CHAPTER 3

After a quarter of a century, Zephyra had been transformed into a thriving planet, home to 5,230,046,366 souls. Trade and enterprise flourished beneath clear skies, establishing Zephyra as a vital hub of economic activity. Terry, known as the —Arciluminado,— had bequeathed a system of laws and order that protected the harmony of the ecosystem, a legacy that permeated every stratum of planetary life.

Zephyra's policies and social design were imbued with a wisdom that placed coexistence and peace at the heart of the community. Every neighborhood, every city, every settlement was built with respect for nature as its cornerstone, ensuring that vast forests and fertile farmlands coexisted in symbiosis with technologically advanced cities.

Justice on Zephyra was a beacon of progress, with legal systems that not only punished, but corrected and educated. Law enforcement was not a hammer but a balm, aiming to return each individual to the fabric of society better than they were.

In Zephyra's classrooms, young people learned to walk lightly in their world. Empathy was taught, environmental ethics was fostered, and an awareness of social responsibility. Youth grew up not only to live in their world but to nurture it and be its guardians.

The planet's economy was built around the premise that the well—being of the environment was true wealth. Companies rose to prominence not only because of their profits but because of their contribution to the vitality of Zephyra. Agricultural practices not only fed the population, but also healed the land; sustainable technologies not only powered cities, but protected the skies and seas.

Zephyra is metamorphosing into a planet where reality intertwines with the fantastic. By the time they were 25, Zephyra's society had embraced technologies that seemed like something out of the wildest dreams.

Quantum energy fields powered the urban infrastructure, creating a power grid that was both efficient and invisible, pulsing through the geometry of cities. Buildings were topped with cold fusion reactors that provided unlimited energy without harming the planet, while nanorobots in agricultural soils ensured an ecological balance, enriching the land and protecting the life cycles of each species.

On Zephyra, public transports floated silently along antigravity corridors, gliding between the towers bioluminescent planets that stood as guardians of sustainable growth. Teleportation portals had made long distance travel obsolete, allowing inhabitants and visitors to instantly move anywhere on the planet, and subspace information highways kept the population connected to a network of shared knowledge, a cosmic Internet at the speed of thought.

Environmental well—being was safeguarded by advanced atmospheric climate control systems that balanced climatic conditions to keep biodiversity in a constant state of flourishing. Partial Dyson spheres collected stellar energy, and vertical gardens filled with alien flora purified the air and offered meditative sanctuaries in the midst of the city.

Zephyra's prosperity was a delicate dance of technology and nature, a symbiosis of innovation and respect, fueled by the light of –The —Arciluminado—–. Its people not only lived on Zephyra, but were also custodians of a world where the magic of science was their everyday reality.

Terry remained in a deep sleep inside the CRRA, under constant surveillance by guards day and night. Three times a week, a team of doctors and nurses checked his vital signs, making sure everything was going well. Once a week, Zahori, his wife, came to see him.

She was accompanied by assistants to take care of her husband's personal appearance, performing tasks such as hair and nail cutting, among others. She was convinced that, if Terry woke up, he would want to look neat, as he had always valued order in his personal appearance –If he ever wakes up, he won't want to find himself untidy. He never liked being messy– Zahori

used to say, and that was why Rodrick agreed to her visits, also aware that refusing would invite a dispute with Zahori, who would not hesitate to defend his position. In addition, Rodrick was fully aware that intervening would provoke conflicts not only with Zahori but with the entire family, including his own parents Helena and Francisco Javier. On the other hand, Ethan had expressed his support for Zahori, instructing Rodrick firmly: –Leave her alone and don't bother her. It's her right; he's her husband– His voice carried a severe tone that underlined the seriousness of his message.

The temple had changed a bit its appearance both outside and inside since many people came to see the –—Arciluminado— it had to be remodeled. Ethan did this with his power from the fragment he possessed inside. He made the temple bigger so that it could hold more people and thus not have problems or conflicts with all those who came from all corners of the universe. Once a year a special party was held, it was the day that –The —Arciluminado— freed the entire universe from evil that week.

The universe of evil that week was a week of celebration throughout Zephyra where the decade of opulence in the entire universe was celebrated and where homage was paid to the –—Arciluminado —– and masses were held three times a day for all parishioners.

Saturday, March 27, 30569 , 2 a.m. In the silent depths of the temple, only the guards remained, clad in their dark uniforms that blended into the shadows, and the assisted regenerative rest chamber (ARRC), a marvel of futuristic technology designed to heal and rejuvenate. The lighting was deliberately dim, designed to preserve the atmosphere of calm and reverence that the sacred space required. Soft, diffused lights spilled from calculated corners, touching the polished surfaces of metal and stone with an ethereal glow. This illumination, little more than a luminous murmur, bathed the temple in an aura of mystery and contemplation, creating a bridge between the tangible world and the realms of the unknown. In this space, time seemed to suspend, and the ancient history of the temple was told in whispers among the lights and shadows.

Suddenly, a light appeared on Terry's chest, causing the medical machines to emit all sorts of erratic readings. A few guards came over to investigate, staring in bewilderment at the incoherent data the machines were displaying. Meanwhile, a light was spreading throughout the CRRA. One of the guards used his LumiCom to call out to the general.

