CHAPTER 1 — PROLOGUE/ THE NIGHT BANQUET

It was early in the morning when I arrived at the kitchen of Whittaker Castle on the planet Omegara , accompanied by my uncle and bodyguard Darius . My four brothers, my uncle Julian and my father were there, eating after a tiring day of work. We would gather in the castle kitchen for a banquet at around two in the morning, since that was the time when we could safely arrive home from work. Each of us was a key piece in watching over the universe and making sure that there were no riots, murders, kidnappings or anything that could upset the fragile thread of cosmic stability. Any incident could unleash a war between planets, so we had to be alert for attacks or manifestations of chaotic energy.

My brother Rodrick was, as described by women, the typical handsome guy with green eyes and blond hair, muscular. This was because my brother Ethan had the bad idea of giving him a pair of weights for his birthday when Rodrick turned twelve. Since then, he became obsessed with looking like our father physically: having muscles, doing weights, gymnastics and everything that bodybuilders do. But there came a point when he got bored and decided to join the army, not just any army, but the special forces, where there are the best of the best and all as muscular as him. If you have a problem on your planet with rebellions and you can't control them, any king or ruler calls the special forces - Alpha Titan. My little brother Rodrick is the youngest, but he is the tallest of the four of us. When we were younger, Rodrick was the bully of the family; in every family there is one, and this was my brother. He made us do his chores, the ones our father assigned us so we would learn responsibility and discipline: sweeping, washing dishes, laundry, gardening, etc. Since Rodrick didn't like these things, he forced Ethan and me to do them for him, threatening to hit us if we refused. Ethan and I were skinny and not as strong as he was.

Next to Rodrick was my brother Ethan. He had been fascinated by chess since he was a child. He wanted to learn and needed a teacher. I had a friend who played chess, but I never wanted to get involved in it; I had no interest in it. However, Ethan found out about it and guess what, he started pestering me day and night to teach him. I had no choice but to talk my friend into teaching me, so that I could teach Ethan. The same thing happened with Rodrick when my father noticed that my brother had a knack for electronics, computers and technology. He enrolled him in college to study, but Rodrick , although not stupid, was slow to learn.

He liked to analyze things, but when he managed to learn something, no one could beat him. He had problems at university and my father asked me one day:

—Help your brother Rodrick to pass the levels, you know more about the subject, so help him—

I had no choice; when my father tells me something, I have to obey him. It's not that I don't want to, but you don't know how he gets when I don't obey him. Yes, I've had arguments with him about it. I remember one time, when my powers hadn't become innate yet and I didn't fully control them, I actually hurt him. It was then that I decided to never fight or disobey him again, because that time I felt all the pain he experienced when I gave him the psionic attack . Plus, I saw his entire life and his reincarnations, which wasn't nice. I ended up in a coma for a week, and my father spent two weeks in bed recovering from my attack.

Sometimes my brother Rodrick makes things harder by being so slow to learn. I get really annoyed, especially when I've explained the same thing to him more than three times. There's always Ethan, and I ask him:

—Remind me why I should teach our brother?

Ethan replies:

—So that our father doesn't get on your nerves with that 'help him pass this level' thing,— says Ethan with a smile on his lips, I can't tell if it's sarcasm or if he's really having fun seeing me so upset.

At the head of Ethan is Ashtar, the scientist everyone envies for his brilliance. He is a combination of Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Isaac Newton, and Frank Oppenheimer all rolled into one brain. He even snatched the title of greatest scientist from his father, Sadeth , who claimed authorship of the inventions that Ashtar had mostly created. Sadeth often appropriated Ashtar's inventions, naming them after himself.

Ashtar is married to Inanna Galbraith, the empress of the planet Orion, where, according to custom, the empress can have two husbands. Her first husband, Azrael Maclachlan , who shares the leadership of the planet with her, had always loved Inanna, and once, when they had to join forces to solve a serious problem in Orion, Ashtar, neither foolish nor lazy, proposed to her: —I will solve the problem for you if you marry me.— He knew the saying —if one door closes, a window opens— and he used it wisely. Although Azrael did not like the agreement very much, he had to bite his tongue, since he too had to sacrifice himself for the good of his planet.

From the very dawn of my youth, my father steered me towards special institutes and schools, as if he knew that my power, latent and mysterious, was waiting for its moment. But let me confess something: back then, magic did not interest me in the slightest. My eyes sparkled with the promise of mischief and adventure, not with the dark secrets of grimoires.

