[ The Saint's Cradle / October 1, 0078 13:01 ]

Signum was weakening. Fate could feel that with every blow they traded, Signum's response time grew a tiny bit longer. She must have exhausted her mana supply long ago, Fate realized, but Agito was feeding her hers instead. It caused Fate almost physical pain to attack her in that state, and she had to remind herself that it was the only way to bring Signum back to her senses. It wouldn't take long now, she assured herself.

"Mama!"

A sudden yell echoed through the chamber. It took Fate only a split second to look down onto the catwalk and catch a glimpse of a pair of mismatched eyes and a head full of blonde hair. But split second that was just enough for Laevatein's blade to hit her squarely in the stomach.

The flat edge of Laevatein's blade.

"You liar," Fate thought before blacking out.

As if in slow motion, I watch my mama begin plummeting sideways. Cursing myself, I leap into the air and catch her just before she hits the wall. As we land on the catwalk, I frantically look for the wound but there is no blood. I check her breathing and let out a sigh of relief—my precious mama is alive.

A flash of purple light comes from above, and almost immediately a scream:

"Signum, no!" A tiny Unison Device yells at the woman who fought mama.

The woman raises her sword high above her head, its blade pointing straight down at the sharp point of the reactor crystal. Aunt Hayate's warnings about the boarding party flood my head.

"Wait!" I call out.

Signum—that was the knight's name—turns her head towards me. She recognizes me.

"I am sorry," she whispers, as the point of her sword swings downward.