Ethan, half asleep, grabbed his portable LumiCom from the nightstand and turned it on.

—¿Yes?— he replied, his voice sleepy.

—General, something is wrong. Come to the temple immediately,— the soldier urged.

—¿What happened?— Ethan asked, waking up instantly.

—We don't know, the instruments are out of control and there is a light that illuminates the entire CRRA

—The soldier explained, showing him the situation through the LumiCom.

—I'll be right there,— Ethan said, getting out of bed. His wife, Nikita, still half asleep, asked:

—¿Where are you going, my love?

—I'm going to the temple, something's going on there,— Ethan replied, trying to hastily get dressed and putting on his boots.

Meanwhile, another soldier had already communicated the situation to Rodrick, who had arrived at the scene long before Ethan.

—¿What happened?— Rodrick asked his soldier.

—I don't know, Your Majesty. It all started very quickly. The machines are out of control and that light keeps getting stronger,— the soldier explained.

—I see,— Rodrick said, watching the light intensify in the CRRA. Just then, Ethan made his appearance, but Rodrick stopped him.

—Wait,— he said to Ethan, —I think Terry is coming back to us, but not with the power we knew. This is much more powerful and feared than before.

—Do you think so?— Ethan asked, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and doubt as his gaze focused intently on the assisted regenerative rest chamber. Before he could blink, the silence was torn by the crash of glass shattering into endless shards, which sparkled in the dim light of the temple like diamonds scattering in the darkness.

Amidst this chaos of light, Terry's body began to rise, floating in an aura of uncontainable power. The room was flooded with an overwhelming light, heralding the dawn of an inexplicable phenomenon. As Terry stood in the air, his eyes slowly opened, revealing a deep, intense blue, reminiscent of the vastest and most mysterious oceans, but illuminated from within by a yellow light that transformed his gaze into two beacons of pure energy.

All around him, the fire danced in a symphony of flames, enveloping him in a spectacle of power and grace. This fire, far from being an element of destruction, seemed to feed off the energy Terry radiated, with each flame moving in perfect harmony with his will. The fire not only surrounded him, but seemed to emanate from the very essence of his being, an extension of his reborn soul.

Terry's transformation was a sight to behold, marking the birth of a being of unfathomable power. His eyes, now a blue that defied the color palette of the natural world, shone with an intensity that reflected the depth of his renewed power, making him a being forged from the elemental energy of life itself, powerful, mysterious, and majestic.

Terry began to slowly descend until he landed on the ground. Still dressed in his CRRA suit, he looked at his brothers and announced: —I'm back, brothers.— As he said this, the light that had spread everywhere was reabsorbed into his body, plunging the temple into total darkness. His body suddenly went out and he fell to the ground, unconscious. Rodrick activated a light on his belt to illuminate the scene, an action that was replicated by all the soldiers and Ethan. The latter approached Terry, closely followed by Rodrick.

– Don't touch him– Rodrick warned, watching as Terry's body still emitted sparks of electricity that spread around him – Terry's body is still trying to balance the energy it has accumulated over the years.

As they watched, Ashtar, Darius and Marcus arrived, having been previously warned. — What happened?— Ashtar asked, approaching Rodrick and Ethan, who were looking at the destroyed devices, broken light bulbs and some walls burned by the intensity of the fire and light.

—Look at your device,— Rodrick asked Ashtar. —¿What fluctuations does it show?—

—They're extremely high in energy,— Ashtar reported, pointing his device at Terry.

—We have to get him out of here,— Ethan suggested. —If people find out, it will cause chaos now that they know he's back to life.

—We can touch it without any problem,— Ashtar assured. —The energy fluctuations have decreased.—

—Then let's do it,— Rodrick said, lifting Terry into his arms. —¿Where do we take him?

Ashtar led them through a transporter portal to Whittaker Castle, where he had prepared a small laboratory with a regeneration dome underground, anticipating such a situation. They placed Terry inside the dome, which closed and began his regeneration process.

–Now we must wait– Ashtar indicated –If Terry has returned, he must first balance all that energy, which could take a couple of days.

—¡Two days!— Ethan exclaimed. —We have to get him out of here before people find out he's here.—

—That's obvious,— Rodrick mused. —That fan base will be more than elated to know that their deity has been revived.

—We'll take him somewhere else. In fact, I have the ideal place in case this happens,— Ashtar said. He opened his LumiCom to communicate with Caelum, who appeared in the hologram from the lab.

—¿How are you, friend?— Caelum asked.

—Well,— Ashtar replied, —¿Remember the spare lab we built together?—

–Ah! Yes, that lab. Of course I remember– Caelum confirmed.

–¿Do you still have the keys on hand?– Ashtar asked.

—Yes, in fact, I have them right here,— Caelum replied, showing the keys.

—I need them right now,— Ashtar said urgently. —Terry has woken up.

–Uh! ¿He's awake already? That's fantastic!– Caelum exclaimed, his voice tinged with joy.

–Yes, but that will only make the fans more euphoric– commented Ashtar.

