Emerging from a cocoon in the village of Old Home, a young Haibane—a creature possessing a halo and small gray wings—awakens to a world she cannot comprehend, devoid of memories of her past. She is named Rakka after the dream of falling she experienced while inside the cocoon, and she gradually grows accustomed to life in the peculiar town. However, strict regulations govern the Haibane, including prohibitions against leaving the village or approaching the walls that encircle it. These restrictions, combined with the mysterious disappearances of their kind on their "Day of Flight," begin to unsettle Rakka and the others, as they know almost nothing about their own nature. As Rakka and the other Haibane navigate their lives without past memories, they attempt to break free from their former pain and ultimately seek salvation.