Page 59 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol. 1
“Thank you,” I say, taking the bracelet carefully. “But I’m not planning to tell her just yet. I’d rather keep her here with me for now.”
Akifumi gives me a look. “You haven’t told her about our work, have you?”
“No. Don’t worry. She doesn’t know anything. I’ve been careful—really careful—not to say anything that could compromise us.”
I pause, then add, “And like I told you before, the governor wasn’t trying to expose us. She was framed. The guy who killed her sister and the guard did it right in front of her, then pinned it all on her. I believe her. Every word.”
Akifumi nods slowly, his expression unreadable. But I know him well enough to see the gears turning.
I'm the only known Asgarnian, and the Coalition never dared put me on the auction list. They knew better. I would’ve made an example out of anyone who tried. But Ileana? She’s young, beautiful, and vulnerable. Just thinking about what those twisted bastards might do to her if they ever got the chance makes my skin crawl.
Still, leaving her here—alone, with no way out of MyFaS—isn’t exactly a great alternative. What if something happens while I’m gone? What if I’m late getting back? I could leave her food, sure, but what if she runs out?
She could get sick. Hurt. Drown…
This instinct to protect her—it’s strong. I’m trying to think through every possible scenario, weighing what’s safest for her.
“Why don’t you take her with you on this mission?”I suggest.
“What do you mean?”
“Take her to a terraformed world. Say she’s your assistant. That way, you can keep an eye on her while I handle the Coalition and flush out our traitor.”
Akifumi gives me a long, thoughtful look, rubbing his chin.
“You're forgetting I’m not stationed on a terraformed world. I live on a space base."He pauses."And I don’t need an assistant. Besides, I doubt Ileana has the right qualifications.”
‘“She’s smart. Driven. She’s been studying medicine for years. If she’d had the chance to practice, she could’ve earned her certification by now. She told me herself—she wants to help people. She wants to matter.”
He frowns, clearly struggling to understand.
“You’re asking me to bring a young woman with no credentials and pass her off as a doctor? I don’t get your angle here.”
Crap. I realize what I’m asking doesn’t make any sense.
It’s not logical—I just need to know she’s safe with you while I’m out there dealing with our mission. I want to be ready for anything. She won’t get in your way, and she’s easy to live with.
Akifumi finishes his drink and stares at me, like he’s trying to read every thought I haven’t said out loud. He pauses for a moment, then speaks.
“Pherebos, we’ve known each other a long time. I’ve never seen you this... emotionally involved with a woman. Is it because she was in distress when you found her? Are you playing the knight in shining armor?”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re getting at.”
“Humans have talked about this in their old stories. When someone saves another person’s life, they feel responsible for them—like they have to protect them forever. They call it white knight syndrome. And don’t you have a special bond with Wingo too?”
That hits a nerve. I feel my jaw tighten. It always gets under my skin when people reduce my connection to Wingo—or to Ileana—to some kind of savior complex. Like it’s just about the circumstances of their rescue. But before I let that frustration boil over, I take a breath and glance at Wingo, who’s rolling around in the tall grass, completely at ease.
“My relationship with Wingo is way more than that.”
“See over there?” I say, pointing at Wingo. “That ball of fur and love? He’s about three feet tall at the shoulder. He’s got a high IQ and a super-empathic personality that honestly puts most people I know to shame. He’s got a wicked sense of humor, always goofing off—even if it can get a little annoying sometimes. And loyalty? Unshakable. When Wingo came into my life, he turned everything upside down. He showed up with that carefree energy, and little bylittle, he tore down the wall I’d built around myself to keep the pain out. So no, Wingo’s not some tool in our mission to sniff out traitors. Wingo is my best friend. That’s just the truth.”
Akifumi looks at me with a mix of understanding and pride. He knows I mean every word.
Back on Asgarne, my best friends were Taranis and his sister Silmarwen. We weren’t just close—we were like family. Like siblings.
One morning, they went out paddling in the lagoon to talk. Silmarwen was thinking about her future. She wanted more than the life her father had already mapped out for her. And I got it. I really did.
She felt trapped. As a woman, her path had been carved in stone from the moment she was born. She was expected to follow the same routine as every other woman on the atoll—settle down with a guy she didn’t even like, just because her father had chosen him. But she wanted something different.
