Evangelique did not sleep well that night.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANPIjSWcW4
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh4ONYgdZl
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey5W5WEvo1
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oU9PU4qSL
Who was that person to him?558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoX06pQ69J
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.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdZ0VTOWFv
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.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQOLshDCe1
558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU7RHkkxAg
"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."558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YwdPbzj0K
"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."558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRW5tjFgk7
"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."558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeEQH9yDOJ
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW3IUyabuL
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9A0CLOgdSv
The rest of the day was a balancing act.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbJRnZ4p1l
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.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6fpe2IgQa
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE8JeBCjXI
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOdZLihaym
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePnezlone6
"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.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofdkl0qwDi
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHht9PH5Xz5
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyYIXqZuRY
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.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS0YB0LQp9
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.558Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJOWvUdzSZ
