Chapter Text
“Manus multae Cor unum – Many hands, one heart.”
- Alpha Delta Phi fraternity motto
"It is time," King Novik announced to the guards, priests, and advisers in the royal hall, causing several murmurs, mostly of surprise and intrigue. "I understand your bewilderment," he continued. “But all of you and I have seen throughout these two years, that the Outlander has shown the courage, determination, intelligence and power of every Night Sentinel that has been born in our lands. Also, he has managed to learn about us, our culture, our language, our laws. He has defended our world from the invasions of those dark beings who have tried to spread evil influence beyond his dimension. He is more than a weapon that we can use, or a mere mortal from another world who has happened to come to our lands... he is much more than that."
"I understand his position, your majesty," one of the advisers responded. “but never before in the entire history of the Sentinels has a foreigner been accepted into the ranks of our elite; never before have our most sacred laws been challenged in favor of a man who does not possess Argenta blood."
"I recognize that this decision cannot be understood among the most orthodox of the highest strata of our society", the king paced the room, looking at each advisor present. “But we are in a situation that can determine our survival, our own existence... and that foreigner has shown me that the honor of the Sentinels can exist even beyond Argent D'Nur. Therefore, I consider part of a sacred duty, to name him officially, part of the Night Sentinels"
There was more whispering among the councilors and priests.
"Majesty," Deag Nilox stood up. "Have you spoken with the commanders in charge of the Outsider?"
"Indeed. Commander Valen agrees with the idea."
"Yes, but...", Unsure if he should continue, he looked at the others, who nodded. "You must also consider who should wear the crown of the Sentinels in the future."
King Novik turned around, looking at him. "You mean General Eratos?"
"Exactly. Although the General has shown indecision many times in that possible future, all of us, including you, know that General Eratos is destined to direct the destiny of all in his hands. This is written, your Majesty.”
Novik nodded at that statement. No one but Eratos possessed the qualities necessary to be a monarch. He stood above all others, with the potential for greatness uniquely comparable to the great kings of the past. Maybe even more. The Elementals Wraiths had blessed him since his birth, their call was constant, he more than anyone had the right to light the Torch of Kings, to direct his people, civilians and soldiers alike, towards a time like never before seen in Argent D'Nur. He was destined to be king, and everyone knew it.
But the king was not sure that the Maykrs and Khan herself would accept him as king, knowing that Eratos was unwilling to revere and respect them as previous generations had. And more than anything...
"We know that he himself does not feel ready to face such a responsibility," Novik added. “In the end, the final decision must be made by the general himself, when the time comes. However, we know with this action Eratos will be the king of kings, because a monarch, without the support of all his people, will be a monarch without destiny, and empty, for he will only watch over himself. Eratos needs the opinion of others to accept his fate, and so he will be the king that everyone will unconditionally follow, love and be blessed by all Argent D'Nur."
At that, everyone present murmured their agreements.
“I will speak with him personally about my decision. And if the general is willing to accept the Outlander... ”, the king looked towards the glass windows that decorated the room, representing the great sentinels of the past in beautiful mosaics. "The meeting will be made shortly."
***
"Come back," Flynn announced victorious as he carried a huge boar on his shoulders.
Eratos stood in front of the fire he was preparing, with a smile. "Excellent! A huge specimen! We are going to have food enough for three days! Leave it there." He directed the man to drop the boar a few feet from the fire.
"It was hard to catch him," Flynn grunted as he set the boar down. "I knew these animals were fast, but this guy... he really surprised me."
"Ah yes?" The general prepared the knives to open the animal and make cuts of meat to preserve. "Well, you did a good job, Flynn."
Although he had already heard him mention his name, since he confessed, Flynn still wasn’t used to hearing Eratos mention it with that strong voice that characterized him, not to mention that he could still feel his cheeks burning. Luckily, the general set out to work on the animal.
"Shall I make a salad?" He asked, wanting to get back to safe ground and hush the growing blush on his face.
Without looking up the task, Eratos gave his permission, "Sure."
Between the two of them, they prepared dinner, casually commenting on what they are going to do tomorrow, where to go, what weapons to use for the next training session. To date, Flynn had been able to learn the art of using the sword, the shield and how to transform a defense into an offensive attack. Although he missed using his firearms, he assumed that using melee weapons also had merit… just like a good ex-marine, he preferred not to say so openly.
Finally, dinner was ready and the two men ate in silence, as they regularly did. There was not much to talk about, just the same old business, besides counting the days to go back to the cities... and think about what to do next. Flynn knew that since he was not an Argenta, he couldn’t be welcomed as just another Argenta, much less a sentinel, although Eratos had promised that he would have privileged treatment among the other free prisoners.
But when he finished his meat, Eratos was deep in thought. Then, he put another rack of ribs on his plate, before turning to his partner. "You mentioned that you didn't expect a boar to be fast, right?"
Flynn just nodded, with a mouthful of meat bulging his cheeks out.
"Do you mean... that in your world there were also wild boars?" The general asked.
Flynn looked at him strangely, swallowed quickly before answering. "Well, yes... but it depends on the area where you go to look, especially forests," he ate another delicious piece.
"Now that I think about it," Eratos looked at him intently. “I have always wondered about where you come from, and about that strange language with which you spoke at the beginning. You're clearly not Argenta, you're not from here. I want to know... exactly where do you come from?"
Well, this was a question that Flynn certainly wasn't expecting. He barely managed to swallow the meat, trying to think what to say about it. No one ever asked him where he came from in such a long time that it felt almost like an eternity. Even now, he didn’t know if he still had the right to say where he was from.
"Flynn," Eratos whispered, almost in an overbearing tone.
Flynn frowned at the tone, feeling that he now couldn’t refuse to disobey, least of all in front of Eratos. So he sighed, having to go back to the ghosts of his past. "I thought I would never have to talk about my old home again... I’ve come to accept that I have buried it forever in the past," Flynn stared into the fire; then, looked back at him. "I come from Earth."
Eratos tilted his head at him without an expression, trying to assimilate what he had heard. "Earth?"
"A planet, similar to Argent D'Nur but... with more cities, little nature and… a very complicated place in general, with a quite violent history", Flynn was reminded of both the Marines and the UAC, and the disasters they caused in his lifespan. “But unlike here, the Earth can be said to be more... primitive. It was hardly possible to reach places like the Moon and the planet Mars with their respective moons."
"Earth. Moon and Mars,” Eratos repeated the names, interested in the Outlander’s strange world. "Are they from another solar system?"
"You can say so, yes."
"And... they also had a problem with the demons?"
Flynn looked at him, remembering when he saw hell for the first time. "It was a catastrophe that almost left humanity on the brink of extinction"
Eratos nodded, remembering that cursed dimension. "And… how did you end up in battle against the demons? Were there others like you who fought the horde?”
Now, a dark painful mask fell over his face and he gave the sentinel a serious yet somber look, “No... there was no one else… except me"
The general couldn't believe what he heard. "Excuse me? You alone?"
"Yes"
“No, it is not possible!” It really couldn’t be possible that a single man would be able to deal with all of hell forces alone. "You should have had help, you shouldn’t have had to fight those monsters alone!"
"I was part of a squad," he confessed. "Placed on the moon, Phobos... but there was a problem and the invasion started there. I stayed behind to guard the land and my colleagues went to investigate... however, they all died.”
"What? Really? And were they also strong like you? But how...?"
