CHAPTER 12 RENAISSANCE AMONG THE SHADOWS

Three years have passed since that fateful day when, as Imperial High Priest, I was dragged through a portal to an unknown destination. My disappearance left a deep scar on the Whittaker family, who, despite everything, have not ceased in their search. Every day, every hour, they have dedicated their efforts to finding me, no matter how far I had been taken, even if it meant losing me among the stars. But my path led me to Zalara , a planet in the farthest reaches of the universe, so far away that it seemed to touch the limits of another reality. Here, in this inhospitable and mysterious place, I have found a new life, far from the echoes of my past. However, those who considered me their adversary, Sadeth and Anubis, continue to follow me, driven by the thirst for the Ætheris Gem , the relic that I carry and that seems to be the object of their endless obsession.

In Zalara , time moves differently. From a trader of artifacts and ancient technology, I have transformed into someone new, someone who has cast aside the shadows of the empire I once ruled.

—Today marks the beginning of a new era!— Nova's voice echoed with a mix of strength and hope, as we gathered around the communal table in our shelter. Holding her glass high, her gaze met mine and the others', her voice vibrating with excitement. —Let us toast Jaxon Steele, whose knowledge of science and medicine has been our salvation.—

Everyone raised their glasses in gratitude. Jaxon had been instrumental in their survival. Thanks to me, we were no longer dependent on old dishonorable practices, and for the first time we were self-sufficient, able to protect ourselves from any external threat.

—You've given us the opportunity to thrive, Jaxon, — Nova continued. —You've transformed the way we live, and for that we owe you more than words can express.—

A round of applause rang out in the room, an echo of the evolution we had achieved over the past three years. What began as a simple struggle to survive in the middle of an inhospitable desert had become an advanced community, equipped with technology we once thought impossible to obtain. Sturdy homes, crops that flourished in the arid land, and a society that now not only lived, but thrived.

I couldn't help but feel a certain satisfaction in knowing that I had played a key role in this change. Although my hands were now stained more with dust and dirt than power, I was still the catalyst that drove this progress. The knowledge of chemistry, physics, and medicine that had once dominated my mind now served a whole new purpose.

But there was something that Aiden , one of the few who knew me more deeply, did not let pass. His eyes, always sharp, analyzed me.

—Maybe you're running away from who you were —he told me one night, when the silence of the desert was the only thing that kept us company.

Those words stayed with me, a seed of doubt that grew as the days went by. Who was I really running from? What part of my past was I refusing to remember? Sometimes, in the silence, I felt the immense emptiness of something lost, like a shadow on the periphery of my mind. And in the darkest moments, a distant voice would whisper a name I couldn't remember, but that deep in my soul I knew was mine.

After the banquet, I felt a strange need to escape the bustle. The fresh air felt like a promise, a necessary respite to clear my mind. Outside, the desert that had once been an endless wasteland of sand had transformed into something almost surreal. Where once there had been only arid dunes, flowers now grew, coloring the landscape, mingling with crops of potatoes, onions, and a diversity of vegetables I barely understood. Both terrestrial and extraterrestrial species had found their place in this once infertile soil. I made my way to a wooden seat on the garden porch, a quiet corner, removed from the constant movement of the community.

The breeze was soft, laden with the subtle scent of the flowers that were now blooming freely. The air felt like a whisper from the planet, a reminder of how far this land had come, and yet how distant I felt from the peace the rest of the community seemed to have found. As I sank deeper into my seat, one question loomed ever larger: What would become of me if I couldn't recover the memories of my past? The emptiness that this lack of knowledge caused in me was like an abyss I could never fill. I couldn't live forever with the feeling that a crucial piece of myself was missing, as if I were incomplete, trapped between the man I was and the man I am now.

I was so absorbed in these thoughts that I didn't notice Nova's arrival until she sat down beside me. Her presence was unmistakable, not just by her appearance, but by the calm she always seemed to bring with her. Barely 25 years old, Nova bore the marks of the Zalarian sun on her tanned skin. Her eyes reflected the strength of someone who had seen and lived far more than her age suggested. The hardships of this planet had shaped her in a particular way, combining a keen knack for trade with a keen instinct for battle. She was a born warrior, unafraid to face death if necessary, but she also possessed a sensitivity that made me feel, at times like this, that she could see beyond my barriers, as if she knew what was hidden within me.

—You look restless,— he said softly, breaking the silence.

—I am,— I replied, without taking my eyes off the fields before us. —I always am.—

She was silent for a moment, and I was grateful for that. At her side, I didn't feel the need to fill the space with words. Nova had that ability to be present without forcing a conversation, without demanding immediate answers.

