[ The Saint's Cradle upper hull, Walder airspace / September 20, 0078 07:40 ]

Golden lightning lashed out from Fate's open palm, but to no avail. Intercepting it with Laevatein's blade, Signum grounded it safely into the hull with its sheath.

"Jetzt!"[1]

In perfect symmetry, streams of liquid fire shot from Signum and Agito's hands. But even without her magic, Fate was just fast enough to evade both.

As they faced each other again, panting heavily, a realization dawned on them. They were in a stalemate.

A deep rumble down below broke the silence, and the hull under their feet vibrated like a great beast stirred from its sleep.

"What's happening?" Fate wasn't sure who of them shouted that.

"The Cradle just fired upon the ruins!" A familiar but worried voice came from above.

Fate looked up to find Shamal and Zafira floating just above the AMF layer. The hull vibration didn't stop. She felt the Cradle begin to rise.

"Signum, der Feld!"[2] Agito's panicked yell brought her gaze back down.

Signum was looking down at her legs. Her armor left her thighs exposed, but only now did Fate notice with dread that their skin and flesh became almost translucent. She could see the thigh bones, the pulsing femoral arteries, the veins…

"What's happening to you?"

"The AMF… is bad for us," Signum forced out through her gritted teeth.

Fate gave her a long look, then her gaze shifted to the hatch, then at Shamal and Zafira. The look on their faces made her step back.

"Get out of here."

[1] "Now!"

[2] "Signum, the field!"