–Ahh, sure, I understand– Caelum nodded –Bring him here so he can be safe as soon as possible–

—Okay,— Ashtar said, turning off the LumiCom.

Ethan, following instructions provided by Ashtar, opened a transporter portal to a small, uninhabited planet, where only Caelum resided in his laboratory. Upon arriving, Caelum led them through a door into another laboratory, this one slightly smaller but equipped with everything necessary to help Terry balance the energy in his body.

—Here we can make sure Terry has the peace of mind to balance all this energy in two days,— Ashtar explained.

— I agree,— Rodrick said firmly. —We won't be bringing guards here. Doing so would only increase the visibility of the place. It's better to keep things as they are, with no military presence.

—You're right,— Ethan nodded.

—I will take care of him,— Caelum offered. —Don't worry. I will call Lyra to assist me in monitoring the energy fluctuations in Terry's body and determining how we can balance them.

–Don't forget to check out the Ætheris Gem– Ashtar suggested –I think it arrived with Terry, but now it has a much greater power than we knew.

—I will,— Caelum assured.

—Okay, let's go,— Ethan urged. —Now that Terry won't be in Zephyra, the fans will be totally upset. We'll have to find a way to calm them down.—

—Yes,— Rodrick and Ashtar agreed in unison, and without delay, they opened a portal to Whittaker Castle to inform the rest of the family about the recent events.

Soon, everyone found themselves gathered around the meeting table located in the basement of Whittaker Castle, a space chosen for these occasions for its discretion and perfect soundproofing that ensured total privacy.

—Wait,— Zahori intervened, with a mixture of disbelief and astonishment, —¿are you saying that Terry has already woken up?

—Yes, he has awakened,— Ethan confirmed seriously. —But we cannot yet predict under what conditions. The energy released was such that it destroyed all the instruments around him. We still do not know if he will be the same as we knew.

—What is certain,— Rodrick added, —is that he has returned with a power that is immensely greater and much more intense than before. It is not the same power as always. We will know all this for certain in about two days, I believe,— he concluded.

—¿In two days?— Kyran asked, looking at his uncle Ashtar.

—We hope so,— Ashtar replied, keeping a cautious tone. —We must be patient and observe how things evolve day by day.

– The most important thing is that he has returned – Safiro stated with conviction. – Now we must consider how to handle the possible reactions of the fans. If they do not find their deity, they might become desperate. We need to prepare a message for them.

–The first thing–, Helena began, in a tone that demanded attention, –is to decide who will inform the crowd.

—Elian, you could do it,— Marcus suggested. —After all, you are their priest and they respect you. Not only do they see you as such, but they also know that you are Terry's friend and they will trust your word.

—I have no problem doing it,— Elian said with determination. —I just need to know what you want me to tell you and I will do it.

—Perfect,— said Francisco Javier, visibly relieved. —Then we need to prepare a script for you to present.

—Itzumi,— Darius intervened, —you have an exceptional talent for writing. ¿Could you write something that Elian can read?

—Of course—Itzumi accepted without hesitation—But I'll need Nikita's help—he added, giving her a look.

– Sure, no problem. I'll help you – Nikita replied with a smile – You dictate and I'll write.

—So everything is ready,— Claudius concluded, looking around. —Now we just have to wait and see what happens in the next few days.

—Where is our father?— Dennis asked, with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

—We can't reveal his location yet,— Rodrick explained, his voice carrying a serious tone. —It's vital to keep it a secret to avoid being disturbed by the fans and to allow Terry to properly balance his energy.

—We understand,— Claudius said, looking at his brothers, who nodded in agreement.

As dawn spread its blanket of pink and gold hues, Francisco Javier cast a thoughtful glance toward the horizon, where the last glimmers of daylight mingled with the growing darkness. The situation was certainly less than ideal, but still, a glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes.

— It seems we have no choice but to let the days slip away in the hourglass of time,— he began, his voice a calm baritone that seemed to dance with the night wind. —Come on, let's try to find some rest under the starry blanket of this night. And when the sun decides to peek its first rays, we'll be ready to chart our next course.

With a collective sigh that spoke of both resignation and the uncertainty tomorrow held, the entire family retreated to their rooms. Though sleep was elusive, dancing just out of reach, the promise of a new day filled the air with a subtle but unmistakable sense of possibility.

As the shadows lengthened and the night wove its quiet spell, the dialogue between them resumed, this time in a more thoughtful tone. —You know,— Francisco Javier murmured, breaking the silence with a soft voice that seemed to blend with the rustling of the leaves beneath them. —Sometimes I think that these moments, these little intervals of calm before the storm, are really what define us. They prepare us, in some way, for what is to come.

—Perhaps you are right,— Helena replied, her voice tinged with a serenity forged by the very uncertainty they faced. —Tomorrow, with daylight on our side, perhaps we will see all this in a new light.

And so, amidst whispers and shared silences, the night moved on. Though sleep eventually claimed them, it did so slowly, enveloping them in a gentle embrace that promised not only rest, but renewal of spirit. For at the heart of their journey, woven through hardships and hopes, lay the very essence of adventure: the understanding that each dawn brings with it not only challenges, but also infinite possibilities.