CHAPTER 4

At the edge of the galaxy, silently spinning in the void, lies Eos, an enigmatic planet forged by the will of Caelum, situated on the periphery of what is known.

Lyra, her eyes fixed on a display of data and graphs dancing across the monitor screen, broke the silence that filled the room. —Vital signs are stable,— she announced, her voice echoing in the vastness of her laboratory.

Caelum, his gaze lost in distant thoughts, nodded. —Yes, but it is the energy that stands out. It seems that his body is in the process of adapting,— he mused, his tone revealing a mix of concern and wonder.

—¿It's not in progress, brother,— Lyra corrected softly, but with a hint of urgency. —What's happening is that Ætheris is rebuilding Terry's body. The energy now flowing through him is exponentially greater than anything his original form could have sustained. He's transforming his molecular structure to accommodate this newfound power. That's why he hasn't woken up yet; his body hasn't finished integrating this torrent of energy, and his mind is still trying to assimilate the change.

Caelum frowned, processing the information. —¿How long do you estimate it will take Ætheris to complete the reconstruction?

Looking at the data flashing before her eyes again, Lyra calculated. —Judging by the current fluctuations and vital signs, I'd say four to five days will be the time needed for Ætheris to finish his work.

—Then I will immediately communicate our findings to Ashta,— Caelum declared, determined.

—Do so. In the meantime, I will continue to monitor progress. Our role here is over; now, it is all up to Ætheris,— Lyra concluded, with a mixture of resolution and expectation, as her eyes returned to the mysteries the monitor held. Science and the divine were intertwined in their work, awaiting an awakening that would mark the beginning of a new era for Terry, under the shadow of distant stars.

As Caelum walked away from the lab, wrapped up in his thoughts and decisions, Lyra remained absorbed in the dance of figures and graphs before her, the solemn guardian of a deep sleep. Suddenly, a luminescence disturbed the serenity of space, unfolding from nothingness into a overwhelming presence. The light, at first formless, began to coalesce into the silhouette of a woman incomparable beauty, with golden hair that floated as if touched by a heavenly wind, her skin had the glow of dawn, and her eyes, deep and blue, contained the brilliance of the stars and the power of a thousand suns.

—Ætheris,— Lyra exclaimed, her voice tinged with a joy she had forgotten she could feel. The thrill of reuniting with such an immense entity after so long filled her with wonder. The last time their paths had crossed, Ætheris had already been a being of immeasurable power, but now, his essence radiated with an even more intense force, if that were possible.

—Lyra,— Ætheris replied, her voice echoing through the laboratory, a symphony of power that made the very air vibrate.

—I see your power has only grown over the years,— Lyra said, struggling to stand firm against the magnitude of Ætheris, who smiled and softened his tone, adjusting his presence so as not to overwhelm the reality around him.

—I'm sorry, it's been a while since I've been like this. I should be feeling better now,— Ætheris said, his voice becoming gentler, a whisper compared to the divine rumble of before.

– Now yes– Lyra replied, still amazed –You have a lot to tell me. Bright as day and holding Terry in a timeless state, as if time itself had stopped for him.

—Yes,— Ætheris nodded, looking over to where Terry lay. —We have shared much. Journeys across thousands of worlds and universes, learning, experimenting.—

—Wait,— Lyra interrupted, a burning curiosity lighting up her words. —¿They traveled together? ¿To thousands of worlds and universes? ¿How is that possible?

The exchange between Lyra and Ætheris unraveled a tapestry of intertwining realities and adventures beyond human comprehension, each word a window into existences and experiences that defied the imagination. Lyra, standing on the threshold of immeasurable mysteries, prepared to plunge into tales of cosmic odysseys that would forever alter her perception of the universe and her place within it.

—We did,— Ætheris began, her gaze turning to Lyra with a gleam that reflected unexplored universes. —In that instant of creation and sacrifice, our souls merged, transcending this physical body. As we released our energy to rebuild the universe, we focused on each other so intensely that our very essence was exhausted, leaving our spirits free to explore beyond.—from the physical plane. Rodrick took the body to take us back to the ship, but we, now transformed, watched from beyond, united in a singularity of consciousness.

