Chapter 14

The powers awakened

Five days later, Seres was still captive in the dungeon while Rico was still unconscious. They decided to stay in Thamali for a while as Merfoy always keeps an eye on his evil brother. Merfoy knows that Seres is planning something.

“Thank you for letting us stay here in your kingdom,” Niffa said to the royalties as they invite her for a cup of tea.

“It’s a pleasure for us to help the other royalties in need,” Queen Rui said. After a few conversations, Niffa gets out of the room and walks straight into the corridor. She opened the door and look at Maru and Merfoy cleaning Rico’s wounded body, wrapping his chest with a newly cleaned bandage. She can see the burn and slits in his body.

“How is the meeting Niffa?” Maru asks gathering the bloody piece of clothing.

“We just talk about the sun keeper and how Rico becomes the violet sorcerer.” She kneeled down to help them.

“That’s great. I’m glad Thamali’s royalties are aware of that,” Merfoy said as he tied the bandage.

“Merfoy, did you try to heal him with your healing powers once again?” Niffa asks as he can see the plea in her eyes with her unemotional face. Merfoy knew that she is trying to hide her emotions as she act strong.

“Niffa, I tried it a while ago before cleaning his wound. Small burns and slits only disappeared.” Merfoy finished tying all the bandages as he stands up.

“Will Rico wake up?” Niffa asks and stands up with him.

“Of course Niffa, we still need him,” Merfoy said with a serious tone as he hold Niffa’s shoulder.

“Merfoy, I want to kill Seres,” Niffa said as she frowned.

“But I learned that you are connected with him, and I don’t want any of my colleagues to die either,” She added as she look down with her frowning eyes.

“It’s true that we are connected, but I believe that there is a way to defeat him,” Merfoy said.

“Defeat him? I thought it was over?” Maru asked feeling shocked and confuse.

“I caged him up in the dungeon with my white wall where he can’t manage to escape.”

“Are you saying that he is still planning to declare another war?” Niffa asks in a serious tone.

“I’m not sure but I will keep on investigating him,” Merfoy said as he looked at them with his expressionless face. They knew they can rely on Merfoy whatever he is planning to stop his brother’s next move.

Niffa stared in Rico’s direction as she felt the urge to revenge more.

“Niffa, follow me for a while we will discuss something important,” Merfoy said as they leave Maru in the room. They walk straight to the dark corridor, they suddenly bumped a slim brunette boy, the same height as Niffa.

“Oh so-sorry mister!” the boy said as he hid his face from a red cape.

“Red cape?” Merfoy asked himself as he tried to look closer at the boy but he keeps on hiding his face wanting to run away from them. Niffa look at the boy from head to toe as she tried to analyze something.

“Where are you going, young man?” Merfoy ask in such a light tone as he smiled. The boy suddenly gasp as the red flame in his eyes disappeared. He looked at them with widened eyes looking so nervous, his body is shaky and a bit suspicious.

“Is something wrong?” Niffa asked as she hold the boy’s shoulder and the boy suddenly remove her hand as if he was so afraid to be touched.

“I’m fi-fine, I need to go,” he said as he quickly ran in their opposite direction.

“There is something off with that boy,” Niffa said watching the boy disappear from their sight.

“Let’s deal with that later. Come on let’s proceed,” he said as they walk outside the castle. They passed the Thamalian soldiers resting from their tenth and to their relief, most of them recovered but some of them are still lying unconscious.

“I want to heal them all,” Merfoy said as they keep on walking.

“Then why don’t you do it?” Niff asked

“My healing powers are too strong for mortals, in other words, it might kill them rather than save them,” he answered.

“You mean it’s the opposite of Rico’s?” Niffa asked.

“Yes, I can only heal those who have royalty blood because royalties are half mortal. You have the flames in you that can resist any damage in your body.”

Niffa felt sad about that fact as she look around to see wounded Thamalians trying to recover.

“If Rico was here, maybe all of them recovered,” she thought.

“Where are we going?” Niffa asked looking around and realizing Merfoy is leading her outside the kingdom. Someone stopped them from going out the gate.

“It’s forbidden to go outside,” said a familiar voice, Merfoy removed his white cape covering his head as well as Niffa.

“It’s me Merfoy we need to settle things outside,” he said looking at the old man wearing Thamalian soldier clothing.

