About 150+ years ago.

　Mewi North Pier, a divine country.
　A fresh green lake.

　Naaschenka, soon to be 17 years old, was alone in the lake, touching the surface of the water for no reason.

　She makes ripples and then scratches them away with her index finger, and when the water becomes calm, she makes another ripple. When the surface of the water is calm, it makes ripples again.
　He kept repeating this process.

'Naaschenka, I'm here again.

Sister....

　Guinevere appeared from the forest path.
　She was a beautiful figure with sunset-colored hair and clear skin.
　She is a perfect match for Naaschenka.

The priest wants to see you. Come on, let's go back.

Yes.

　Naaschenka left the lakeside with her sister, looking somber and gloomy.



*



　The Kingdom of God was a prosperous nation based on the Adam's religion.
　The two fathers had an aspect of being kings, while they were also priests.
　But much of the day is spent as a priest, often in the altar - the ritual hall - which is located in a section of the monastery.

　The altar is the place where rituals are performed.
　A great number of coffins are regularly arranged by the walls.
　The only light comes from candles on pillars and altars.

Naaschenka, the ceremony is less than a month away. How do you feel?

It's a very sacred feeling.

Good. This is indeed a sacred ceremony, O Naaschenka. Before he died, the founding mage, Master Adams, made a pact with the ancient dragons that he would sacrifice the body of a sacred virgin every hundred years so that they would not touch the human world. The coffins here belong to the nuns who have been sacrificed every hundred years so far. And now, you are offering your body to the old dragon so that we, our people, and the people of this world can live another 100 years in peace. This world has been held together by their lives, unknown to mankind.

Yes, sir.

Very well. Then, Naaschenka, until the day of the ceremony, you may continue to practice as you have done until the day of the ceremony.

　Naaschenka rose to one knee and left the altar.
　Guinevere followed quietly behind her.

　Nurschenka's mind is understandably a complicated one.
　Who would want to come forward for a sacrifice, etc.?

　Of course, he didn't come forward.
　The person to be sacrificed was decided by a soothsayer and announced by the priest.
　How many people shed tears and rejoiced on the day when Nastienka was chosen?

　The princess's sister, Naschenka's room is located at the top of the tower that dominates the hospital.
　She was looking out of the window of her room at the city.
　Her profile spoke volumes about her state of mind.
　It was not clear.

'Naaschenka.'

　Guinevere closed the door that had been left open and came into the room.

'I thought it might save you a little if you thought their lives depended on me.

　Naaschenka said in a sad tone of voice.

''.........''

I don't think there's anything I can do about it. There are things that no one can do anything about, right?

....

'But ... what will my 100 years be? A hundred years of their lives are certainly precious. But my life...

Nurse Chenka...

　Guinevere couldn't find the words to put to her.
　She could only stare at her sister's back.

''I know......... What an ugly person I am........

....

Forgive me. Sister.....

　Guinevere hugged her sister from behind.
　Naaschenka could hear her sister sobbing.

'I won't let you die I'll ... I'll do something about it.

Sister....

　They couldn't stop crying for a while.



*



　There is a legend about the New Green Lake.
　Once upon a time, the legend says that a dragon that attacked the town escaped.

　But now it is the home of Naaschenka.
　It was no exaggeration.
　She liked this place without any particular thought.

　Surrounded by shallow, dense fog and trees, there was no sound of birds chirping around.
　No one came near the lake, which was as cold as a winter morning.
　Above all, the country is private property here.
　It's not open to the public.

　Naaschenka watched the water quietly as she put one foot in the lake.
　There was no Guinevere here today and nothing could be heard but her own breath.

'I can see why legends are born...'

　Naaschenka smiled, quietly inhaling the scent of the forest as she was engulfed by the atmosphere of the lake, which seemed to isolate her from the world below.

