Future First , Vol 1

CHAPTER 5: ECHOES FROM THE PAST - Final Part

Nova stood alone in the dimly lit room, her expression distant and haunted. The flickering candle on the table cast eerie shadows, mirroring the darkness that loomed within her. Memories long suppressed began to resurface, pulling her back into the painful recesses of her past.

In her mind's eye, Nova found herself transported to the opulent halls of the Pestov estate, her childhood home. The air was heavy with the weight of her parents' expectations, their presence looming over her like a suffocating shadow.

From a young age, Nova was never allowed to be a child. Her father, Lord Pestov, a powerful and ruthless figure, had decreed that she was to be raised as a pure spirit force killing machine. Her days were consumed by grueling training sessions, devoid of love or warmth, where failure was met with harsh punishment.

Her father's voice echoed through the corridors, cold and unyielding. "You are Pestov. You must surpass all others in the mastery of the spirit force. You have no room for weakness."

Her mother, a distant figure lost in her own grief, offered no solace. She had long ago resigned herself to her husband's cruel ambitions, leaving Nova to navigate the treacherous waters of her training alone.

As the years passed, Nova's humanity slowly eroded. Emotion was a luxury she could not afford, compassion a weakness she dare not display. Her sole purpose became hunting down and eliminating those with spirit force abilities, her heart growing colder with each life she extinguished.

But beneath the facade of an emotionless killing machine, Nova harbored a deep-seated longing. She yearned for a taste of normalcy, for the chance to be free from the shackles of her father's expectations. She longed for love, for connection, for a life untainted by violence.

The memories became fragmented, disjointed flashes of pain and isolation. The weight of her father's ambitions crushed her spirit, leaving her feeling like a mere pawn in his grand game.

As the first rays of morning light pierced through the window, Nova's eyes fluttered open. Her cheeks were stained with tears from the haunting dream that had consumed her. A moment of vulnerability washed over her, but she swiftly wiped away the evidence, refusing to let her emotions hinder her resolve.

She sat up, her expression stoic and determined. The remnants of the dream clung to her like a shadow, a painful reminder of her father's cruelty and the scars it had left upon her. Yet, Nova's heart remained hardened, her spirit unyielding.

For Nova, the dream held no power over her. It was a mere echo of her past, a reminder of the pain she had endured. She had become numb to its grip, driven solely by the purpose she believed to be her destiny.

With unwavering determination, Nova began to plan her next move, her mind sharp and focused. She knew deep down that her path was intertwined with the duo, Dante and Doda. Whether it was fate or her own misguided conviction, she was compelled to hunt them down, to eliminate the remnants of the spirit force that lingered within them.

The weight of her father's expectations still clung to her, like shackles she couldn't break free from. But she pushed those thoughts aside, burying them beneath layers of resolve and determination. She would fulfill what she believed to be her destiny, driven by a conviction she couldn't fully comprehend.

As Nova rose from her bed, her steps were firm and purposeful. She prepared herself for the next encounter, her mind focused on the mission ahead. The dreams of her past, tainted by her father's cruel abuse, were pushed aside, replaced by a steely determination.