The Night was dark and cold

The only sounds Noh could hear were the voices of her mother and father, though she had not yet been born

A horse galloped through the forest, it's hooves pounding against the earth.

"we're not going to make it on time!" papa shouted over the wind.

Mama clutched her stomach, her face pale with pain. "the baby... She's coming.."

The horse raced onward, but soon papa pulled on the reins. The exhausted animal came to a stop beside a dense forest.

"there isn't enough time," papa said grimly.

Carefully he helped mama down from the horse. She could barely stand.

Papa looked around desperately before leading her deeper into the forest. Branches scratched at his clothes as he searched for somewhere safe.

Then he saw it.

A crystal-clear pond rested beneath the moonlight.

Swimming within its waters were two beautiful koi fish-one black as midnight, the other white as snow. Together they circled each other like the symbol of yin and yang

Papa's eyes widened.

"the pond.." he whispered.

The water shimmered with an otherworldly glow.

With no other choice, papa gently helped mama into the pond. The water surrounded her, easing her pain.

The yin and yang koi swam closer, their scales sparkling beneath the moon.

Then. As the moonlight reflected across the water, mama gave one final cry.

The baby's cry echoed through the forest

For a moment, everything became still.

The koi fish leaped from the water at the same time, sending silver droplets into the air.

Papa carefully lifted the newborn from the pond.

A baby girl.

Her tiny strands of hair were as white as snow.

Mama smiled weakly as tears filled her eyes.

"she's beautiful..."

Papa looked at the child resting in his arms.

"Noh," he said softly.

The moon shone brightly above them as the koi continued to circle the pond.

As Noh slowly opened her eyes, mama and papa froze.

Her eyes, the lightest blue they've ever seen, shining like tiny moons.

"her eyes... We don't have that eye color" mama said, as her gaze seeped over the hair color that none of them have either.

"is it the koi?" papa thought aloud.

The koi fish didn't stop swirling in the pond. Just continued with the soft circles in the ice cold water.

Papa helped mama out of the water, keeping and arm firmly around her, while the other holds Noh.

The horse, stood perfectly still were paoa had left it. Like it knew they would arrive with something special, something important.

Papa lifted mama onto the horse, then handed Noh to her.

Once again, the horse is moving, walking on the wet mud beneath it while pappa leads.

"what would the village think?" mama asked softly, trying to picture the reactions of the people when they see this unusual looking newborn.

"i..." papa didn't know. And he has a feeling that mama doesn't want to find out aswell.

The morning sun had begun to rise by the time Mama and Papa finally reached the village.

The long journey had exhausted them both. Papa's horse walked slowly along the dirt road while Mama cradled baby Noh in her arms. Wrapped in a soft blanket, the newborn slept peacefully, unaware of the world around her.

At first, everything seemed normal.

Shopkeepers opened their stores. Children played near the wells. Farmers carried baskets of vegetables through the streets.

But the moment people noticed the baby, the atmosphere changed.

Whispers spread through the village like a cold wind.

"Did you see her hair?"

"It's completely white..."

"That's impossible."

Mama lowered her gaze and held Noh closer.

The villagers continued staring.

An old woman standing outside a bakery narrowed her eyes.

"That child looks strange."

Another villager nodded.

"Maybe she's cursed."

"Or blessed."

"What's the difference?" someone muttered.

Papa's jaw tightened.

He hated hearing people speak about his daughter that way.

"Keep walking," Mama whispered gently.

Papa nodded.

Still, the whispers followed them.

Some villagers simply stared with curiosity. Others looked frightened.

A group of children pointed at the sleeping baby.

"Look!"

"Her hair is white!"

"Maybe she's a spirit!"

Their mother quickly pulled them away.

"Don't point."

As they reached the center of the village, Papa noticed people moving aside whenever they approached.

No one said anything directly to them.

But their eyes said enough.

Different.

Strange.

Unwelcome.