“Oh sorry Merfoy I thought it was one of the Thamalian residences,” he said as he look at Niffa behind.

“General Malta?!” Niffa gasped as he was surprised to see her grow up.

“Niffa?!” the old man widened his eyes when she saw her face.

“You’re alive!” Niffa ran towards him and hugged him.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t get back to the forest after the war to tell you the truth,” he said in his shaky voice.

“It's fine,” she uttered with a bit of a smile on her face.

“Niffa, I’m sorry for what happened,” he said with a pitiful look in his eyes.

“General Malta, my mother is alive inside me. You don’t have to apologize for something. And I’m glad you’re alive,” Niffa said as she look at his uniform.

“King Devion save me from the war 10 years ago. I survived along with some of our Aldonian soldiers. Thamali opened their hands as they welcome us and the rest of the Aldonians who escaped, and now we lived here. King Devion made me the general of Thamalian soldiers as we join them,” General Malta explained.

“I’m glad to hear that. Thinking about it, I should be the one to help the rest of Aldonians. General Malta let’s keep on fighting for freedom until we will settle everything back,” Niffa said as she gave him a smile full of hope and furiousness. Malta was shocked to see a glimpse of Niffa’s flaming eyes as he smiled back.

They went outside as they walk inside the borderline of Thamali’s forest.

“General Malta is an Aldonian like you?” Merfoy asks as they keep on walking in the forest full of wide leaves and tall trees that darken the surroundings.

“Yes, he accompany my mother in going back to the war as they left me with Rico. It was 10 years ago I never thought he aged that much,” she answered.

“He is a brave soldier of your kingdom. Thamalians are honored to have him as their general,” Merfoy said as he stops walking and face her.

“I know, by the way, what are we going to do here Merfoy? Are you going to show me something?” she said as she keeps on looking around. Unlike the forest in Aldon, the forest in Thamali is empty, there are no animals or flowers only thick bushes, wild plants, and big trees.

“We don’t have time left Niffa. You succeed in becoming the rain and sun keeper now it’s time for you to be the storm keeper,” Merfoy said as he gave him a sharp stare.

“Storm keeper?” Niffa ask as she was confused.

“If you manage to release the storm against Seres, you don’t need to use the great light,” Merfoy said.

“So we have two options in defeating Seres? Is that what you are trying to say?” Niffa asks while frowning in confusion.

“Yes,” Merfoy said as his sharp eyes turned to sad as he look down.

“Is something wrong?” Niffa ask.

“Nothing’s wrong. You need to do it now before Seres will unlock himself, I knew he is planning something.” Merfoy became serious again with his sharp eyes and expressionless face.

“Then I’ll do it! I’m willing to be the storm keeper,” she said as she shake her hands trying to relax.

“Tried to meditate as you try to feel the energy buried down your soul,” Merfoy said watching Niffa as she closed her eyes and inhale deeply as she exhale slowly. She expect to see her mother like how she conquered the power of the sun but couldn’t see her. She also cannot feel any energy that used to flow from her veins like the way she felt before when she controlled the powers of the rain and sun.

While in the kingdom, Liana helps the soldiers to wash pieces of clothes as well as to clean the swords that are left behind.

“Hey lady in warrior clothes over there, can you help us fill these jars from that well?” asked one of the wounded soldiers.

“Yeah sure I will!” she said as she quickly grabs the jars and approaches the well, there are three wells and she choose the occupied one.

“Liana!” Maru said as she look at him fetching water from the other well.

“Maru! How is your friend?” she asked pulling the bucket.

“He’s fine but still unconscious. By the way, I’m fetching water to distribute it to the town people, how about you?” he asked as he fill up the huge jar.

“For the wounded soldiers,” she answered as she fill the second jar.

“Good, you are a big help not just in fighting,” he said smiling at her.

“It’s a pleasure for me to help the Thamalian soldiers.” She smiled back, she can feel the burn on her cheek but she tried not to show it.

“Liana, do you want to be one of them?” Maru asks.

“What?” Liana said widening her eyes.

“Registered Thamalian soldiers. I bet you want to be one of them,” he said as he leave the full jar and approach her.

“I’ll help you with this,” he said as he pull the bucket of water and fill the last jar.

“Thank you, but I can handle it.”

“Just let me. By the way, you haven’t answered my question yet,” he said staring at her.

