CHAPTER 6: BETWEEN STARS AND PROMISES: A DAY OF LOVE IN OMEGARA.

In the vibrant heart of the planet Omegara , Castle Whittaker was in a whirlwind of activity. Its inhabitants, constantly coming and going, filled the halls with life and movement. When Terry, ready for the day in his majestic imperial robes, left the serenity of his bedroom, he found himself in a scene of frenzy that left him perplexed. The reason behind such turmoil was unknown to him until his path crossed that of Ashtar, his brother.

—¿What's going on? — Terry asked, searching for understanding amid the chaos.

—¿Did you forget? — Ashtar replied, with a mixture of surprise and amusement. —It's the day of love, couples... you know how the castle transforms on this day, especially the women of our family. Everything must be perfect for the start of the celebration. All the men have been recruited to organize the event. But you still have time to

—run away, — he continued with a smile, placing his hand on Terry's shoulder and whispering in his ear that Zahork still believed he was asleep, thus offering him the opportunity to escape to work while he covered for him.

—I appreciate your complicity, brother, — Terry replied, and without wasting a second, he activated a transport portal that catapulted him out of the castle, heading for the imperial planet Zenith. He reflected on how his uncle Darius probably wouldn't accompany him on his workday, busy as he would be with the preparations and celebrations inside the castle. Terry reproached himself for having forgotten that the day in question was celebrated throughout the universe, making it one of the most serene periods for those who, like him, decided to concentrate on their usual tasks. He then remembered that the feast of love extended for two days, because, in certain remote parts of the cosmos, the loving vibration took a while to arrive, thus setting the 14th and 15th as the days designated for the festivity.

The epicenter of these celebrations was in Orion, where a divine being known as Valerius, the God of Love, prepared himself three weeks in advance, concentrating in his being a powerful charge of loving energy. When the 14th arrived, Valerius released this energy into the cosmos, touching every corner, every planet and every being with his warmth. After his monumental effort,

He would retreat to the CRRA (assisted recovery chamber) where he would spend a week recuperating and energizing his body and mind, before continuing with his divine duties for the rest of the year. The magnitude of this event in Orion attracted the attention of all the military forces, destined to protect the celebration.

Terry imagined his brother Rodrick alongside his inseparable friend, Azrael Maclachlan , Emperor of Orion and husband of Inanna Galbraith, taking part in security for the event.

With these thoughts in mind, Terry arrived at his office in Zenith through the portal. The silence of his office contrasted with the bustle of Whittaker Castle. He was about to review the documents on his desk, immersing himself in the tasks at hand, when Vicenzo burst into the room with a folder in his hands. The workday was beginning, far from the fervour of Valentine's Day, but with the certainty that his brother Ashtar was covering his absence, allowing him to devote himself to his imperial obligations with the tranquillity that only distance could offer.

—Your Excellency, I present to you the documents you requested yesterday. I found them without difficulty, — announced Vicenzo, handing me the folder with a respectful gesture.

— I appreciate your diligence, Vicenzo — I replied, taking the folder in my hands. — Tell me, have you discovered anything else about this information? Is there anything new that we should know about? —

—Unfortunately, we only confirmed what we already knew. Even though 20 years have passed, we have not found any new information— Vicenzo said, his voice tinged with frustration.

How disheartening to hear that. This case remains unsolved, which, given its seriousness, suggests the intervention of hidden and powerful forces bent on hiding the truth—I mused aloud, considering the implications of our stalled investigation.

—Changing the subject, Your Excellency. This sealed note has arrived for you; the sender is a mystery, but the symbol on the seal should be familiar to you— commented Vicenzo, handing me the letter marked with a red wax seal bearing the emblem of the Cypher family, linked both to Max, colleague of my younger brother Rodrick, and to me.

—I understand, — I muttered, thanking him before proceeding to open the note. Its content was a summons to the planet Solara, accompanied by coordinates.

required for the trip through the S transport portal (45, 10, 0.1, 90). With a gesture, I dissolved the paper using my magic power, removing any trace of the message.

—Vicenzo, what is my agenda for today? — I asked, anticipating the need to reorganize my day.

—Let me check, — he replied, fiddling with his electronic diary. With a touch of his pen, he projected a detailed hologram of my appointments, meticulously arranged by time and subject.

After reviewing the appointments, I requested, —I want us to reschedule the last three meetings for tomorrow. — Vicenzo looked at me, surprised by the request. It was well known that during my long military career, I rarely altered my schedule. My assistants were accustomed to my reluctance to make last-minute changes.

Zahori's previous warnings about the consequences of missing certain events.

— It's not what you think,— I assured her. But before I could give her any more details, a commotion broke out outside. It was Zahori, who had arrived unexpectedly. The Imperial space station Zenith, known for its foolproof security, required a special keycard for access. It seemed Zahori had forgotten hers at the castle, and security wouldn't let her through.

I watched, almost in admiration mixed with a hint of apprehension, as my wife, furious, showed off her magic and psionic power, throwing the guards away with a simple gesture of her hands. Zahori was no ordinary wife; in fact, I had created her a decade ago in a laboratory, using my knowledge of biotechnology, reproductive medicine, embryology and andrology. The need to keep my secret and ensure my safety had led me to this unique solution: to create a companion capable of understanding and sharing my life.

However, Zahori had turned out to be more tempestuous than I had ever imagined. My father, with his usual sense of humor, did not miss the opportunity to comment on her character: —¿Did you have to make her fiercer than you? — His question brought a mocking smile from me, although deep down I knew I had not anticipated such intensity in her personality.

