“So, why are we touring today? Isn’t there training I should be doing?” asked Eva.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfDlSoCYD7
“Yes, but you’ve just arrived here!” replied Yasha. “It’s important you get to relax after your trip, and there’s nothing better than that than sightseeing with your team!”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdhrfnSEbP
Evangelique paused for a moment and pondered over what Yasha said.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2VWdko69q
“Yasha...” began Eva. Yasha looked at her with slight concern.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGQ1d6KK4E
“What makes us a team, anyway?”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fWI3MK0WV
Yasha smirked and put her hands into her pockets.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡtV8Lno8f3j
“Well,” replied Yasha. “That’s a good question. I mean, after all, I’m not teaching at the university like you and Augustine are. I’m not a doctor like Althia, not a Hitsujikai like Ago and I’m not a Troubador like Cyril. However, when I became a Perithalpsi so I could help with damage relief, I was put in the same dormitories as Cyril and the others. Some people say it’s because we all work under Alethia Mission Organization, but I think there’s more to it. I think...we’re supposed to grow together. Sure, we have different opinions and personalities, but we all believe in Elohim. In our shared faith in Him, we are supposed to grow together, even if it’s hard and we fight. It’s a very wholesome experience that I can truly say has helped me see what family truly is.”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Rm0OAkcGu
Yasha’s grin became bright in the sunlight of the snowy day. A sense of pride and love was about her and Evangelique could feel it.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHKzqOmaOj
“What a beautiful day it is!” exclaimed Cyril, suddenly.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iee3BDcRG
The golden sun had revealed itself, dyeing the surrounding clouds a soft yellow. The snow was still falling gently to the ground, sparkling in the daylight.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXxSXlsiy9
“This weather is so breathtaking, honestly,” replied Yasha. “You really can’t beat Mumei’s weather!!”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0d7rZZVeC
“I agree...” breathed Evangelique, who stared at the shops and restaurants of Mumei’s town square.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbRxLil7s9
The brick, stone, and concrete buildings were all made a caramel and chocolate brown color in the light of the sun, with beautiful glass windows held by wooden window panes revealing what they sold. People of many different appearances wore coats that were lightly powdered with frost. Street musicians danced to their melodies and children ran, giggling and smiling.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡryrFNvhqH9
Everyone and everything was bright and beautiful to young Evangelique, who felt so high in spirits, to a point in which she believed she would be able to float away from the joy inside of her heart.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e6E630zmz
“It’s so beautiful here...” whispered Eva, barely keeping calm.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9KAGwT1Em
Just as she began to try and catch up with whatever her fellow teammates were talking about, her eyes caught hold of something more breathtaking than the scenery before her.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5UCLI828Q
Within the crowds of people, a man stood at a flower vendor’s wagon, his sunset hair shining in the rays of the sun. He wore the uniform of a soldier--a navy blue coat, white slacks, and maroon-colored boots. Covering his neck was the same white scarf Eva had seen him wear before.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf4hUalVKH
“I’m going to the flower vendor over there!” exclaimed Eva, pointing straight ahead.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLRP7KdJIR
“Ah, very well then!” replied Yasha, smiling.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡutQf4wLXyq
Eva smiled at her and began to run straight ahead, towards the bright and blooming flowers. They were all vibrant in color, despite the snow that fluttered around them. The one Eva recognized looked at the azalea flowers with a tender gaze. He stroked an orange one’s petals gently and seemed as if he was lost in some sort of memory.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJvemgXuj6
“Captain Tsubaki...?” called Evangelique, softly.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzyIALOlwS
The young man jumped and looked at her.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfScnkcmfq
“O-Oh...Miss Evangelique,” replied Tsubaki, who was caught off guard. “I apologize, I was lost in my own world, it seems.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrcRgjBu2k
“Oh no, it’s quite alright!” replied Eva. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡkumoMgz7ck
Eva looked at his face again. His eyes were now set on the xeranthemums on display. His bright eyes looked sadly at the flowers as if they reminded him of a heartwrenching regret.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGOGVSdHQL
“Do these flowers remind you of someone?” asked Eva.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUUUCuGrQc
“No...” replied Tsubaki, slowly. “It’s more like, they are someone to me.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPsc2PwecM
Eva cocked her head to the side, perplexed. She looked at Tsubaki’s ears, noticing that they were pointed, just like a fairy’s ears.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbdR2uaEYd
