CHAPTER 7 Cosmic revelations

It was a beautiful morning in Zephyria as the first rays of sunlight streamed through Kyran's window, waking him up. He glanced at the sleeping terminal beside him, checking that he had woken up before his alarm went off. With a lazy gesture, he covered his eyes with his arm to block out the light and stayed like that for a few minutes, enjoying the silence before deciding to get up and start his day. After cleaning up and getting dressed, he thought about having breakfast, perhaps meeting his brother Claudius or the guests, although he assumed they might still be sleeping, given the early hour. He deactivated the alarm and went straight to the dining room, where he found Claudius already enjoying his breakfast.

—Hello, little brother, — Kyran greeted, to which Claudius responded with a nod, his mouth full of cake. —I didn't expect to see you here so early.

—I didn't sleep well last night, — Claudius admitted, taking a sip of coffee.

—I imagine Sapphire didn't sleep either, obsessed with science and guests, — Kyran commented with a smile, to which Claudius nodded, sharing the humor.

—We should have warned our guests about our brother, the tireless scientist, — Claudius suggested with a laugh. —He'll probably spend the whole day bombarding them with questions.

—Yes, we should have warned them. If they come down now, we'll tell them.

At that moment, Sapphire entered with an inquisitive look and clearly annoyed, catching the attention of both brothers.

—I don't want anything to do with you traitors, — Safiro snapped.

—¿What is it, brother? — Claudius asked, genuinely surprised.

—¿What have we done to you? — Kyran asked, trying to calm the situation.

As they sat down to breakfast, Sapphire accused her brothers of treason, without specifying the reason. Claudius and Kyran looked at each other in confusion, trying to understand what she was talking about.

—We really don't know what you're talking about. Maybe it's the tiredness talking, did you have a bad night? —Claudius tried to reason.

—Stop being funny. I want to know what the creators told you, tell me everything, — Safiro demanded, her tone making it clear that she would accept no evasions.

Kyran and Claudius tried to divert the conversation, mentioning their daily duties, but Sapphire wouldn't let them leave, using her magic to keep them in their seats. Tensions rose when Sapphire sealed the room, ensuring no one could interfere or listen to their conversation.

—This is absurd, Sapphire. ¿What do you hope to achieve with this? — Kyran exclaimed, frustrated.

Eventually, Sapphire agreed to release them in exchange for the information she desired. The conversation dragged on, and Kyran couldn't help but

comment on the dangerousness of his brother, even comparing him to the enemies his father and Claudius regularly faced.

—I don't know who's more dangerous, the assassins after our father, or you, — Kyran said, pointing at Sapphire, who only responded with a satisfied smile.

—Now tell me everything, — said Sapphire, impatient to know the details of her brothers' adventure.

—Kyran and I entered the black hole, — Claudius began, his voice firm but full of wonder at what we had experienced. —That was all we did before we found ourselves in an empty space, illuminated by colored lights.

—Yes, — Kyran continued, —and it was there that we began to hear voices. Soon, those voices materialized and revealed themselves as the creators. They told us that we could not return because fifty years had passed and the universe as we knew it had ceased to exist. — Sapphire listened, amazed by the story, when the Cosmic Architects entered. All three stood up to greet them respectfully.

—Thank you, boys, but please continue with your breakfast— Caelum said as they sat down at the table and the servants served them.

—And your father? Hasn't he come down yet? — Lyra asked curiously.

—He hasn't arrived yet, — Safiro replied. —He had a lot of meetings and some incidents last night, so he had to stay at the Zenith space station.

—And do you know if he managed to contact the higher-ups for a meeting? — Lyra asked.

—I couldn't tell you, — Safiro admitted, —but I can look up the information, if you want.

Kyran and Claudius exchanged glances; they had never seen Safiro so willing and kind. At Safiro's disapproving look, both brothers pretended not to understand and continued eating.

—No need, — Lyra replied, —it's better to wait. Besides, Terry needs to rest if he's had a busy night. We can't ask him to continue. I'm awake, and there's still time, — he concluded with a smile.

Sapphire, confused by the mention of time, asked, —¿Excuse me, time for what?

Kyran gave her a disapproving look, shaking his head in a way that clearly said not to be impertinent.

—No problem, — said Elio, who had remained silent all this time. —It's only natural that your brother wants to know everything; after all, he is a scientist. Curiosity is what it is for all scientists, who are usually quite obsessive.

—Be careful, brother, — Caelum warned. —Remember that you have two brothers who are scientists, and you could get hurt if you talk too much.

—Hey, ¡don't mess with us scientists! — Lyra joked, laughing. The six of them laughed together.

—Do you really want us to tell you everything? — Caelum asked Sapphire.

— Sure, but if you'd rather rest, no problem. We can talk later— Safiro replied, smiling kindly.

—I don't believe you, — Lyra said. —You're anxious, and that's natural. We understand.

—I'm not anxious, — Safiro replied, lowering his head in shame.