　But she heard the sound of water popping on the surface of the water, and was knocked unconscious.
　It was a faint sound.
　But there were no fish in the lake, not even fish, and no birds or other things flying away in the sky above, so it was odd to hear sounds other than the ones I was making.
　The end of the lake was obscured by a thick fog.

　Naschenka narrowed her eyes.
　But he immediately felt funny and smiled.
　You'll be able to see that there is no one else in the house.
　You'll be able to find a lot more information on the subject, and you'll be able to find a lot more information on the subject.
　But that soon turned into a sigh.

　This moment is just an illusion until the ceremony takes place.
　Because that's what I thought.

　And suddenly Naaschenka's eyes widened.
　Her gaze turned to the side of the lake.
　Because there was a nude woman's figure there, exposing her pure white, translucent skin.

　Naaschenka's eyes and breath were taken away by the figure of the woman who was wringing her wet white hair.

　After a while, the other side also noticed Naaschenka.
　A bouncing eye with slit white lashes peeked out from the bare face that was visible.

''A ... human.''

　Her mouth moved as if she had uttered something.
　But Naaschenka didn't hear it.

'I'm sorry, too!'

　Naaschenka came to herself and stood up and hurriedly turned her back to her.

　The woman gave a small smile at her reaction.

　Naaschenka clutched his chest, saying he had been rude, and waited for a response from her.
　Then he heard the sound of stomping on the grass and the sound stopped behind him as he felt it gradually approaching.

'If you want to see it, go ahead.'

　Naaschenka's heartbeat increased at the sound of his voice.

'Because I wouldn't think anything of it if a human had seen me.

...humans?

　The word stuck with Naaschenka.
　She looked back at him cautiously, wondering.

''....''

　There was a fantastic woman there, divinely white and fantastic.

'You have a beautiful face, don't you?' The woman said.

'Oh no, no!　You're the one, and you're very beautiful...

Hmmm ... you flatter me.

'I'm flattered! ...Oh, no?　I mean it....

　Suddenly, Naaschenka turned over.
　He turned his back to her, looking down.
　She remembered the ritual again.
　She tried not to pay attention to it, but it was impossible.

　The woman stared at her back with cold eyes.

'You are the sacrifice this time, aren't you?'

　Naaschenka's downcast expression changed at the woman's words.

'This is a great place for you guys to distract yourselves... I know. I don't know how many people have come here before and dreamed of tomorrow like that.......

　Naaschenka turned slowly.
　He turned a question and a faint fear against her profile as she looked at the lake.

'Coming here will distract you from your fear of death. Right?

....

　Why does the woman in front of me know this?
　The ritual is performed in secret.
　The people are never informed about the subject of the sacrifice.
　In this country, a woman who has a room in a convent, be it a princess or her sister, never shows her true face to the people.
　They may go into town, but they do not tell others of their identity.

''Who, sir...?''

　Naaschenka forgot to mend.

'Once in a hundred years, I believe, right?'

　The woman asks as she walks around the lake.

'Sometimes I meet and talk like this ... and talk ... about how you guys can't quite accept death.

....

You're lying?

Yeah.

　Naaschenka is confused by the sudden words.
　I hear the words.
　But I don't know where the "lie" is pointing to.
　What is the lie--.

'Whether you die or live, there will be no dragons coming for you.

　Naaschenka was puzzled.
　What did it mean?

''....Why?''

　Naaschenka's "why" has multiple meanings.
　One is why do you know or know about such things?
　Two, why do you tell yourself such a story?
　And thirdly, if it is true, why is such a lie being told?

　Naschenka trusted the woman in that moment.
　She herself doesn't know why she trusts him, although she has her doubts.
　It was a strange feeling, as if a mere mysterious white figure had stolen her thoughts.

'But no one will believe you it's human nature. Even a lie can become the truth if you keep on lying. The first king of this country used his faith to make himself happy. --One day, the dragon will appear. They will come to destroy their lives. Just follow your covenant and you will be buried forever on Judgment Day and your people will be saved... isn't it strange?　When did we ever want the body of a human virgin?

