewesen sind. Spürt ihr das nicht auch?" [3]
Shamal didn't answer. She stood in the middle of a rapidly rotating Belkan triangle, eyes closed. Her lips muttered the searching spell incantation.
"Es muss an diesen Ruinen liegen," Zafira's large wolf ears scanned the morning air for noises. "Jedes Mal hast du das gleiche Gefühl. Und jedes Mal denkst du an sie." [4]
All of them wore their Knight Garbs.
"Das muss es sein," Signum sighed and averted her gaze. "Ich frage mich, was die Wiege hier finden will." [5]
Shamal held out her hand, as the Klarwind pendulum began swinging in wide arcs.
"Suchen!" [6]
Four bolts of blue and green light shot out of the pendulum into the morning sky.
"Der Suchzauber ist unterwegs," [7] Shamal informed without opening her eyes.
"Alles klar," [8] Signum unsheathed Laevatein. "Agito."
"Verstanden," [9] Agito took off into the air. "Unison in!"
The small fairy slammed into Signum's chest, enveloping her in an aura of fire.
"Ihr kennt den Plan. Wenn Shamal eine Öffnung findet, werde ich diese offen halten, bis ihr da seid. Sobald wir drin sind, gibt es kein Zurück für uns mehr." [10]
"Wir sind bereit." [11] Shamal's eyes remained closed.
"Drei Jahre haben wir gewartet," [12] Zafira clenched his armored fists.
"Du bist mein Herr, Signum," Agito's voice came from inside her. "Dein Weg ist mein Weg." [13]
"Dann sehen wir uns dort." [14]
A blazing fireball soared towards the ominous shape in the sky, just as the first Gadget Drones hit the ground.
[1] "I have a strange feeling about this place."
[2] "What do you mean?"
[3] "It feels like we have been here before. Don't you feel it, too?"
[4] "It must be these ruins. You have that feeling every time. And every time, you think of her."
[5] "That must be it. I wonder what the Cradle wants to find here."
[6] "Search!"
[7] "The searching spell is on the way."
[8] "Roger."
[9] "Understood."
[10] "You know the plan. When Shamal finds an opening, I'll hold it open until you arrive. Once we are inside, there is no going back."
[11] "We are ready."
[12] "For three years, we have waited."
[13] "You are my Lord, Signum. Your path is my path."
[14] "Then we shall see each other there."