“Of course, I would like to join them, but seems like they won’t allow me.” She watches the jar fill up.

“Of course, they will. I’m sure about it,” he said and smiled as he leave her behind carrying the jar of water, and goes back inside.

“I hope so,” she mumbled as she carried the first two jars. A boy covered in a red cape caught her attention, he run down the stairs going down the dungeon.

“Hey! The way to the corridor is on the other side! It’s dangerous over there!” she shouted, the boy look at her, his eyes were red in color as he ignored her and continued running down the dungeon. Liana was shocked as she remembered the evil soldiers’ eyes they fought.

“It was the same as the evils’ eyes,” she said. She left the jar behind and decided to follow the boy downstairs. She quickly pulls the sword from her scabbard as she slowly steps down the stairs. She can hear the growling sound of the wild boars and alley cats that were locked in the dungeon.

“Damn it! I’m pretty sure that young boy is an evil one,” she said whispering to herself. The growling sounds keeps louder and louder as she entered the dark dungeon. She was shocked to see the huge wild animals caged side by side in the corridor as chains were tied around their necks. They keep on growling while she grips her sword tighter. She wasn’t afraid of them for she belongs to a family of hunters, and she knows exactly what to do.

“Where did that young boy go?” she asked herself as she continued to walk straight. She saw a light on the dead end as she walk closer and hide in a corner where the light doesn’t strike. She take a peek and saw the boy standing in front of a white wall, she was shocked to see an old red-eyed sorcerer inside the wall talking with the boy.

“So this was Seres that Maru was talking about,” she said to herself as she keeps on peeking and eavesdropping.

“So, did you do what I just told you Norman?” Seres’ husky voice echoed in the place.

“Yes, your highness. I touch Merfoy’s hand and collect some of his white flames,” the boy said as he flamed up his right hand. Liana saw a white flame from the boy.

“Good! Now all you have to do is to touch this white wall with that white flame you collected,” Seres said. The boy touch the wall and in just a second it broke like glass, the chains around Seres’ feet disappeared. Seres step outside as he yawned and stretched his hands.

“I know this will work. Thanks for your help buddy,” he said as he tapped the boy’s head and the boy went back to his normal state.

“Wha-what happened? Why am I over here? Di-did you use me again?” the boy asks with his shaky voice while trembling in fear. Seres just look at the boy and burst out an evil laugh.

“Yes, I did. Now I want you to sleep.” Seres grab the boy’s face as if he should suppose to burn him.

“You evil piece of meat!” Liana shouted as she showed up while pointing her sword toward Seres. He was shocked to see her and push the boy as he stumbled to the ground.

“Wait, a Thamalian warrior? You think you can beat me?” he said while laughing.

“I know I can’t because I’m just a mortal! But at least I can save that boy’s life!” she shouted as she run to fight him but Seres raised his two fingers and the wild animals from their cages were released. Liana gasped as she watch the animals become huge and turned into monstrous evils. Seres laugh as he watches Liana freeze in fear while looking at the monsters behind her.

“It’s time to shine!” he shouted as he flamed up.

It was almost an hour but Niffa was still meditating, she was sweating and breathing heavily trying to feel the energy she is longing to feel. Merfoy watches her with a curious face as he eagerly waits for her to open her eyes. He suddenly felt pain in his chest as he groans and fall down on his knees. Niffa opened her eyes upon hearing him, she run towards Merfoy coughing while holding his chest.

“What is wrong Merfoy?” Niffa asks with a worried look.

“This is bad,” he said as he suddenly look back into the kingdom. They saw the birds fly away above the castle from afar. Niffa felt a sudden spark on her head as she kneels and look down at the ground. Her body suddenly flamed up in an unusual way that she can’t control. Merfoy widened his eyes at what was happening to Niffa. She suddenly saw her mother upon closing her eyes.

“Niffa, don’t be such a weakling,” her mother said as she felt such energy running from her veins. She shouts furiously as she stands while clenching his fists.

Rico suddenly opened his eyes as he felt a spark that awakens him. He seats in the bed and looks around as he looks at his hand and his whole body flamed up blue.

“Rico?!” Maru said as he was shocked to see Rico flamed up in blue.

“Blue flame?” Maru asks in confusion. Rico tear up the bandage around his body and watches his wound disappear slowly like smoke.