Evangelique did not sleep well that night.348Please respect copyright.PENANAIUL0dHgtJv
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.348Please respect copyright.PENANAXXySYn6wQJ
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?348Please respect copyright.PENANADS0aUJsUlS
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.348Please respect copyright.PENANAXd5IW1mKjN
Who was that person to him?348Please respect copyright.PENANAZ0wfrvjYgB
Why did they die?
Lastly, she thought of what Nadia told her. The impact of the Lieutenants was clear as crystal seas; without their existence, the lives of many would be footprints on a wave-battered shore.348Please respect copyright.PENANA4jarudOqnc
Nadia was a testimony to this, but it was not her story that influenced her decision.
No, it was a more personal reason that persuaded her to make her choice.
Evangelique exhaled and splashed her face with water.
She knew her choice was right.348Please respect copyright.PENANANm9HsIdBgu
348Please respect copyright.PENANAtsgCoSzsvs
"Eva, please speak more clearly," called Cordelia. She stood by a snacking Yasha and a half-distracted Cyril. "There is more leniency when comes to the presentation of teachers, but the importance of teaching effectively still remains."348Please respect copyright.PENANA1fQsXQRXXp
"I-I'm sorry," replied Eva wearily. The exhaustion of a sleepless night was catching up to her. "I'll do better now, I promise."348Please respect copyright.PENANADW7KVUeFHI
"That's good to hear," responded Cordelia. "But are you okay? If you need me to, I can fetch Althia so she can check your health."348Please respect copyright.PENANAEdsx5XTCr7
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."348Please respect copyright.PENANA3e00cycfpQ
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."348Please respect copyright.PENANAuMdrz69g3x
The rest of the day was a balancing act.348Please respect copyright.PENANAtmVPc6E7pT
Anxiety for the night ahead, the sleep deprivation, and the secrecy of the Lieutenant situation juggled within Evangelique's head.
"Hello....anyone in there?" sang a voice. Eva jumped.
Yasha and Cyril looked at Eva with concern. They had decided to talk a walk together to fetch Althia from the hospital where she worked.
"I'm sorry, I zoned out again, didn't I?!" stuttered Eva, panicked.348Please respect copyright.PENANAUcNQzCzVve
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."348Please respect copyright.PENANAMJHBoLCPi1
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.348Please respect copyright.PENANASf9y9tlTuX
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.348Please respect copyright.PENANA5wFdkfi4A5
"You sure about that?" questioned Yasha, doubtful.
Evangelique stood silent for only a moment. She needed to hide her issues more carefully.
"I'm fine, honest," stated Eva. She smiled as falsely as she could.348Please respect copyright.PENANAYPvOnLo2hy
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.348Please respect copyright.PENANAxeAzhfAhHa
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.348Please respect copyright.PENANAfhnD4ecLgk
Evangelique grabbed her winter coat and quietly made her way out of her room. In her right hand, she held a small lantern that held a flickering candle.348Please respect copyright.PENANAelE8R9hYgC
She walked silently down the hallway of bedrooms, through the maze of corridors that led to the front entrance, down the flight of stairs, and out the large wooden door.
The snow whistled in the cold night, teasing the candle's flame. With her left hand, Eva grabbed a slip of paper from her pocket. On it, there were scribbled strange patterns, yet somehow Eva understood them. As her thumb traced them, a soft, blue light reflected from them.
With a quick breath of determination, Evangelique began to tread her way through the snow, following the patterns and unaware of the shadow that followed behind her.348Please respect copyright.PENANALNdc39mNt9