Lyra nodded, one piece after another falling into place in the puzzle of her earlier observations. —It all makes sense now. The fluctuations in life, the critical episode that almost took him from us. It was five hours of fighting to keep him between us.

–Yes, even from our distant observation, we tried to breathe some energy into the body to sustain life. Then, something called us. We entered a dimensional portal and our true journey began. Unknown planets, universes with unimaginable laws.

—Every experience, every discovery, strengthened us, expanding our power to limits we never thought possible,— Ætheris explained, materializing in her palm a mini—sun that sparkled with the promise of protection and purification. —Now, united, we can fulfill our original purpose and beyond. Together, Terry and I are able to protect and nurture life on a scale never before seen.

Lyra, moved, covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes shining with wonder and pride. —Oh, ¡Ætheris! We never imagined, not even in our wildest dreams, what you would achieve. We went away to explore, expecting to find you the same when we returned. But you, in your free and independent essence, not only survived, but thrived. You found and created a new family, filling that void of companionship with extraordinary beings. Your union with Terry, that deep connection, was the culmination of a path that only you could walk. And even in your farewell, you thought of us, leaving us a legacy, a new family of stars and intertwined destinies so that we would not face the task of caring for this universe alone.

Lyra's words, full of emotion and gratitude, floated through the air like a soft melody. The tears in her eyes were a reflection of a heart touched by the magnitude of what Ætheris and Terry had accomplished.

Ætheris smiled, her expression a reflection of peace and contentment. —I am glad you understand, Lyra. It gives me peace of mind. Knowing that my actions, our actions, are understood and valued, makes this cycle we close together feel like its purpose is fulfilled.

At that moment, the lab was filled not only with light, but with a deep, shared understanding. The story of Ætheris and Terry, and their unwavering legacy, was now a beacon of hope and guidance for all who dared to look beyond the stars, into the unknown.

—I have waited a long time to share this with you,— Lyra confessed, wiping away the tears that glistened on her cheeks with a delicate handkerchief. All around her, she felt a warm wave of energy, a manifestation of the love and connection Ætheris offered her. Though Ætheris was now pure energy, without a physical form that could materialize an embrace, the intensity of her presence was a tangible comfort to Lyra.

—¿And Terry? ¿Where is he now?— he asked, searching Ætheris's gaze for any clue as to his friend's current condition.

—He is resting. His body is still adapting, reconfiguring every cell to be ready for awakening,— Ætheris explained calmly. —He needs rest to face what is coming. In three days, I expect him to be fully conscious and ready to join us in our task.— Ætheris asked impatiently. —And do you maintain your rank within the Galactic Federation?

– Of course. Terry has been and always will be a pillar of our defense and strategy. His position not only remains, but is more crucial than ever – Lyra assured, firmness in her voice – We changed many things, but his importance within the Federation was never questioned.

—I'm glad. After all we've sacrificed, it would be an injustice to forget or replace it,— Ætheris mused, relieved.

—We would never have allowed it,— Lyra said with conviction. —You and he have done too much for this universe to be forgotten or relegated.

With a smile that seemed to light up the room, Ætheris announced his need to retire, to rest in his own ethereal way. —Take care of Terry. My brother and I will be here, watching over both of you. There is nothing to fear.

As Ætheris faded away, reintegrating into Terry's still—inert presence, the lab fell back into an expectant calm. It wasn't long before Caelum returned, and Lyra told him every detail of her conversation with Ætheris, revealing the depths of her discoveries and the promise of a future in which Terry and Ætheris would play crucial roles.

– Impressive– was all Caelum could say, his mind overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they had learned. –There will be so much to discuss, so much to explore together once you awaken. Twenty—five years of knowledge and experience in the farthest reaches of the universe…

—We will,— Lyra promised, —but first, let's give them time to fully recover. Only then can they fully share with us all they've experienced and learned.

Thus, in the quiet vigil of Lyra and Caelum, the countdown began for Terry's awakening, a moment that would not only mark his return but the beginning of a new era of discovery and challenge for the Galactic Federation. In that space between sleep and wakefulness, between rest and awakening, the hopes of countless worlds were woven, awaiting the dawn of a new day filled with infinite possibilities.