Eric felt like they were walking too slowly. Unfortunately, there was no water around, so he was defenceless. But his only thought was 'Where is Valentina.' As far as he knew from before, she was Chosen by the Heart, and this gave her great power. But he had noticed how exhausted and insecure she was in her new powers.
He wanted to get to her faster, but Mariana had passed out and Florencio was carrying her on his hands. He found it hard to run and carry her at the same time, so they were very slow. And Eric didn't want to act like Axel, who ran away ignoring their abandonment.
They've reached the Knight Commander's area. Eric's stuck in a place like a numb. In front of him, Valentina was standing in one place without moving. Her eyes were wide open, but she couldn't see. Her beautiful as soft as silk hair was squealing around her face from a non-existent wind.
In no more than 15 feet away from her were walking two of the Commanders – a man and a woman. Eric's eyes were full of agony.
'What are you doing, Tina?' Why aren't you moving!?' he thought, and his heart was beating like crazy.
"Go ahead with me if you want. I must go to Tina right now!" and even before he finished his words, he ran towards her.
☆
"Great! The second Romeo left us too!" Mateo said ironically.
"Let him go. He cares about Tina. I care too!" Mariana tried to protect him and to tame the boys. "Come on, I think I see an empty space ahead. Florencio, will you be able to create a disguised. . ." her entire face was revealed in pain.
" Yes. Please, don't worry. Let's go right now! Come on, Mateo!" Florencio ran with his last powers.
'Why was it supposed to happen right now? ', Mariana thought sadly. Florencio put her slightly on the ground. He created a low-quality bunker in the shadow of the cave. Sweat ran down Mariana's forehead. She was breathing hard but at last, she had stopped shaking.
Mateo leaned over her and made a rune in the air – it gave her oxygen in small but enough quantities. The girl took a deep breath.
"Th... thank you, Mateo. Very much. "She smiled calmly.
"But why does this happen to you, Marnie? I know the Air Nation lives very high and the air there is abundant. But look at Mateo. There's nothing wrong with him." Florence asked her.
"I....." Mariana's face shrunk from the memories. "When I was born, I wasn't breathing. I couldn't take a gram of oxygen. My parents lost hope. Then Airbenders came to me. They gave me oxygen and blessed me with the Air Element.
Since then, I've been living in oxygen-rich places to keep me alive. My parents weren't benders, so they had a hard time raising me with that ability. Thanks to this gift, I can move fast and lightly like a feather. That's why I love dancing. That's where I feel free.
But unfortunately, in places with very little oxygen, I pass out and I can't breathe. How weak of me, isn't it?" there was bitterness in her voice.
Florentino did not address her last comment.
"Then why are you here? There are more dangerous places we're going to go through. I'm glad you're here, don't get me wrong, but it threatens your health!"
"The Air Shaman told me I had to come," the girl smiled sadly. "Come on, go now, Florencio. Help the others, and whoever's weak and can't fight, bring them here.
"I can't leave you... if I only had Eric's abilities..." the boy stared helplessly at his hands.
"We're fine. The cave is hidden enough. No one's going to attack us. Mateo's here with me too" the girl put her hand on his and made him look at her, "And you're an Earthbender. You can help others. It's okay."
"Well...okay. Mateo, bring her enough oxygen often."
And he went back into the wilderness.
☆
At the same time, Eric was running towards Valentina. He started calling her by name to make her move, but she was just standing at her place. The large weapon was inches from her face when he finally reached her and managed to push her away. They fell and rolled to the ground.
"Tina! Tina, get over yourself! " he screamed and shook her.
The enemy was getting closer and closer. Eric hugged Valentina so she wouldn't take the hit. And then he heard metal being hit in a rock.
Looks like Tina's new abilities saved them. A stone armour was created along with them, protecting them from the Knight's shocks. The ability of the Heart Stone was to create almost every earthly material but in a much stronger form in whatever shape the Guardian desired.
Eric immediately had an idea. Valentina had already recovered and looked confused. There was a shock in her eyes. 'She clearly didn't know what her abilities were, and now she's amazed of herself,' Eric sympathetically thought. He didn't know what she had seen moments ago.
"Tina, I know you're in shock, but please, you have to help! Can you make me a weapon? I can't fight empty-handed, and there's no water to create anything."
"You have no idea what I saw...All the..."
She couldn't finish her thoughts because he interrupted her.
"I know you're in shock and it's hard for you. But let's talk later, okay? This monster in armour is going to knock us down otherwise soon."
"But he's not. . ." another strong blow began to tear the stone.
"NO, VALENTINA! WE HAVE TO ACT NOW! " Eric shouted.
Tina gave up arguing and her eyes lit up. In no time she created a long black stone sword, but with the strength of the metal. She handed to Eric the new weapon.
"Thanks. That will work. You stay here, okay? I will isolate him from you."
He jumped out of their cover and headed to the knight.
"Fight with someone your size," the boy laughed and pointed the sword at his opponent.
"Fool," the Knight replied with a pouring voice and pulled the girl next to him behind his back. Eric noticed her at that moment.
For a moment, he wondered what the meaning of all of this was, but the question was interrupted by a new thought. 'He's bleeding a little bit and moves hardly. Apparently, Tina has still managed to do something to him. I will attack there' he thought and ran to him while screaming. Their weapons slammed into each other and then the battle started.
The Knight was intense. He rebuffed every cut and was striking frequent and strong ones. But they didn't knock Eric down.
In his sight, he noticed Ryan and slightly whistled at him. He turned to him. Eric nodded slightly at the girl behind his opponent. Rayan understood the gesture and pointed to her three fireballs. She noticed them at the last moment. Eric achieved the desired result – the Knight froze in place as the globes passed him.
Eric was looking triumphantly when a human passed by him like a lightning bolt. With a shocked face, he found out that it was Valentina.
Before he could stop her, she hugged the girl slightly, and her stone wall surrounded them. Minutes before Ryan's orbs exploded over their heads.