Evangelique did not sleep well that night.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsjB0kteaj
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppvgVmWImD
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofvSXafZBr
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCxECiQvqE
Who was that person to him?547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxv5wc4WMe
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.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYjPanOHW7
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.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GKyds0raE
547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYXShTwkXx
"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."547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V5N1wUaUU
"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."547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhP6FCoJNa
"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."547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCKbiskzuS
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1JvfYozHI
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEQi7I9OOu
The rest of the day was a balancing act.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNJt8WDOql
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.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFTQ65RtE2
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVWOpcaekq
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY90tgSQtu8
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffvUbNmfKP
"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.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjrjv3jtfd
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lrZjD23Af
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QqQPRWXuA
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.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90w3fA4nX8
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.547Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxIj5gfw0B