—Sometimes the past weighs more than the present —she murmured, as if speaking as much to herself as to me— But we can't let it consume us.

I wanted to tell her that it wasn't that simple, that the emptiness I felt went beyond simple lost memories. It was something deeper, an essential part of my being that was missing, like a constant echo resonating in my mind. But the words got stuck in my throat. Nova had always been a pragmatic woman, someone who moved forward without looking back any more than necessary. Her strength was something I deeply admired, but at the same time, I wondered if she had ever felt this kind of disconnection from her own being.

—We can't always escape what we were,— I finally said, my voice nearly drowned by the weight of my thoughts.

Nova glanced at me, her piercing eyes studying my profile with an intensity that made me feel vulnerable, though not in an uncomfortable way. After a moment, she spoke.

—Maybe it's not about escape, Jaxon . Maybe it's about reconciliation. What you were doesn't have to define who you are now, but it can help you understand what you'll be.

That last sentence hung between us. I wondered if what he said was possible, if I could somehow reconcile myself with a past I didn't remember, but whose shadows continued to haunt me. Nova, as usual, had left a seed in my mind. And as the night breeze continued to caress the air, a part of me began to consider that maybe, just maybe, there was something I needed to recover not for the pain his absence caused me, but for the peace that meeting him could bring.

I stood in silence, feeling Nova's presence beside me, both of us sharing the same air, the same desert, but carrying pasts that, though different, had shaped us. Meanwhile, the vegetable garden at our feet continued to grow, a living testament that even in the most arid lands, life always found a way to flourish.

Terry, 38 years old, had arrived on Zalara at 35, after being thrown into the unknown following a crucial battle against Sadeth . The explosion that threw him into this world not only separated him from his previous life, but also robbed him of all memory of it. He woke up on Zalara as a man with no past,

without identity. Although something inside him told him that he had been someone important, all that remained of his family and home were blurry fragments, glimpses of a life that seemed from another time.

As the years passed, Zalara offered him a new chance to reinvent himself. Here, on this untamed planet, far from the shadows of the empire he once ruled, he found the possibility of creating different bonds. Nova had been key to that transformation. With her strength and wisdom, she had become more than just a fighting partner; over time, her presence filled voids Terry didn't even know he had.

Sitting next to Nova on the portico, a gentle breeze rustling the Zalarian flowers , Terry reflected on how much had changed. The harshness of this planet had marked not only his spirit, but his body as well. The scorching sun of Zalara had tanned his skin, and daily labor had sculpted muscles where politics and command had once lived. In his eyes there still shone that spark of hope, the same one that Zahori , his wife of times past, had loved deeply, although her face and name were only shadows in the nebula of his memory.

As Terry was lost in his thoughts, Nova watched him silently. She knew there was something always lurking in Terry's mind, something he couldn't yet remember, and while she respected that process, she wanted to keep him connected to the present they had both created. Gently, she placed her hand on his, anchoring him back to this shared moment.

Terry, shaken from his reverie, looked at her with a mixture of surprise and relief, as if he hadn't realized how much she needed his touch.

—Since when have you been here?— he asked, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity.

—Just now,— Nova replied, smiling. —You were so engrossed that I didn't want to interrupt you.—

—You wouldn't have bothered me. Your presence is always welcome,— Terry said with that courtesy that characterized him, a courtesy that, despite the years and circumstances, remained a vestige of the life he once had.

Nova smiled, as she had so many times before, fascinated by Terry's eloquence and refined manners. Despite everything he had been through in Zalara , he had not lost that part of himself. To her, it was a reflection of a past she could only imagine. She had spent years speculating about his origins: had he been a noble, a leader, a king? The way Terry had transformed the community, educating the next generation and teaching them beyond simple survival, only reinforced that theory.

—I know,— Nova said, with a smile that revealed something else.

Terry looked at her, sensing that there was something important behind her words.

— Jaxon ... have you thought about the future? —Nova asked, her tone changing slightly, as if the question had been waiting for a long time.

The question took him by surprise. Terry had thought about many things since he arrived in Zalara , but the future, his future, always seemed uncertain.

—I don't know yet,— he replied, his voice full of honesty. —I don't have any concrete plans... to stay here, maybe get married, have children...—

The mention of marriage and family seemed natural, but it was also something he hadn't really considered in depth until that moment. Watching Nova's reaction, he understood the weight of his words. There was a mix of hope and excitement in her eyes, as if those words resonated deeply in her heart.

