CHAPTER 10 LIGHT AMONG THE SHADOWS

Elio and Terry entered Safiro's laboratory.

How have you been? – Elio asked his brothers

Very well – said Lyra smiling at her – we have been able to talk about many interesting things and share knowledge.

More than that – Caelum said – I think we can do something to protect the Ætheris Gem and prevent it from being used for harm, as well as protect the entire universe.

That's fantastic – Elio replied – and, ¿how do you plan to do it?

It's still an idea – Safiro replied with her hands in the pockets of the white lab coat she was wearing – we have to create the device and see if it works.

We'll start building it this week, — Caelum said, —and then we'll know if our idea works or not, Terry.

—Yes, ¿Great Architect? — Terry replied.

—I need Ætheris to be present now — Caelum ordered.

 —¿And can you do that? — Safiro asked curiously.

—He can do that and much more – Lyra replied looking at him.

—Interesting – answered Sapphire watching to see how her father did it or rather the gem did it.

—Okay, give me a few minutes to contact her, I think she's resting, I haven't felt her in these hours. — Terry closed his eyes, concentrating his mind beyond the physical plane. His breathing became deep and measured, resonating softly in the silence of the laboratory. —Ætheris, spirit of the ethereal gem, I summon you at this moment, — Terry began, his voice barely a murmur, but charged with an intensity that filled the space.

Caelum and Sapphire watched in silence, almost holding their breath, while Lyra maintained an expression of serene expectation. Terry held his hands out in front of him, palms up, as if holding an invisible weight. The edges of his fingers began to emit a faint glow, particles of light dancing between his hands, weaving complex patterns in the air.

—By the bonds that transcend time and space, by the harmony that unites all elements, I call upon Ætheris to manifest before us, — Terry continued, his voice now firmer, resonating with increasing intensity. As he spoke the words, it seemed as if the power he called upon flowed directly from deep within him. The energy he radiated enveloped him, filling the air with a palpable vibration, as if the very forces of the universe were responding to his call.

Then, without warning, a soft light began to form between Terry's hands, slowly expanding into the shape of a small glowing sphere. The sphere pulsed gently, as if beating to the rhythm of an invisible heart.

— Ætheris, guide of the lost, light among the shadows, we call upon you— Terry finished, his voice reaching a crescendo that resonated with supernatural authority. The sphere of light intensified, its glow illuminating the astonished faces of those present.

Then, in a blinding flash, the light dissipated, leaving behind a deep calm. Everyone looked around, searching for any sign of Ætheris' presence. It was then that they noticed, floating just in front of Terry, a small gem that radiated a soft but steady light. The gem seemed to suspend itself in the air of its own volition, a visible testament to the success of its calling.

Sapphire was the first to break the silence. —Incredible, — she murmured, her scientific curiosity piqued by the spectacle before her eyes. Lyra simply smiled, her gaze fixed on the floating gem, while Caelum nodded in approval, impressed by the power and precision of the summoning.

—Ætheris is with us, — Terry announced, opening his eyes, which shone with a light reflected from the gem before him. —Now, we can begin.

The small floating gem began to glow with increasing intensity, its light filling every corner of the laboratory. Everyone present watched, fascinated and somewhat frightened, as the light seemed to take on a life of its own, swirling and expanding in a whirlwind of radiance.

—Look, — Terry murmured, his voice filled with wonder and reverence.

The light, initially concentrated in one point, began to stretch and take shape. Before Sapphire's incredulous eyes, for the Cosmic Architects knew the power of the gem and what they had built, the light molded itself, defining contours and curves, until the silhouette of a woman began to emerge from the glow. The transformation took place with an unearthly grace, each particle of light finding its place in this new form.

As the glow began to dissipate, it revealed the figure of a woman of ethereal beauty, with hair that seemed made of light itself, cascading over her shoulders. Her attire was equally stunning, woven from the essence of the gem, changing colors with every movement, reflecting the hues of the dawning sky.

The woman opened her eyes, which shone with unfathomable intelligence and depth, and looked around. Her gaze rested on each of those present, conveying a sense of calm and power. Then, with a voice that resonated like music, she spoke.

—I am Ætheris, essence turned into form, your guide through the veils of reality, — he said, his tone filled with warmth and authority. —I have answered your call, Terry. ¿How may I assist you in your quest?

Her presence filled the room, not just physically but with a sense of wisdom and energy that seemed to alter the very air. Caelum, Sapphire, Lyra, Elio, and Terry stood silently, captured by the majesty of Ætheris manifested. It was evident that they had not only summoned the gem, but had welcomed a being of vast power and knowledge, ready to join them in their endeavor.

—Ætheris, — Terry began, regaining his composure, —we need your help to defend the universe.

— Caelum, his expression serene and his gaze filled with countless stories, broke the silence that had settled between them. — We are your creators, Ætheris. We have returned. Do you remember us? — His voice, though soft, resonated with the authority of the eons.

Ætheris, whose smile lit up the space around them, responded warmly.

—Of course I remember you. Welcome. I hope you were able to gather the knowledge you sought.

