When the light faded, Nimfa found herself standing on the outskirts of the celestial lands. The meadow stretched endlessly before her, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. The grass swayed gently in the breeze, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers.
She looked around, disoriented, her mind still reeling from the diary's revelations. Then, a figure lying in the grass caught her attention.
Noir lay motionless, his eyes closed, as though lost in the serenity of the moment. The wind tousled his dark hair, and his expression, though calm, held an undeniable weariness.
Nimfa took a cautious step forward, the sound of her movement causing the bushes to rustle.
Noir opened one eye lazily, glancing in her direction. His gaze sharpened as he took in her form.
Nimfa stepped into the open, her silver hair glinting in the fading sunlight, her wings casting a faint shadow on the meadow.
The two stood in silence for a moment, the distance between them heavy with unspoken tension.
Noir's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice low and even.
Noir: "An angel... out here? That's unusual."
Nimfa tilted her head, her curiosity overtaking her caution.
Nimfa: "And a demon lying so peacefully in a meadow—that's unusual too."
Her words surprised Noir, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. For the first time in years, he felt intrigued rather than defensive.
Noir raised an eyebrow, murmuring to himself.
"Huh... an angel? And she's not even holding a sword. Is she a magic caster?"
Curiosity flickered in his crimson eyes as he lazily closed them. In an instant, his form blurred, leaving only a gust of wind where he once stood. Before Nimfa could react, Noir had already teleported behind her.
Nimfa, however, was no ordinary angel. Sensing his presence, she swiftly prepared a counterattack. Her deep knowledge of magic—fostered through years of studying ancient tomes gifted by her mother—was her greatest strength. Unlike Noir, whose expertise lay in swordsmanship, Nimfa wielded the arcane arts with precision.
As she activated her spell, a glowing magic circle materialized beneath her feet, summoning a towering wall of fire that surrounded her in a protective barrier.
Noir leapt back just before the flames could engulf him, landing gracefully outside the fiery perimeter. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"So, she is a magic caster. This'll be tricky," he muttered to himself, glancing at his empty hands. "No sword. Great."
Unfazed by his retreat, Nimfa was already preparing her next move. Her voice was calm yet commanding as she chanted:
"Ethereal Chains!"
Spell Type: Enchantment
School of Magic: Binding and Restriction
Casting Time: 6 seconds
Duration: 1 minute (concentration)
Range: 15 meters (50 feet)
Visual Effect: Glowing spectral chains shimmer in golden and silver hues, snaking through the air like living serpents to ensnare their target.
From the ground beneath Noir, the spectral chains erupted, coiling toward him with unrelenting speed. Lost in thought, Noir barely noticed until the last second. Snapping back to reality, he teleported again, leaving another gust of wind behind as he reappeared several meters away.
Noir's expression darkened as he surveyed the battlefield. He knew all too well the danger of fighting a mage in their own zone. "Mages always have the upper hand here," he thought grimly. "Every move I make, she's already predicted."
Nimfa, standing with calm determination, had indeed anticipated his movements. Her next spell had already been cast, lying in wait for its activation.
As Noir landed, his sharp instincts failed him for a moment. Too late, he realized he had stepped into the trap.
"Ethereal Chains!"
The glowing spectral chains surged upward, coiling tightly around him, binding his movements. Just as Nimfa prepared to solidify the spell's hold, Noir's calm voice cut through the tension.
"Fate Reversal."
A sudden, invisible force shattered the chains, reversing their energy. The spell rebounded, hurtling toward Nimfa instead. The angel's eyes widened in surprise, but she dispersed the chains just in time, avoiding harm.
Noir exhaled slowly, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder. "Not bad," he said, his tone nonchalant but his eyes sharp with curiosity.
It wasn't her power that intrigued him—it was her restraint. She had held back, even though he could feel the overwhelming strength of her aura. There was a spell she hadn't used, a stronger one meant to end such battles instantly. Yet, she chose not to.
His thoughts lingered as he studied her.
"She had the chance to kill me… but she didn't. Why? What kind of angel is she?"
Out of nowhere, a deafening roar shattered the stillness. A monstrous beast emerged from the shadows behind Nimfa, drawn by the lingering magic particles from her spells.
The creature was colossal, towering over the surrounding trees. Its thick, matted fur bristled with malice, and two massive tusks jutted menacingly from its grotesque maw. Each step it took shook the ground, and its glowing red eyes fixated hungrily on the angel before it.
Nimfa froze, her breath hitching as she turned to face the monstrous predator. Fear gripped her as she realized her mistake—she had been so focused on Noir that she failed to sense the beast's approach.
"Is this… the end?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.
The beast lunged, its jaws gaping wide in a feral snarl.
