And yet, here she was.
His presence cast a long shadow over the sunlit clearing, causing Nimfa to lift her gaze—her golden eyes meeting his.
As Noir stepped closer, the peaceful aura surrounding Nimfa shattered.
The animals that had gathered around her—rabbits, birds, and even the gentle deer—suddenly stiffened. Their instincts flared in alarm, and within seconds, they scattered into the forest, fleeing from Noir's presence.
Nimfa blinked in surprise, watching the creatures disappear into the trees. "Eh—" She turned toward Noir, her golden eyes narrowing as he approached.
"You scared them away, Noir!" she huffed, her voice laced with annoyance but lacking true anger.
Noir met her glare with a calm, unreadable expression. "You're a strange angel," he remarked, his tone tinged with mild amusement. "So carefree about your surroundings. What if a monster attacked you again, like last time?"
His voice was casual, yet sharp—not scolding, but carrying an undeniable edge.
Nimfa frowned, crossing her arms. "Listen here, you—" She paused, about to lecture him about his messy house, but before she could, a memory surfaced—his body shielding hers, his arm torn open as he protected her from the Snarles' attack.
Her lips parted slightly, but instead of lashing out, her voice softened.
"Well... thank you, anyway," she murmured under her breath.
Noir, who had already turned his attention elsewhere, barely caught her words. "Huh?"
Nimfa's cheeks flushed slightly as she whipped her head away. "Nothing!" she snapped, her voice a little too quick, her posture defensive.
A smirk tugged at Noir's lips, but he let it slide. Instead, his expression shifted, serious and unwavering.
"I'm not going to carry you through this journey," he said, his tone cool but firm. "If you want to come with me, you'll need to pull your own weight."
Nimfa's POV
Noir's words hit her harder than she expected.
He's willing to accompany me... but he won't protect me forever.
For the first time since she arrived in this realm, she felt the weight of her situation settle in her chest.
She had always been protected—by her kin, by the laws of the Celestial Plane. Even when she doubted the war, she had never truly fought for herself.
This was different.
This wasn't just about getting home anymore.
Nimfa tightened her fists before meeting Noir's gaze with newfound resolve. "Of course, I can carry my own weight. And... thanks."
Noir's POV
Noir studied her, watching the flicker of determination in her golden eyes.
Good.
He had no intention of being her shield. He had already spent too many years fighting battles that weren't his. If she was going to follow him, she needed to stand on her own.
Still, a small part of him—a part he refused to acknowledge—wondered how long she would last.
Sigh... this better not slow me down.
He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his dark hair before glancing toward the horizon.
"The first thing I need," he muttered under his breath, "is to retrieve the first seal on my weapon. My second sword."
His crimson eyes flickered with something unreadable—a memory, a promise, or perhaps a warning.
The second sword was unlike anything forged in this world.
It pulsed with an essence of the primordial, its blade the same deep crimson as Noir's eyes. A long, single-edged weapon, etched with intricate symbols, its very existence defied the laws of nature.
Noir knew its power well—it could cut through both Umbra and Lumina, severing the essence of both angels and demons alike.
But more importantly, it was the key to breaking the first of his nine seals.
His father had bound him in layers of restraint—eight seals carved into his body, and one locked within this blade. Until he reclaimed the sword, he could never awaken his full strength.
Noir's POV
As he stood lost in thought, contemplating the next steps, he shifted his gaze back to Nimfa.
"So, you're going to walk around like that?" Noir asked, his crimson eyes flicking over her attire.
Nimfa blinked in confusion. "Um... what do you mean?"
She glanced down at her flowing silver-white dress, the fabric shimmering slightly under the sunlight. Is it too flashy for the mortal realm? she wondered, twirling slightly as the hem of her gown fluttered around her.
Noir sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Listen here," he said, his tone edged with mild irritation. "Only nobles wear clothes like that. If we walk into a village looking like this, we'll attract way too much attention."
Noir's Internal Conflict
Fate really threw her into this mess, huh? Noir thought, watching the way she studied her own dress. She wasn't meant to be here... but now that she is, what's going to happen to her?
Nimfa was an angel with no way home—completely out of place in this world. And the more she stayed, the more she would be forced to adapt.
It wasn't his problem. It shouldn't be his problem.
And yet, here he was, handing her a cloak.
Noir pulled a dark cloak from his dimensional pouch—the same place where he kept the book. Without a word, he tossed it over Nimfa, the heavy fabric completely concealing her celestial robes.
