CHAPTER 8 THE DECLINE OF SIRIUS AND THE DAWN OF A NEW DESTINY

In the twilight gloom that enveloped Whittaker Castle, I returned to my wife, an aura of mystery hanging between us. In a tone of voice charged with urgency, I confided to her:

—My love, it is imperative that you remain silent about the secrets you have discovered today.

She, with the serenity that characterizes her, responded:

—I understand. If it is discovered, your father will create a scandal, and your mother will reproach me for not having informed her.

—It's not just that, — I continued. —My father, with his particular way of seeing things, will impose restrictions on us. We will lose our freedoms and he will subject us to constant surveillance, just like the rest of our relatives.

With an understanding smile, she caressed my face and sealed our promise with a kiss.

—Don't worry, my love. Your secret is safe with me. Besides, I'm just as committed to this mission as you are. Now, let me go prepare dinner.

After the concert, Terry's life returned to a superficial calm. Zahori, without inquiring into his nights out, seemed more forthcoming. It was on a Thursday, while Terry was consumed by his work routine, that a call from Max through the LumiCom interrupted the monotony.

—Hi, Terry. ¿How have you been spending these days of —rest—? —asked Max, in a joking tone.

—¿Rest?— I replied with a mocking smile. —Since when do I have a break? My workday is Monday to Monday, without a break.

—Oh, poor boy, — Max said, feigning tears. —They exploit this poor boy so much.

Terry answered Max's unexpected call seriously. —¿What did you call me for?

Max, always playful, replied Can't I just call my great friend Terry Whittaker for no reason? Don't be jealous.

I let out a mocking laugh before Max shared his discovery. —You remember the device from the concert, right? The one that affected the artists with its frequencies. I took it apart, found its source and those responsible for the sabotage.

—That's great, — I acknowledged. —Now we can act against them with concrete evidence.

—The problem is that these individuals have powerful influences. We cannot touch them easily.

I frowned, aware of the challenge. —Then we have a dilemma, — I muttered.

My friend Max, thoughtful, suggested a possible solution involving special abilities, which made me reluctant to the idea. —You know I can't use my energy for that. My family might get involved.

Max tried to convince me, arguing that conventional methods had failed and that my family was unlikely to find out—¿and how would they find out if we got rid of the evidence?

Although I was uncomfortable, I remembered a similar conversation with Zahori, who had also suggested I use my powers to solve the problem without raising suspicion.

—Okay, — I finally gave in, —but this matter remains between us.—

—Trust me, I'm a genius at these things, — Max assured, sealing the plan in secrecy.

The concert we had planned as part of our meticulous strategy was to take place on the exotic planet Caeloria. There couldn't have been a more perfect location for our covert operations; the alien environment offered an unbeatable setting. The two weeks leading up to the event were absolute chaos for me. I was caught in a whirlwind of commitments, alternating between my Imperial duties and my singing career. Between autograph signings, endless interviews, and preparations, I barely had time to think. But in reality, all of that worked in my favor: my busy schedule was the perfect excuse to avoid home. The same was true for Zahori . We both seemed to run away from home, immersed in our occupations, which made our relatives misinterpret our estrangement as a need to spend more time alone, leaving us in peace.

When we finally arrived in Caeloria, I became Sirius Starlight. Adopting that identity offered me a freedom that Terry, the Emperor, would never have. Zahori

Her appearance also changed, she was now Luna Solaris, with her brown skin, light brown hair and green eyes. A drastic change from her true self, with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. This new look was not just a matter of aesthetics; it was part of our tactics for the mission.

The concert began with an overwhelming energy. I could feel the crowd connecting with every note we played, every move we made. As the lights pulsed to the music, Zahori and I, along with our allies, scanned the audience. We knew the saboteurs were there, and over the course of those two hours we identified them one by one. Max, ever efficient, sent out an invitation to each of them, unambiguously: we knew what they had done, and now they had no choice but to show up at the meeting we had arranged. There would be no escape.

We ended the concert with a final resonant chord, and as we stepped down from the stage, Max and Zyron were waiting for us. I still felt the adrenaline running through my veins when Zyron, with a firm and determined look, announced:

—It's time to face our adversaries.

We headed toward our destination in the Astrocar, a sleek, aerodynamically designed vehicle with a silver finish that gleamed under the city lights. The ride was short, but the tension grew with every mile. When we reached the designated winery, silence enveloped us as we stepped out of the car. Max, ever the lookout, stepped forward to peer through a broken window.

—They're all there, — he said, pointing inside.

I nodded silently and gathered the group together. We knew what we had to do: it was crucial that no one recognized us.

— Zahori, create a new image for yourself. I'll take care of the rest —I ordered in a low but firm tone.

With a fluid gesture of my hands, a bright light enveloped the team, altering our appearances in a matter of seconds. We were now unrecognizable, ready for confrontation.

As I entered, I saw that the warehouse was full of business leaders, powerful men who controlled the music industry with their corrupt practices. There was something ironic about standing in front of those who thought they had absolute control. But this time, we were the ones in charge. A burly man, with a cigar in his mouth, was the first to speak:

—Are you the ones in the note?

Zyron, always the calmest of the group, responded without hesitation:

—That's right. We're here because their practices are destroying the industry. We've come to stop them.

Another man, dressed in a bizarre suit and a wide-brimmed hat, let out a mocking laugh.

—If they think they can take us on, they are very wrong. They have no idea who supports us, — he said, his voice full of arrogance.

Before I could respond, Max intervened:

—We know perfectly well who their allies are, but they will be of no use to them here.

The atmosphere became even more tense when another man stepped forward with an air of superiority.

—And what do they plan to do? Imprison us? —he said sarcastically.

Zahori, always so calm and confident, interrupted him.

—We are not seeking to imprison them. Our justice is of a different kind.

That's when I decided it was time to act. With a decisive move, I channeled my energy and released a blinding light that enveloped the twenty men. Within seconds, they disappeared without a trace.

The event was over. The corrupt had vanished, and the message was clear: art and integrity would prevail.

Max, with a sigh of relief, was the first to break the silence.

—Well, gentlemen and ladies, the deed is done.

We headed back to the Astrocar , leaving the place behind as if we had never been there. As we slid through the darkness, heading towards our future, I felt a strange mix of relief and exhaustion. I still couldn't believe that we had done it, that we had eliminated those who threatened what we held dear.

Zyron 's office, we settled into silence amidst star charts and flickering holograms. Max, ever the joker, was the first to speak again:

—Terry, you are now as free as a comet in the cosmos. Ready to lead, with no chains to bind you.

—Always the court clown, eh, Max? —I replied with a slight smile.

But Zyron, more seriously, raised an important question.

—We are at a crossroads. How do we banish Sirius Starlight without extinguishing the glow he has brought?

The discussion about Sirius' future continued, but I already had my answer. I knew my double life wouldn't end there. I had found a balance, and I wasn't about to give it up.

Finally, Zahori and I returned home, as if nothing had changed, although deep down we knew we had taken an important step.