....

　Naaschenka gradually opened her eyes.
　Because two large wings were sprouting from the woman's back.

'You are...'

　White wings protected by silver scales.

'Dragons? .....

　The wings flapped lightly, sending the fog to the edge of the lake and agitating Naaschenka's dress.

'I've been here all this time, and yet you humans haven't been killed. And none of you humans have been killed, have you?

....

'What do you want me to eat you for?

　The woman laughed.
　She laughed with amused innocence.

　Naaschenka was frightened for a moment.

'Just kidding, we dragons don't eat people. We eat no differently than you humans do. We eat bread and drink wine.'

Who are you...?

You want to hear it?

Yeah.

'Sometimes when you are dying, you hear old stories from me here, and then you die in vain. And then you die in vain, according to human custom.

....

What do you want to hear?　They are scared of dragons because long ago I myself attacked the humans of this land. I lived in this place with my brother...

　The woman seemed to want to talk.
　Naaschenka tried to listen to the woman's voice, which was somewhat lonely.
　Gradually the tension eased.

　They were sitting by the lake.

''My ... brother liked humans.''

　Once upon a time, there was a white dragon named Gwynn.
　He chose to live in the middle of nowhere, hoping to coexist with people.

　He had a younger sister - Tinker Bell.

My name is Tinker ... Tinker Bell Bechinsky.

　Tinker admired her brother and respected him.
　So she respected her brother's ideas and together they chose to live with others in this land.

But it didn't last long.

　One person realized who Gwynn was.
　It was his best friend.

　Gwynn had convinced him.
　He accepted that persuasion and Gwynn's ideas.

'But it was an ad hoc thing...'

　A man rallied the village and attacked Gwynn in her sleep one deep night and set the house on fire.

'He stabbed my brother with a hoe. Over and over again my brother, who had been stabbed, jumped into the fire to save me when I was still in the house I still remember. Do you have any idea what my brother said to me at that time?

....

'My brother loved humans he still tried to love them. When he was dying he told me not to kill people and he died saying that to me and I survived and--

　The humans, who had gained peace of mind by killing Gwynn, built a town here.

'I killed all the humans in the town I was supposed to....

Was that before the birth of the Kingdom of God?

Yes. One of the townspeople survived. It's an observer's prank or something and the one who survived was my brother's best friend. The people were celebrating him for killing his brother. They made him king and thereby created a nation in this land. People who are kings have good reason to be. I ... couldn't kill him.

Why didn't you... why didn't you kill him?

It's over.

　Tinker stood up.

'Wait!'

　But Naaschenka wanted to know why.

'Please tell me ... why you didn't kill him.

You sound as if you wish I had killed you.

That's not why I'm here...

"...my brother let me go and I survived because of him.

　At the time, Tinker was young and not yet powerful enough to be a threat to people.

'I fled to this forest. The fog was deep and this forest was uninhabited from then on. That's why this forest is off-limits now, isn't it?　It was the same when there was a town. Eaten by the forest-- That was the rumor that started it. It was my brother's best friend who started the rumor.

What do you mean by that?

I don't know...

....

'I was protected by him ... in no small part. Even after he attacked the town, he never came to kill me, even though he knew I was in the forest. Even after the country was born and he became king he forbade me to even enter the forest.

Is that why you didn't kill him?

'No I was going to kill him, but still. I stood at the window to kill him, and I stood at the window to attack the sleeper like he had done to us. He realized it was me right away. Then he pleaded, kill me......... He was already tired of living. He regretted killing his brother, he said he was waiting for the day when I would come and kill him so he could be relieved of the pain of living. That's ... why I didn't kill him.

....

'I couldn't forgive him. I couldn't forgive him, but then.... then I saw him in his old age. His youthful and fearless appearance, which had been clearly visible even from a distance, suddenly became the appearance of an old man.

....

