I tried to see the Master Source's face, but the spell was too strong. I couldn't destroy whatever magic he used to hide his identity. More confused than ever, I analyzed that strange man... Was that really a man? Sometimes I got the impression he didn't have a solid body. Although his medium hair seemed light brown, I couldn't be sure. The magical room was too dark. San kept looking at that man's face, apparently intrigued. Isabella's lips curled into a crooked smile, which made me laugh. I wouldn't be surprised if she decided to do inappropriate things with a supernatural being. Isa had been so oppressed during her childhood that she was desperate for forbidden activities.

I tilted my head to the side. "Why did you rescue us, Mr. Master Source?"

"You shouldn't ask these things," Sandro warned. "What if he changes his mind?"

Isa looked at me. "Your lover is right."

"He's not my... my..." I cleared my throat and felt my face flushing. "You have to stop embarrassing me!"

"I'll not change my mind about saving your lives," the Master Source chuckled while turning to Isa. "You're still good at making me laugh, Isabella."

What is happening here?

Sandro and I looked at Isa. She shrugged, apparently not understanding the situation either. Had the Master Source met my best friend? When did that happen? Perhaps Isabella didn't remember him because she's been with many different men. However, he seemed to know who she was.

Isa wrinkled her nose. "I have no idea why you said that."

"I'll explain it later," he sighed. "For now, we must concentrate on defeating the Knights."

"How do you suggest we do that?" I crossed my arms. "So far, they've only defeated us."

Master Source decreased his tone of voice. "First, you must know about the Unity and my role in it."

The Unity again? Jesus!

Sandro and I glanced at each other, then back at Master Source. Neither of us seemed to understand that Unity thing. Even though a KHW member had told me a little about it, I needed more. Isa raised a brow, apparently confused as well. San had turned my world upside down, so maybe he was the one to blame.

"Many people believe the Unity is a legend, but it isn't. It's a higher power that has the preservation of human life as its mission. It keeps the body and soul unity unharmed," the Master Source walked around us. "In my five hundred years of life, I thought I'd never find the right Unity."

Isabella crossed her arms. "Why would those hooded bread-heads want to kill a wizard who heals?"

"According to the Knights, the Unity threatens the natural order of things, which means death by disease from our body or soul," Master Source explained. "Besides, the Unity is the only one who can stop their goal from being achieved. They want the Dark Ages to last forever, damaging human progress."

Dark Ages? What is that?

My jaw dropped to the floor. The KHW was crazier than I'd thought. I had so many questions that I didn't know where to start. San and Isa probably felt the same. I panted as I imagined the horrible things the Knights would do if they destroyed the Unity. They said they'd eliminate wizards, Jews, Muslims... Everyone those maniacs claimed to be undesirable. I couldn't let that happen.

"The Dark Ages is what people from the future will call our times. If you make sure the Knights won't make our present the future, of course," the Master Source sighed pronouncedly. "The first step is to heal my malady."

Sandro scowled. "I thought all-mighty wizards didn't get sick."

"As a keeper of progress, the KHW's growth has made me ill. If I perish, I won't be able to make the Unity more powerful, and the Knights will thrive," the Master Source said. "I've never seen the KHW so strong."

"So, I must heal a powerful and immortal wizard to save the world," I nodded while laughing nervously. "No pressure, right?"

"You won't do it on your own," the wizard chuckled. "I didn't bring Isabella and Sandro here for nothing."

Analyzing San and Isa, I wondered what was magical about them. Sandro had already shown he had powers, but I had a feeling there was more to the story. I had no idea how Isabella fit in that crazy situation. Until that night, I thought she was just a regular woman.

"Who's the Unity? Tina or me?" Sandro frowned. "It doesn't make sense for both of us to have powers! Are there multiple Unities?"

The Master Source shook his head in denial. "The two of you form the Unity."

San and I gawked. The Knights said the Unity was only one wizard. That meant either something wasn't right, or the KHW knew less than they thought. Isa smirked while looking at Sandro and me. I rolled my eyes, hoping she wasn't thinking nonsense. I didn't need more problems. I had made a mistake by continuing to see San because that made me appreciate him more than I should. Regardless of what the Master Source said, I had to block my feelings. A magical connection wouldn't change anything.

"The Knights are wrong to think the Unity is a single person," the Master Source floated close to a mirror. "Valentina heals the body and Sandro the soul. She's the Surface while he's the Core."

