Page 10 of Galactic Sentinels, Vol. 1 (Chronicles of Pherebos #1)

When we arrive, the place is already packed.

A colorful crowd fills the hall—mostly Polarians, the founders of the Intergalactic Confederation, but also humans, though I can’t always tell them apart.

There are other humanoid species too, with subtle differences: long white hair, marbled skin, soft down, violet eyes.

I even spot a few non-humanoids—the towering crystalline Vortans, their bodies shimmering with every movement, and the tiny Zikrians, darting around in their intricate exoskeletons.

I spot Fanyoru near a long buffet table overflowing with dishes, and we head straight over.

“Ah, Pherebos! There you are. And you brought your little furry companion,” he says, handing me a glass filled with something green and suspicious-looking.

“Of course. You didn’t say it was formal. And I’m not leaving Wingo alone on the ship anyway,” I reply, accepting the drink.

“You did well. We’ll find him some fresh berries if that’s what he likes,” he says, pointing to a large bowl filled with colorful fruits.

“Oh look, Pherebos, they’re all different colors! Can I try them? ”

“I think Wingo’s ready for some taste testing,” I laugh.

I pick out a few small berries and offer them to my eager little friend, who devours them with delight.

I join him, savoring the rare pleasure of fresh fruit—something you don’t come across often when you’re traveling the galaxy in a small ship.

I don’t recognize all of them, but it doesn’t matter.

The flavors and textures vary wildly, but the joy of biting into something fresh and real is beyond words.

While enjoying myself, I let my gaze wander across the room, scanning the women in the crowd. I’m hoping to find some playful company before heading out again tomorrow morning.

I love what I do—the thrill of the mission, the taste of danger and discovery—but most of the time, it’s just silence and solitude. So whenever I stop at a space base, Confederation or Coalition, I never pass up the chance for a little company.

A blonde woman, definitely Human, approaches with a confident smile. She’s stunning. Suddenly, the evening looks a lot more promising.

“Brenda!” Fanyoru greets her warmly. “Let me introduce you to Pherebos, a guest for the evening, and his little furry companion, Wingo.”

“Oh, he’s adorable!” she exclaims, batting her lashes over striking blue eyes—though she hasn’t spared Wingo a single glance.

“I don’t like her. ”

“For what I need her for, she’ll do just fine,” I reply, matching his tone.

“Nice to meet you,” I say aloud, nodding politely.

“Pherebos is leaving tomorrow,” Fanyoru explains. “I plan to introduce him to a few people tonight. He’s Asgarnian, you know?”

“Oh really?” the blonde giggles. “I’ve never met one before. I think I’d remember.”

Of course. I’m probably the only Asgarnian wandering the galaxy like this. Convincing her to spend the night with me shouldn’t be too difficult.

“I really don’t like her.”

“I heard you the first time. What don’t you like about her?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll give you reasons later.”

“Fair enough. You know I’m not leaving you behind, right? Even if I go out tonight, you’re coming back with me tomorrow. That’s a promise.”

“ Gnuffgnuff” he growls aloud.

The blonde finally seems to notice I’m not alone. She glances down at Wingo with a mix of caution and mild disgust.

“What a strange animal,” she says. “He’s got a strong, feline body—sleek and muscular—but that head… with that weird trunk for a nose? It’s a shame. He could almost be cute otherwise. Is he from your planet?”

“You see what I mean now?” Wingo says, his tone sharp.

Great. Are my one-night stands going to need my travel companion’s approval now?

Thankfully, Fanyoru steps in, grabbing my arm .

“I see Henri—the base administrator. Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

Wingo and I follow without hesitation, though I offer the woman we’re leaving behind a polite, apologetic smile.

We weave through the crowd, trying to make our way to the center of a small group.

“Pherebos,” Fanyoru begins, “let me introduce you to Henri, the man of the hour and outgoing administrator of BN-35. He’s just been appointed governor of Jaga-18, one of the terraformed worlds. Michel, who I’ll introduce later, will be taking over the base.”

The man in front of me—Henri—has a distinguished look and undeniable charisma. He carries himself with the quiet confidence of someone used to power. His graying hair is neatly trimmed at the sides, and his posture radiates authority.

I greet him with a respectful nod.

“Sir, nice to meet you.”

“Pherebos is a solitary member of the Confederation,” Fanyoru explains.

Henri raises an eyebrow, intrigued.

“I travel across galaxies in a two-seater ship, scouting for new worlds with life—or the potential for it—to report back to the Confederation,” I explain. “My ship’s too small for more than one.”

“Thank you for your service to the Confederation,” he says warmly. “It can’t be easy, traveling alone. Space is vast… and often empty. ”

“I don’t like him.”

“Again? Aren’t you being a little picky?” I scold him silently.

“Solitude suits me,” I reply to Henri. “Though I’m not really alone anymore. I’ve had Wingo with me for a few weeks now, as you can see.”

“Amusing,” Henri says, barely glancing at Wingo.

One thing’s clear—no one pays much attention to my four-legged companion. That’s excellent news for infiltration work. No one suspects a thing about our telepathic exchanges either.

