Evangelique did not sleep well that night.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnI8O8gSUO
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjnQPBwXYg
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMieCTbTWh6
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7v2G9RrI5T
Who was that person to him?719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsEQpwCoA2
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.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6R9Z4OyAJX
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.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDQnVPRstI
719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1i06bqrHQ
"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."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd1qU8AUBJ
"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."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefqStEf8n6
"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."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7a7OTHvVX
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbCVM670vd
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuX6QlTZqUW
The rest of the day was a balancing act.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRlRySYzov
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.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWach7AjHLP
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbZNMSVehu
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQT3vvIXjh
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeyRnFXmtB
"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.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqOwnVombH
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRI7BN0vi0
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYimRrSXUK
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.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU9L6Qrtt5
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.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA6yCe36RI