In these tense moments, only one person could calm Zahori: my mother. She had achieved the seemingly impossible: earning my wife's respect and adoration. Zahori respected and revered her as her own mother, a bond that had been forged in the fire of adversity and strengthened with each challenge overcome together. But on this occasion, my mother was not present to intervene, and the responsibility of calming the storm fell on me.

With determination, I headed toward the entrance, where Zahori continued his confrontation with security. As I approached, the intensity of his psionic aura became more palpable, a physical manifestation of his fury and determination.

— ¡Zahori !— I exclaimed, using my own energy to create a calming field around us, temporarily dulling his anger. —¿What's wrong?

She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with mixed emotions. —¿Terry, did you really think you were going to be away on the day of love? — Her voice, though laden with reproach, also revealed a vulnerability she rarely allowed others to see.

I paused, mulling over my words before answering. —Zahori , it was never my intention to push you away, especially today. The meeting I had scheduled was important, but not as important as you are to me.

His gaze softened, and though there was still a shadow of doubt, there was also hope. —Terry, sometimes I feel like your obligations consume you so much that you forget about us.

—I appreciate your sincerity, and I am deeply sorry for making you feel that way— I said remorsefully. —Today, I want to do things right. Let's forget about the meeting. We will dedicate this day of love to celebrate our love and our union, here, together.

A genuine smile lit up his face, dispelling any trace of tension between us. —¿Are you really going to cancel your plans for me?

—Of course. Today, you are my only commitment— I assured, and with a gesture of my hand, I sent a signal to Vicenzo to cancel the meeting, demonstrating my commitment to her above all else.

As Zahori and I walked back inside, I felt grateful for the opportunity to make amends. Despite the challenges we faced, our love had the strength to overcome them. On this day of love, we decided to put aside worries and challenges to focus on what really mattered: our relationship. We headed to my office, not to work, but to plan how we would spend the rest of the day together, exploring ways to celebrate our bond and reaffirm our commitment to one another.

—How about we take a stroll through the palace gardens? We can enjoy the scenery and maybe have a picnic at sunset, — I suggested, imagining a peaceful and romantic setting for us.

Zahori nodded, excited by the idea. —¿I'd love to. And then, how about we go stargazing? You've always said that every constellation has its own story, and I'd like you to share some of them with me. —

—That's a wonderful idea, — I replied, touched by her interest in sharing activities that I was passionate about. —Today, the entire universe will witness our love.

As we were organizing the details, I realized that this day of love would be unforgettable, not only because of the activities we had planned, but because of the meaning behind each gesture: a reminder of the power of our connection and the importance of prioritizing our love above all else.

On this day of love, Zahori and I rediscovered the joy of simply being together, remembering that despite the demands of the outside world and the responsibilities that weighed on our shoulders, our love was a safe haven, an inexhaustible source of strength and happiness.

The walk through the palace gardens felt like a respite, a chance to reconnect with nature and with each other. We walked hand in hand, admiring the beauty of the meticulously manicured landscaping, the flowers in full bloom, and the gentle murmur of the water in the fountains. This quiet moment allowed us to share thoughts and dreams, strengthening our bond.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, setting the stage for a spectacular sunset, we spread a blanket on the grass and sat down to enjoy our picnic. The simple yet delicious flavors of the foods we had brought complemented the perfection of the moment, each bite a reminder of the simple pleasures in life that we often overlook.

With the sky turning orange and pink, Zahori leaned on my shoulder, sighing happily. —This is the best day of love I could have ever imagined, — she murmured, watching the sun completely say goodbye, giving way to the first star of the night.

—And it's not over yet, — I reminded him with a smile, excited for the next part of our evening. Once darkness completely enveloped the garden, I pulled out a small telescope I had prepared beforehand. Carefully adjusting it, I pointed it toward the starry sky.

—Come, let me show you something special, — I invited Zahori, guiding her to look through the telescope. I had focused it on a constellation that I had always felt symbolized our union: Cygnus, the swan. —Legend has it that these stars represent eternal love, two souls destined to find each other across time and space.

Zahori stared in wonder, her face illuminated by the starlight. —It's beautiful, Terry. And to think that somewhere out there, there's an entire universe waiting to be explored together.

That night, under the starry canopy, we renewed our promises of love and support for each other, knowing that no matter what challenges we faced, our love would be the beacon that would guide us through the darkness. The day of love became a celebration of our shared history and the endless possibilities that lay before us.

At that magical moment, with the universe as witness to our love, I approached Zahori, wrapping her in my arms. Our eyes met, reflecting the depth of our feelings, and without the need for words, we immersed ourselves in a passionate kiss. It was a kiss that sealed our promises, a meeting of souls that spoke of an eternal and true love. The passion we shared in that instant seemed to stop time, uniting our hearts even more if possible.

As the kiss deepened, the world around us faded away, leaving us alone in our own universe of love and desire. The intensity of our emotions intertwined with the beauty of the night sky, creating a moment of absolute connection that neither of us would ever forget.

When we finally pulled away, still holding each other and breathing heavily, the smiles on our faces said everything our words couldn't. In that instant, we knew that no matter what the future held, because together, as an unbeatable team, we would overcome any adversity.

The day of love had been a day of reunion, discovery and, above all, of reaffirmation of the unbreakable love that Zahori and I shared. With our hearts overflowing with happiness, we returned to the palace, ready to face whatever came together, with the certainty that our love was a powerful force capable of overcoming any challenge.

As we returned to the castle, our hearts full and our souls rejuvenated, we knew that this day would be remembered not just as a celebration of love, but as a testament to the power of human connection to transcend the trivialities of everyday life and find magic in the simplest of moments. Together, we had created memories that we would cherish forever, a silent promise that no matter what, we would face the future hand in hand, with boundless love and hope.