"To this day I wonder what made me different from everyone else." Flynn stared down at his own hands, remembering the many times he tore at demons with them as his only weapon. "I mean, I knew they considered me one of the most powerful soldiers, but... there were others better than me, more experienced, more prepared... and yet each one fell. The fact is that, after losing communication with my platoon, I went into the facilities, killing every creature and zombie I found, and then somehow I got to hell itself, managing to stop the invasion of Mars... but…” his gaze darkened. "Those damned demons managed to reach Earth and slaughter every human being and creature they could find," he was reminded of his rabbit Daisy and felt a bitter taste in his throat. "Again, I had to be the lonely hero, helping my people escape the planet; then, I returned to hell to close the portals... and for a while, I really believed that finally the nightmare was over... that we would live in peace", Flynn closed his eyes in disappointment. "But hell finds ways to haunt me again, me and my planet."
"And... were you in the middle of a mission? Before you got here... were you going to be able to return home? "
He now looked back at him, with the look of a man who had lost hope. "No, I was not coming back."
Eratos frowns. "Why not? There were problems? Were you stuck in hell?”
"It was because I decided to stay.”
There was a tense silence between the two, with Eratos trying to comprehend what had been revealed.
"What...?" Now Eratos didn’t even know what to think.
Flynn sighed, before looking at the campfire in front of him. “I decided not to return... for the good of humanity and the Earth. Condemning myself to a restless eternity, fighting demons in order to ensure that Earth can finally be at peace."
Eratos also contemplated the fire, thinking about what he had just heard, the immensity of that decision for a higher good, that decision to save who knows how many millions. A sense of duty and honor that only a Night Sentinel can share. If Eratos was in the same predicament, he would have done the same for his people.
But there was something wrong.
"I don't understand... you... out of thousands of others equal or stronger..."
"I know," the other nodded. “It's like somehow I'm special, the only one capable of fighting hell and having the power to do it. I have thought about that a thousand times, wanting to know why. What makes me special? What if I was really predestined... for that… endless fighting.”
However, before Eratos could argue, they heard footsteps approaching. They both quickly stood up when they saw King Novik himself present.
“Your Majesty!” Eratos responded with a salute, while Flynn simply dropped to his knees as a sign of respect. "To what is the honor of your visit owed?"
"General Eratos, I need to speak with you urgently," he cast a glance at Flynn. "Alone"
At this, Eratos turned to Flynn, who nodded, assuring that he would be fine waiting for him. The king and the general trekked for a bit to get away from the campfire, until the warm glow faded and they were sure that Flynn wouldn't hear them.
"Listen to me, General," Novik whispered. "A very important announcement after my meeting with the councilors and priests," he cast a glance at Flynn before continuing. "I want the Outlander to join the Night Sentinels."
Eratos thought he heard wrong for a second. The Outlander joining the sentinels? Realizing that King Novik was very much serious, he just mumbled. "Your Majesty?"
“It may seem unusual to you. Inconceivable even. Outside the norms, against our most deeply rooted traditions, and you wouldn't be the only one to think about that at first, but let me explain,” Novik gestured to accentuate his next words. “We are in a war. A war against the most formidable enemy Argent D'Nur has ever seen. A war is no longer for our values or our culture... It is for our survival. Our existence. And the Outsider, he knows about this threat better than anyone. It's more! He knows how to defeat them. You have seen him in combat, right general?” Seeing Eratos nod, he continued. "Not only that. Since coming to Argent D'Nur, he has surprised us all. His strength, intelligence, ability to perform quick strategies in the middle of combat. He saw that in his duel against you, he was seen during his fierce battle against demons in their same dimension. And even, as Commander Valen informed me and you confirmed, he perfectly would have abandoned us when he had the opportunity. But he came back, and he helped us. He saved you”, Eratos nodded again, remembering his battle with the Cyberdemon. "He has that spirit," he clenches a fist. “That power, dedication and code of honor that every Sentinel possesses. And judging by the current circumstances, it no longer matters that he comes from another world, from another dimension. He has a sentinel spirit. And he can become our brother in arms.” At the end, Novik stared at the general. “Everyone else approved. The commander already knows and has his approval. The only one who must make the final decision... is you."