"I can't heal souls!" San laughed nervously. "I'm just a rag seller who became magical out of nowhere."

"You're much more than that," I swear I saw a smile behind the wizard's blurry face. "Give it a try. Touch someone and feel their soul."

I gulped as Sandro turned to me. The light-blue glow showed up on his hands and arms as he walked closer. I felt a strange shiver as he touched my right arm. His powers ran through my veins like the quickest bloodstream ever. Behind my heart, he reached a moving essence that seemed to be my soul. His energy found injuries I never knew I had. They made me remember my father, so his death had most likely caused those bruises.

It's like he's hugging me inside. How crazy!

"You're very hurt," San slowly caressed my arm. "Maybe I can turn these tears into a smile."

Skeptical, I raised a brow. Could Sandro mend my spirit? I breathed quickly as I felt my strange invisible injuries closing. For a reason I couldn't understand, the massive anger I felt towards my grandfather was gone. The pain my mother's marriage with Pietro had caused disappeared. It was as if I had accepted the truth. My soul didn't feel complete peace, but San healed many wounds.

This is incredible!

My heart pounded as I looked deep into Sandro's eyes. For an instant, the Master Source and Isabella didn't exist. It was just San, me, and a bunch of mirrors. We smiled at each other. Although I wanted to punch myself in the face, I couldn't stop grinning, and neither could he. Isabella cleared her throat loudly. I rubbed my neck as I turned to her and the Master Source. Sandro bit his lower lip, apparently nervous.

My best friend smiled coyly. "Did you two just have a moment?"

"No! Are you crazy? This was only a demonstration of soul healing," I looked at San. "Right?"

"Of course!" Sandro looked at me while sweat dripped from his forehead. "Tina and I are just... just friends that get along very well. Totally."

Isabella crossed her arms. "I didn't know friendship involved hand-holding."

My eyes bulged. Sandro and I had been holding hands since God knew when. Maybe we had done that during the soul healing session. We slowly let go of each other. I couldn't see the Master Source's face, but I had a feeling he was smiling. Isa would definitely mention that situation later. She loved teasing me about romance.

"Let's change the subject," I pointed at my best friend. "What's her participation in all this?"

"Isabella is the Spell Guardian. Once you became best friends, your heart gave her the required powers for this role," the man walked closer to me. "You were the first Unity wizard to get your magic activated, so you chose the Spell Guardian."

Isa wrinkled her nose. "What in the name of bread-headedness is a Spell Guardian?"

"When you're in the same room as the Unity, you make them immune to the Tenebris. You can also make barrier spells for attack and defense," the Master Source showed Isabella a mirror. "Test your abilities."

Taking several deep breaths, my best friend approached the mirror. She gawked as a bright dark-green light surrounded her hands. Isa created a massive bubble around the mirror. The Master Source nodded, seemingly motivating her to continue. Isabella turned the bubble into a transparent blade and threw it, shattering the mirror. She laughed and cheered.

Isa is the only one having fun here.

"This is awesome!" she hugged me tightly. "Thank you for picking me to be your magical protector."

I chuckled softly. "How come you didn't show me your magic before?"

"She wasn't aware of it until now. I should leave and go back to my human form," the Master Source took a step back. "Meet me at the Frari tomorrow once the sky is dark. The three of you must be present."

"Wait! I still have questions," I approached the supreme wizard. "Why won't my forgetting spell work on Sandro? Where does our magic come from?"

"The Unity will never work if you forget each other. If Sandro tried that spell on you, he'd fail as well," he gazed at San and me. "I created and released the Unity magic many years ago. It deemed you and Sandro worthy, split in two, and became a part of your essences."

San rubbed his chin. "If that's true, Tina and I should've had our powers activated at the same time."

"The Unity magic is activated once something remarkable happens in the chosen wizards' lives," the Master source walked around Sandro. "It can be a good or bad event. Yours happened later, Mr. Montefiore."

"Spill the truth, handsome creature," Isa smirked. "I must know what remarkable things have happened here."

"Valentina's became active after her father's assassination," the Master Source sighed as he gazed at San. "Sandro's... Well, it happened after he broke his promise to himself. The one he made at age ten."

What does he mean?

