Evangelique did not sleep well that night.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSMcpuWiHb
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv38xpODCAJ
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypi1w9DdLK
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr2fdU24Jx
Who was that person to him?444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mYgS0YHAZ
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.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaNojrAdx0
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.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4n4y8pIiI
444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8UumgTA3F
"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."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fZgRdkDFB
"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."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqofuu8IBWR
"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."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyNfDwohdn
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFamoe1Eex9
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFjCy9Xta2
The rest of the day was a balancing act.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIPXNuAgKd
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.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KcjrUk2RX
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfHurVgpXB
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDrxkyG0d3
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMWLtfvNHL
"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.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E4MCIVl90
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KHQS4qYuD
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcMMr1fWt0
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.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZqoON5Nuf
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.444Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxq0srw9hZ