At school, I was an enigma to my peers. I didn't need to study; the teachers' words stuck to my mind like invisible tattoos. Exams were my playground, and I always came out on top. Sure, that earned me jealous enemies, but my brother Rodrick , ever protective, wouldn't let them touch me outside of school; inside was another matter, there I had to learn to defend myself. We were a peculiar family: each of us attended different schools, designed to hone our unique attributes and powers.

My brothers, with their specific gifts, followed the rules. I, on the other hand, was the black sheep. Why? Because I escaped school to immerse myself in the outside world. I liked to taste life, whether in a bar, a restaurant or, yes, even in the darkest corners where naked women danced like tempting sirens. I had no money, but the cunning of a mischievous young man always finds shortcuts.

My father, who was and still is a military man, punished me again and again. But here's the twist: I enjoyed those punishments. Every task, every chore, was an opportunity to learn. In the dusty corners of the library, I discovered forgotten secrets and forbidden knowledge. My mind expanded like an ever-expanding universe. And so, without realizing it, I became an insatiable magician.

My brothers, poor souls, did not understand. They complained about the restrictions my father imposed on them. But I knew how far to go, how to skirt the boundaries without breaking them. It was a delicate balance, like walking on a razor's edge. And while they struggled between obedience and rebellion, I explored the mysteries of magic and life itself.

So here I am, Terry Whittaker, the mischievous wizard. Sometimes, when the moon is high and the stars twinkle like cosmic eyes, I wonder if there's more to my destiny than mischief and knowledge. Maybe there's a greater purpose I haven't yet discovered? But for now, I'll keep pushing the boundaries, because that's what us misfits do, right?

From the heights of the castle, where the stone walls stand as silent witnesses to centuries of history, I watch the sunrise. The kitchen window becomes a portal to the outside universe. The mountains, imposing and majestic, seem to whisper ancient secrets as the sunlight filters through their peaks.

My family, an eclectic mix of wizards and soldiers, spreads out across the halls and chambers. The wives, our confidants and guardians of their own mysteries, find refuge on the lower level of the castle. There, amid stone walls and flickering torches, they share their stories and their longings. It is an unspoken pact: we do not disturb their sanctuary, and they do not trespass on our domain. Thus, privacy becomes a precious commodity in this corner of Omegara .

My father, the venerable soldier, questions me seriously. His gaze, as deep as the abyss of stars, seeks answers in my tired eyes. How was my day? Interplanetary diplomacy, that game of cosmic chess, has occupied my time. Meetings with kings and queens, each defending their borders as if they were the last stars in the firmament.

—Father,— I say, keeping my composure despite my exhaustion, —peace is a delicate balance. Every word, every gesture, can unleash an intergalactic storm. But today, in that negotiating room, I felt a glimmer of hope. The kings, with their crowns and their lust for power, gave way. Maybe, just maybe, we can avoid war.—

The sun rises higher, its golden rays caressing the mountain ridges. My father nods, and in his gaze I see the burden he carries on his shoulders. Peace, like a fragile crystal, must be protected. We are the guardians of harmony, the weavers of invisible alliances. And though the universe is vast and hostile, we continue to fight for a tomorrow without conflict.

—We need more days like these,— my father says, his voice echoing like an ancient one. —Peace is a precious commodity in these turbulent times. Keep going, Terry. May your words be the arrows that calm the warring stars.—

I nod, feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders. In this castle, where magic and politics intertwine, my role is more than just a diplomat. I am a bridge between worlds, a dreamer seeking to unite distant constellations. As the sun rises over Omegara , I know my departure is still far off. There are stories to be written, and I, Terry Whittaker, will be the narrator of this intergalactic epic.

Rodrick chimes in with a smirk.

—And how many times did you have to flex your mental muscles to keep those kings in line ? Huh?

—Not as much as you do at the gym, I'm sure —I reply, returning the smile. Laughter spreads around the table, lightening the mood.

Ethan, with his eternally thoughtful look, adds:

—At least kings don't lift weights.

Ashtar, always the calmest, raises his cup in a gesture of gratitude.

—To peace and diplomacy,— he says, and we all follow suit, clinking our cups in a silent toast.

The sun begins to rise, bathing the kitchen in golden and orange hues. Despite the seriousness of our conversation, there is a sense of unity that envelops us. Here in this kitchen, with my family of warriors and protectors, I feel like we can face any challenge the universe throws at us. With a final sip of coffee, we prepare for the new day ahead, ready to defend the balance and harmony of our worlds once again.