Evangelique did not sleep well that night.317Please respect copyright.PENANAgFQ8rwRHCu
How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.317Please respect copyright.PENANA1IP5CHv5NC
Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?317Please respect copyright.PENANAyn4iTLXk9n
What would the others think?
She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.317Please respect copyright.PENANAC4oyHQnCCQ
Who was that person to him?317Please respect copyright.PENANA73saBfWwqE
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.317Please respect copyright.PENANAYuK9ap7rqD
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.317Please respect copyright.PENANAZPV8ZHI39h
317Please respect copyright.PENANAm1Ot9e6ALk
"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."317Please respect copyright.PENANAEKiA8znmYf
"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."317Please respect copyright.PENANAvf0gw4sRSY
"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."317Please respect copyright.PENANAn2x3mXSSzz
"No, no, I'm okay!" exclaimed Eva. "I just didn't get good sleep, is all."317Please respect copyright.PENANAfLAZm1iN8I
"I see..." mused Cordelia. "Then, if that's it, we can take a break for now."317Please respect copyright.PENANATvmC8zIwgV
The rest of the day was a balancing act.317Please respect copyright.PENANAyZPKZ0Sc3I
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.317Please respect copyright.PENANA7P9F9PpcfP
"Oi, oi, calm down!" replied Yasha, equally panicked. "You aren't in trouble or anything..."317Please respect copyright.PENANAsG3lOXXFRR
"Really, is something wrong?" asked Cyril.317Please respect copyright.PENANAJ68dLF2QuC
"N-No, not all," responded Eva.317Please respect copyright.PENANA9uL6Lo72HQ
"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.317Please respect copyright.PENANA1Uf0yYOD4Z
"Well, okay then," said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.
Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.317Please respect copyright.PENANA3hYtn58k6D
Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.317Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3feHNJVVx
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.317Please respect copyright.PENANAhWLBzNR0w1
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.317Please respect copyright.PENANAyGaLKejlk2