joy.

Evangelique did not sleep well that night.

How could she? After knowing how Augustine felt about Ago being a Lieutenant, she felt sick.

Was it selfish to chase the call of Lieutenanthood?

What would the others think?

She looked at the golden camellia Tsubaki had given her. She thought about who Tsubaki had lost.

Who was that person to him?

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.

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.

“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.”

“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.”

“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.”

“No, no, I’m okay!” exclaimed Eva. “I just didn’t get good sleep, is all.”

“I see...” mused Cordelia. “Then, if that’s it, we can take a break for now.”

The rest of the day was a balancing act.

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.

“Oi, oi, calm down!” replied Yasha, equally panicked. “You aren’t in trouble or anything...”

“Really, is something wrong?” asked Cyril.

“N-No, not all,” responded Eva.

“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.

“Well, okay then,” said Cyril, sighing. Evangelique laughed nervously.

Yasha glanced at Evangelique, suspiciously, and watched her walk ahead.

Evening came quickly, and after dinner, everyone parted ways for the night.

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.

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.