"You can wear this until we get you something less... blinding. And keep your wings hidden," he added, his voice low but firm.
Nimfa's POV
Nimfa barely had time to react before the cloak draped over her. The material was warm, slightly worn but comfortable.
She touched the fabric, then her golden eyes flickered to the small pouch at Noir's waist.
"Ah! Is that a dimensional pouch?" she asked, her curiosity immediately piqued.
She had read about them before—artifacts that could store objects in a separate space, unaffected by time or weight. They were rare even in the Celestial Plane.
Before Noir could respond, a massive shadow swept over them.
A deafening ROAR tore through the sky.
Nimfa's breath caught in her throat as she looked up—a monstrous winged beast soared overhead, its talons extended, its eyes locked onto the distant village.
The peaceful afternoon was shattered.
Noir stiffened, his gaze narrowing as he watched the creature descend toward the village.
But his focus wasn't on the beast itself.
It was on something far worse—something only he could see.
Nimfa's POV
"Wow… is that a dragon?" Nimfa gasped, her golden eyes widening in awe. The sheer size of the beast stunned her—it was colossal, its wings powerful enough to stir the air even from a distance. "Where is it headed?"
Her fascination quickly turned to concern.
"Dragons rarely leave their dens unless they're searching for food, during mating season… or if something disturbs their nest."
She had read this in countless celestial tomes, but seeing one in the mortal realm, so close to a village, sent a shiver down her spine.
Noir's POV
The moment Nimfa spoke, a memory struck Noir like a blade to the chest.
A decade ago…
A girl stood before him, her face streaked with tears, her small hands trembling as flames consumed the world around her.
"Save me… Mother!"
Her voice, desperate and raw, echoed in his mind.
"Noir! Noir! Hey!"
Nimfa's voice snapped him back to the present.
His crimson eyes focused, sharp as steel, and followed the dragon's path.
His breath hitched.
The village.
Without another word, he launched himself forward, his body moving on pure instinct. The ground blurred beneath him as he sprinted, leaving Nimfa behind.
Nimfa's POV
"Huh? The village?" Nimfa's heart skipped a beat.
"Wait—Noir!" she called, but he was already a shadow in the distance.
Gritting her teeth, she forced her legs to move, but she wasn't built for speed—fighting, magic, yes… but not running like a madman!
Just then, a presence stirred beside her.
A magnificent deer-like creature, its coat shimmering like woven starlight, emerged from the mist. Its crystal antlers gleamed, and its deep, knowing eyes locked onto hers.
Nimfa's breath caught.
"A-Aetherhart?"
The legendary celestial beast. A creature said to only appear to those whose fates were tied to forces beyond mortality.
The Aetherhart lowered itself before her, its glowing hooves leaving trails of light in the air.
Nimfa swallowed hard. Is this fate?
With a grateful nod, she placed a gentle hand on its side. "Thank you, Aetherhart."
As soon as she mounted, the beast leapt forward, gliding across the land as if carried by the wind itself.
"Woahh!" she gasped, gripping onto its back, the world rushing past her in a blur of silver light.
Noir's POV
"Is the event from then will come true?"
Noir's fists clenched as he pushed himself faster.
The roar of the dragon faded momentarily, but his eyes caught another movement in the forest.
He skidded to a halt, his senses flaring.
The undergrowth shook violently—and then, they emerged.
A goblin horde.
At least twenty of them, their twisted, snarling forms marching toward the village.
"First a dragon. Now goblins. What the hell is going on?"
The lead goblin, larger than the others, spotted Noir standing in their path. Its beady red eyes gleamed with malice as it barked out in its guttural language:
"Kekeke, kakareak!" (Attack him!)
The goblins rushed forward.
Noir exhaled slowly. Tch. What a headache.
With a practiced motion, he pulled his mask down over his face, the air around him growing heavier as his presence shifted.
His right hand moved to his hip.
The single-edged sword slid free.
The first goblin lunged, its rusted dagger aimed at his throat.
Noir sidestepped effortlessly, his blade flashing like a streak of crimson light.
A sickening slice.
Blood splattered the ground. The goblin fell in two.
Nineteen left.
The lead goblin's eyes widened before it shrieked, "Kakarea akaka!" (All of you, attack at once!)
Noir tightened his grip on his blade.
The battle had begun.