Chapter 4 Empowered Niffa

Early In the morning, Rico woke up when someone wiggled him from behind.

“Stop it I’m sleeping,” he said as he covered his face with his cape.

“Rico wake up! Let’s begin the training!” Niffa said in such a joyful tone.

“Training? What training?” Rico quickly opened his eyes and to his surprise, Niffa was holding his stick as she was cloth in pants, warrior boots, and a white t-shirt while her hair was in braid style.

“Wow, you look like a small warrior Niffa,” Rico said chuckling as she wave the stick and point it toward him. He was surprised to see Niffa’s glare as he saw a glimpse of Queen Luize from her once again. He felt like it was Queen Luize commanding him.

“Okay, let’s do this!” he said as they went outside to begin the training.

“A warrior must have such discipline in fighting. First, you have to know where your enemy is aiming, second.”

“I have to be tactful in every action they will make. I already knew those Rico my father taught it to me since I was eight,” Niffa said as she clench her fist getting ready for her fighting position.

“Okay, whatever Niffa. Then get ready on your mark, warriors release!” Rico raise his two fingers and in just a few seconds a lot of men in warrior clothing appeared surrounding the ten-year-old Niffa. She just smirks and makes her moves like what her father taught her. She kicks them, avoids their punches, punches them back with such speed, and ducks from their kicks. She watches them turn into dust one by one upon hitting them with her strong punches. The training repeats every day, every month, and every year.

-10 years later-

            Niffa was amazed by the view in an aerial way as she ride on the colossus hawk from the clear sky.

“Eris let’s get back to the woods!” she commanded as they twirl in the air making such spins and avoiding the trees on their way.

“Woohoo! This is so much more fun than training!” she shouted then suddenly she saw Rico seated behind the tall tree waiting for her, she gasp upon looking at him ready to snap his fingers.

“No Rico don’t!” Niffa shouted then in one snap Eris disappear as she fall down from the grassy ground.

“Ouch, my back! Not again, you keep doing this every time I’m with Eris!” she said as she stood up while stretching her back.

“You can beat a thousand men but you can’t land on your own? Just consider it as part of your training, come follow me.”

“Where are we going? The house was over there and in that direction,” Niffa said pointing in the house’s direction.

“Just follow me,” Rico said annoyed.

Niffa was surprised to see a river on the other side of the forest.

“Wow, why didn’t I know this in the first place,” she said as she feel the cold water with her hand.

“The dead end was over there.” Rico points to the cliff where the sunrise and sunset can be seen clearly.

“I want to see the waterfalls,” Niffa said as she widened her eyes looking straight into the cliff.

“No,” Rico said pulling her to come back.

“What? Then why did we come here in the first place?” she asked looking so done and confused.

“For your next training,” Rico responded with a smirk on his face.

“Wait, in the water?” she asked looking at the river.

“What else? So what are you waiting for go swim.”

“What? No way! It’s so co-” Rico suddenly pushes her into the river as she shouts.

“Cold! What the hell Rico!” she shouted while standing and wiping her face.

“See, It was just in your waist level.” Rico teased her as he chuckled.

“So what will I do now? I can’t swim,” she said then suddenly Rico raised his fingers controlling the water as if it has its own life. The water grasps Niffa and makes her stand on the cliff.

“Hey, easy Rico this is so dangerous,” she said trying to balance herself on the cliff. She was amazed to see the falls below her then she saw such beautiful scenery in front of her as she raised her arms while jumping on the edge of the cliff.

“This is so cool! I like it!” She keeps on chuckling and shouting.

“I thought she is matured, this 20-year-old girl becomes 10 again,” Rico said as he bow his head in dismay.

“Rico! What now?” she asked looking back towards him.

“You need to make a rain by this river,” Rico responded pointing the sky to the river.

“What?” she asked as the smile on her face changed into confusion.

They spent an hour in the river as Niffa tried to imitate Rico in controlling the water. She points her two fingers pointing the water but nothing is happening. Rico chuckled secretly as he watched her.

“Rico this is not working. I felt stupid I can’t do what you just did,” she said looking so tired, then she look back to see Rico laughing from afar.