"And why me, Your Majesty?"
“Because you now know him better than anyone. You fought him in the coliseum, You fought with him in hell, you both trained together for almost two years." Novik didn’t dare to mention to him that others also saw him as a king, but he knew that Eratos was the one who had the last word, so he let it pass. “I need your approval, but I will respect your rejection if it is what your heart indicates. Whether your spirit accepts it or not. Just say one word, and I will forget everything. We will let the Outlander go back to his barracks. But if instead, you...” His words slowly tapered off, they were needless. It was in the general’s hands now.
Eratos stood there in silence, thinking. He turned to look at Flynn more than once, reflecting on everything, he heard his voice float through the humid night air. He contemplated... everything he felt. He closed his eyes and listened to his heart. What did he want? What was right? Remembering what he would have said when he first met Flynn, he smiled as he made his decision.
In silence, Eratos opened his eyes and returned to the campfire. The king did not need to follow him. Flynn, who was sitting on a log, basking in the warmth of the fire, saw him approach. He tried to stand up, but Eratos held up a hand, keeping him seated until they were both face to face.
They spend a few seconds in total silence, only the gentle crackle of campfire was heard.
Eratos finally spoke. "Flynn... we must return to Exultia."
"Huh? Why? I thought we hadn't finished?” He had a shocked look on his face and was wracked with worry.
“An emergency call. Don't worry, it's not another invasion." He explained.
Flynn bit his lower lip. "It's fine. Hopefully the other prisoners don't mind that I share the same barracks again, they always get scared when they see me,” he confessed.
"No," Eratos shook his head. “You will not return to the barracks,” Finally, he offered the hand to him. Flynn looked puzzled, but finally got an answer. "Because from today on... you will be my brother in arms. You will become a sentinel."
It felt like his breath was knocked out of him. Him... becoming a Night Sentinel? All this time he thought that Eratos would oppose the idea, but now, he himself was inviting him to be part of the elite of the Argenta. Unable to speak words, and certainly stunned by what he just heard, he felt strangely drawn to that hand in front of him, so Flynn took it and Eratos helped him to his feet.
It was at this moment Flynn’s world changed.
***
The initiation ceremony was not just a welcome to the Night Sentinels, it was a test of strength and endurance to show that one was ready to face anything that would come their way. Flynn then admitted that this turned out to be one of the most difficult tests that he had ever faced.
A whole month with a barrage of different tests.
Surviving five days without eating in the open, just by drinking water from the rivers and streams. After so long in hell, Flynn had been spoiled by the rich food of the sentinels. He felt the hunger pains, hard, but his stamina allowed him to cope with the first challenge.
The next was a week in the libraries of Taras Nabad, studying everything and everything related to the culture of the Argenta and the Sentinels. He remembered names, dates, laws, events, deities, all in order to coexist with the sentinels. Then, facing the exams arranged by the great sages of the city, testing his intelligence and ability to learn, as well as his successful command of the language.
Alternating days of intense combat against other knights and other Sentinel soldiers, demonstrating his new skill with swords. He impressed Commander Valen himself who rated his performance well. In one of his combat days, he noticed an artist immortalizing the moment on paper, using his ink.
"And that?" Asked the commander when the day was over.
"For the Book of Kings," Valen replied with a fatherly smile. "Because this will be part of history."
Flynn couldn't help but smile, flattered.
On another day, he was subjected to being under a waterfall in one of the coldest settlements in the world, for several hours. He resisted the intense cold against his head and back, while several sentinels observed him attentively in case he collapsed to be able to help him. Although if they intervened he would be unable to pass the test. Once again, Flynn showed what he was capable of, but he was visibly grateful for the coats that were offered to him after finishing the test, as well as the use of ointments and medicines to avoid colds or infections derived from the near hypothermia.
