[ Walder airspace / September 20, 0078 07:16 ]

The side of the Cradle facing eastward shined brightly. Down in the camp, the sunrise just began, but up here, the golden plating of the giant starship already blazed with its light.

Fate thought of the people down below. She could have saved most of them if she wanted. But that was the Bureau's job now. She had to save the one child that nobody else could.

She was making a Mach 1 along the Cradle's hull, looking for weak spots and openings. Her search spells failed to penetrate the AMF around it, and this was faster than the alternatives.

The shadow off the westward side made her shiver. The Cradle, ancient symbol of evil power, was eerily serene. Three years ago, swarms of Gadgets and lasers surrounded it.

Now, only a wall of gloomy silence separated her from Vivio.

Fate exhaled with relief when she left the penumbra and flew under the colossal engine nozzles to avoid their heat.

"Sir."

"What is it, Bardiche?"

"Search magic detected."

She could see it now, too. Two bolts of celadon-tinted light circling the cradle just on the edge of the AMF. She knew who cast them.

"Pattern analyzed: Knight Shamal."

"Thank you, Bardiche. We will just have to be faster."

"Yes, Sir."