I spent the better part of the next day or two-or cycles, as Nida would say-learning from the girl, as she put a stryder through its paces.
High on the machine's back, we rode it uphill and into what looked like scablands riven by channels she hoped were deep enough to conceal us from view.
She showed me how to coax the machine into spearing canyon walls with a light bright enough to blast away rock.
I knew mining wasn't the point of her demonstration, but I couldn't resist asking Nida to drop the stryder's head low enough for me to climb down and inspect the rock cut for valuable ore.
I didn't find any trace of gold in the rubble pile, but a bright violet shard caught my eye.
Something made me snatch it up and hide it away before Nida could notice it.