Mama looked down at Noh.

The baby slept soundly, her tiny fingers curled around the edge of the blanket.

She looked so peaceful.

So innocent.

Mama couldn't understand why people were judging her just because of her looks.

Eventually, they arrived at their small home near the edge of the village.

It wasn't large.

Just a simple wooden house with a tiny garden.

But it was home.

The moment they stepped inside, Mama sighed with relief.

"We're finally back."

Papa carefully locked the door behind them.

For the first time since Noh's birth, silence filled the room.

No whispers.

No stares.

No judgment.

Just family.

Papa walked over and gently touched Noh's tiny head.

Her white hair shimmered in the sunlight coming through the window.

"She's beautiful," he said.

Mama smiled.

"I know."

A few days passed.

Noh grew stronger with each sunrise.

She rarely cried and often stared quietly at the world around her with her bright blue eyes.

Whenever sunlight touched her white hair, it seemed to glow.

The villagers noticed.

And the rumors grew.

Some claimed the child had been born from a spirit.

Others claimed she had been touched by the moon itself.

One person even insisted they had seen mysterious lights dancing above the forest the night she was born.

The stories became wilder with each telling.

Unfortunately, not all of them were kind.

One evening, Papa returned home from the market carrying supplies.

His expression was darker than usual.

"What happened?" Mama asked.

Papa set the basket down.

"They were talking again."

Mama frowned.

"What did they say this time?"

He hesitated.

"They said our daughter will bring misfortune."

The room became silent.

Mama looked toward Noh, who was sleeping peacefully nearby.

Misfortune?

How could anyone say that about a baby?

Papa clenched his fists.

"I wanted to tell them to stop."

"But you didn't."

"No."

Mama gently took his hand.

"They fear what they don't understand."

Papa sighed.

"That doesn't make it right."

"No," Mama agreed softly. "It doesn't."

That night, while the village slept, a strange thing happened.

Moonlight streamed through Noh's window.

The silver light landed directly upon her crib.

The baby slowly opened her eyes.

For a brief moment, her bright blue eyes reflected the moon like mirrors.

Outside, far beyond the village, deep within the forest where she had been born, the yin and yang koi surfaced from the pond.

The black koi looked toward the village.

The white koi followed.

The water rippled.

The forest became silent.

As though nature itself was watching.

Waiting.

Watching the child who had entered the world beneath the moon.

Watching the girl whom the villagers feared.

Watching Noh.

Because although nobody knew it yet...

The whispers surrounding her birth were only the beginning.

And somewhere beyond the safety of the village, something had already begun to awaken.

Six years had passed since the night Noh was born beneath the moonlit pond.

The tiny newborn with white hair had grown into a curious little girl with bright blue eyes and a mind full of questions.

On a warm afternoon, Noh sat outside her house, drawing patterns in the dirt with a small stick.

Swirls.

Circles.

Shapes that didn't really mean anything.

Or at least, she thought they didn't.

A gentle breeze played with her white hair as she concentrated on her masterpiece.

"There!" she announced proudly to nobody in particular.

The drawing looked absolutely nothing like what she had imagined.

Before she could add anything else, a familiar voice called from the house.

"Noh! Dinner is ready!"

Noh immediately dropped the stick.

"I'm coming, Mama!"

She jumped to her feet and hurried toward the house.

As she walked through the village, people glanced at her.

Some whispered.

Others simply stared.

The same looks she had received ever since she was born.

Noh had grown used to them.

She didn't understand why people looked at her that way, but she no longer cried about it.

Still...

Sometimes it hurt.

A woman standing near a market stall frowned as Noh passed.

Two men stopped talking and watched her.

A child quickly looked away when Noh smiled.

Noh lowered her head and continued walking.

Home was easier.

Home was safe.

When she stepped through the door, the smell of soup filled the room.

Papa was already sitting at the table.

"There she is," he said with a smile.

Noh grinned.

