Chapter 3 Rico The sorcerer

It was a bright day, Rico visits the forest early in the morning to feed the birds and to roam around, the forest was a training ground for his colossus pets which includes Meria the deer, Tobi the dark wolf, Eris the brown hawk and his favorite Prado the white horse who can carry up the entire house when he needs to move from one place to another when he is lazy to use his power. Niffa opened her eyes as she saw birds singing around the room, it was very lovely to hear them. She enjoyed listening to them then she saw cookies and milk in the table. She was so hungry that she quickly grab and ate them all, it was so similar to the cookies she always bought from the bakery but then she remembered the kingdom and her parents. Tears quickly fall from her eyes realizing that her mother didn't came back last night. She walk outside as the she saw the glim light of the sun, she was amazed by the surroundings. Flowers everywhere and a lot of butterflies fly around the garden, then she run towards the dark forest trying to find her way to the gate. She keeps on running and running but seems like she is running forever, she stumble down to her knees panting as she cried aloud echoing in the forest.

"Mother! Father! Where are you?!" she shouted as she heard a howling sound from the big bushes. She stops crying as she stands up and wipe her tears knowing that danger comes in her way. She gasp when a huge wolf suddenly jump from the bushes, she didn't hesitate to clench her fist as she remembered the way her father teach her to fight. The dark wolf started to growl while walking around her, Niffa stared on the wolf's eye furiously as she run to attack the wolf.

"Aaah!" she shout furiously as she raised her fist to punch the wolf's face, she felt the energy from her body like an electricity that runs through her hand as her fist hit the wolf's jaw, then the wolf left a scratch on her shoulder. The wolf flew and hit its back on the tree, Niffa didn't expect her punch to be that powerful as she widened her eyes and look at the poor wolf being unconscious. The tree broke as it slowly falling down towards the wolf but Niffa run and embrace the wolf to protect it from the tree. But then she opened and her eyes and look up, to her surprise the tree was floating almost hitting her.

"Now I understand why your parents need me to protect you" Rico said from behind while raising his two fingers making the tree float, Niffa stared at him in surprise.

"Mister?"

"I have a name, just call me Rico, by the way Tobi needs to rest sorry for scaring you intentionally, your shoulder is bleeding let's go back I will clean it."

Rico said as he snap his fingers and the dark wolf disappeared from Niffa's hug. They decided to go back in the house.

"You test me?"

"Yes, I was surprise that a ten year-old kid is stronger than me."

"I'm stronger?"

"I'm just kidding, but you are stronger than my colossus"

Rico said as he wrapped the white cloth on her shoulder.

"What happened to my parents?" Niffa suddenly ask as her eyes painted such sad emotions and was about to shed tears. Rico sigh and give her a pity look as he give her an envelope. Niffa opened it and read it as she slowly shed tears, Rico left her in the living room. It was a farewell message from her mother saying that her father died from the hand of King Seres and that she can't make her way back to her. It is also indicated in the letter that she needs to be strong because she is the only hope to avenge them from King Seres and to get the kingdom back.

It was already dark, Niffa slowly get out from her room and sneek into the living room as she saw Rico meditating, and she was surprise to see a violet fire raging from his body. She walk slowly towards him as she intend to touch the beautiful fire. She touch it with her finger and to her surprise it was prickly heat as she gasp in pain while blowing her finger. Rico opened his eyes upon hearing it and surprise to see Niffa pressing her finger while blowing it.

"Why would you do that?" Rico ask as he drag her to the kitchen and wash it from the running water.

"I need to tell you something" Niffa said. They sneek into the dark forest as they ride from Rico's colossus horse. It was so magical when Rico snap his finger to make the trees light its leaves making the surroundings a sparkling green. Niffa was amazed while looking around as Rico was surprise to see her smiling back knowing that he can do some things to make her smile again. They stop when they reach the end of the forest as they walk towards the gate.

"Why do you want to come here in the middle of the night?" Rico ask her as they get down from the horse.

"I want to see what happened in the kingdom." Niffa said as they pass the gate. It was a disaster, corpses are everywhere, blood stained on the wall and even the market place are abandoned. No one was around, Niffa felt terrified when she saw the castle was burned down to ashes as she quickly run to look for her parents' body.

She was filled with horror when she saw the maids' body aligned on the floor while their heads are cut off. She quickly turned her back and hug Rico as she cried, Rico was surprise to see the emptiness in the kingdom.

"This is not the kingdom of Aldon that I know" he said then suddenly a spit of fire landed beside them. Rico saw one of Seres' sorcerer standing on the bricks, he glare at the evil sorcerer as he quickly covered Niffa from his dark cape then in just a second they were back in the house.

Niffa look around in surprise.

"Rico? Why did we came back?"

"I'm sorry, an evil sorcerer is on our way"

"Why didn't you just fight them?"

"I choose to protect you instead of fighting with them."

"But Rico, you are the strongest sorcerer"

"How did you know about it?"

"Mother told me, she keeps on telling me that she wants to know how old you are"

Rico was shocked to hear it as he remembered them back then where she keeps on guessing his age.

"Rico?" Niffa asked as she suddenly wipe his tears from his cheek.

"Why did you do that?" he ask in surprise.

"I always do that to mother every time she shed tears."

"It's already dawn, I need to go to the forest just get back to sleep."

Rico said as he immediately step out and close the door. Niffa suddenly cried silently as she lay down hugging her mother's cape, it was the only memory she left her.

"Niffa? Niffa wake up" she slowly opened her eyes by the soft voice of her mother.

"Mother? You are here?" Niffa said as she seats on the bed wiping her eyes.

"Yes I'm, I want to show you something come on" Queen Luize said as she looks around, she was in the palace where she used to live.

"Mother? Everything is back? And everyone is here? Even father!" she said as she saw the King talking to another Royalties.

"Who is father talking to? And why are there so many people here?"

"Niffa it was the kingdom's festival, and your father is talking to the Royalties of Samari, Queen Sara and King Ferru."

"Wait… Samari? But I just heard your conversations with father that Samari was already a dead kingdom…" Niffa said but her mother seems not to hear her and was just smiling while looking at the people dancing in the hall. Niffa felt strange about it, as she look around and saw the maids she gasp as she remembered them with their heads cut off. She felt terrified as she seems to lose consciousness while her surroundings started to twirl around.

"Niffa! Niffa!" She quickly opened her eyes and to her surprise it was Rico trying to wake her up. She seats in the bed panting as sweat falls from her forehead.

"Here, drink some water."

"What are you dreaming about?"

"I dream about the dead people, the maids, my parents and the royalties of Samari."

"Samari? Samari seems like I heard that before but I don't know when."

Rico said as he tried to remember it.

"Queen Sara and King Ferru" Niffa suddenly said. Then Rico suddenly remembered a very rare memories he never had seen. A violet spark suddenly came into his head as he stumbled down to his knees.

"Rico?" Niffa asked looking at him in a surprised way.

Rico's eyes suddenly lights into violet as it range like a fire while he keeps on shouting in pain. He can see himself in a baby form as a lady wearing a crown wrapped him around into her warm hand, then he saw a king approaching them while looking at him, their faces are blurred but then he saw the Royal cape which the queen was wearing. The design was consist of rose, bow and arrow and the cape was dark blue in color. Then Rico lost his consciousness as Niffa tried to wake him up on the floor.