Evangelique did not sleep well that night.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNGHjUolxV
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUXJUs8crk
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhzFyyvpZl
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8B6OnKu62
Who was that person to him?473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCXc3gVmLt
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHxkrhVng6
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtqfwCrojZ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowKq7IpoNP
"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."473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsfSM3cfYY
"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."473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL4D2cXOLE
"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."473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgz8ySbgCJ
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWPjSjOZuk
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zTLCuC4jt
The rest of the day was a balancing act.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN2Qb0KWvr
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mHzQlrnY0
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPWugucavP
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YHaU51nZF
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P6FRMupw2
"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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdNQ4IbMuO
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdlHmeIPuk
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KIl2CzxYA
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG64pk0mUH
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.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6BQtuceRx