—Get married and have kids...— Nova murmured, moving closer, her eyes filled with an intensity Terry hadn't noticed until that moment.

The space between them disappeared in an instant. Nova's lips sought Terry's, and he, surprised at first, responded with equal passion. The kiss, laden with years of unexpressed emotions, was followed by a protective embrace, as if, in that moment, all the doubts and shadows of the past

were suspended, leaving room for a shared future. Everything else—the desert, the starry sky—seemed to fade away, leaving them alone in their promise of something new, something they both longed to explore together.

But in the shadows, someone was watching. Tariq, a man consumed by envy, jealousy, and resentment, had witnessed the scene, and what he saw filled his heart with fury. Over the years, he had hidden his feelings for Nova, waiting for the right moment to approach her, but now he felt everything he had imagined was fading before his eyes. As his fists clenched in rage, a dark promise began to take shape in his mind.

Over the next few days, Tariq spent his time spying on Terry. He knew that Terry preferred the solitude of the night, a time when he would retreat to his room to read and work on his inventions, away from the hustle and bustle of the community. And that was when Tariq decided he would act.

There was a festivity planned for the upcoming Saturday, a celebration that would ensure that no one would notice what was about to happen. During those hours of celebration, Terry would be alone, absorbed in his own thoughts. Tariq knew this, and with a carefully laid plan, he prepared to eliminate him, convinced that, with Terry out of the way, Nova would finally see him.

In his mind, everything was clear: Terry's disappearance would be discreet, calculated. The night would be his ally, and in the darkness of his plan, Tariq convinced himself that the future he wanted could still be his. What he didn't understand was that revenge never ended as one expected, and that the shadows he summoned to carry out his plan had a cost that he, as yet, could not foresee.

The day Tariq had been waiting for had arrived. The darkness of the night would be his ally, as the community gave itself over to celebration, oblivious to what was about to happen. For Tariq, this was the perfect moment to carry out his revenge, a cold and calculated act of pure evil. In his disturbed mind, he could already see the future: Terry gone, and with him, any obstacle between him and Nova. He was convinced that no one would suspect his involvement, believing that he would be able to erase forever any trace that linked him to the crime.

Yet deep within his soul, Tariq did not understand that the shadows he summoned always came at a cost, and that the paths of vengeance rarely ended as one expected. To him, this ruthless act was nothing more than the sacrifice necessary to achieve his darkest desires.

The plot Tariq had hatched was beginning to unfold under the starry cover of a particularly dark night. Taking advantage of the bustle of the festivities, he devised a precise deception to lure Terry out of his shelter. Cunningly, he left a false message claiming that Nova needed to see him urgently in a secluded location, near an ancient cave known only to a few within the Saharim clan . There, in the solitude of the night, Tariq was sure he could carry out his plan without witnesses, convinced that, with Terry out of the way, his future with Nova would be assured.

But in his arrogance, Tariq did not see that shadows often end up consuming those who summon them.

Terry, driven by concern for Nova, did not hesitate to act on the message he had received. As night closed in around him, he advanced along the winding path that led to the cave, without

to know what awaited him. The night breeze seemed to whisper warnings, but Terry, uneasy with the urgency of the call, could not decipher the omens. When he arrived, he saw the mouth of the cave shrouded in shadows. A feeling of unease filled him, a dark foreboding that grew with each step.

Before she could react, a figure emerged from the shadows, dimly illuminated by the pale moonlight. Tariq, a cruel smile on his face, was there, waiting.

—I finally have you where I want you, — Tariq growled, his voice thick with hatred. —You've been a thorn in my side for far too long, Jaxon. But tonight, that all ends.

Terry, though surprised by the ambush, did not lose his cool. He knew that facing Tariq in that state would not be easy, but he tried to reason with him.

—Tariq, what do you think you will gain from this? Violence will not give you what you seek. It is not too late to change course, — he said, his tone calm but firm.

A bitter, resentful laugh escaped Tariq's lips.

—¿Change course? — he repeated with contempt. —The only thing that will change tonight is that I will no longer see you near Nova. She will be mine, once I have eliminated you.

The hatred in his words was palpable, and Terry understood that Tariq's mind was completely clouded by rage and jealousy. However, he tried once again to appeal to reason, hoping that there was still some sanity left in him.

—Tariq, you don't have to do this. There is another way, there always is, — Terry insisted, his eyes desperately searching for any trace of humanity in Tariq's.

But Tariq's response was swift and forceful.

—But I choose this way —he replied with a crooked smile— Goodbye, Jaxon.

