Author's Notes: I wrote this poem after listening to Yuki Kajiura's "Canta
Per Me" (Kirika's theme) on her "Fiction" album. I then remembered an
ancient poem from Ancient Egypt called "The Thunder, Perfect Mind". It is a
poem about paradoxes, and it occurred to me that the maidens of Noir are a
living contradiction. In particular, I remembered part of the poem used on
the Tarot Card "The Pope". The line is: I am sinless, and yet all sin comes
from me. This reminded me of the message in the Soldats' Book, so I wrote
this poem. This is my image of the Two Maidens who govern Death.

AA

Those who govern Death

Maidens born from sin
Guarding those who cower in fear
Two sheltering cloaks against cold night
Pure
And yet the root of all darkness
These sentries known as Noir

For some, they are saviors
For others the blade of an executioner
The protectors and killers of the people
Those maidens who named themselves Noir

Nurturers who shield the newly born
Drying the tears of the orphans of war
And at a turn of events become killers
Living in eternal paradox
These angels under the mantle Noir

As old as the Soldats from which they were born
Forever loyal to their symbolic fathers
And yet they are those who slaughter their kin
These demons known as Noir

Forever alive in the hearts of mankind
A name whispered among those who deal in death
A legend long forgotten by man
The immortal force called Noir

Yin and Yang embodying two
The chaos of the cosmos contained within
Turmoil hidden behind glittering swords
Maidens who serve both dark and light
The forever damned souls of Noir

Fin