San's eyes bulged. I thought he would faint for an instant. Although I had no idea what the Master Source meant, Sandro seemed to know. I felt tempted to ask what the promise was, but I didn't want San to feel uncomfortable. Besides, I had to stop being curious about him. If I kept getting interested in Sandro's life, I wouldn't be able to block my stupid emotions.

"Meet me at the spot and time I mentioned. Valentina and Sandro shall work together for my healing. Isabella must protect them," the Master Source slowly disappeared. "I'll reveal my face once you arrive at my domain."

Before I could ask more questions, the strange wizard vanished. Isa, Sandro, and I were sucked into a portal. I cringed once I fell on the cold floor. We were at the St. Mark's Square. I swallowed hard as I remembered the Master Source's words. It seemed my interactions with San would be everything but minimal. Luckily, we'd just be together to heal the Master Source. Nothing more.

"I guess we're wizards now," Isa waved goodbye. "See you tomorrow for our magical meeting!"

"I should go as well. I... I need some rest," Sandro stammered while making his yellow circle invisible. "I've officially gone crazy... Crazy! I can't be feeling that thing!"

San left so quickly I thought he wished to run away. Still confused, I returned home. Mom had her arms crossed, and Pietro glared at me. How great! My mind was a mess. I wasn't sure if I thought of the Master Source, my efforts to avoid Sandro or Isa's new powers. That had been an insane night. My head was spinning insanely.

"Where were you? My stepdaughter can't stay out for so long! People will start making assumptions," he wrinkled his nose. "I hope you weren't with that Jew again."

Actually, I was.

I swallowed hard. Pietro would lose his mind if I told him everything that had happened. He couldn't know about the Master Source, the KHW, and much less about my magical connection with Sandro. However, I had to tell him or my mom the truth. I didn't want to disappear the next day without giving an explanation.

"I must speak to you," I turned to my mother. "Alone."

"How dare you? I'm the man of this house!" my stepfather ground his teeth. "No one leaves me out!"

"You shouldn't stay. It's probably a womanly matter," my mom winked at me. "Correct, my child?"

I nodded and smiled. Pietro huffed and left in a hurry. Apparently, my mother wasn't as submissive as I imagined. After all, she had expelled the most annoying man ever from our living room. I was still mad at her for overreacting earlier, but she deserved praise for that attitude. My stepfather wasn't easy to deal with.

"I didn't get the chance to apologize for my attitude when you were healing Sandro. That was immature. I'm sorry," my mom wiped away a tear. "I just don't want you to suffer like I did because I loved your father. People are cruel to women who break the rules."

"Don't worry. I haven't fallen for Sa..." I cleared my throat while hoping I hadn't blushed. "I'm not in love with... You know what I mean."

Congratulations, Valentina! That was very convincing!

My mom nodded, apparently satisfied with my answer. The more I said these things, the less I'd motivate something that couldn't happen. I understood my mother. Being friends with Sandro was risky enough. I had to stay away from that danger, which would be challenging. After all, we had to heal the Master Source as a literal unity.

I decreased my tone of voice. "I need to explain something."

Mom seemed attentive as I told her the whole magical story. Sandro's dad, the KHW, the Tenebris, Isa and San's powers, the Master Source, my arrest, the upcoming meeting... All of it. Even though my mother gaped a few times, she didn't call me a liar as I had imagined.

"After everything I said, you're heading to a strange place with Sandro?" my mom placed both hands on her mouth. "You can't be serious!"

"I have no choice! We're the Unity and must join forces," I put my hands on her shoulders. "It's a temporary alliance, not a marriage."

"Once you defeat those Knights, you cannot see Sandro again," my mother raised a brow while analyzing my body. "Also, is there a chance you're actually with a womanly problem? Should I worry?"

"Don't worry. The Virgin Mary would be jealous of my sainthood," I chuckled and caressed my mother's back. "My stomach only carries beer and food."

Mom's lips curled into a wide grin. "I'd normally tell you to stop saying these non-ladylike things, but this was hilarious."

We kept laughing while walking upstairs. Despite our brief fun moment, I still felt the sweat running down my back. Besides my concern about the strange situation with San, I couldn't stop remembering the Master Source and the Knights. Would a few healing sessions save our world from the eternal Dark Ages? Were there more things I didn't know about? I felt tortured by the problems my magic had caused while attempting to sleep.

****

Author's note: The meeting with the Master Source will happen soon. Are our wizards ready? What is the broken promise Sandro is hiding? Keep reading and you'll find out... ;-)