“That’s right, you’re a Faerith Leid!” exclaimed Eva.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl8SfLnVcd
“Yes,” replied Tsubaki. “That is true.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8v3AI6qelC
“No wonder you’re so fond of these flowers...after all, they’re singing to you, right?”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ10NfRQJ2uI
“That is correct.”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7auDpRTmlc
Eva looked at the flowers. To her surprise, she could hear them sing as well.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGHP5t5FBi
It was a gift that the Faerith Lied of Areon and the other fairies such as Hamadryads and Nymphs possessed, a gift Eva once lost but had gained once more.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrYN7UGkBx
As she listened carefully, Evangelique could tell the song of the azaleas and xeranthemums was much like the hum of two small children; one boy and one girl. It was tender and innocent, yet tinged with the heavy weight of loss.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JHAm7rftN
“Do these flowers remind you of the person you just lost...?” asked Evangelique, softly.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgt3omi9Jel
“No...” responded Tsubaki. “They don’t remind me of Eleanor...”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWt9LzDRef
‘So that’s the name of the person he lost...’ thought Eva. Other than sorry, she felt unsure of what to say to Tsubaki next.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eG81O2I8E
“I’m sorry,” said Tsubaki, softly. Evangelique looked at him. His eyes were hidden by his bright ginger hair and it seemed he wanted it to be that way.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡfenWPJ4hZy
“I don’t interact with others very well and I don’t know how to talk about most things without making things uncomfortable. Please forgive me for that.”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ruzBg8f8m
Evangelique noticed a red glow coming from his face, much like the glow that came from being lost in sadness and on the verge of tears. She smiled painfully, knowing that in his time of mourning, he was barely able to hold himself up without feeling some sort of sorrow.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡviAcqC0tk8
“It’s fine, really!” replied Evangelique, gently touching his shoulder. “I didn’t grow up around a lot of people, so I still don’t know how to start conversations well.”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7znuwdeBvd
Tsubaki looked at her with innocent eyes of both relief and surprise.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AFD9hUix2
“Thank you...” replied Tsubaki, turning once again to the flowers. “Perhaps it’s good to know that the person I will be working beside can understand me a bit.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmR0Xz7nOs
“Wait, what?” asked Eva.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2kfeLRfec
Suddenly, the sound of an explosion erupted from a nearby tavern. People began to scream and run as the tavern caught ablaze.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡolMLQjZ4Uu
“What in the-!?” shouted Cyril from nearby.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPsN4kENm8
“Cyril, go fetch the Perithalpsi!” replied Yasha, yelling.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDCy1YRbI5
Althia and Yasha rushed towards the burning tavern.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFsnGpXNNL
“Where are you two going?!” asked Eva, yelling as loud as she could. A tap on the shoulder made her jump.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡi35YGffBxN
“They’re going to do their jobs,” replied Augustine, who looked quite surprised by the sudden explosion. “Please stay with Ago, alright?”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbPZr4KjjY
He started to run closer to the firey building, where he helped the people who had been in the tavern before the explosion occurred.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHkhtaAtfu
Evangelique stood amazed at the bravery of the team she worked with. It was Yasha’s job as a Perithalpsi to help those in dangers such as these and as a Therapeptis, it was Althia’s duty to tend to the injured. Augustine was a Magistrate and Cyril was a Troubador--a teacher and a musical guard respectively. However, despite their roles in society, they fearlessly went to do all they could to help those who were hurt.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxy3wfiLQP
If Evangelique was called to be a Lieutenant, what was it she should be doing?copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu1ottteMN
“Let me take you back to the dormitory,” said Ago. “There you can stay safe with Matron Cordelia, alright?”copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡchvxzYIasX
Just as Evangelique was about to reply, she noticed the scrawny figure of a man run into an alleyway behind Ago. He held a strange device in his hand and looked around him cautiously as if he was trying to escape.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpvdt1sLNi
A flow of anger and energy shot up in Evangelique’s veins as she ran towards the man.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmNDLh6fvS
“Sister Evangelique!” shouted Ago in panic.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IaxfJwYTY
Tsubaki ran after her, his right hand near his sword. In fear, Ago followed behind, worrying for Eva’s wellbeing.copyright protection21ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyorMRteDg
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