Kingdom Festival
Dad kept his promise, and here we are at this festival.
"I don't remember attending this kind of festival with my father... It's so strange. My childhood memories are so blurry, almost incomprehensible."
Snapping Nova out of her thoughts, her father's warm voice echoed:
"Are you alright, sweetheart?"
"Yes, Daddy," Nova replied, forcing her tone to sound natural to hide her confusion.
Her father's gaze landed on a colorful stall a bit further down. His eyes lit up:
"Oh, look, my princess! Those are your favorite sweets. Come on, I'll buy you some!"
They approached the street vendor. Her father counted a few coins into his hand:
"Excuse me, sir, how much for these?"
"Seven gold pieces, sir," the vendor replied with a practiced smile.
"Alright, I'll take two. Thank you."
While the exchange was being made, Nova's mind was spinning at full speed. Why is my mind completely blank? Why don't I remember any of this?
"Here you go, Nova, take it."
Nova grabbed the candy, brought it to her lips, and offered her father a polite smile:
"Thank you, Daddy."
Suddenly, the heavy, metallic thud of rhythmic footsteps shook the ground. A squad of men in gleaming armor parted the crowd, marching with military precision toward them. The squad leader stopped right in front of her father.
"Sir, the King requires your services immediately. Please follow us without delay."
Troubled and visibly caught off guard, Nova's father cast an anxious glance at his daughter before replying:
"Come now... I am with my daughter today.
Can you tell the King that I will present myself at the palace first thing tomorrow morning?"
The royal guard didn't flinch, his expression remaining stone-faced:
"Negative. It is an absolute emergency."
The atmosphere grew heavy. It was then that a young man of imposing stature stepped forward. At the mere sight of him, the armored soldiers instantly stepped aside with deference to clear a path. An enigmatic smile floated on his lips. He fixed his gaze on Nova before addressing her father:
"Do not worry about your daughter. She will remain under my protection until you return."
Nova's father turned slightly pale at the sight of him. His lips trembled as he whispered:
"Sire... Loid..."
Nova, sensing the gravity of the moment, locked eyes with her father and gave a slight nod to indicate that she would be fine and that he could go. Reassured but with a heavy heart, Nova's father resigned himself:
"Very well, I will follow you. But I implore you, take great care of my daughter."
The royal guard immediately flanked Nova's father to escort him through the city, leaving the young girl alone with this mysterious man. Sire Cain looked down at her, an unreadable glint deep in his eyes.
In her little girl's mind, a single question obsessed Nova: What on earth is happening here?