"What's for dinner?"

"Soup."

"Oh."

Papa laughed.

"You sound disappointed."

"Because it's soup again."

Mama placed a bowl in front of her.

"Eat."

Noh immediately began eating.

"Yes, Mama."

The small family sat together, enjoying the simple meal.

Though Noh was an only child, she never felt completely alone.

She had one friend.

Cenji.

Most people thought he was strange.

He rarely smiled.

Rarely laughed.

Rarely showed any emotion at all.

Sometimes Noh wondered if he even blinked.

But he was still her best friend.

After dinner, Noh looked hopefully at her mother.

"Mama?"

"Yes?"

"Can I go play with Cenji?"

Mama smiled softly.

"You may."

Noh's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Really."

Noh jumped from her seat.

But before she could run out the door, Mama pointed a finger at her.

"Be back before sunset."

"I will!"

"You said that yesterday too."

"...I'll try."

"Noh."

"Okay! I'll be back before sunset!"

Satisfied, Mama nodded.

Within seconds, Noh was already outside.

The village was bathed in golden afternoon light as she searched for her friend.

It didn't take long to find him.

Cenji was walking quietly down a path near the center of the village.

As usual, his expression was completely blank.

"Noh."

"Cenji!"

"You are loud."

"You are quiet."

"Correct."

Noh giggled.

"Where are you going?"

"The Elder's tent."

"Oh! Can I come?"

Cenji shrugged.

"I don't control your legs."

"I'll take that as a yes."

Together, they walked toward the largest tent in the village.

Several children were already gathered there.

Inside sat Elder Haku, the oldest person in the village.

His long gray beard reached nearly to his waist.

When he saw the children arriving, he smiled.

"Ah, more listeners."

The children quickly settled down.

Noh sat beside Cenji.

The Elder poked the fire in the center of the tent.

Then he began speaking.

"Today, I shall tell you the story of the Allies."

Immediately, every child became interested.

The Allies.

Everyone had heard the name.

But few knew much about them.

"The Allies," Elder Haku said, "are warriors who protect humanity."

Noh leaned forward.

"Protect us from what?"

The Elder's smile faded.

"From the Beasts."

The tent grew quiet.

Even the fire seemed to crackle more softly.

"The Beasts are creatures that resemble humans," the Elder continued. "They walk on two legs. They speak. They think."

"Then why are they called Beasts?" Noh asked.

"Because they possess the power and instincts of animals."

The children exchanged nervous glances.

The Elder continued.

"Some possess the strength of tigers."

"Tigers?" one child gasped.

The Elder nodded.

"Others have the speed of panthers."

"The agility of leopards."

"The cunning of foxes."

"The loyalty and hunting instincts of dogs."

"The stealth of cats."

Noh listened carefully.

"But among all Beasts..."

The Elder's expression darkened.

"There is one type feared above all others."

The tent became completely silent.

"The Wolves."

Several children swallowed nervously.

Even Noh felt a chill.

"The Wolf Beasts are the strongest. Faster than horses. Stronger than bears. More dangerous than any other Beast."

The fire crackled loudly.

"So who stops them?" Noh asked.

The Elder smiled.

"The Allies."

He pointed toward the mountains visible through the tent entrance.

"The Allies train their entire lives to protect villages and cities from Beasts."

"They fight."

"They sacrifice."

"And they stand between humanity and destruction."

Noh's eyes sparkled.

Warriors.

Heroes.

Protectors.

For the first time, something deep inside her stirred.

A feeling she couldn't explain.

A feeling that made her heart beat faster.

Beside her, Cenji remained expressionless.

Yet even he seemed more interested than usual.

The Elder looked at the children.

"Remember this."

His voice became serious.

"Without the Allies, humanity would not survive."

Outside, the sun slowly began its descent toward the horizon.

And as Noh listened to the stories of heroes and monsters, she had no idea that one day...

Her own name would become part of those stories.