Chapter 9 Declaration of War

Merfoy quickly grab his magic book and tried to look for some of the important pages as the two followed him in the book shelf.

“You are Niffa right? The daughter of King Morphis and Queen Luize. What you did from the past years are not written in the book it’s so strange. And you Rico, your dreams are showing your past, you are the true king of kingdom Samari but my brother stole your dignity and made you his puppet for many years. I wonder why those are not written in my book. I’m confuse why the both of you are anonymous in the magic book?” he ask himself as he keeps on turning the pages.

“We don’t know what you are talking about, but can I read about the kingdom of Samari?” Rico ask as Merfoy close the book and handed it over. Rico took his seat to read as Niffa leave him alone as she followed Merfoy on the other side of the table.

“Why did you get old so fast? Rico said that sorcerers aren’t age that much,” Niffa said then Merfoy suddenly chuckled.

“It’s true that sorcerers are not getting old so fast like mortal ones. But if they lived for more than 500 years you can see that their appearance are getting older,” he responded.

“See Rico over there? What do you think is his age?” she ask pointing Rico’s direction.

“From our case, we still called them young sorcerers like toddlers for mortals.”

“Toddlers? So he is still a kid like close to a baby?” Niffa asked as she chuckled while looking at Rico who was too concentrate in reading the book.

“Niffa, I saw that you discovered being the rain keeper you still have two more weather to discover,” Merfoy said arranging some books in the bookshelf.

“Two? I thought I will only discover on how to be the rain and sun keeper?”

“Not just the rain and sun but being a thunder keeper will make you the strongest so please prepare yourself for it.” Merfoy smiled and leave her behind.

Niffa was shocked to hear the thunder keeper, from the word thunder itself she already knew that it will take a lot of strength and preparations for her before achieving it.

“By the way let’s discuss about the bright light you produce later,” Merfoy said walking upstairs as he went into his room.

Rico read the contexts about the kingdom of Samari, but he keeps on skipping it until he found the page where his parents are the rulers of the kingdom. It took 3 generations before his parents became the ruler of Samari. He learned that the blue flame can create water and it’s a big help for dry lands, he also learned that her mother is the moon keeper. Despite that it’s a blue flame they can still create water from it as well as use for burning. King Ferru, his father came from a strong and wealthy family of warriors in Samari and he was planned to marry Queen Sara. Then he read the parts where he saw in his dream the way Seres killed his parents and the way Seres kidnapped him, that was where the story of Samari ends. He close the book causing a loud thudding sound echoed in the entire room, Niffa look at him in surprise.

“Rico? How was it?” She approach him grabbing a seat.

“At least I knew where I belong. How about your kingdom, you want to read their story?” he asked as he hand her the book.

“No need. I don’t want to think about their tragic fall,” she answered as she slide the book back to him.

“Okay, then I’ll return this in the shelf.”

They go outside and walk in the balcony. It was already dark as they feel the warm air touches their skin, they can see the view of the ocean from the balcony.

“Wow. I don’t know where we are but this place is amazing,” Niffa said as her eyes sparkled in amusement. The moon and the stars’ light reflected on the ocean as it sparkled.

“This is Mt. Sadeste and this place is safe. Thanks to Merfoy who helps us,” Rico said as he look up the moon shining so bright and clear.

“Niffa, do you know that my mother is the moon keeper because of her blue flame?”

“Really? That’s amazing. Look, the moon is so bright and clear unlike the sun which I still need to learn to brighten it. Then who is making the moon bright that way?” Niffa asked as she look at him.

“I don’t know,” Rico said as he look back down the ocean.

“Is it you? Rico?”

“What makes you think that it’s me?” Rico frowned at her.

“Your mother got the blue flame. That means it is passed to you.” Niffa said as Rico widened his eyes thinking it might be possible.

“I don’t know either. But if I had the blue flame then I still need to control it.” Rico’s face seemed unsatisfied and sad.

“By the way Rico, Merfoy mentioned that my grandparents passed some of their powers to you.”

“Yes he’s right. That’s where I got my colossus and they entrust the forest to me. I really miss Eris right now,” he said as he looked at her.

“I miss Eris too,” Niffa said as she gave him a sad smile.

“I wish I could bring him back.” Rico looked down with such grief painted on his porcelain face. Niffa can see the sadness in his eyes as she tap his shoulder.

“By the way Niffa, I read that I was born 50 years ago.” Rico tried to shift the topic as he smiled a little bit.

“What?! You mean you are 50 years old?!” Niffa asked widening her eyes.

“Yeah. If you try to estimate it, I have the same age as your mother.”

“But you look like 20 to me. 50!? I can’t believe it,” Niffa said looking at him while she hold his chin checking his face sideways.

“Stop that, what are you doing?” Rico said as he chuckled from her action.

“I’m trying to see if there are wrinkles in your face, but seems like you don’t.” Rico laugh as Niffa smiled and stared on him.

“I’m glad you finally laugh,” she said.

“So you’re trying to make me laugh huh?” Rico smiled back.

“Obviously. But I was really shocked from your age,” Niffa said.