"Very few make it through this test," Gor told him when Flynn returned to the barracks. "Many have collapsed due to the intense cold, but at least we have avoided the deaths"
"I see why there are still few sentinels," Flynn replied with a trembling voice.
“Only the best are qualified to be Night Sentinels. Equally, seeing yourself as a foreigner, passing this test is worthy of admiration! Cheers!” He raised his glass and drank the mead inside.
Flynn tasted the mead within his own glass and enjoyed the hot drink like never before.
Then, came yet another difficult task, when the sentinels took him to a sacred site, inhabited only by wolves. Flynn was a little concerned at the idea of facing wolves, even more so when he was told that he should not kill them, even in self-defense.
"Only the most worthy are accepted," Lord Sash informed him before leading him into the sanctuary. "If the wolves consider you worthy, they will not harm you"
"And what do I do if they attack me?" He asked.
"We will rescue you, but you will not have passed the test," he informed him before giving the signal to open the door.
Understanding the situation, Flynn entered his trial. In that sacred place, he could feel the wolves in the area were watching him, waiting. It was one of those few instances in his life where Flynn felt fear, despite the promise that he would be rescued should it go wrong. He understood that if he let the fear continue, the wolves would sense it and attack. He must also not appear aggressive or as if he could defend himself. Also, not seem like an easy prey. He must maintain a balance between calm, seriousness... and try to accept his surroundings. He must accept the presence of the wolves.
He walked for a while, alerted to every growl he heard, keeping his distance, until he reached the biggest tree he found, and there he stayed. Standing and maintaining as much serenity as he could get, he took a deep breath, staying calm.
Normally Flynn was incredibly violent and at the slightest threat. He just lashed out and ripped apart, but here he had to stay calm. He manifested everything that his training had taught him and kept his composure. The growls seemed to get closer and closer. He must not have shown any feeling of discomfort, fear, or anger, even if the growls of the wolves reminded him of the growls of demons, ready to attack. Flynn closed his eyes, and kept breathing.
Count to four. Inhale. Count to four. Exhale.
And again.
Feeling and hearing the wolves get closer and closer as the minutes passed. An hour went by, and two more quickly followed. Until he felt a wolf approaching with extreme caution. Flynn opened his eyes and saw the beast within an arm’s length, staring at him. His body denoted curiosity, but also alertness. Flynn looked back at him, showing a calm, collected look, until the tension in the wolf's body disappeared. He finally approached one of his hands and sniffed it. After a few seconds, he started licking it. Carefully, Flynn moved the hand, the wolf stepped back a few inches, but he stopped from running away all together.
Finally, that hand rested on his head and caressed him, and the wolf relaxed completely.
Faced with that scene, the pack present calmly dispersed. The wolf that received the caress finally turned away and left with the others. In that, Flynn left, releasing a breath that he didn't realize he was holding back.
He managed to pass the test.
***
"Make sure it is ready," Roan alerted the craftsmen in the workshop, who were preparing armor. A sentinel armor for the Outlander, he who was managing to pass all the tests.
"We are almost ready, only the helmet is missing," said one of the blacksmiths. "Where is he?"
“The Outlander?” Roan thought for a moment. "By now he must be arriving at the resting place of the Wraiths."
"We have never really imagined that a foreigner, from another world, would achieve the feat of passing the tests," another blacksmith added as he put the finishing touches on the armor. "Never before in the history of Argent D'Nur has something like this been achieved."
"Indeed," Roan looked out a window. “But like the king said, he knows the kind of threat we are facing. We must be ready, ” he looked to the side. "By the way, how was the peculiar weapon that he normally used?"
Another of the blacksmiths proudly showed him what he had accomplished. The super shotgun that Flynn used to carry, but now it had some etching in the metal and a new element was added to it. A kind of curved metal in the area under the barrel of the shotgun. The blacksmith smiles, clearly proud of his work. It was a meathook, designed to tear demon flesh like never before.
"I hope he likes the new addition!"
