Evangelique did not sleep well that night.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCo2zdckJd
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdSkMoTbl3
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLueCeZVz4
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPm1C4AphQ
Who was that person to him?551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXOnMab01u
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlrcubjCDK
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFd23fj5iv
551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzNswKn7lJ
"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."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGUGRlIIxm
"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."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNduoxozaL
"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."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMH06WpHbK
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQfWQjKzrV
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs62RPwUmf3
The rest of the day was a balancing act.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpn2Cnz4UBY
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr55rCb9Jxj
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYTGBE4JKu
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHLXpGBHYV
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo9sOaYCzZ
"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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8UyYYCKVi
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe51nR0ev4r
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEQNbfCSDC
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIKDYtpSGO
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.551Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ivI6KZOFj
