CHAPTER 7 HARMONY AND DISCORD: UNMASKING THE SHADOW ON THE STAGE

As we made our way back to the castle, I discreetly stepped aside to take an incoming holographic call on my portable LumiCom. I opted to retreat to the bathroom, seeking privacy for this unexpected conversation. It was Max, who seemed to be impatient with my delay.

—¿Where have you been, Terry? We're waiting for you, — Max reproached in a tone that oscillated between concern and annoyance.

With a slight smile, I replied, —¿Did you forget what day it is, Max?

—Of course, Valentine's Day and all that pomp, — he replied, his voice denoting a slight disdain for the holiday.

— For you it may be ″pomposity″, but you should know that, for the women in my family, this day is of great importance. Zahori almost made a scandal for not spending time together, so I had no choice but to dedicate the whole day to her— I explained, trying to make her understand the delicacy of the situation.

Max let out a sigh before suggesting, —You could have warned me. Or better yet, brought her with you.

I raised an eyebrow, incredulous at his proposal. —Oh, sure, because it would be great to say to him: ″Look, I'm the famous intergalactic star Sirius Starlight, and we're on a crusade against star mafias. Come with me and put your life at risk. ″ I'm sure he'd love it,

— I said, my irritation palpable in every word.

—Come on, Terry, it's not that big of a deal. I was just mentioning it because she can probably keep your secret. I doubt she's the type to go around revealing information— Max tried to calm the waters, his tone now more conciliatory.

I admitted, not without some resignation, —Yes, she is aware, as is the rest of the family. Although, oddly, the women seem to talk about Sirius more. I think I am some kind of idol to them, — I said,

allowing myself a smile at the irony of the situation. —Although, I must say, my male relatives don't find it very funny. Every time I appear on screen, they complain that women ask them to be quiet so they can listen to me.

Max couldn't help but laugh. —Now that's a dilemma. No man likes his partner to admire another man, even if it's just a singer. Jealousy always finds its way.

Our conversation, though tinged with recriminations and sarcasm, ended on a light note, reminding us that despite the complications and secrets we deal with, friendship and love find ways to weave themselves into the fabric of our lives, even in the most unexpected circumstances.

Max was quick to insist, his voice echoing through the holographic call on my portable LumiCom . —Come on, Terry. We've got a concert coming up.

With a sigh, I replied, —Okay, but I need to find a way out without my family or Zahori noticing. It's not that simple here. If I use a portal, my father will detect it instantly. You know, the Ætheris Gem has taught him all about magic and granted him unique powers, as well as the secrets of the universe. Escaping from a father like that is no easy task.

Max laughed. —I totally understand. I already have my own issues with my father, and he's just a human.

—I'll see you in an hour. Just give me time to sneak out of the castle and this event, — I promised, feeling the pressure of time.

—Hurry up, because we have a full house. You know how fans get when their idol is late.

—Yes, I know, — I remembered, thinking of those previous concerts and the chaos caused by a group of unbridled fans.

—I'll see what I can do, — I concluded, ending the call. Just then, someone knocked on the door. —¡It's busy! — I exclaimed, quickly hiding the LumiCom and turning on the faucet to pretend I was washing my hands. Ashtar entered abruptly.

—Hey, I didn't mean to interrupt, but you know how Zahori gets when something is hidden from him.

—I know, don't worry. Everything is under control— I assured.

Hoping that Zahori hadn't caused too much trouble in Zenith, Ashtar nodded before heading for the door. I stopped him, placing my hands on his shoulders. —I need a favor, little brother. There's an emergency and I need to get to Zenith.

—I understand, but today is complicated with all these celebrations— he thought, until an idea lit up on his face—But I know how you can get out without anyone noticing.

Following him through the halls to the library, Ashtar activated a secret mechanism, revealing a hidden door. We descended a stone staircase into a cave, and after walking for thirty minutes, we reached a meadow.

—You can open your portal here without anyone knowing. Make sure you remember the coordinates, — he said, handing me a portal-making device. I thanked him and opened a portal to where Max and Zyron were waiting for me, disappearing just before the portal closed behind me. Ashtar returned to the castle through the same secret path.

What none of us knew was that Zahori had followed us. Having picked up on the energy from Terry's portal, he opened his own with the same coordinates and found himself backstage.

of what seemed to be a concert. Curious, she began to explore the place, observing the various species gathered together in amazement.

As Zahori inadvertently explored the concert backstage, a guard intercepted her with a stern warning. —This place is not open to the general public, — he told her firmly.

Trying to apologize, Zahori hurriedly replied, —Sorry, I got lost.

But the guard, impatient, grabbed her arm, intending to escort her out. Annoyed by his touch, Zahori reacted instinctively, releasing a small lightning bolt from her hand that forced the guard to let go. As she tried to escape from him and his unpleasant smell of sweat, she found herself faced with closed doors and people blocking her way. In her frantic escape, a door burst open just as Terry was leaving. They collided and fell to the ground, Terry instinctively holding her as she tried to free herself. Coming face to face, Zahori recognized her husband.

