Trials

As Touma can remember the day he said his goodbyes to Junkei and the Raiders squad he took with him. He did his best to keep himself busy with Alice as days and nights passed, and the first week had gone by. Touma woke up from his slumber, remembering that he had promised Alice that he would take her to the small playground inside the settlement with Annie, and as if it had become a routine, Lucy had come and helped Touma take care of Alice.

“Alice, wake up, your breakfast is going to get cold.” Said Lucy as she gently shook Alice.

“Breakfast,” said Alice as she slowly got up from bed.

Lucy picked up Alice from the bed and brought her towards the table and sat her down as Touma, Lucy, and Alice ate breakfast and finished, they all headed out towards Junkie’s house. As they knocked, some steps could be heard coming towards the door, and it opened.

“Oh, hello, Touma. Hello, Lucy, I hope you had a nice rest.” Said Tiffany with a smile, but as if trying to hide the sadness in her slightly red eyes.

Tiffany looked back into the house.

“Annie, Alice is here,” said Tiffany.

As she said that some steps could be heard dashing down from the interior of the house to the door. It was Annie who came to hug Alice. Lucy then grabbed their hands and walked with them. Both Touma stayed behind with Tiffany.

“Is everything alright?” Ask Toma, knowing that Tiffany might be missing her husband.

As Tiffany sighed, she spoke.

“Junkei has shown me many times that he would always come back. But, sometimes I can't help but think about what might go wrong.” Said Tiffany with sadness and some tears flowing from her eyes

Touma, not knowing how to respond, couldn't help but stay silent.

“But I guess I should try to have some more hope after all, that's what Junkei always says.” Said Tiffany ss she tried to cheer her up.

“You're right, he would have wanted us to have hope, so let's try to have some hope in him,” said Touma

“Thanks, Touma, for listening.” Said Tiffany

As they both finished talking, Touma headed towards where Lucy was. As they watched Alice and Annie play, Lucy looked over at Touma.

“Is something on your mind? Asked Lucy.

Yeah, the thing is, Junkei has never been late on delivering his word when he said he would do something for a certain amount of time, he would complete it in that amount of time, or even earlier. Though I did tell Tiffany not to get worried, I am also worried myself.” Said Toma.

“I see you're thinking about Junkei. I don't mean to alarm you, but when I was bringing Alice and Annie over here. I did overhear some people talking about how they were also worried about Junkei not returning.” Said Lucy

“Well, let's just hope that Junkei returns before another week goes by,” said Toma with a slight smile towards Lucy.

“Yeah,” said Lucy

As the day continues, the night falls, and a new day rises with it, many other concerns of the people grow ever so slightly for the missing group of Raiders and Junkei. By now, another week has passed since Junkei left the settlement. A knock at the door made Touma get out of bed and head towards the door, thinking it might be Lucy that has come to make breakfast as usual, but as Touma opened the door, he noticed it wasn't Lucy, but another woman, who was the messenger of the settlement.

“Howdy, Doc.” Said the woman with familiarity.

“Huh, Ms. Jay,” Said Touma.

“Oh, don't call me Ms. Jay, I'm younger than you, just call me Sarah.” Said Sarah

“Oh, right, so what brings you over here?” said Touma.

“Right, uh, well, the heads of Expedition and Rangers have made a meeting, and Tina, I mean Ms. Shaman, would like for you to actually show up to the meeting?” Said Sarah.

“I see they might talk about the matter.” Said Touma in a lower tone.

“Well then, I have given my message, I must be going Bye bye.” Said Sarah as she ran away, waving her hand.

As Sarah was leaving, Lucy was coming to Touma's door as she noticed Sarah leaving, and she looked back at Touma.

“Did you get any message?” Ask Lucy.

“Yeah, I guess I'll have to go to the meeting with the head of Rangers and Expeditions. If you can, would you be able to take care of Alice for me? Said Touma.

“Yeah, sure, I'll just take her back to my parents' place and we'll take care of her there.” Said Lucy.

“Thanks, Lucy,” said Touma.

As Touma ran back inside his house and got himself ready as fast as he could and put on his doctor's coat, which was hanging in his closet like a relic, untouched he reminisced on how many times he had to attend the meeting as he put on his doctor's coat as he was heading out the door.

“Hey, did you not eat anything?” Asked Lucy before he left.

“Don't worry, I'll pick up something before I get to the meeting.” Said Touma, reassuring.

He closed the door behind him.As he went his way to the place where the meeting was going to be held as Toma walked in the distance, seen in an abandoned cathedral which was currently being used for the base for meetings.

“Why does it feel like I haven't been here in a long time?” Asked Touma himself.

As he got closer, he stopped in front of the cathedral and looked up at the tall structure that lied before him a dark cathedral with broken colorful windows with a sigh, he entered through the huge doors of the cathedral as soon as he entered it could be seen on one side of the seating many groups of Rangers and on the other side many groups of the expedition party and tension dense the air because of both groups. As he stopped and inspected the area in front of him, a woman who was the head of Expedition came from the front of the cathedral towards him.