My hands wouldn't stop sweating as a KHW man put the Tenebris closer. Although I tried to ignore it, my body was soaked. The same had probably happened to Tina. I couldn't believe Ettore had found us again. Although I hated him for being the KHW leader, it was mainly because he had broken Valentina's heart. She didn't deserve to suffer. Besides, his furious gaze reminded me of my father. I recalled the time my dad threw those plates on the wall. I would make sure he'd never meet my kids if I ever had them. My dad had caused too much damage. It seemed Ettore wasn't that different.

"Ettore, stop! This is insane," Valentina seemed to be holding tears. "There must be some good left in you."

"When I think you can't say more nonsense, you surprise me!" Ettore rolled his eyes. "I only pretended to be your friend so Dario wouldn't suspect my affiliation to the Knights."

"That sounds like the truth," Tina narrowed her eyes. "Your cousin would hate you if he found out."

Ettore is Dario's cousin? I hope Dario isn't involved in this.

That KHW story made me want to hit my head against the wall. It appeared Valentina had to choose better friends. I only didn't suspect Isa because she had powers. Perhaps even Roberto was involved as well. At that point, nothing was impossible. I shot Ettore an icy glare. Although I felt stupid for it, I was more worried about Valentina liking Ettore again than the KHW's eternal Dark Ages. People can sometimes make the same mistake twice.

"Enough talking!" the traitor shot Guido an icy glare. "It's time to give the Master Source the fate he always deserved."

I gasped as the Tenebris made me feel weak. "We won't let that happen!"

"Coming from a man whose powers are blocked by a stone, that sounds very threatening!" Ettore laughed loudly. "Now, if you excuse me, I have some work to do."

Isa came running. "You're not welcome here, bread-head!"

My powers quickly returned. I removed the blade from Ettore's hand by levitating it. I brought it closer to me, far from his reach. Tina made Ettore fly high and threw him against the ceiling. He flinched and screamed. Guido smiled, seemingly proud.

"Get the Spell Guardian!" Ettore scowled while pointing at Isa. "Kill her!"

Isabella's lips curled into a smirk. "I'd like to see you try."

It seems she isn't afraid of anything.

Isa made several barriers, stopping Ettore's men from hurting her and us. I sighed in relief. She turned the magical walls into sharp blades and threw them at our enemies, making them fall. They had multiple injuries, but not enough to stop fighting. With an intense dark-green glow around her hands, Isabella created a new barrier. It was large enough to protect her, Tina, Guido, and me. I gulped as Ettore opened another portal, sending more Knights after us. Guido sat on the right side of his bed while squeezing his eyes shut, seemingly feeling bad.

"I was supposed to wait longer for this, but I can't," a solid orange glow surrounded Guido's hands and arms. "The moment has come."

"Great!" I rolled my eyes. "More vague talk!"

Tina frowned. "This isn't the time to complain, San!"

I raised my brows. "We're humans. It's always the time to complain."

"Sandro isn't wrong," Isabella crossed her arms. "Could you please explain what's happening, Guido?"

"Although I shouldn't use so much magic, I have to complete the Unity. It's the only way to defeat the Knights," the Master Source glanced at the ground and seemed worried. "Even if it costs my health."

Although I couldn't read minds, I had a feeling Valentina was thinking the same as me. If the Master Source perished, we were doomed. We needed him to defeat the Knights. It'd be ten times harder to win without his powers. Three wizards would have to fight hundreds of KHW members if Guido spent too much of his magic. Besides, he had helped us immensely. A good person like him didn't deserve to die.

"This is too dangerous," Isabella knitted her brows. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. We'll have a much higher chance of winning if I give a new power to Valentina and Sandro," the Master Source coughed intensively. "They can always heal me later. Providing them magic shouldn't kill me."

"Shouldn't?" Valentina's eyes bulged. "That's not good enough!"

"It will have to be," Guido swallowed hard as he observed the Knights trying to break Isa's barrier. "Surface and Core must choose one of the four elements to become your new power. What will it be? Water, fire, earth, or air?"

My eyes gleamed. "Can't we have them all?"

Valentina elbowed me subtly. "Rules are rules."

"I'll remember that when we return to Venice," I chuckled. "You didn't seem so upset about walking around with me."

