As Damián embarked on that universal journey with those people, a subtle feeling prompted him to introspect. The warm breeze of the island caressed his skin, and the gentle whisper of the waves accompanied his thoughts. He pondered love mechanically, like a gear that could either bury one feeling or embrace another. Damian's eyes wandered to the horizon, his mind delving into the depths of his reflections.
He understood that this was a norm, a kind of cold and frustrating code. With this understanding, he came to the conclusion that committing to the unfamiliar was dangerous and pushed him out of his comfort zone; it was like dancing on the edge of a precipice. The palm trees around him seemed like silent witnesses to his inner journey as he contemplated the decision he was about to make.
Despite the small, meager offering of love he had experienced thus far, he was determined to embark on this journey following the maps drawn by destiny, without questioning or seeking explanations. He took a deep breath, feeling the scent of the ocean mixing with the fragrance of tropical flowers dotting the scenery.
As he prepared to return to the city alongside Adam, he felt like he was on yet another incredible personal stage, his role in life always seeming to be in the spotlight. The golden rays of the sun bathed his skin, warming him with their golden light.
He could understand that the world persistently teaches us that success requires prominence, boldness, popularity, and above all, sociability. But if he could choose, he desired the quiet corner of attention, that tranquil and serene place where one could contemplate life in its simplicity. However, life had placed him in the spotlight, and he would accept that role gracefully.
He might only lose to himself, Damian understood that some things were intertwined by destiny, and about these events, he could not have control. But the part that was his to play, he had always dedicated himself to performing to the best of his ability. The sea continued to whisper, like a calm confidant in his reflections.
As Mia's thoughts flowed like the tide, she passed by Damián with kindness and gentle gestures, a friendly shadow in her aura. There was an atmosphere of good friends; her soft voice broke the silence.
"This is a place for nobles, didn't you notice?"
Damián responded with a smile, and the facade of camaraderie settled in. With an innocent look, Damián replied:
"Yes, I noticed; I fit in perfectly; I'm the center of attention. But I also noticed that you behave like an insecure teenager."
Damián continued, his expression calm as he looked in the direction of Callum, who was near Aster.
"Oh, Mia, you're not exactly the right match for Callum; do you understand? I noticed your look of admiration, and I can't help but find it somewhat... hilarious, honestly.
You're not exactly the master of hidden intentions, but hey, I'm not complaining; in fact, I love saying these words.
Of course, you have your beauty, but it's nothing special. You're young, but not that young... And all this confidence? Well, I can't see much of it, to be honest."
His gaze returned to Mia, confident, and he concluded with a tone of sincerity: "You don't stand a chance."
Lady Elizabeth joined them, accompanied by Lord Malcolm, with a genuine look of admiration on her face.
"You are an exceptionally talented young man, Damián," she began, her eyes reflecting her appreciation. "Your musical perception is impeccable."
Damián responded to the compliments with a modest smile and a nod, acknowledging his musical skills without excessive vanity and showing humility and simplicity, which only added to his charm in the eyes of Adam's parents. Looking fondly at Aster, Lady Elizabeth continued her comments:
"Oh, Aster is wonderful too. It's been a while since I've seen such musical audacity," she added, her enthusiasm evident.
"I've been thinking about you, Mia. With Aster and Damián always together, I'd love to see the thee of them playing together. Surely, that would result in a great performance. I already have several ideas, what do you think?"
Damián, determined to show his kind heart and support the idea, smiled gloriously at Lady Elizabeth. His eyes sparkled like those of a sweet omega with a gentle heart.
Mia, on the other hand, felt as if time had momentarily stopped. She simply agreed, somewhat alienated, her thoughts scattered as she processed the situation, wondering how Damián had changed his position so quickly, leaving her almost speechless.
The two locked eyes for a moment, traces of hostility dissipating afterward. The tension between them was imperceptible, and both maintained their composure.
Damián wasn't sure if he was ready to lose, to exit the stage with personal dignity intact. But he didn't want to be defeated by anyone, not even by or circumstances.
Then, Damián walked toward Adam, his thoughts searching for a touch of romance for the next scene. He approached the Alpha with a mischievous smile and whispered, "Ah, my Alpha, the master of romantic conquests! Seeking a special title for Adam, he continued, "Come on, baby?"
The two exited together, and as in any respectable romance, the protagonist always tries to teach or impart something to their young lover, and Adam was no exception.
"Adam insisted on piloting his own jet, with Damián in the aircraft cabin. He embodied the perfect Alpha, demonstrating skill in all areas, providing a sense of calm and security during takeoff towards Markarian."
And... while Damián, Adam, and their companions were on board the private jet, flying to Markarian.
A mysterious individual known only as "Astra" typed stealthily and furiously on a high-tech keyboard. The screen in front of them displayed lines of green code on a black background, as if taken from a science fiction movie scene.