“I know and I wish I wasn’t a sorcerer this time.”

“Well, I’m kind of thankful that your sorcerer soul makes you appeared young.” Niffa gaze at him.

“Thankful? Why is that?” Rico asked as he looked deep into her captivating brown eyes.

“I can’t explain it Rico. But that face of yours makes me feel something weird, a burn in my cheek and a pain in my chest. It’s so confusing,” Niffa said in her thoughts as she keeps gazing into his eyes.

“Niffa? Are you okay?” Rico snap his fingers as butterflies sparkled in violet appeared in front of her which cuts her gaze.

“Sorry. I was just thinking of something,” she said as she look back at the ocean covering her cheeks, she felt the burn again.

“Wait, are you really okay?” Rico suddenly put his cold hands on her cheeks as she was shocked towards his action.

“You’re cheek is burning.” Rico stared on her once again.

“I’m not sick, I swear.” Niffa look away trying to avoid Rico’s eye contact.

“Rico, I need to go to the bed now, I’m sleepy. See you tomorrow.” Niffa put Rico’s hands down as she quickly run inside the door leaving him behind.

“Could she be actually, no. Impossible,” Rico said in his thoughts as he look back at the moon.

While in Veroma, Seres returned back after a long journey from the kingdom of Samari. His flaming red eyes makes the town people felt so much fear. He walks in front of everyone as he grab the sword from his scabbard, and to his anger he mercilessly killed random people around him as blood splattered on the ground.

“That old sorcerer! How dare he ruined everything! I should have killed those royalties! I can’t let him interfere my plans. Listen everyone! I want all of you to participate in the new war!” he shouted as his body flamed up again that none of his sorcerers could ever touch the heat. His evil sorcerers surrounds the town people in circles making sure no one will escape.

“Keep moving peasants!” shouted one of the sorcerer, the town people fall in line one by one as they perform heat branding by pressing red hot iron on their wrist. They dip the iron in a blood which belongs to Seres then they heat it and press it directly on the skin.

“No one is exempted! Kids, women or older ones should participate!” shouted an evil sorcerer as he grab a boy from the crowd, the boy is around 13 years old.

“No! Please don’t take my son!” said the mother as the boy’s face was full of infuriation clenching his fist.

“Make him one of us!” Seres shouted looking at the boy’s angry eyes as they pushed him the line. They grab his wrist and immediately press the iron on his wrist as he shouted in pain, in just a few seconds his eyes turned red and an evil smile painted his face. The town people was getting lesser and lesser while the evil soldiers are becoming greater and greater until all of the town people was turned into his evil puppets manipulating their minds.

“Gather around evil soldiers of Veroma! We will declare a bloody war against my brother Merfoy! We will continue our journey to conquer the kingdom of Thamali! Besides the holder of the white flame aka the prince of Thamali is dead, thanks to that violet-eyed sorcerer who burned him! Fight you evils of Veroma!” Seres shouted as his evil soldiers shouted back in reponse while raising their fists. Seres can smell bloods from innocent people waiting for him as he let out a deep evil laugh.

Merfoy was awakened by a strange feeling, he seated on his bed pressing his chest as if something wrong was going to happen. He thought of what might be the reason as he breathe heavily.

“The magic book!” he gasp as he quickly run downstairs and into the shelf. He quickly grab the book as it opened the pages by itself, as the flipping stops. He read it as the context makes him sweat while he quivered in fear.

“No!” he gasp as the book closed making a loud thud that echoed all over the room.

“What is it?” Niffa ask coming towards him while rubbing her eyes. Then Rico yawn on the other side of the floor as he stands up.

“I felt strange. This is bad, Seres will going to declare another war between Veroma and Thamali. He turned Veroma’s town people into his evil soldiers,” Merfoy said.

“Another war huh? Then we have to help them!” Niffa said as she clench his fists.

“It is not written in the book about the date when will Seres going to attack,” Rico said while turning the pages.

“Hold on. I read something strange,” Rico added as he point the context.

“You’re right. You are connected from what Seres had said that a violet-eyed sorcerer killed the future king of Thamali,” Merfoy said.

“You killed the future king of Thamali? When?” Niffa ask in confusion as Rico tried to remember it.

“It says here just a while ago. I burned him into ashes?” Rico widened his eyes as he finally realized it.

“Does that mean, the one you called a friend?” Niffa asked.

“Maru is the missing prince of Thamali!? I have to get back to restore him! No I can’t, my healing powers are not for royalties! It’s too late! I killed him!” Rico said as he keeps on walking back and forth while scratching his head in such dismay.

“Rico calm down,” Niffa said as she tap his shoulder.

“I can’t calm down! I killed him! We also became friends, why didn’t I gave him a second chance.” Rico sits on the stairs as he stared on the ground.

“Rico, we understand what you did. If you didn’t kill him then you might be the one who is dead right now.”

“Merfoy is right,” Niffa said as she sits beside Rico.

“I can help you get back your friend,” Merfoy said as he break his stick by his knees.

“Why did you do that?” Rico ask.

“It means I’m ready for a fight. It’s a sorcerer thing,” Merfoy answered and wink.