Evangelique did not sleep well that night.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYTX7LgpNN
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RAMHtFhEw
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7RcSNsnIc
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR08H3QdZS
Who was that person to him?805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFjAGZk8PB
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.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreIRBnzGzt
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.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqbjufZvnO
805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH0Sg9iQQ4
"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."805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDzT6aDCHX
"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."805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgXdtIHGde
"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."805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2TgEDlNC6
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YjwK45zCr
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpYtg6ODxs
The rest of the day was a balancing act.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7x5cXOsdU
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.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUmhfRiWn9
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG8gIN3qr3
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu18HHYv3Xh
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GdXBnygEE
"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.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OESMW5QtL
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR1mW0wm5t
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCJA0lDMSW
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.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEWLZLe9vQ
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.805Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs0LXUv6nJ
