Evangelique did not sleep well that night.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb7ktv5ClY
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV8tJxQGc1
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UPz6f24qJ
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhiEr1UdRz
Who was that person to him?568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4Z1yYyZRF
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.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uS7JmnJ8z
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.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0tzNQph2R
568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAshEaKO8X
"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."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKXU2NDjr8
"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."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGBHooh1V9
"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."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIifRotc0j
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbj9BfbYlz
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZugLut0A3
The rest of the day was a balancing act.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgqeJhgtd5
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.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHGHoxXJDq
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVyb6kPQPy
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXbq7XkRMn
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiyGS9wZ0z
"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.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGIpzN0vaH
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qjgkiA44E
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNijea2GtX
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.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepctOPcU5u
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.568Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6NuDijzrA