“Ah, let me introduce my sweet companion,” Henri says suddenly, pulling me from my thoughts. “Ileana, darling, come meet Pherebos.”

He turns to a group of five nearby and gestures toward a young woman with long, dark hair delicately braided down her back.

When she turns and locks her pale gray eyes onto mine, my entire universe shifts.

My heart slams upward into my skull, pounding so loudly it drowns out everything else.

It feels like forever, but it’s only a few seconds—five thunderous beats, a pause, then five more before it finally settles back into my chest.

Every Asgarnian male knows what this means. There’s no mistaking it. When you hear your own heartbeat as if it’s echoing right beside your ears, it can only mean one thing: you’ve found your Soulmate.

And the woman standing in front of me is breathtaking.

She’s young—much younger than Henri, whose face is already marked by time.

Her skin is a warm, flawless caramel, smoother than anything I’ve ever seen.

Her hair flows long and dark, the perfect contrast to my own pale strands.

Her features are delicate, her lips gently curved, inviting.

She’s slightly shorter than most Asgarnian women, but her figure is… perfect.

I can’t breathe. A wave of emotion crashes over me—joy, disbelief, longing—all at once. It’s like the universe itself has bent reality just to bring us together in this moment.

“Hmm hmm!” Henri clears his throat, breaking the spell. “I understand. My companion is very beautiful—she tends to leave men speechless. We’re leaving tomorrow night for Jaga-18.”

My thoughts spiral. I just met my Soulmate—an impossibly rare event, especially considering I’m on the far side of the galaxy from Asgarne. And she’s already with someone else. Not just anyone—Henri, the future governor of a terraformed world.

Her eyes lingered on mine for a heartbeat longer than they should have. But then she turns to Henri and gives him a radiant smile.

“My dear Henri, would you excuse me? I’ll return to Prianka.”

“ Something incredible just happened! ” Wingo exclaims in my mind.

I ignore him. I can’t look away from her. Ileana.

“Go ahead, darling. Our guests will understand,” Henri says, pressing a kiss to the lips that should have been mine .

Every part of me recoils. Another man has claimed my Soulmate. And I’m just standing here, helpless, watching her walk away.

My world collapses while the party around me carries on, oblivious. Laughter, music, clinking glasses—none of it touches the storm inside me.

“My companion’s sister is gravely ill,” Henri explains. “She’s usually in a wheelchair and avoids events like this, but of course she’ll be joining us on Jaga-18. Ileana and I take care of her together. It’s our duty.”

“And that’s admirable,” Fanyoru replies. “Without your generosity, I don’t know how she’d survive. Even our regeneration sarcophagus can’t help.”

“Yes, it’s tragic,” Henri sighs. “With all our technology, we still haven’t found a cure. At least the sarcophagus can repair some of the damage, even if only temporarily.”

“ I really don’t like this guy, ” Wingo mutters.

“ Me neither,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper in my own mind.

And yet… this man has all the qualities I usually admire in people. He’s taken charge of an entire community on this space base and is about to lead an even larger one. Everyone seems to respect him. He looks after the vulnerable.

Is my aversion to him only because he’s connected to my Soulmate? That would be… shamefully petty.

“ Aren’t you going to do something? ” Wingo presses, his voice sharp in my mind.

“What do you mean?”

“ Pherebos, didn’t you see that golden thread connecting you to her? ”

“What thread? What are you talking about?”

“ When your eyes met, a golden thread appeared from each of you. And when they joined—boom! A burst of light. That woman is linked to you! ”

I study Wingo carefully. So he noticed it too—the storm that turned my world upside down. He claims to see things like auras. To my knowledge, only Erians can do that. And him.

But it doesn’t change anything. My Soulmate is with someone else. Someone powerful. Someone who cares for her and her sick sister. Someone who can offer her far more than I ever could from a tiny ship drifting through the stars.

And she seems happy with him. That smile she gave him—it was radiant.

Wingo stares at me, waiting for my answer. I feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me. As much as it hurts, I make the only decision I can, even though every part of me screams not to.

“Come on, buddy. Eat some fruit. We’re taking off in a few hours,” I say, my voice barely masking the heartbreak.

“ Pherebos, you can’t just walk away! She’s not where she belongs—with him. She’s linked to you. And I told you—I don’t like him. ”

“Oh, remind me when I asked for your opinion? Oh right—never,” I snap, grabbing a handful of fruit and heading for the exit, my heart heavy .

I can’t stay here. Not at this celebration of the man who stands between me and the one I was meant to find. Watching her with him—it’s unbearable.

The blonde from earlier tries to intercept me, but nothing has flavor anymore. I slip past her and make my way back to the SIL, avoiding any chance of crossing paths with the one whose name I refuse to even think.

“ If you want my opinion, you’re making a huge mistake! ” Wingo tries one last time, his voice laced with concern.

“Good thing I’m not asking for it!” I shoot back, my frustration and sorrow spilling over.

I rush into the SIL—my refuge from the pain. It’s time to leave. To put distance between myself and the woman who unknowingly stole my heart.

As the ship’s doors seal behind me, I struggle to breathe. It hurts more than I thought possible, even though all I said to her was a simple “hello.” But I have to let go—for her sake.

Time to go.