Evangelique did not sleep well that night.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1w7zIIHSO
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKUBD8P8qZ
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0tMKVElYk
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuHXddLPAw
Who was that person to him?498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCi9P6LBWY
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WA32JzpeJ
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotTHtNFCvl
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmV1LH5Joh
"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."498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZuSjbYACG
"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."498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPrR6NGC8I
"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."498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUIqJcCvfk
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCc744tfdm
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ472gCF6mDq
The rest of the day was a balancing act.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgq8cKt0ZW
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwontoJoXt
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK2OzpR23N
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcloa7f4M2s
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOZz6RqwxF
"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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiZ1NjGtWV
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBe2gbIaop
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSO2xtLpKk
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAMYiXnyuj
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFjvL1Y1Jr
