Evangelique did not sleep well that night.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOfh17ReDG
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTzgwPw9z4
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQpXVobEPd
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv11tR9kuI7
Who was that person to him?440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMjvtKmgW5
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhVfAiZczk
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XKk1dhGpP
440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbV9202J5Cs
"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."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7abdquCk1
"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."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitLi6VtLr1
"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."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL6eR5w28V
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9vCGt10uO
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJy7YndKKv
The rest of the day was a balancing act.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmirwF4oyE
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlw1FVnsBW
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVqggZOjtp
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS40lOHacJy
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAS3gVB0Fk
"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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvch3dpJCjx
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr3u0xnyio
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J2eU7UX4S
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLxObkZcmo
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.440Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHLwjssgHn
