The Loop [NOEL]

The story begins again after the end.

As Leon had said to Noel, he really appeared in the future.

However, the glitch stole the fragments of Noel’s memory. She remembered a few things but not all.

She remembers Leon, she remembers the other world but she didn’t remember the red-eyed shadow. She didn’t remember the things that were too crucial.

Just like that, the events continued and moved in a similar way, as Leon’s viewpoint shows.

Everything went on just like before. She welcomes Leon every day. They go on a quest together. Uncle’s training. The banquet. The dance. The kiss. The triplets. The lizardmen, They venture to ruin. Uncle’s past. Everything folded just like Leon’s experience.

Then…at last as the comet struck the world. Noel regained her missing fragments of memory. She battled the red-eyed shadow along with Leon. She says she will appear again in Leon’s future. She dies at the hands of a red-eyed shadow that was unknown to her.

Just like that the cycle repeats. The story continues in a loop without Noel or Leon realizing it.

But then…

In the one-hundred-and-eighth loop, something shifted.

Noel and Leon are battling the angel-winged red-eyed shadow in Leon’s world. Just like before, Leon is impaled and leaves his message to Noel.

Noel wakes up. She is overwhelmed by emotions. Then…

Unlike previous times, something emerges within her mind. A whisper.

“Golden trees under the violet skies”

A voice of a middle-aged man. It was just for a moment.

Noel rushes towards the place. It is the place where Leon will start appearing in the coming future.

And then… something stirred.

A strange heat bloomed in her chest. Not searing, but vibrant. Alive.

She gasped softly.

Her hand moved over her heart.

And there, just beneath her collarbone. She felt it.

Something was there.

She looked down.

The pendant.

Her eyes widened.

The same pendant that Leon had gifted her on the train. A reminiscing reminder of love and memory.

She is confused, something that should not exist in this world was right before her.

She takes out the pendant and holds it out in the sky.

It glows. It emits an otherworldly radiant shine.

Then, it appears again…

The glitch.

Bzzt…

The entire world distorts, and everything jitters but the pendant protects Noel.

Finally, Noel is able to experience and see the glitch itself. She is taken back as the entire world distorts.

Then…waves of memories surge into Noel’s mind out of nowhere. Memories of previous times. Memories of previous experiences. The entire one hundred and eighth experiences.

Noel is overwhelmed by it. She is not able to comprehend anything. Her breath becomes uneven. Her entire body trembles.

It was too much.

Too much pain. Too much love. Too much loss. Too much joy. Too much everything.

Tears flow down her eyes. She didn’t even know she was trapped in a loop.

But why now? Why this time? What had changed? What was the pendant? What force had defied the cycle?

Before she should think anymore…

The collision of the glitch and the barrier grew unstable.

It created a fracture in the veil.

CRACKLE.

SHATTER.

BOOM.

Everything was swallowed.

Everything turned white.

…

…

…

Then…there was a light.

We see something. A place filled with mist and clouds.

Subtle footsteps.

We see Large radiant divine feathered wings.

Long silver-haired. They are tending a garden filled with white flowers.

As they pour a radiant divine essence, the flower bloomed in seconds. It's not forcing the flower to bloom, It's just pouring life into it.

Another figure emerges at the back. Similar wings.

“How much time has passed since you came here?” A bold middle-aged man’s voice.

The angel tending the white flower turns back.

It is Noel. She is an angel now. With an expressionless face and a subtle glow in her eyes. Even though she poured life into the flowers before, it seems like there is no life in her eyes.

It's like she has lost herself.

She replies, “What are you talking about? We are the creations of Levedin. How could we even remember when we originated?”

We see the angle she is interacting with. White-haired, middle-aged man. A familiar figure. “Noel…Have I ever told you my name?”

Noel, “No, because you were under detention for breaching a clause long ago. We never had reason to interact properly.”

“And what if I told you I’m about to break it again?”

Noel, “Then, I shall stop you in any way possible”

He smirks, “Then, what if I tell you it’s related to you?”

She repeated it in a whisper. “Okay…”

He met her gaze.

“Father of Leon Walder.”

Her eyes widened.

The air fell still.

“Leon… Where have I heard that name before?”

His face darkened.

Leica frowns his brows, “The daughter of Marquis Redlaw was this weak? To fall for a fabricated reality once again?”

There it was.

The first fracture.

In her eyes, the subtle divine light flickered.

“Do you really not remember the time you spent with Leon? Do you truly not remember the path you chose? The promise you made? The life you lived?”

Her breath wavered.

“Do you think I poured all my divinity into saving you just to watch you forget? To watch you become another cog in their cycle?”

She staggered back slightly.

The fragments of memories return.

Then a group of angels approaches them. “Leica, what are you doing? Are you again interfering against their desires?”

Leica doesn’t pay any attention to them but to only Noel.

“Go on. Find your real destiny. Reach the outcome you desire.”

He creates a swirling current of smoky, translucent energy.

“This shall guide you so get moving”

Noel nods and runs off. The angels try to stop her but Leica blocks their way.

Amidst the run, the wings and the subtle glow in Noel's eyes just crumbles away. Noel is back to her true self.

A large group of celestial bodies charge at Noel to apprehend her. She is flustered.

Then, suddenly a wave of energy paralyzes the entire force. Noel is confused but she doesn’t stop running.

Then…she sees a floating black-eyed and long black-haired angel who probably caused it. She smiles at Noel.

Noel runs and runs until she reaches a certain point.

The guiding magic faded.

And she stopped.

She had arrived.

A final clearing, suspended in the firmament of the celestial.

At its center, a lone figure sat in stillness.

They rose slowly, their form towering, clad in the armor of the divine. They held out a hand and from nothing, a spear of light emerged.

Noel realizes its identity.

It turns back to Noel. Glowing red eyes.

It was the red-eyed shadow.