"I... I've changed my mind! That's why I told you we must interact as least as possible," Tina bit her lower lip. "We should've never risked ourselves like that."

I shook my head in denial, unable to believe what was going on. Although Valentina and I had endangered ourselves by becoming closer, life was too short. We couldn't let nonsensical rules keep us far from each other. Besides, Tina kept contradicting herself. How did she want distance from me while always seeming happy when we were together? That situation was a paradox.

I sighed. "As you once told me, some risks are worth taking."

"Everything keeps us apart," Tina squeezed her eyes shut. "We can't fight the reality."

I didn't know what to do. Valentina appeared to be sure we shouldn't be near each other. I pressed my lips together, feeling as if a hand smashed my chest. Valentina's fear couldn't get in the way of happiness. I didn't want to give up on her despite my initial hesitation. Even if Valentina just wanted to be my friend, I needed her in my life. Only the thought of her was enough to make me smile.

"Can you solve this problem later, husband and wife?" Isabella fixed some cracks the Knights made on her barrier. "We're running out of time!"

Guido leaned closer. "Have you made your choice?"

"Fire!" Valentina and I said at the same time.

Tina and I looked at each other for an instant. Only God knew why both of us had chosen fire. I bit my cheeks to avoid laughing. Isabella chuckled, seemingly entertained by that strange moment.

"The Inquisition burns people like me with fire. It's only fair that we use it against their secret branch," Valentina explained. "Besides, it's the strongest element."

I gawked. "I was about to say that as well! This is madness..."

"No. This is the Unity," Guido's lips curled into a broad smile. "A pair of wizards with the same powers except for the healing target. Two similar people with one fundamental difference that brought them together."

"Wait..." I rubbed my chin. "Is that why you chose a Catholic and a Jew to form the Unity?"

He nodded. "It wasn't easy to find people from different faiths that had so much in common."

"I'm confused," Valentina blinked fast. "What unites Sandro and me? The difference in healing powers or religions?"

"Both," the orange glow became stronger on Guido's hands as he looked at Tina. "Differences are a curse because they bring conflict. They're also a blessing for showing that agreeing in everything isn't necessary to create a bond."

"This is a nonsensical paradox," I scowled. "It's like calling something a blessed curse. A complete absurd!"

"You can't say it makes no sense," the Master Source shot me a defiant gaze. "After all, we both know what activated your powers."

Gulping, I felt myself blushing. Tina and I were involved in that crazy and yet beautiful paradox. I had developed feelings for her regardless of our differences, so Guido was right. I couldn't admit it in front of Valentina, of course. That would be a terrible way to confess emotions.

"Don't be scared," the Master Source touched my left arm and Valentina's right one. "This will feel strange."

He sent a hot stream into my veins before I could protest. It flowed so quickly I thought my body would explode. It burned me inside, like actual fire. The same seemed to happen to Valentina as she grimaced. I sighed in relief once the sensation vanished, creating an orange glow around me. Magic and its glows... I could never understand them! Luckily, the light faded quickly. I didn't want to look like a walking candle forever.

Now that Tina and I can summon fire, nothing can stop us... I hope.

"What now?" Isa crossed her arms. "Do we hide in this bubble forever?"

The Master Source sighed. "The three of you will have to fight the enemies here and close their portal."

I raised a brow. "Why can't you close it?"

"Their portals are made of Tenebris magic. The Knights made Tenebris stones from my blood, so I cannot interfere with its magic without getting destroyed. You saw my memory of them ripping my skin to create the stones, remember?" Guido bit his lower lip sharply. "The only people who can do it are you and Valentina. Isa must be there to cut the effect."

"Alright," Valentina rolled up her sleeves. "Let's make sure the KHW meets Satan."

I rubbed my chin. "For a Catholic, you mention Satan a lot."

Valentina smirked. "For a Jew, you wear a lot of papal clothes."

I gawked as Tina levitated an oval silver hat surrounded by golden adornments with a big cross on top of it. She placed it on my head. I couldn't hold a laugh while shaking my head in denial. Val put a hand on her mouth, apparently hiding a smile.

"Very funny," I took off the hat. "There will be revenge."

She slightly narrowed her eyes. "Really? What will you do?"

I grinned mischievously. "I'll think of something."