Before Terry could react, Tariq moved forward in a swift, precise motion, brandishing a knife with deadly intent. In the blink of an eye, he aimed the weapon at Terry's right side, the blade penetrating with brutal force.

The pain was sharp, searing, and for a moment, everything seemed to fall apart. But just then, something extraordinary happened.

The Ætheris Gem, which until that moment had remained dormant and hidden inside Terry, reacted to the attack, awakening with immense energy. A blinding flash of power erupted from within it, enveloping Terry in a protective barrier of pure energy. The force released by the gem was such that it repelled Tariq, throwing him backwards with supernatural violence.

Tariq lay on the ground, stunned and confused by what had just happened. Meanwhile, Terry, still in shock from the pain and the activation of the gem, remained standing, his body surrounded by the glow of the Ætheris Gem. The wound caused by the knife was still real, but the gem had intervened at just the right moment, protecting him from what would have been certain death.

Tariq, panting, looked at Terry in disbelief, his eyes filled with equal parts rage and fear.

—¿What the hell are you? — he screamed, backing away as he tried to compose himself.

Terry, aware of the power that had been unleashed within him, looked at him seriously, his face serene, but filled with a new determination.

—I'm not your enemy, Tariq. But I won't let you hurt anyone else.

The situation had changed dramatically. Tariq's unrelenting fury had met a force he could neither understand nor defeat. The blast of energy released by the Ætheris Gem had thrown him backwards, leaving him lying on the ground, unconscious, a victim of his own ambition.

Terry, stunned by what had just happened, looked at his side and felt the gem close the wound caused by the knife, sealing it with a warm light that not only mitigated the pain, but also gave him renewed strength.

Though weakened and disoriented by the intensity of the attack and the subsequent display of power, he understood, intuitively, that there was something within him that had protected him, saving him from an otherwise fatal fate. Tariq, now neutralized, lay motionless on the ground, but Terry knew that this was not the end of the threat, only a temporary respite.

Leaning against the cold walls of the cave, Terry tried to process everything that had happened. The revelation of the gem's true power had left him full of questions: Why had it activated at that moment? What was his true connection to this power or whatever it was inside of him? And most disturbing of all: what did this power mean for his future? Although the answers remained elusive, one thing was clear: inside him was something that had been dormant for a long time. Its awakening offered him a glimpse of his true potential and, perhaps, a key to understanding the past he so desperately sought.

The dark surroundings and eerie stillness of the cave did nothing to clear his mind. With each step, his thoughts wavered between relief at having survived and worry about what was to come. Finally, gathering his strength, he headed for the exit, determined to find help. As he emerged from the cave, the cool night air greeted him, but he was not alone.

— Jaxon, what the hell happened to you? —Marcus's voice broke the silence. The warrior, who was patrolling the area due to the recent bandit riots, quickly approached, noticing the blood stains splattered on Terry's clothes.

—It's a long story, — Terry replied, his voice still cracking with effort. —Tariq… tried to kill me.

Shock and concern flashed across Marcus's face as he looked at Terry more closely, searching for any visible injuries.

—Tariq… why? — Marcus asked, still processing what he had just heard.

Terry shook his head, exhausted both physically and emotionally.

—I thought that by eliminating me I would have a clear path to Nova. I was consumed by jealousy, — he explained, his tone full of exhaustion. —But something happened… something inside me… protected me.

Marcus, who was unaware of the existence of the Ætheris Gem, frowned, clearly intrigued.

—¿Something inside you?— she asked, more in an attempt to understand than to doubt. —That… that's incredible, Jaxon. But we have to move. If Tariq tried something that drastic, we can't let him recover and try it again. That vile, disloyal, hateful traitor. Where is he now?

—I don't know, — Terry replied, looking toward the cave entrance. —He's unconscious, but I don't know for how long. I didn't want to kill him, Marcus. I just wanted to defend myself.

—I understand, — Marcus replied, becoming alert, —but we must act quickly. If he wakes up and realizes he failed, he could be even more dangerous. I will proceed to summon reinforcements.

Pulling out his projectile communication device, Marcus called for more guards to assist. Within minutes, reinforcements arrived, and together they dragged the unconscious Tariq into a cell, where he would remain under strict guard.

Meanwhile, Nova approached Terry, her intent gaze scanning his body for cuts or wounds. Despite the tension and worry that filled the air, there was a palpable sense of support and camaraderie between them.

—I can't find anything, — Nova said, visibly shocked, after examining it carefully.

—The wound closed, — Terry explained, his voice reflecting both surprise and gratitude. —I'm telling you; it was a blinding light. It came between me and Tariq, repelled him, and somehow closed the wound.