—¿Terry?— she asked, surprised.

Standing quickly, Terry tried to maintain his cover. —You're mistaken, miss. My name is Sirius, — I replied, desperately wanting to get out of this situation. I wondered how she had gotten there.

—You can't fool me, Terry. I recognize your energy— Zahori insisted, just as the guard caught up with us, looking at us suspiciously.

—¿Do you know her, sir? — the guard asked.

I was at a crossroads, knowing that if I denied knowing Zahori, she might cause a scandal with her powers. —It's okay, she's a fanatic. I'll take care of it, — I assured the guard, who, after adjusting his belt with a snort, finally left us alone.

It was then that Zyron entered, noticing the tension in the air. —¿Who is this lovely young lady?— he asked, addressing Zahori.

—She's… a fanatic. And she was just leaving, — I said, hoping to persuade Zahori to leave the place.

But Zahori was determined to stay. —Leave? No way, — she said, closing the dressing room door, leaving the three of us locked inside. —Now we'll see if you really aren't my husband, Terry Whittaker.

Zyron, anticipating the escalation, tried to mediate. —Please, beautiful lady, you are mistaken. This man is not who you think.

—Get away, — Zahori demanded, his gaze dripping with fury.

Zyron tried to protect me, but with one swift movement, Zahori knocked him away, causing him to crash into the wall. Then, he launched his lightning bolt at me. The energy engulfed me, causing pain that forced me to kneel, revealing my true identity in the midst of torment.

In that chaotic and revealing encounter, it became clear that secrets and hidden identities could not be maintained forever, especially given the unbreakable bond between Terry and Zahori.

At that tense moment, the atmosphere became even more charged when Max, the fourth person involved in this web of secrets, entered and closed the door behind him. As he turned around, his gaze fell on the scene before him: his friends and Zahori, whom he already knew as a colleague of his brother-in-law Rodrick.

—Everything is ready, — Max announced, clearly surprised to see Zahori among us.

Zahor, without wasting a second, confronted him with a direct accusation. —So it was you, — she said, pointing at him with her finger. —You, you little vermin, have dragged my husband into this mess.

Zahori 's intense gaze, tried to defend himself. —It's not what you think, Zahori, — he assured, trying to calm the waters.

Zahori, however, was not so easily convinced. —I know you well, Max. You are capable of involving half the world in your problems. What did you promise Terry in exchange for his help?

Trying to ease the tension, Max insisted on his innocence. —Even though I know you don't like me, I would never threaten any of my friends to get them to help me. I've always been there when you needed me, and I've never revealed any secrets about you, — he explained, trying to deflect the accusation with sincerity.

Meanwhile, Zyron was struggling to regain his balance and Terry, still reeling from the pain of Zahori 's attack, was trying to ease the pain by hugging his stomach. Max approached Terry, helping him sit down on a nearby chair.

Terry, his arms still crossed over his abdomen, reflected on the intensity of Zahori 's attack. He recalled an incident from years ago, when his wife still had no control over her powers and had nearly rendered him unconscious for a week. At the time, the memory served as a reminder of how dangerous these situations could be not only for him, but for everyone involved.

Max approached Terry with a look of genuine concern. —¿Are you okay, Terry?— he asked, his tone reflecting his concern.

—Something like that,

— I answered, trying to catch my breath. —That shock was more intense than expected. — I leaned forward, hugging my abdomen with my arms crossed, trying to ease the discomfort.

Max, clearly frustrated, turned to Zahori. —You couldn't control yourself? Terry has an important concert, and look at the state you've left him in.—

Zahori, visibly regretful, lowered her gaze. —I'm sorry, I think I overstepped, — she admitted softly, biting her lip in remorse.

—¿How long will it take you to recover? — Max asked, searching for solutions.

— An hour, I think— I managed to say, my voice weakening.

Max exhaled in frustration. —Great, just what we needed, — he said sarcastically, looking at Zahori. —We have a ton of fans waiting outside.

It was then that Zyron, regaining his composure, chimed in with an idea. —I have a solution, — he proposed, gaining Max's attention.

—And what would that be? — Max asked skeptically.

—The opening acts. There are always local bands willing to play.

Max frowned. —We haven't planned on having any opening acts.

—But we could search around the city. We're sure to find a talented band willing to participate— Zyron suggested.

—Okay, let's do it. Let's find a band worth our time, — Max agreed. Zyron nodded and, leaning on the wall for balance, left the room to take care of the task.

Turning to Zahori, Max added, —And you, I hope you will help Terry recover. And please try not to hurt him anymore. — With those words, Max left the room, leaving Zahori and Terry alone.

