[ Historical Museum, Southern Vaizen / September 22, 0078 13:26 ]

Fate lost track of time. All she cared about was finding enough mana to continue holding up the Museum roof. Continuous exertion and shields in particular weren't her specialty. But her exhaustion was bliss. She didn't have to think about the questions that nagged at her.

A loud crash returned her to reality. A large chunk of the hall's exterior wall was gone and blue Navy uniforms streamed in through it.

"Administration Bureau Marines! Everybody keep calm and follow instructions!"

The voice was familiar. Fate watched the troop sweep the floor, looking for Gadgets. She searched for the masked red-haired woman but she wasn't there, nor among the civilians huddled below. Did she dream her up?

The commanding officer of the Marines scaled the barricade and saluted back Sergeant Marsh. Marsh pointed towards her, saying something. When the officer lifted his face, Fate recognized him.

After a long pause, Lieutenant Pallas turned away and shouted orders to begin evacuation. The Marines formed a corridor from the barricade to the breach in the wall and rushed the civilians out of the building. Fate caught a glimpse of silvery-green hair among them but not the bright red. Lieutenant Pallas left last, holding his back very straight. He didn't look up at her again.

Releasing the shield felt like lifting the sky off her shoulders. The concrete dome began collapsing almost immediately but leaving the building in time was almost a leisurely stroll for her.

Outside, watching the bright noon sun through the giant cloud of dust and smoke rising from the museum, Fate wondered what the hell she was supposed to do now.