Nova looked at him, trying to understand what he was saying.

—And that light? Where did it come from?— she asked, still incredulous.

—I don't know for sure, — Terry replied, frowning, —but I think it came from me. Suddenly, my mind filled with images: I saw myself somewhere else, in the middle of an explosion, a battle… conversations, but then everything became hazy.

Nova watched him silently for a moment, processing his words. Finally, a small, encouraging smile played on her lips.

—That's progress, Jaxon. Years ago, you knew nothing of your past, and now you have something, even if it's just fragments. We need to keep digging. Maybe the high priests at the temple can help us. They understand what happens inside people and might know more about the light and everything you saw.

I nodded, feeling that for the first time in a long time, there was a door opening to the answers I had been searching for.

—Come on, — I said with determination, —I need answers to my questions.

Taking Nova's hand, we made our way towards the temple, both aware that the search for answers would be long and full of challenges. Despite the uncertainty surrounding us, a silent determination grew with each step, uniting our destinies in the journey to unravel the mysteries of my past and the hidden power of the Ætheris Gem.

Meanwhile, in Omegara and Zenith, the family I had left behind subtly sensed the changes that connected us. Darius and Francisco Javier, my father, exchanged intense glances, communicating with a non-verbal language that transcended the ordinary. In the midst of this silent conversation, Helena, Francisco Javier's wife and my mother, made her entrance into the room. Her presence, like

Always, she radiated a mix of strength and vulnerability, but today there was something different in her eyes: a spark of hope.

—¿Did you feel that vibration? Helena asked, a hint of unease in her voice. —I'm sure it's Terry… perhaps he's emerging from hiding in some unknown corner of the cosmos.

Francisco Javier, always calm and balanced, tried to calm the waters of uncertainty that were beginning to stir. With a soft but firm voice, he answered:

—Yes, my love, I felt that too. However, it is still premature to draw conclusions. The only thing we know for sure is that Terry is still alive. The real dilemma is where he is.

Darius, always determined and pragmatic, intervened with conviction:

—The bottom line is that Terry is still with us. Now, our mission is clear: continue the search. The universe is vast, but we will not give up until we find him. There are planets we have not yet explored, and as long as we have the strength, we will not stop.

The conversation between them flowed like a river laden with determination, each word laced with hope. They knew the challenges ahead would be countless, but the connection they felt was enough to propel them forward. On their cosmic odyssey, the family was ready to face any obstacle, united by the certainty that, somewhere in the vast universe, their paths would cross with me again.

As Nova and I approached the temple, a strange feeling washed over me. It was as if, at that very moment, thousands of miles away, my family was struggling to reach me. I felt a pang of longing and hope, but I couldn't stop myself. The path to the truth was drawing ever closer, and I was determined to discover what had been taken from me.

—¿Did you feel that vibration? — Rodrick asked Ethan, frowning, visibly worried.

—Yes, I felt it. It's Terry, he's still alive — Ethan replied, his gaze reflecting a mix of hope and concern — His gem is calling us.

Rodrick nodded, but before he could say anything else, Zahori, with determination in her eyes, intervened.

—We have to continue looking for him with all available resources.

—That's what we've been doing for years, — Ethan replied, frustration evident in every word. —Unless he wants to be found, he'll be sending us a clear signal. For now, it seems the gem is hiding from us, and I don't understand why.

At that point, Ashtar, ever analytical, stepped in, offering a more scientific perspective.

—Maybe he's not intentionally hiding it, — Ashtar said, musing as his scientific mind connected the facts. —Recall the explosion. The gem could have acted to protect Terry. If Sadeth 's weapon overheated, it's possible the gem consumed a huge amount of energy in the process and needed years to recover.

Zahori and Ethan exchanged glances as Ashtar continued.

—Now that he's awakening, that could mean that Terry isn't aware of his true identity. He may have even lost his memory due to the explosion, which would explain why he hasn't returned to us.

Rodrick, who usually processed information more slowly, thought his brother was rambling. However, Ethan and Zahori listened intently, considering the validity of the theory.

—That makes sense, — Ethan conceded after a moment's thought. —What you're saying fits. Let's step up the search with this new perspective in mind.

The idea that the gem was in a long recovery process offered new hope and a renewed focus on their search. Rather than thinking that Terry was hiding, the possibility that he simply couldn't find them because of his condition provided a more sympathetic view of the situation.

With renewed determination, the group vowed to redouble their efforts. They knew that despite the years and obstacles, the connection between them and Terry was still alive. Sustained by that belief, they continued their search, confident that, sooner or later, the gem would lead them back to him.