Landscape of Sorrow
Once upon a time, in a small village near the border of a certain country, there lived a young boy.
The boy's name was Lucas.
Lucas worked as the village gatekeeper, but he had another important duty.
That was to watch over a demon girl sealed within a small shrine deep in the village.
The girl's name was—No. 09.
That was not a name, but a number.
She was a 'weapon' created by the Demon King long ago.
If the seal were broken, she would become a monster that would destroy everything.
And in the end—she was destined to disappear.
But Lucas never thought of her as a 'weapon'.
The girl would always pick flowers in the old flower field on the outskirts of the village and look up at the sky with Lucas.
"Hey, Lucas."
"Hmm?"
"Am I really 'No. 09'?"
"That's not a name."
"Then... will you give me a name?"
Luca thought for a moment and smiled.
"...How about Noa?"
"Noa?"
"I took it from No. 09 (Number Nine). Isn't it cute?"
The girl smiled softly.
"...Noa. I like it."
From then on, Noa and Luca spent their days together.
While working as the village gatekeeper, Luca made flower crowns for Noa.
Noa would take Luca's hand and run through the flower fields.
"You are not a weapon."
"You're just a cute girl."
—However, that peace did not last long.
One day, a large army from a distant country approached the village.
They numbered in the thousands.
The village was immediately surrounded, and there was no time to escape.
The villagers were trembling.
If things continue like this, the village will be destroyed...
Luca gripped his sword.
But—
Luca.
Noah emerged quietly from the shrine.
Her red eyes were fixed directly on Luca.
...Noah?
Luca, break my seal.
No!
Please... you can do it, Luca.
But if I break the seal... you will...!
That is fine. I will protect you, Luca.
Noah was smiling.
With a smile that was very gentle, yet full of sorrow.
Lucas's hands tremble.
Tears spill over.
"......I will save you. I will definitely save you......!"
Lucas gently placed his hand on Noah's forehead.
"......Seal, release."
At that moment, light burst forth.
Black patterns raced across Noah's small body.
Silver hair danced in the air, and the light faded from his red eyes.
From his back, sharp black wings sprouted, and his arms transformed into black claws.
--A monster stood on the battlefield.
The soldiers screamed and pointed their swords.
Noah simply swung his hand quietly.
The swords shattered, and the soldiers were blown away.
Arrows rain down.
They do not reach Noah.
The arrows are engulfed in black flames and burn to ash.
"Noah... stop...!"
Luca screams.
Noah looks at Luca with tears in his eyes.
"...I can't stop it anymore..."
Even so, Noah protected the village until the very end.
Alone, he struck down an army of thousands.
Black claws tore through the enemy's banners,
and black flames melted the enemy's swords.
And when it was all over—
Noah stood before Luca.
Tears were spilling from his eyes.
"...I'm sorry."
"Noah..."
"I can't go back anymore..."
Lucas hugged Noah.
"Don't go, Noah...!"
"...Thank you, Lucas."
Noah's body began to crumble quietly.
Her arms turned to ash and drifted away.
"Thank you... for giving me... a name..."
Noah smiled one last time and—
—vanished.
Lucas just sat there.
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
Eventually, Lucas found a small white flower where Noah had been.
Lucas gently picked the flower.
"Noah..."
The flower came to be passed down as the guardian deity of the village.
When spring arrives, white flowers bloom all over the village.
People called it this:
--The "Flower of Sealing."