"I've finally found living people!"
Aurora rushed forward excitedly and hugged one of the Sisters. "I searched and searched through the piles of corpses, but there was nothing but dead people! Nothing at all..."
"It's all right now, child... We're here..." The Sister comforted Aurora in her arms, though how could she herself not be afraid? But the Canoness had said that fear was blasphemy against The Emperor's will. As daughters of The Emperor, they could not fear.
"Enough! Aurora! Lift your face!"
At the Sister's sharp shout, Aurora's body jolted. She raised her face, her eyes red from crying.
"Look at the state you're in! Is this worthy of the Canoness's teachings?"
"I-I'm sorry!" Realizing her cowardice and mistake, Aurora stiffened all over. She stood tall with her chest out, forcibly suppressing the terror in her heart.
She was still a novice, after all... The Sister shook her head. She did not chastise the frightened girl further, merely patting her shoulder and asking, "Do you have a weapon? Or any other equipment?"
"I... I have this box!"
Aurora turned and began digging through the corpses for something. Only after the other Sisters helped move aside quite a few bodies did they see a sacred chest engraved with holy runes and purity seals.
"This is a sacred chest from the Saint's Reliquary? How did you manage to keep it safe?"
"I... I kept holding the chest and hiding among the corpses. They used a forklift to bring me in. Sisters of the Relics Department must protect the legacy of the Saints... That is a creed we must uphold with our lives."
"What exactly is inside?" Rys asked. She had not been in the Order long enough to be qualified to enter the reliquary chambers and witness such miracles.
"Uh..." Aurora