OVA
Description
Norah Arendt, also known as Nora, is a shepherdess from the church town of Ruvinheigen, skilled in her work and accompanied by a well-trained sheepdog named Enek, her most loyal companion and closest friend. She is an attractive young maiden with blonde hair often tied in a small ponytail, dark brown eyes, and an honorably impoverished countenance marked by naivety and servility. She typically dresses in modest brown and white clothing, dons a light brown robe for work, and carries a shepherd's staff. During her travels, she once went barefoot outside towns to save her shoes until she obtained a good pair of sandals.
Orphaned and without relatives, Norah spent much of her childhood in a Church convent annex that also served as an almshouse. At around ten years old, the almshouse lost its land to a swindler, leaving her homeless. Soon after, she found Enek wounded and carrying a shepherd’s staff. Nursing him back to health, she learned shepherding and regained employment with the Church. Her unusual skill in guiding and protecting flocks drew suspicion from church officials, who began to suspect witchcraft. Her employment shifted from charity to surveillance, with her supervising priest repeatedly assigning her to lead dangerously small flocks into hazardous areas to test her abilities.
Initially, Norah is lonely, soft-spoken, reserved, and hardworking—polite and compassionate, yet naive regarding her employers' intentions. Beneath this exterior lies considerable courage, resiliency, and compassion. A turning point occurs when she meets Kraft Lawrence and Holo on the St. Metrogius pilgrimage road, where she performs a traditional shepherd's blessing. This encounter leads to her involvement in a gold-smuggling scheme after Lawrence falls into deep debt. Learning of her church superiors' corruption and mistrust, she agrees to participate despite severe risks. She successfully smuggles gold past inspection points by hiding it inside her sheep's bells, clearing Lawrence's debt and securing funds for her own emancipation.
With the proceeds, she gains the means to leave Ruvinheigen and pursue her dream of becoming a tailor in the town of Kuskov, fostering a more independent and brave aspect of her personality. She holds deep trust and fondness for Kraft Lawrence, who becomes her most trusted friend and later the object of a crush. Her relationship with Holo begins strained due to Holo's inherent dislike of shepherds as natural enemies of wolves. Through shared experiences during the smuggling operation and after Norah helps care for Holo during an illness, they overcome their differences and form a friendship, though a slight sense of rivalry and jealousy from Holo regarding Lawrence's affection remains. Norah also becomes one of the few people fully aware of Holo's true identity as a wolf deity.
Some time later, she shares a dinner with Lawrence and Holo in a private inn room where Holo collapses from fatigue and fever. Norah assists in caring for her recovery, leading to further friendly interactions during which Norah becomes more talkative. Beyond basic shepherding, she excels at guiding and protecting flocks through dangerous routes, skillfully managing Enek to ward off threats. She is also accustomed to greeting and blessing travelers with an ancient traditional greeting.
Orphaned and without relatives, Norah spent much of her childhood in a Church convent annex that also served as an almshouse. At around ten years old, the almshouse lost its land to a swindler, leaving her homeless. Soon after, she found Enek wounded and carrying a shepherd’s staff. Nursing him back to health, she learned shepherding and regained employment with the Church. Her unusual skill in guiding and protecting flocks drew suspicion from church officials, who began to suspect witchcraft. Her employment shifted from charity to surveillance, with her supervising priest repeatedly assigning her to lead dangerously small flocks into hazardous areas to test her abilities.
Initially, Norah is lonely, soft-spoken, reserved, and hardworking—polite and compassionate, yet naive regarding her employers' intentions. Beneath this exterior lies considerable courage, resiliency, and compassion. A turning point occurs when she meets Kraft Lawrence and Holo on the St. Metrogius pilgrimage road, where she performs a traditional shepherd's blessing. This encounter leads to her involvement in a gold-smuggling scheme after Lawrence falls into deep debt. Learning of her church superiors' corruption and mistrust, she agrees to participate despite severe risks. She successfully smuggles gold past inspection points by hiding it inside her sheep's bells, clearing Lawrence's debt and securing funds for her own emancipation.
With the proceeds, she gains the means to leave Ruvinheigen and pursue her dream of becoming a tailor in the town of Kuskov, fostering a more independent and brave aspect of her personality. She holds deep trust and fondness for Kraft Lawrence, who becomes her most trusted friend and later the object of a crush. Her relationship with Holo begins strained due to Holo's inherent dislike of shepherds as natural enemies of wolves. Through shared experiences during the smuggling operation and after Norah helps care for Holo during an illness, they overcome their differences and form a friendship, though a slight sense of rivalry and jealousy from Holo regarding Lawrence's affection remains. Norah also becomes one of the few people fully aware of Holo's true identity as a wolf deity.
Some time later, she shares a dinner with Lawrence and Holo in a private inn room where Holo collapses from fatigue and fever. Norah assists in caring for her recovery, leading to further friendly interactions during which Norah becomes more talkative. Beyond basic shepherding, she excels at guiding and protecting flocks through dangerous routes, skillfully managing Enek to ward off threats. She is also accustomed to greeting and blessing travelers with an ancient traditional greeting.