Page 45 of Galactic Sentinels, Vol. 1 (Chronicles of Pherebos #1)

“But Noviosk was their leader! He’s dead now. And Vagantu’s been dismantled. Most of the traffickers have been arrested. So why do you still need Pherebos?” Ileana asks, clearly puzzled.

“My dear, you and Pherebos struck a major blow to the trafficking of tech and living beings in this part of the galaxy. But there are other networks. Many others. Noviosk was just one piece of the puzzle. The galaxy’s a big place, you know.”

“So… you’re thinking Pherebos should go back to the mission?”

“He’d be a huge asset to the Confederation. He knows the job. He knows how to stay under the radar. He’s incredibly valuable to us,” my mentor says, wrapping it up.

“Gnuffgnuff!”

“And Wingo too, of course!” he adds quickly.

“That’s flattering. Thank you,”I say to Akifumi.“But things are different now. I have to consider what my partner wants. Ileana’s spent most of her life sacrificing for others. From now on, it’s my turn to take care of her. Even if that means walking away from this job.”

There. I’ve said it. And the moment the words leave my mouth, it feels obvious. Ileana deserves to come first now.

“Well said! Our Human’s happiness comes first!” Wingo declares in my head.

“My Human, not yours!” I grumble .

“Oh, don’t be so picky. I’m the one who came to find you on that ugly little island. I’m the one who saved your lives. I’m your Wingo, you’re my Asgarnian, and she’s my Human!”

“Fine,” I sigh, giving in.

Ileana frowns—she’s clearly picked up on the telepathic exchange between Wingo and me.

“It’s nothing,”I reassure her quickly.“Wingo was just confirming he agrees that your happiness should come first.”

She raises an eyebrow, her voice laced with irony. “Funny you say that. Because, as far as I can tell, neither of you actually asked whatIwant to do.”

Ouch. By the Currents, she’s right. Once again, I’m reminded how far I still have to go to be the partner she truly deserves.

“Whatdoyou want to do?” Akifumi asks her gently.

“Thank you for asking,” she replies, her tone calm but firm.

She clears her throat, takes a breath, and then dives in.

“Ever since I was a kid, I had a pretty unusual upbringing. I lived with my sister, who was disabled. We were kept apart from the other children, but we had our own rhythm. Mornings were for study, afternoons for rest and play—well, the kind of play that worked with her condition. We both got into medicine early on. I was a little more obsessed with it than she was.”

“I saw your evaluations,” Akifumi says, almost apologetically. “They’re in your file. ”

“So you know I’ve completed all the training, passed every level to become a doctor. I know what I’m doing—even if I’ve never actually performed surgery.”

“Then you want me to find you a spot on a medical ship? Like theRenaissance?”

“Nope, not at all!” she says, laughing. “I can already picture Pherebos and my Wingo pacing in circles after five days…”

“I give it five days before Pherebos and my Wingo start pacing in circles,” Ileana says, smirking.

“Ah-ha! See? She said my Wingo!”

“I don’t get it,” Akifumi says, shaking his head slightly.

“Then let me explain what I’ve been thinking!

” she says with a bright smile and that spark in her eyes that always means trouble—or brilliance.

“If I understand correctly, there’s currently a Wingo-Pherebos duo roaming the galaxy, playing two roles.

One for the Confederation, and one for the Coalition. Right?”

“Exactly,”we both confirm in unison.

“Then… what if we made it a trio?”

“A trio?” Akifumi echoes, sounding completely thrown off.

I stay quiet, but truth be told, I’m just as lost as Akifumi. I have no idea where my Soul-Bound is going with this.

“Yes, a trio!” she says again, full of enthusiasm.

“To the Confederation, I’d be Pherebos’s partner and a traveling doctor, offering medical care wherever we go.

And to the Coalition, I’d be the companion of a smuggler—while also selling my services as a medic.

Because, if I understood correctly, everything has a price in the Coalition, right? ”

My heart starts pounding. The future she’s painting—it’s bold, unexpected… and it’s starting to make sense. I can see it. I can feel it.

Next to us, Wingo is practically bouncing with joy.

“Gnuffgnuff!”

Akifumi rubs his chin, thinking it over.

“That could work,” Akifumi says thoughtfully. “It’d be unconventional, sure—but why not? Most Galactic Sentinel agents operate in pairs. But a few, like Pherebos, have always worked solo. Well… that was before he met Wingo.”

He gives me a knowing look.

“A trio isn’t out of the question. In fact, it’s a very viable proposal.”

In the end, our boss gives a small nod. “Let’s try it. And as a doctor working on certain Coalition bases, you might even pick up some valuable intel.”

“We’ll need to tighten security around her,” I say firmly. “I don’t want her taking unnecessary risks.”

We keep talking through Ileana’s idea, and the more we do, the more it feels right. She’s already organizing everything, jotting down notes for our chef like she’s been planning this for weeks.

As I glance over at her, chatting animatedly with Akifumi, a thought hits me—sharp and unwelcome. I think back to this morning… and all the other times. SIL isn’t built for three. I’ll have to let it go .

“Anything else?” Akifumi asks.

“Yeah,” I say. “We’re gonna need a new ship. Something neutral. Doesn’t have to be fancy—an older model is fine. Two double cabins. Three would be even better.”

“But… what about SIL?” Ileana asks, her voice soft.

“It’s had its time,” I say. “It’s too cramped for three people. And the lack of privacy is becoming a real issue.”

“ Totally agree!” Wingo grumbles. “I had to go to bed early last night just so I wouldn’t disturb you two, when I really wanted to watch a movie!”

“I’ll remember that,” Akifumi says with a chuckle. “We’ll find something that works. Two double cabins and a medical workshop, right?” He taps away on his tablet.

“That would be perfect,” Ileana replies. Then she turns to me, her voice gentler. “But Pherebos, I know how much SIL—and SILMAR—mean to you.”

“It’s not a problem,” Akifumi reassures us. “The AI can be transferred to the new ship without losing any of its memory or personality. SILMAR’s coming with you. As for the name of your new vessel—once we’ve found the right one, I’ll let you choose it.”

Relief washes over me. SILMAR will still be with us. I turn to Ileana.

‘’My Faksaya,’’I say with a smile,‘’the honor is all yours. What should we name our new ship?’’

Her face lights up, visibly moved. She pauses, thinking. Then a trembling smile forms on her lips .

“I’d like to call it The Prianka ,” she says softly, eyes glistening.

The names of our two beloved sisters, woven into our daily lives? I’m all in.

“Long livePrianka!” I declare.

“Long livePrianka!” Akifumi and Ileana echo.

“Gnuffgnuff!” Wingo concludes, beaming.