I.

"Quite the heavy rain we have tonight…" spoke Barbara to…no one in particular. She has already told the other nuns to leave whatever concerns inside the Church remains to her and let them go home early.

She remembered that they refused to do so, but she assured them that she will be fine. True enough, she was currently offering up a prayer of gratitude, thanking the Lord Barbatos for providing them the strength to be hardworking today as well.

She then sighed. "I do wonder where Rosaria is…"

As if on cue, the Church doors loudly opened, the heavy rain now being clearly heard, and a dash of lightning and thunder provided the Deaconess an image she won't forget.

She gasped.

Drenched in the rain was Rosaria, an arm over her shoulder. On the other end was a little floating creature that she instantly recognized, who also has an arm over her little shoulders.

And the one they were supporting was none other than the Traveler, who has a horrid bloodstain on her clothes, specifically at the stomach.

She coughed, and looked at her, weary and on the verge of passing out. And yet she smiled.

Barbara rushed at them as Rosaria somehow hurled the badly injured Traveler at her. "Ah Rosaria, watch out!" shouted Paimon, as a looming figure from behind was about to strike. She was able to dodge in time.

"W-What's going on?!" was all Barbara could ask, as Paimon and her helped the Traveler to her feet "Rosaria!" she called out, but the nun didn't look back.

"That Abyss Herald followed us all the way here!" cried out Paimon, frantic and worried at what might happen to Rosaria.

The nun gritted her teeth. "Close the damn doors! Swiftly!" she ordered, as she blocked the rapid strikes of the dangerous foe.

Barbara hesitated, and wanted to help, but the Traveler was in peril as well. "I'll hold him off, damn it! Just do it!" she yelled again, striking back at the Herald. The looming figure seems to be having a hard time taking the nun down.

Barbara nodded, and provided her some healing, enough to remove the fatigue she was feeling. Reinvigorated, she grunted and became much fiercer as their battle raged on.

And so, they fought along the Church grounds, with the heavy rain continuing its raging downpour. As Paimon temporarily set the Traveler on a pew, Barbara hurriedly closed the Church doors.

The sound of clanging and clashing weapons reverberated throughout the interior of the empty Church, as Barbara now helped Paimon in carrying the Traveler into a room in the Church, specifically made for healing people.

Laying her on the bed, and reassuring Paimon that she'll be alright, she began tearing what cloth remains that was still covering her wounded stomach.

It was deeper, and much more horrible than she thought. She wanted to vomit, to run away, but she steeled herself, concentrated, and began the healing process.

The first thing she saw was…sunlight. Light that crept into her field of vision, allowing her to open her eyes fully.

She was in a room, and looking around, she noticed that Paimon wasn't around, but instead found Barbara asleep on her stomach. She noticed that her stomach was bandaged, as well.

She didn't want to wake her up, but it seems she woke up on her own.

There was a wistful smile on her face, but then her eyes widened, and she immediately threw herself towards the Traveler. "Lumine!" she called out, and Lumine felt tears on her chest.

The room's door suddenly burst opened and came in Paimon, crying as well. "Ah Lumine nooo!" she cried out.

"She's fine. I'm glad you're awake, Traveler." Then spoke another voice. It was Rosaria's.

Paimon then threw herself directly to the Traveler's face. "AAAAAAH PAIMON IS SO GLAD YOU'RE OKAAAAAY! LUMIIIINEEEE!" she spoke, bawling her eyes out.

"You two…" Lumine spoke, smiling, as she moved Paimon away from her face and to her free shoulder, and rested her right hand on Barbara's head.

She looked at the other nun, and noticed that her right arm was bandaged, and that there was also a similar bandage on her stomach that matched her own.

"Thank you, Rosaria." She said, and the nun merely nodded. "Think nothing of it. If you mind, Deaconess, I'll be in town." She spoke and left the room.

The three of them were now in perfect silence, with the occasional sniffles from both Paimon and Barbara.

"Okay, calm down now you two…" spoke Lumine, but Barbara then suddenly raised her head and looked at her. "How could I be calm if I saw you last night looking like that?!" she suddenly let out.

Even Paimon was surprised that she clung to Lumine further. "B-Barbara, she's right…c-calm down please…"

The Deaconess wipe her tears away…and calmed down. She then kept silent.

Lumine then whispered to Paimon. "Can you leave the two of us for a while, Paimon?" she asked. Paimon nodded in understanding, and without a word, floated out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"Barbara I—"

She was cut off with a kiss.

The Traveler was surprised, but she felt that it was necessary for her to return the favor. She held the Deaconess close.

They broke away, and Barbara was blushing. "Don't just go around and throw your life at harm's way like that!" she spoke, tears forming up again.

Lumine was seriously confused, but she understood these…feelings that Barbara was laying bare.

Well, somehow, she understood.

"Is that…how you really feel?" she asked, and the blush on Barbara's face grew redder. She surrendered herself to Lumine's arms, as she nodded.

The Traveler smiled, kissing the top of her head. "I'm sorry for worrying you." She said, holding the Deaconess even closer.

"I'm also sorry for suddenly shouting at you…" she then said and Lumine smiled. "Its alright: you were both angry and worried, after all."

Barbara then looked at her and returned the smile. "It was quite the strong feeling…I don't think I'd like to feel it again." She explained, and Lumine held both of her hands.

"Then I promise I won't do something so brash ever again." She said, and Barbara leaned in, kissing her at the cheek. "Deal." She replied, giggling. Lumine followed suit.

"Paimon, you can come in now." Then called out Lumine, and the floating little girl opened the door to the room again.

"That wasn't so long. Paimon knew you two would kiss and make up!" she spoke, smiling.

Barbara blushed, and Lumine giggled. Paimon was confused, but then realization came in sooner than expected.

"Eh? Don't tell me…Eh?! You two kissed didn't you?!"