“Rico! Did you just fool me?! You knew from the start that I can’t do it right?” she said annoyed.

“You really can’t do it when you keep on imitating my moves. Actually, Queen Luize has her own move in controlling the water to make rain,” he said as he quit laughing.

“Mother?” Niffa asked in confusion again.

“Yes,” Rico said and he control the water to get him as he stands beside Niffa.

“How?” she ask then Rico covered Niffa’s eyes with his right hand as he makes a violet light. Niffa can see her mother standing right where she is while waving her right hand in concentration, her eyes flaming with green fire. She was surprised when the clouds formed a huge circle above. Queen Luize makes the water rise as the clouds absorb them, the surrounding becomes dark as the darkened clouds spread in the light sky. Thunder struck the ground, and as queen Luize’s flaming eyes sparks green traveled through her hand same like the electricity that travels into her body when she fought the wolf. Queen Luize suddenly puts her hands down as the clouds pour such heavy rain, Niffa can see how powerful her mother is by just staring at her flaming green eyes. Rico removed his hand as Niffa opened her eyes, to his surprise Niffa’s eyes were lit in green flames the same as queen Luize.

“Niffa? Are you okay?” Rico asked as he was staring at her eyes and she suddenly paled face. She quickly wiggled her head trying to control the energy inside her. She shouted in pain as she stumbled on her knees while holding her head as the green light in her eyes keeps on flaming.

Rico remembered the time he felt the same way, the way his memories just appeared unintentionally on his head which he never felt before. He understands how Niffa felt right now as he just watches her control her mind.

 Rico was shocked to see the water from below waving in an unusual way as it is about to rise up, then he saw the clouds gathering from above making a circle.

“Niffa?” he gasped, suddenly Niffa lost consciousness as she slips into the cliff then the clouds and water get back from their normal state. Rico quickly waves his hand controlling the water to catch her. He carried her and in one snap they get back in the house again.

Rico laid Niffa on the couch as he stared at her face, he slowly touches her burning cheek checking if she was having a fever. To his surprise, a sudden green light sparked from her face making his hand feel pricked.

“Queen Luize, I know you are inside her I don’t know if you can hear me. But I think I can’t help Niffa when it comes to your power maybe she’s not ready yet,” he said then he was surprised to see a green smoke evaporating from Niffa’s body as it forms into a human. He look closely and saw Queen Luize smiling at him.

“Queen Luize?” he asked as if he was about to cry.

“Hello Rico,” she said keeping the same smile since the day they met.

“Your highness, how did you-”

“You guess right Rico, I was inside my daughter’s mind all the time,” Queen Luize said with a contented smile on her face.

“But Niffa keeps on looking for you. Where is your body? I know you are still alive,” he said.

“Rico, I may be physically dead but my soul is alive, and it lies on Niffa that’s why I want you to help her control this power,” Queen Luize said as she collect her power in her hand and blow it towards Niffa.

“I passed my power towards her, because I know today is the right time to let her use it.” She hold Rico’s cheek as she gave him a pleading look.

“Will I talk to you like this again? I want to ask many things.” Rico started to shed tears.

“I’m sorry Rico but this will be the last time we will talk to each other again. Don’t worry Niffa can help you to seek an answer to your questions,” she said as she wipe Rico’s tears on his cheek.

“What do you mean?” he asks.

“I want you to know that you and Niffa are connected in some ways.”

“What ways? Tell me. Do you know anything about my past?” Queen Luize just smiled and approach Niffa.

“Rico, Niffa has all the answers but don’t force her to say it because some of your past only appears in her dreams,” she said.

Rico remembered Niffa mentioning Samari and the royalties from that kingdom.

Queen Luize walks slowly towards him as she embraces him for the last time.

“You have been a great friend, family, comrade, brother, and warrior to me and I hope you will do the same for Niffa. So long Rico thank you so much,” Queen Luize said as the smoke slowly disappear. Rico cried silently from her words as he quickly turned to see Niffa still sleeping, the redness on her cheek disappearing.