Zahori approached Terry, whose condition required immediate attention. Carefully, he guided him to a bed embedded in the wall of the dressing room, making sure he lay down to rest and recover. —You should have told me, — he gently reproached him, as he arranged him on the bed to make sure he was comfortable and could concentrate on regaining his strength.

—I couldn't, — Terry whispered, —I didn't want to involve you in this.

Zahori said, taking her hand and kissing her palm. —But at least you're pursuing your passion for music, despite the circumstances.

—Yeah, that's the positive side of all this—Terry admitted.

—Tell me more about this project, — Zahori asked, eager to understand.

— We are working to dismantle corporations that exploit artists by imposing unfair conditions on them. We seek to protect creative freedom and ensure that their rights are respected — Terry explained.

—And couldn't you use your power to solve it more directly? — Zahori suggested.

—You know I can't. There are laws and protocols to follow, and I don't want to expose our family to unnecessary risks, — Terry replied, highlighting the complexity of his mission.

—Okay, I understand perfectly, — Zahori said , showing his understanding. —Now focus on recovering. I will send you some of my energy to speed up your recovery and make sure you can perform this concert.

—Okay, but if you decide to stay, you will have to change your appearance. Our family cannot know about this mission; only you are aware of it— I said, clearly marking the limits of our complicated situation.

Zahori nodded without hesitation. —I have no problem with that. I will be by your side, no matter what. — Despite the annoyance he felt at imagining Zahori involved in these dangerous matters, he knew it was useless to try to

dissuade her. Zahori, with his powerful gift and protective instinct, would not allow her to face this challenge alone. Although he preferred to see her in safer environments, such as the garden or enjoying everyday activities, he was aware that her company could be crucial.

Sensing my thoughts, Zahori stepped forward. —And don't try to convince me otherwise. Although we haven't shared many missions, you know well that when we work together, the results are quick and effective.

Zahori 's help, I could find a solution more quickly. His involvement might be the decisive factor we needed to overcome the obstacles we were facing.

Zahori 's energy and support, I recovered remarkably in just 45 minutes. With renewed strength, I managed to assume the identity of Sirius Starlight again, while Zahori took on the appearance of an enthusiastic singer, supposedly under my protection.

As I walked onto the stage, something didn't feel right. A strange energy was disturbing the atmosphere, making it difficult for me to concentrate on the performance. Using my power, I decided to follow that energy trail and, as a precaution, I caused one of the stage lights to fall, without it hurting anyone. This small incident created a necessary pause in the show.

Back in the dressing room, I explained to everyone the reason behind the interruption. —I felt a strange energy running through the stage, — I told them, trying to communicate the seriousness of my perception.

—Strange energy, you say?— Zyron inquired , intrigued by my comment.

—They might be using some kind of technology to destabilize the artists, — I suggested, considering the possibility that there might be deliberate manipulation behind the widespread unrest.

This revelation led us to consider the complexity of our mission more deeply, encouraging us to be more alert and prepared to face any challenges that might arise.

The hypothesis of a disruptive energy on the scene prompted an immediate change in our approach. Max, Zyron, Zahori and I met to develop an action plan that would allow us to identify and neutralize the source of the disturbance.

—We need to investigate who or what is behind this, — Max proposed, always ready to face a challenge. —If they are trying to destabilize artists, it could be a tactic of one of those abusive corporations we are fighting against.

Zyron nodded, his mind already working on possible solutions. —We could use modified energy detectors to track anomalies during the concert. If there are any devices or magic at play, we will find them.

Zahori, for his part, offered to use his energy sensitivity to help with the search. —I can sense fluctuations in energy. If something or someone is interfering, I will detect it.

With the plan in place, we proceeded to implement our strategies. Zyron and Max took charge of installing the energy detectors around the stage, while Zahori and I made a preliminary walkthrough to sense any energy anomalies.

The concert continued, and with our attention divided between the performance and our mission, we kept watch. It wasn't long before energy detectors pointed out an anomaly in a specific area behind the stage. Zahori, attuned to the vibrations of the place, confirmed the presence of an unusual energy.

Following the signs, we discovered a hidden device, sophisticated and evidently designed to emit waves that disturbed the well-being of the performers. Max, with his technical knowledge, managed to deactivate it without attracting attention, ensuring that the concert could continue without further interruptions.

The revelation that someone was attempting to sabotage the event strengthened our resolve to dismantle corrupt practices within the entertainment industry. With the device in our possession, we had the evidence needed to expose those responsible and take legal action against them.

After the concert, we gathered to celebrate the success of our mission and the elimination of the threat. Zahori, whose intervention was crucial, received recognition from everyone. Although there were initially doubts about her participation, she proved to be an invaluable ally.

—This is just the beginning, — I declared, looking at my peers. —Together, we will make the industry a fair place for all artists.

The concert was not only a musical victory, but also a step forward in our fight for justice. With our skills and determination united, we felt invincible, ready to face any challenge the mission would throw at us in the future.