The atmosphere between Sire Cain and Nova had grown heavy, almost electric.
Nova was visibly pouting, her arms tightly crossed as she deliberately looked away. Why does he keep staring at me like that? she thought, thoroughly annoyed.
Breaking the silence, Cain looked down at her:
"You are awfully quiet for a young girl your age."
Nova remained silent, merely fuming inside. Says the guy who just ruined a precious moment between a father and his daughter...
"You really are cute... Your name is Nova, right?" Cain pressed with a smirk.
Nova remained silent, observing him from the corner of her eye. He looks so young. How can someone like him be a commander? Unable to hold back any longer, she snapped:
"It's none of your business what my name is. Your job is just to watch over me, that's all."
Cain froze instantly. Nova caught her breath. Don't tell me he's mad? Oops...
The young man stood motionless for a few seconds, his face blank at first, before his features suddenly softened. A genuine, booming laugh escaped his throat.
"Ha ha ha!"
He bent down to talk to Nova, locking his gaze into hers:
"You really are spirited! Tell me... In your eyes, do I look too young to lead knights, is that it?"
Yes, exactly. How did you guess? Nova thought, completely stunned by his perception.
"Hold on, I'll let you in on a secret," he whispered in a conspiratorial tone. "I am the King's son. I just turned seventeen, and everyone at the palace keeps saying I'm far too immature. But make no mistake... I am Loid Cain, and I belong to the elite White Knights."
Nova raised her eyebrows:
"And how does that involve me?"
"Ha ha! I really do like your honesty, kiddo."
Suddenly, a monumental BOOM shook the ground. The sound of a distant explosion ripped through the air, immediately followed by the screams of a panicking crowd.
"What was that?!" Nova jolted.
In the street, people were running in all directions, terrified:
"Run! Everyone run! A monster just appeared at the royal palace!"
Nova's blood ran cold. Her heart clenched in absolute distress.
"Daddy... No! I can't lose you!" she cried out, tears bursting from her eyes.
Cain firmly grabbed Nova's hand. His face no longer looked relaxed; it had turned deathly serious.
"I will bring your father back to you, Nova. I promise."
At that exact moment, three knights in white armor rushed over, dropping to one knee before him:
"Lord Loid! The outsiders are already mobilizing their forces to hold off the monsters. What are your orders? Should we assist them?"
Loid turned a dark, cold glare toward the soldier:
"Can't you see there is a child with me?! Mind your words in front of her!"
Before the guard even had time to apologize, a pure, blinding white glow began to emanate from Cain's body. His eyes started to shine with a celestial brilliance.
What kind of power is this...? Nova thought, both fascinated and terrified.
Loid, enveloped in this magical energy, ordered one of the men:
"Take her far away from here. Protect her."
Then, turning to the rest of his squad:
"As for the rest of you... Let's go."
He cast one last look at Nova, a steady nod of assurance on his lips despite the surrounding chaos:
"Stay safe, Nova..."
With a hiss of energy, his body literally evaporated into thin air, leaving nothing behind but a trail of light.
"Wait! No!" Nova screamed, reaching her hand out into the emptiness.
Her strength suddenly failed her. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness as the remaining knight scooped her up to flee the disaster.
Void. Nothingness. Everything went black.
This time, Nova was floating in absolute darkness. Looking down, she realized she had returned to her current, older form—her true self as she existed in the present.
"Hello...? Daddy? Mommy?" she called out, her voice echoing in the vacuum.
She hesitated, a strange nostalgia gripping her throat:
"... Loid?"
"I hope you like my gift," a mysterious, disembodied voice suddenly whispered, seeming to come from everywhere at once.
Nova threw up her guard, her heart pounding:
"Who's there?! Show yourself! Why are you forcing me to see this?!" she said, her voice shaking with rage and fear.
The invisible voice replied with a cold sweetness:
"I simply wanted to show you what was taken from you... The memories erased in the Kingdom of Arlan. The place where you were raised."
"Memory Archive #1 unlocked."