Lyra, with a gleam of determination in her eyes, shared her experiences.

—We did it, though it took longer than expected. We've seen many universes collapse, delaying our return.

The conversation took a sombre turn as Caelum pondered the causes of these collapses. —The vast majority were due to the destructive desires of their creators and their creations.

—It's unfortunate, — Ætheris admitted, his tone laced with concern. —We've managed to maintain control here, but I'm worried about how much longer we can do so. Elio, ¿did you manage to find the system you were looking for?

Elio, with a mixture of satisfaction and reflection, nodded. —Yes, although I didn't need to go as far as I thought. Although there were missing components, I found them here, in this universe.

—I'm glad you've completed your work, — Ætheris said, his interest evident. —So, ¿what do you need from me now?

Caelum, assuming an air of leadership, outlined his plan. —We must engage with the Galactic Federation and the Concilium Imperium Stellaris to secure their support and prevent the collapse of this universe. In addition, Lyra, Sapphire, and I are developing a device that, using your energy flow, will protect the entire universe from destruction. And if that fails, I trust that Elio has a backup plan.

Elio, staring into the infinite space, shared his thoughts in a low voice. —It's still in the works, brother. Let me refine the idea I have so I can make sure there's a real plan. — Internally, he had already outlined a solution to the problem at hand, but he needed to shape it, and to do so, he would require Terry's help.

Ætheris, interrupting the flow of thoughts, announced in a tone of resignation: —The meeting cannot take place this month. These entities are still embroiled in conflicts they do not wish to resolve, preferring to profit from the planets in discord. I highly doubt they will be interested in our cause unless we offer them something they truly desire.

Caelum, pondering Ætheris's words as he paced back and forth, replied determinedly, —I understand, but we do not need your approval.

If they do not wish to join our cause, then they will be eliminated. We will create a new Concilium and a new federation with those who truly seek peace and are willing to work for it.

Ætheris revealed a disturbing reality: —Corruption has infiltrated the Galactic Federation and the Concilium Imperium Stellaris. A dissident group seeks my power and operates from the shadows to evade detection.

Terry, alarmed, questioned, —Why didn't you inform me before? You know I do my best to reduce my energy and avoid detection. If I had been near them, we could have been in danger.

—I was going to tell you, — Ætheris replied, turning to Terry with an apologetic expression. —But the arrival of the creators postponed the news.

Safiro, eager to understand the magnitude of the threat, asked, —¿What do you mean, the Federation and the Concilium are corrupt and there's a dissident group? ¿Where are they now?

—They reside in Xanarax, where they have established their base, preparing to attack us if they fail to seize the power I possess, — Ætheris explained, looking directly at Sapphire.

Caelum, ever the strategist, urged calm and analysis before any confrontation. —Let us talk first. We must know our enemies and understand their movements before attacking. It is crucial to gather more information about them, and only then can we come up with an effective plan to neutralize them.

Elio, nodding determinedly, agreed. —Exactly. We must observe them, analyze their actions, and then proceed to eliminate them.

Terry, who carried the weight of diplomacy on his shoulders, pointed out his next task. —Next month, the Concilium ambassador will contact me to set the day and time of our meeting. It will be time to determine when they will be able to receive us, or rather, when we will be willing to meet with them.

Lyra, whose firmness had set the tone of the conversation, agreed to the proposed plan. —Let's wait until that day and see what they tell us. It's important to be prepared for any eventuality.

Elio, with a gesture that reflected the unity of the group, concluded, —So we already have our plan of action.— Everyone nodded, unified in the decision to wait until the day of the meeting to take their next course of action.

Despite the decision to wait and gather more information about their enemies, Lyra and Caelum, known among their circle as the Cosmic Architects, along with Terry's son Sapphire, wasted no time in taking proactive measures to safeguard the safety of Ætheris and the integrity of the universe. They began work on building a machine whose purpose would be to protect against impending threats, a defense not only for Ætheris but for the entire cosmos.

They decided not to reveal any details about the Ætheris Gem, an artifact of immense power and mystery, opting instead to focus the narrative around a natural and indiscriminate threat: the possibility of a universal collapse in the form of a catastrophic explosion or a black hole that would threaten to expand across the entire universe. This approach sought to unite the warring factions under a common purpose without revealing the Gem's existence, thus avoiding drawing further attention to Ætheris or themselves as targets of power.

The task was no small one; the machine they envisioned would have to be capable of manipulating energies on a cosmic scale, something that would require not only an advanced knowledge of physics and stellar engineering, but also a deep understanding of the mystical forces that run through the fabric of space -time.

Lyra and Caelum, with their experience and wisdom in building realities, were ideally suited to lead this project, while Safiro brought a fresh perspective and a brilliant capacity for innovation.

This trio of brilliant minds, each bringing their own unique experience and skills, set about the task with a sense of urgency, but also with a deep understanding of what was at stake. Protecting Ætheris and preventing universal disaster became their absolute priority, motivating them to overcome any challenge that stood in their way. Their collaboration symbolized the coming together of generations, knowledge, and skills in a common cause, a heroic effort to ensure the future of their universe.