Isabella dismantled the barrier, leaving only Guido protected. Valentina and I levitated all the men, throwing them in the hallway. My eyes gleamed as a spark on my fingers created fire. I threw it on three Knights, making them scream. Valentina did the same after levitating two men and throwing them against the wall with her magic. Isa protected herself with a barrier, then turned it into blades, shoving them into three Knights. Ettore kept bringing more men from the other side of the portal.

These men are not giving up.

"Let's close the portal now," Valentina approached me. "After that, we deal with the enemies who crossed it."

"Great idea," I summoned my magic. "Isa, cover us!"

Isabella smiled. "It'll be my pleasure, handsome."

Tina shot her friend a brief icy glare. My lips curled into a wide grin as it seemed she'd gotten jealous. Isa made a barrier around Tina and me as she kept fighting. Taking a deep breath, I concentrated my powers on the orange and circular portal that brought more enemies every second. Valentina did the same while pressing her lips together. The magical circle slowly became a mix of purple and blue. Ettore's eyes bulged as the portal shrank.

"More stones!" Ettore shouted. "Now!"

Isabella flinched as the Knights showed three more Tenebris rocks. Valentina knitted her brows while looking at Isa, apparently worried. Struggling and gasping, Isa kept using her transparent blades against the KHW. Sweat ran down my back and legs as I used my magic to close that portal.

Breathe, Isa! We're almost there!

Ettore ran towards the portal while panting. "Retreat!"

Most Knights didn't listen to him. Apparently, the KHW members were braver than their leader. I sighed in relief as the portal finished shutting, releasing a blinding yellow light. Valentina, Isabella, and I kept fighting our enemies while using their magic. I dodged twice as an enemy attacked my waist and thigh. I threw his sword against the wall after levitating it. I struck my clenched fist against his bones, making him flinch. Tina's fighting lessons were more helpful than I'd thought.

"You must always take your magic to a single target," Valentina released fire on an enemy. "Don't forget my hints."

"I won't," I winked. "You taught me, so I paid extra attention."

Tina chuckled as she kept burning and levitating other enemies. Isa panted while throwing barrier blades on the last three men. The dark-green light on Isabella's hands was stronger than ever. I sighed since it seemed we'd gotten rid of the Knights... Well, not exactly. My eyes bulged as a man was about to plunge his sword into Valentina's back. Panting, I ran. I neither used my powers nor created an intelligent solution. I simply didn't think. All I wanted was to save her life, so I threw myself between Tina and the blade.

Ettore wanted to keep us alive until he found out who's the Unity, but it seems his soldiers disagree.

I screamed loudly as the sword went through my stomach. Besides destroying my skin, it seemed that blade burned me inside. The feeling was so horrible I thought I'd faint. Gasping, I fell on my back. I grimaced as crashing against the floor increased my excruciating pain. Isa killed my opponent with two barrier blades and dismantled Guido's barrier. Valentina screamed when she saw me on the ground. Her chin trembled. Isa and Guido gawked, apparently concerned as well.

"My God!" Tina knelt beside me while sobbing. "Why did you do this?"

Because I care for you. More than you can possibly imagine.

I couldn't speak because the air escaped my lungs. My body trembled as I sensed life abandoning me slowly. I felt cold and yet burning inside. Despite my situation, Tina being unharmed was enough to make me smile. I gulped as my massive wound wouldn't stop bleeding, creating a red stain on the floor.

I gasped. "You're alive. That's... That's all that matters."

"Stay with me! Please!" many tears ran down Tina's cheeks. "I'll heal you!"

My vision became blurry. "Tina, I... I can't..."

"Open your eyes!" Valentina held my hands. "San, look at me!"

All I could hear were Tina's muffled screams. Losing consciousness, I felt exhausted. Everything around me turned black. I couldn't see, hear, or move anymore. Completely numb, I feared the worst. Despite the horrible sensation, I didn't regret what I had done. Not even a little bit. I had accepted my feelings for her. The problem was I could die before revealing them. Valentina wasn't a blessed curse to me. She was simply a blessing. 

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Author's note: Will Sandro survive this battle? What else is Ettore planning? Keep reading and you'll find out... :-)

I dedicate this chapter to my dear friend SueLou66