joy.

It was an abandoned, limestone monastery, of all places. Much to Evangelique’s surprise, that was where the patterns led her.

She questioned if they had her told her wrong until she heard a familiar voice call her name.

She turned around to see Ago walking towards her.

He sported a mint-colored tailcoat jacket that was buttoned with gold buttons and laced with a thick, braided thread. The neck of the coat closed in a turtleneck style, laced with red, braided thread. The coat’s length reached to a little above his ankles and had embroidered patterns of gold upon it.

He wore a pair of white slacks tucked into crimson and gold boots that went to his upper thighs. On his left side, a sword in a leather scabbard hung. In his hair, golden leaves rested above his ears like a crown. The red tassel earrings he always wore hung from his ears; adding to his princely mien.

“It’s good to see you arrived safely,” said Ago. “Did anyone notice you leave?”

“No, I made sure to stealthy in my departure,” replied Eva. She chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” asked Ago, who cocked his head to his side, befuddled.

“You look like a prince from a foreign country!” responded Eva. “Is that your Lieutenant uniform?”

Ago laughed, slightly embarrassed.

“Yeah, it is...” he replied, sheepishly. He looked at the blanched monastery. “Quick, let’s get you inside before you catch a cold.”

The inside of the clastic-clad monastery was unlike anything Evangelique had ever seen. It was a building made of old, greying stone, and when one walked into it, they could see the ceiling several feet above.

Hanging from it was a wrought iron chandelier filled with cobweb-covered candles. Parallel from the entrance of the monastery was a pulpit of wood, covered in dust and abandoned books.

Pewter-hued dust covered the gold detailing of an altar that stood behind the pulpit. A royal purple fabric with gold tassels stained with debris and mouse nibbles ran across the altar’s surface.

The building itself was a rectangular shape, with rough, stone arches acting as pillars for the second floor. The arches led a view to the walls of the monastery.

The bottom half of the walls were made of the same darkened limestone, while the top of the walls was pure stained glass.

The floors of the monastery were a smoother stone of many different natural colors, such as cobalt and raven black.

Upon the dirtied floors stood many figures. They all were dressed differently--with some clothed in beautiful robes of silks, furs, lacy dresses, intricate soldier uniforms, and other unique garments from different cultures of the world.

What stood out the most to Eva in viewing the scenery around her was not the beautiful articles of clothing each person wore, but their ages and races. Some of the men and women she saw were advanced in their years, while others appeared young like her or like children. Some were fairy kind; some were human. Some were different heights, shapes, and colors of skin.

They were all unique, all different, yet they collectively unified for the same thing.

“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?” asked the voice of a young woman.

Evangelique turned to see a tall, slender woman with a pointed left ear. Her other ear was missing from the other side of her face. She wore her raven colored hair down, with different flowers and jewels resting through it. On her pale face were several scars, but they didn’t take away from her charming beauty.

“I-It is!” replied Evangelique.

The woman smiled cherubically, her rosy lips shaping into a perfect smile.

“Don’t be so tense, dear,” said the woman. “All of us here are just as mortal as you are, no matter what we have accomplished.”

“O-Okay...” fumbled Eva.

“The name is Hyakunichisou, by the way,” added the elegant woman. “Though, you may call me Hyaku for short. If you haven’t found out yet, I’m a Faerith Leid of the Wesenheit class. Oh, and I serve under Kioku Kitsune, just as you will be doing.”

“It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Hyaku,” replied Eva politely.

“Please, no formalities, Hyaku is fine.”

She smiled once again at Evangelique, and Evangelique grinned back at her as a response.

“Attention everyone,” boomed a voice.

Every eye turned to look at a graceful, broad-shouldered man with long, crimson hair. He wore oriental robes of different blues, purples, and golds. Each pattern on his silk robes was beautifully detailed and seemed to tell its own story.

On his neck, he wore different gold and jeweled necklaces and on his head wore a headdress covered in golden patters. From his ears hung golden earrings that dangled gracefully.

“Tonight we have gathered to welcome the newest Lieutenant with us,” continued the voice. Now, all the eyes turned to Evangelique.

She looked down shyly. Her body began to tremble.

“Come closer, dear child,” called the voice. “Do not be afraid to hold your head up high.”

Evangelique did so as carefully as she could. She tried looking straight ahead but didn’t have the confidence to do so the whole way.

“Isn’t that cute...” he mused. A mischievous smile crept upon his face. “She’s just like Ago when he was little!”

A burst of hearty laughter echoed through the monastery. Ago tried to calm down the laughter. Eva blushed.

“Kioku, you shouldn’t tease the young girl,” said a man with shoulder-length blonde hair.

Eva looked at the beautiful yet masculine redhead. Was he truly the infamous Kioku Kitsune?

She had always thought of him as a more serious and sullen, not teasing and lively.

“Yes, Kazu, you’re right...” replied Kioku, trying to wipe away a tear that came from too much laughing. He took a moment to sigh out enthusiastically. Ago rolled his eyes, embarrassed.

“Now...child,” said Kioku at last. His sharp eyes directed his attention to Eva, reflecting solemnity.

“Tell me, why did you finally decide to become a Lieutenant?”