Evangelique did not sleep well that night.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHjrpeBLYb
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGo6htMATO
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVbnWZRl3i
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ683RjMC2Kl
Who was that person to him?419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyWUuKDq6a
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.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizfNaJk7zX
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.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NbxQcu2Yu
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"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."419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTnYYxJFuA
"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."419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ9noBu0ma
"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."419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7areLArIcb
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLA4tBS7xZM
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMFtbCMytQ
The rest of the day was a balancing act.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpNPP82IH7
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.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDrkB6BVnJ
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNIymT5wXq
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTOtyeezgu
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInYLgpDcvc
"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.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tOfp1Cn0k
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlUoqBDrsF
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYELM9mScM
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.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16PkPCliXY
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.419Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2nOcivAWz