In that split second, a blur of motion shot past her. Before Nimfa could process what was happening, Noir was there, shielding her with his own body. The monster's tusks scraped past him, but its jagged fangs sank into his arm with a sickening crunch.
"huh!" Nimfa gasped, her eyes snapping open.
Noir winced but didn't falter. His instincts had taken over, his body moving faster than his mind. He gritted his teeth, his crimson eyes narrowing as he muttered under his breath, "Why… why am I protecting this girl?"
Ignoring the searing pain in his arm, Noir let out a fierce growl and twisted his body, overturning the massive beast with sheer force. The ground quaked as the monster slammed onto its back, flailing in confusion.
Noir wasted no time. In a fluid motion, he leapt onto the creature's chest, driving his fist toward its heart. His right arm hung limp and bloodied from the bite, but his left arm delivered blow after blow with relentless fury.
The snarling beast let out one final, guttural cry before collapsing beneath him, its massive form going still.
Breathing heavily, Noir staggered back, clutching his injured arm as blood dripped onto the ground. He glanced over his shoulder at Nimfa, who was still staring at him, wide-eyed.
"Your arm is bleeding," Nimfa said, her voice trembling. She was afraid of Noir, but the words slipped out before she could stop herself.
Noir barely glanced at her, his expression cold and distant. Without a word, he began to walk away, each step heavy as the pain coursed through his body.
"I used too much strength..." he muttered under his breath.
But as he tried to steady himself, his legs faltered. His vision blurred, and he stumbled, losing his balance.
Seeing him collapse, Nimfa's fear gave way to concern. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, catching him just in time. She steadied him by draping his arm over her shoulder and guided him to a nearby tree, leaning him gently against its sturdy trunk.
Noir glanced at her, his crimson eyes filled with confusion.
"Huh... why?" he murmured, his voice barely audible.
For a moment, his gaze lingered on her. Despite his growing exhaustion, he found himself captivated by the angel before him. Her golden eyes seemed to radiate warmth like the sun, while her silver hair shimmered with the glow of a full moon.
"Heh... this angel is weird," he thought to himself, but the sharp pain in his injured arm quickly pulled him back to reality.
Nimfa, unfazed by his murmuring, knelt beside him. Stretching her hands forward, she began to chant softly, her voice imbued with calm determination.
"Radiant Bloom," she intoned.
Spell Name: Radiant Bloom
Spell Type: Healing Enchantment
School of Magic: Restoration
Casting Time: 10 seconds
Duration: Instantaneous, with lingering effects for 1 minute
Range: 10 meters (30 feet) radius centered on the caster
A warm, golden light radiated from Nimfa's outstretched hands, taking the shape of ethereal flowers blooming in midair. Their petals, composed of pure light, shimmered as they floated gently toward Noir's injured arm.
The magic enveloped him, and he felt a soothing warmth spread through his body. His wounds began to close, the pain ebbing away as the radiant flowers dissolved into his skin.
Nimfa watched intently, her expression calm but focused. "This will help. Just stay still," she said softly, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Noir flexed his arm cautiously, feeling the strength returning to it. He stared at the angel, unsure of what to say. For the first time in a long while, he felt... gratitude.
"You're full of surprises," he muttered, his tone softer than before.
Nimfa offered a faint smile but said nothing, focusing instead on ensuring his recovery. The golden light slowly faded, leaving only the soft glow of the moon above them.
Nimfa's POV
"Why did he save me?" The question gnawed at Nimfa as her golden eyes lingered on Noir. He sat there, his silhouette stark against the moonlit meadow, his crimson eyes half-lidded with weariness.
The thought wouldn't let her rest, intertwining with the doubts that had plagued her since morning: "Is darkness truly evil?"
Her hands continued to glow with healing magic, the warm light spilling over his bloodied arm. Gathering her courage, she broke the silence, her voice trembling.
"W-why d-did y-you sa-save me?"
The words faltered and broke, but she swallowed her fear and tried again, louder this time.
"Why did you save me!?"
Noir tilted his head back, letting out a heavy sigh as he gazed at the starry sky. He seemed to weigh her question, the silence stretching between them. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and measured.
"I don't know either." He turned his gaze to her, curiosity flickering in his crimson eyes. "But... you're different from the angels I've fought for years. You don't have the same... aura. It's like you don't want to hurt anyone."
He glanced at the massive corpse of the Snarles nearby, its grotesque form twisted in death.
Noir's POV
"Just one bite, and it's already dragging me down," Noir thought bitterly, flexing his fingers to test the lingering pain in his arm. A faint grimace crossed his face. "How weak have I become since leaving the Abyss?"
A sigh escaped his lips, mingling with the cool night breeze.
Nimfa's soft voice broke through his thoughts.
"So... you saved me because I'm different from my kin?" she murmured, more to herself than to him.