Page 88 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol 2
Then he turns back to Danuk, eyes like steel.
“The honor of the Srebats is not an empty word. I know you won’t hand that throne back to me. And I’m not asking for it. A throne isn’t given—it’s earned. So I challenge you. In the arena.But not now. Not like this. That fight would be worthless if I’m still weakened. I propose we settle this when I’ve recovered.”
Danuk studies him for a long moment, silent.
Something flickers in his eyes.
Respect? Or maybe challenge.
“I accept,” he finally says. “You have eight days. Eight days to heal and prepare. Then we’ll face each other. For control of the Red Arena. It will be a fight to the death, as tradition demands. And the Eastern Quadrant will witness a spectacle they won’t forget.”
“It won’t be a spectacle,” Noviosk replies, his voice heavy. “It’ll be a warning. And maybe… revenge.”
The room empties slowly.
Danuk walks away, satisfied, flanked by his guards.
Felone disappears behind him, that smug smile still clinging to his lips.
We’re left alone—in a holding cell where the guards dumped us.
The silence between us is heavy.
I stare at him.
He still won’t meet my eyes.
“You could’ve told me,” I whisper. “Just once. Told me who you really were.”
He doesn’t answer. He sits down slowly on the bench, his shoulders heavy, his eyes lost in the void.
“You let me believe you were like me. A survivor. A fugitive. A fellow prisoner who made it out of Vagantu. But you were its ruler. You lied to me, Nov.”
“I didn’t lie to you, Sam… You wanted to believe that version of me. And I let you.”
His voice is low.
“You can’t understand what it means—to be the former master of Vagantu. Wounded. Broken. Humiliated.”
“And me? I didn’t deserve to know the truth?! You let me get attached to an illusion. To a man who didn’t exist!”
He stands, limps toward me, but I step back, my heart pounding, throat tight.
“I lost everything, Sam. My empire. My world. My name. I didn’t want to talk about it. Especially not with you.”
“Why not with me?”
“You don’t see things for what they are!" he snaps. "From your cozy little corner of the galaxy, you think everyone’s kind. They’re not. And I’m not!”
I stare at him, tears blurring my vision.
I don’t recognize this man. I don’t want to.
“Then tell me one thing. My brother… Logan. He disappeared on Vagantu. Do you know what happened to him? Would you have at least told me that?”
Silence. Long. Crushing.
Then Nov closes his eyes, as if bracing himself against what he’s about to say.