They were brilliant hackers, masters at infiltrating security systems and penetrating protected networks. Their face was hidden in the shadows, and their identity was an enigma to all. Behind this enigmatic name, they had hidden motives and a burning desire to uncover well-guarded secrets.
Mason Gruber paused for a moment, exhausted from his ceaseless efforts to collect, analyze, develop, and validate countless theories.
He had spent so much time trying to identify suspects, gather evidence, and build reasonable foundations, but now, as he stared into nothingness, all that remained were unanswered questions.
His time was running out rapidly, or maybe not... Can-Bey always acted unpredictably; he could arrive at any moment. Perhaps his unpredictability was connected to the value he placed on that relationship. So, for a moment, he went back to his arrival in that world months ago...
"Going back in time..."
"At first, Mason believed his life was about to end on death row or in perpetual prison when he spotted CIA big shot Spencer Walker on a commercial flight.
Shortly after, he noticed the presence of Josh Smith, a former mercenary "Legally legitimate, the king of the underworld." Aboard the same flight. He was fully aware that the CIA would capture him, and a sense of inevitability enveloped him like a wildebeest on the edge of a crocodile-infested river."
Then a terrible accident occurred, followed by something unimaginable. Mason realized he had stumbled into something completely unexpected, something that transcended all his theories about alien contacts and even the theory of superstrings, which posited the existence of 10 dimensions in spacetime.
First, he heard a robotic, metallic voice that echoed strangely in his ears. Then, when he finally regained consciousness, he realized he was submerged in a bathtub full of icy water.
His body was stiff and numb, as if it had gone through death and rebirth. He attempted to get up, but his muscles were so contracted that it seemed like an almost impossible task. His body was dirty and abused, as if he were in a place that had no respect for his dignity.
With superhuman effort, Mason finally managed to stand up, although the difficulty was overwhelming. He looked around, trying to understand where he was and what had happened.
Golden-brown hair, long and silky, cascaded in curls down his shoulders—a completely strange sensation for Mason. His gaze fixed on the gray eyes staring back at him in the mirror, eyes that were not his own.
The place he was in left much to be desired in terms of care. It was dark and damp, with signs of neglect in every corner. And he was alone, completely isolated, without any clue about how he had ended up there.
As he examined his hands, Mason noticed a vast difference. The fingers were smaller, the nails immaculate. He groaned, and even his groan sounded different, as if it belonged to someone else.
The feeling of not having control over his own body was overwhelming. He tried to move, but his legs didn't respond the way he expected. He looked again at the dirty mirror in front of him, and for a moment, a shockwave coursed through his entire being.
The face staring back at him in the mirror was an unfamiliar one, young and delicate, with delicate features and a bewildered expression. He touched the face with trembling hands, as if searching for some proof that this was real.
Mason was lost in a surreal nightmare, unable to comprehend what was happening. He wondered if this could be the result of a failed plan by the CIA, FBI, NASA, INTERPOL, or even the mysterious AREA 51 that he had randomly infiltrated.
Chaos reigned in the small house. Everything was dirty, and the mess was so intense it seemed like a hurricane had swept through. Mason, still trying to get used to his new body, navigated through the disorder with difficulty in search of something to alleviate the pounding pain in his head.
His hands explored dusty shelves and dark corners of the house, desperately searching for a painkiller. Every step was a challenge since he wasn't yet familiar with the new legs supporting him.
Finally, his search was rewarded when he found a handful of stale bread hidden somewhere. Without hesitation, he grabbed them and started eating immediately. Hunger was a strange sensation, but he needed to regain his strength.
In addition to the bread, he also discovered a handful of coins of some foreign currency, strange and unfamiliar bills. This only added to the mystery of his situation. What was happening? Where was he? Who was the person whose body he now inhabited?
After devouring the bread and quenching his thirst with water, an overwhelming sense of exhaustion overcame Mason. His body seemed not to be fully accustomed to the change, and he collapsed into a deep, heavy sleep.
Hours passed as he slept, and when he finally woke up, it was as if a fog had lifted. He felt much better, with the headache reduced, and his strength starting to return. However, an urgency drove him to act quickly because he didn't know if someone was after him or how much time he had before being discovered.
With determination, he began to search the house for clues about the person whose body he now inhabited. The mess and dirt around him sharply contrasted with the sense of order he was starting to regain in his mind.
That's when he unexpectedly found something beautiful and eye-catching amid the chaos. A richly decorated wooden box caught his attention, and when he opened it, he found a series of carefully organized books. However, upon closer examination, he realized these were not ordinary books but diaries.
The diaries revealed a part of the life of the person he now was. Each page contained thoughts, feelings, memories, and personal experiences. It was as if he was delving deep into the psyche and life of another person.