'Humans don't live long enough. I did not realize that he was old. You were blinded by all your hatred. ...I did not kill him, I disappeared from his presence. See, there was no mention of a pact with the old dragon anywhere, was there?　That's the truth.

"...and Master Tinker...

'Not on Tink. I don't mind being called names by humans.

So Tink. Why are you still in the land?

....

If that means I'm forgiven.

'Maybe he hasn't forgiven me I don't know. There's nowhere else to go. I'm just keeping an eye on things. My brother said he was my best friend, and what happens to this country he left behind. So, what are you going to do?　You believed my story, didn't you?

Yes yes. I believe I can do it.

We all do.

What do you mean by ... everyone?

The value of dragons is much higher than that of humans. That's why you take our word for it, even if it's a lie. Most of them are all the same.

Oh no...

Don't worry, I don't lie like a human being.

"Wow, I wouldn't lie to you either!

....

　Tinker was surprised when Naschenka suddenly let out a loud voice.

'Hahahahahaha!'

What's so funny?

'You seem to be in good spirits despite the fact that death is imminent. Come to think of it, I haven't heard your name, have I?

...Nurse Cenka.

....

"...Oh, thank you. For teaching me.

You can run if you want. It's a national affair and there are plenty of alternatives. If you don't die, someone else will probably die, but then again, that person can just run away too. You don't have to go along with pointless customs.

Is that what you've been saying all this time?

Well yes. But running away isn't easy either. They won't allow a sacrifice to escape.

　Naaschenka's expression, which had softened, intensified.
　As she looks down, her thoughts go in all the wrong directions.

''What should I do........''

Think for yourself. I'll see you then.

You can do it!

　But when he looked up, Tinker was not there.

'You can save me, can't you? .....

　To the lake, where there is no sign, Naaschenka lets the words slip out.
　With a lonely thought--.

''........''

　Naaschenka recalls Tinker's words.

　Until now, she had never thought of running away.
　For the first time, she began to think about running away.

　But that night, she happens to hear it.







　Midnight--all the lights in the monastery have been dimmed and it is much darker than the deep forest.

　All the lights in the monastery have been dimmed and the place is much darker than a deep forest.
　But it's just the right amount of darkness to stir and whisper.
　This darkness is also the perfect time for the wishy-washy ones.

　Naschenka was walking down the corridor in the darkness.
　The sound of his footsteps would echo from one end of the corridor to the other and even into the corridors if he were to proceed wildly.
　With a small candle in hand, her steps were quiet.

　She slipped out of the room to meet her sister.
　All to report her escape.
　Whatever she was thinking, she had chosen the middle of the night instead of the daytime.

'--Nursechenka is going in and out of the forest.

　The voice that came from somewhere made Naaschenka stop in her tracks and catch her breath.

　It came from the room with the altar.
　She would have to pass through this room to get to the bedroom with Guinevere.

'What about it?'

　The voice sounds like an old woman who has been snatched up.
　This is the prophet's.
　Naaschenka heard it distinctly.

'Often, sir, and I think you are thinking of an escape plan.

　This is Deanna's, Naaschenka thought.

　She and Deanna were the eldest daughters in years.
　Naschenka was the third daughter and Deanna would be the older sister to them both.

'No way...'

　This is the priest's.

If you run away, use Guinevere.

　The Oracle said.
　Then Diana asks.

'Then what will you do if Guinevere escapes?　They're close in age and always together. It's not an impossible story.

Then we'll have to go after them with all our forces.

What do you mean?

　The priest asks, "What is the meaning of this prophecy?

The priest asks him: "Prophecy is absolute. ─ The prophecy is absolute. There is no other person to replace her. They will have to die here, that is the prophecy. But if nothing happens, there is no need for Guinevere.

　The priest was in deep doubt.

''........If Naaschenka doesn't die, what in the world is going to happen?''

It's a--

　Naaschenka went back to her room, under her breath.