—I think you are, — Caelum said, —or you wouldn't have forced your brothers to tell everything.

—I didn't force them—said Safiro, —I just…

—You just stopped them with your power so they couldn't get up from their seats, — Caelum interrupted. Sapphire fell silent, wondering how they had noticed.

—We did it too—said Lyra, —with our brother, so he would tell us some military secrets.

—Oh yes, I remember that very well— Elio replied, smiling. —The worst thing is not having one scientist brother, but having two— he said, laughing.

—That must have been terrible, Claudius said. —One is enough for us.

—Claudius, — Sapphire snapped, giving him a glare.

—It's true, — Kyran said.

—You're a scientist, too, — Safiro reminded him.

—Yes, just like our uncle Ashtar and our sister Elara, but they don't obsess like you do. And neither do I— he concluded.

—That's the charm of this boy, — Lyra said. —It's something not many will understand.

—But you do— Elio added. —Because you're all the same. So, you'll surely speak the same language. Come on, boy, ask my brothers whatever you want. They'll be happy to explain everything to you, including the details— Elio said while enjoying a muffin. —This muffin is delicious— he commented. —¿Could you share the recipe with us?

— Are you saying you don't like my cooking? — Lyra asked.

— It's not that, little sister. You cook well. It's just that I haven't enjoyed something like that for a while— Elio replied. The six of them laughed.

—I have a lot of questions, — Sapphire said.

—Okay, just let them enjoy their breakfast in peace, brother—Kyran intervened.

—After we eat, we'll go to your lab to talk about whatever you want, — Caelum promised. —We have all the time in the world; we're not going anywhere. We came to stay, so don't worry.

—Okay, — Safiro agreed.

Meanwhile, on Zenith, Terry was trying to secure a meeting with the Galactic Federation and the Concilium Imperium Stellaris. His goal was to bring the Cosmic Architects to the highest hierarchies of the universe to make them understand that something big was about to happen, something that could disintegrate the universe as they knew it.

—I understand, — Terry told the Concilium ambassador, —but it's urgent. You must give me an appointment because it's imperative that I speak to you.

— However important it may be, I cannot give you an appointment. The Concilium is already fully booked this month. In addition, the council must visit some planets to supervise the work done on them— answered the ambassador.

—You don't understand. If we don't act now, there won't be any planets to visit later. This is extremely urgent; it's a matter of life or death for everyone here, — Terry insisted, trying to make her understand.

—I understand what you are trying to say, — the Androquian ambassador replied, —but there is nothing I can do. You will have to wait until next month, when I will tell you the date of your appointment with the Concilium. I will be in touch with you. Goodbye, — she said, turning off her intercom.

—Stubborn woman! — Terry shouted, slamming his desk and growling. He could have made her disappear with just a wave of his hand or even appeared at the Concilium to get her the appointment as soon as possible and force them to listen to him. But if he did, they would realize that the gem still exists, something the Cosmic Architects emphasized must be kept secret.

—What 's wrong, Father? — Dennis asked, entering Terry's office with documents in his hands.

—Nothing, — Terry replied, visibly angry.

—Still arguing with the ambassador? — Dennis said, smiling.

—That woman is maddening. She's very hard-headed and refuses to listen to anything beyond her own words, — Terry lamented, shifting in his seat.

—You know what that woman is like, — Dennis said. —She was created to be that way. Plus, she believes herself to be much higher in society than we are, despite being just an employee, just like all of us. In this regime, we are mere pawns in battle, that's all we are to the Concilium and the Galactic Federation.

—What did you bring me? — Terry asked, reaching out to take the documents Dennis was offering him.

— The documents you asked me for a week ago. I had a hard time locating them; they were archived — Dennis replied. Terry took the documents and looked through them, while Dennis sat down to wait for further orders from his father.

—I will, — Dennis replied, rising. With solemnity, he performed the —Star Bow— towards his father, High Imperial Terry Whittaker. He began by touching his heart and then his forehead, extending his right arm while placing his left hand on his chest, and finally bowing his head in a show of unwavering loyalty and profound respect. Terry nodded, acknowledging the gesture with a look of approval, aware of the significance and solemnity of the moment.

As he left his father's office, Dennis passed his sister Elara in the hallway, who was returning from the lab.

—¿How did it go, Dennis? — Elara asked, offering him a smile.

—Well, I've been very busy though. That's precisely why I haven't been able to visit you.

— I realized something was up when you didn't show up— Elara commented—lately we're all going a mile a minute

—Yes, — Dennis mused, —but I have a feeling something big is coming.

—¿Like a feeling? — Elara asked curiously.

—Exactly. It's hard to explain, but it's a feeling, Dennis said. Elara, showing her support, took his arm and suggested, —You could tell me about it later. How about we meet at the cafeteria?

—Sounds perfect. I have to go see someone now, but when I get back, I'll meet you at the lab and we can grab a bite to eat while we chat, — Dennis said with a smile. He then gave her a brotherly kiss on the hand she had on his arm and left to fulfill his mission.