"H-How could this happen? Was it struck by lightning?"
"We're doomed, the evacuation ship is gone..."
"Sister, w-what are we supposed to do now?!"
The other children had also noticed the devastation along the shore, and an uproar immediately broke out.
Quite a few of them turned pale with fear. Some of the younger children even dropped to their knees on the beach with a thud and began wailing.
Sister Lessa was jolted awake by the crying around her. She clutched her cross and took a deep breath.
When she turned back around, the terror and despair on her face had already vanished.
"Everyone, don't worry for now."
She forced a smile and reassured them:
"The marine officer who contacted me before was a vice admiral. He has lots of warships under his command! Although the evacuation ship he sent was destroyed by lightning, if we contact him again, he should be able to send another warship soon to take us away."
"Really, Sister?"
The children's crying immediately died down, and a little boy asked in surprise.
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
The sister raised her right arm, looking completely confident. "All right! I'll contact that vice admiral right now. As for all of you, you must be exhausted by now, right? Rest where you are, understand?"
"Understood, Sister!"
Their replies rang out in unison.
Seeing the children perk up again and sit down to rest, the sister turned away and secretly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then she took a Den Den Mushi from her clothes, walked some distance away, and pretended to contact someone.
A short while later.
She returned, happily announcing to everyone that the vice admiral had learned what had happened here and promised to send a second