"And... do you know exactly how it works?" Roan asked, looking at the gun.
"Of course! Indeed!” He pointed to some cartridges on the table. “Old-fashioned technology, it was easy to figure out how it works! "
"So perfect!"
Meanwhile, Flynn exposed himself to the power of the Elementals Wraiths for the first time. In their resting places, emitting energy from within. The place was huge; he was barely able to see the entire valley and the buildings dedicated to them. One of the accompanying priests, along with several guards, Deag Grav, jug in hand, approached a spring near one of the elementals. Once in front of it, he whispered an incantation in an ancient language that only the priest’s knew, and took some water into the jar, then lifted it up and continued murmuring, as if thanking them for the blessing they received.
Suddenly Deag Grav growled slightly, feeling strange. One of the guards approached him.
"Are you okay, priest?" He gave him a worried look.
Grav took a little breath before recovering. Both he and the others had been feeling very strange since they began studying and working on demon essence. They either felt unusually angry or strangely erratic. After several deep breaths, he managed to calm himself.
"I'm fine," he whispered lightly. “I'm just… I'm a little stressed, but it's all good." He turned around and addressed Flynn, to whom he offered the jug of water. "Drink it, for the Wraiths have blessed you, Outlander."
Flynn took the jug carefully, and drank all the contents as the guards began some chants in a low voice. Quickly rushing him to a kind of temple, where there was a pool with sparkling water inside. Several guards around the fountain, Deag Grav waving his hand at Flynn, inviting him to dive into it. Stripped of all his clothes, Flynn walked slowly into the pool, feeling the power that the water possessed, listening to the guards continue their chant. He reached the center of the fountain, and at a gesture from Deag Grav, Flynn completely submerged. The chants grew louder, calling for the Elementals Wraiths once more… to begin the final step.
Outside the temple, stood the regiment of General Eratos, who waited in front of the door. Commander Valen appeared and joined the group, watching with interest as Eratos stared toward the door, waiting for some sign that Flynn was officially accepted. The seconds passed slowly and it seemed eternal.
Until, from inside the temple, a noise was heard.
The howl of a wolf.
It was the signal they were waiting to hear.
Inside, Flynn resurfaced, only to find the ghostly figure of a wolf staring at him. He recognizes it... it was the same wolf that approached him in that test inside the sanctuary, but now it glowed an intense green color. Slowly Flynn approached the shore, and put a hand on the wolf's head. The wolf nodded and accepted him. With a final howl the wolf leaping towards Flynn, disappearing in a flash of light. The chants stopped as Deag Grav approached, to give the final announcement.
“Welcome to the Night Sentinels, Outlander. They have blessed you."
Moments later the doors of the temple are finally thrown open, the Sentinels outside, waiting to see the newest member of their regiment. Flynn appeared from the inside, no longer wearing the armor that he used to wear, but adorned with the armor worn by Sentinels. Looking imposing, powerful, relentless, a true warrior accepted by Argent D'Nur. Several of the sentinels cheered, celebrating the welcome of a new member and being part of a historic milestone in which, for the first time, a foreigner joined their ranks.
Flynn was thankful for the helmet he was wearing, as he was flushing at the style of his armor that exposed so much skin, especially when meeting glances with Eratos. Just then the General put on his helmet to give the formal welcome, equally grateful to be able to hide the blush on his cheeks. He didn’t imagine that Flynn in that armor would have made his heart beat so much.
Keeping his composure, he approached his new partner. After an exchange of glances, they both made the sentinel salute.
"Welcome, brother," Eratos announced in front of everyone present. "From now on you are one of us."
Cheers could be heard all over the place, feeling more prepared than ever for the war ahead. Flynn smiled, and even though no one saw his smile; he felt strangely happy, and welcomed. Welcomed by his new comrades and having Eratos by his side. Feeling that finally, after years of torture and hopelessness, after losing everything he loved, he had found his home.