Evangelique did not sleep well that night.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkaQI6M5LR
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXYg6f5LrB
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE3PRlSNmN
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEREeZXIDCT
Who was that person to him?759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6hAz6H2Xg
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToRukUnerT
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOHXKYZKHm
759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoCi07rmP4
"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."759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB9i5fqy9S
"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."759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhLJKZMn8B
"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."759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEvfgsGCsP
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFDOKNJSES
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNb3sImuDiX
The rest of the day was a balancing act.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3DA1vQMGa
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF4lBW0jdX
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2BOBoO9HH
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHbhUFl5Op
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSJlNEdXXH
"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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPo0mPibtg
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ656tvM2HbC
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId0PtkamkD
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7NgDG7BnZ
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.759Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7Q6RjDS0W
