Dinis took a few turns around the village, ensuring that the shadow following him remained on his trail. He finally found an area with narrow alleys and, taking advantage of his speed and skills, quickly hid, preparing to surprise his pursuer. Although he didn't feel any real threat, the incessant gaze on his back was unsettling, as if an obsessive presence was watching him closely.
When the pursuer approached, Dinis emerged from the shadows, holding his black blade and pointing it firmly.
"Give me a good reason not to have your head rolling on this ground right now!"
The pursuer jumped, raising his hands in surrender, his voice trembling.
"Please, calm down! I don't want to harm you! I just need to know one thing... You're a Sentinel, aren't you?"
Focusing on the pursuer's face, Dinis was surprised and somewhat embarrassed. In front of him stood only a small boy, at most seven years old, covered in dirty and tattered clothes. The right side of his face was wrapped in old bandages, hiding his injured eye. Realizing there was no danger, Dinis sighed and sheathed his sword, feeling a bit foolish about the situation.
The boy trembled and looked at Dinis with an expression of admiration and fear. His honest and frightened eyes carried no malice or dark intentions; he was just a vulnerable and desperate child.
"My name is Mathew," said the boy, regaining some composure. "I'm just an orphan... I've lived in Dordot for as long as I can remember."
Mathew began to tell his story with a shy smile but a determined gleam in his eye. He had never known his parents and had grown up alone on the streets of Dordot, where his name had become synonymous with trouble. He was a figure constantly involved in mischief, and the hard life he led was the only one he knew.
When Dinis questioned him about his persistence in following and his curiosity about the Sentinels, Mathew explained, his eyes shining with emotion, that he had heard stories about the Sentinels—legendary warriors who protected humanity from the darkness. Since then, he had dreamed of one day becoming one of them and finally changing his destiny.
"One day, I'll be like you!" declared Mathew, with a voice full of hope and determination. "I'll become a Sentinel and protect people. I'll show everyone that I can be someone important too."
Dinis listened to the boy, recognizing the purity of his desire, but he knew that reality was much harsher. Becoming a Sentinel wasn't something one chose; it was a rare and arduous destiny, something that didn't happen by will or dream. Even so, he didn't have the heart to take away the last shred of hope from the poor child, allowing him to believe in the possibility of a better life.
"What happened to your eye, boy?" Dinis asked, trying to understand Mathew's story better.
Mathew shrugged and smiled, as if it weren't important.
"Oh, that? I lost sight in it a few months ago... I couldn't pay my debts or complete my tasks," he said, almost jokingly, but the pain was hidden in his words.
He explained that years ago, he had been taken in by a group of criminals who had raised him with a "debt" he was supposed to "pay back" in the future. Being raised by the group came with frequent punishments and beatings, which they called "behavior adjustment" and "physical learning." Mathew was often forced to steal or act as a lookout for the group's robberies. And if something went wrong, he paid the price.
A few months ago, he had received an especially dangerous task. A group of travelers had stopped in Dordot to spend the night: a lady, her companion, and two knights who protected the carriage. Even with the presence of guards, traveling at night was risky, as evil openly roamed the roads in that territory.
The news of wealthy visitors filled the criminals' eyes with greed, and the group began planning a robbery. Mathew was assigned to hide in a nearby tree and watch the carriage, alerting them to any suspicious movement. From his vantage point, he watched the couple, feeling a strange warmth in his heart as he saw them. The woman, with a sparkle in her eye, told the man that she was pregnant and that they would soon have their own family.
The happiness and love he saw on the couple's faces made Mathew briefly dream of a different future. He imagined, even if just for a moment, that he could escape that miserable life and live something grand, perhaps even build his own family. But he was soon pulled from that reverie when he remembered his mission. He looked around and saw the criminals preparing to attack.
Realizing the imminent danger, Mathew, seized by desperation, shouted to warn the couple:
"Run! Get out of here, please!"
His shout echoed into the night, cutting through the silence and alerting the guards, who quickly mobilized. However, Mathew's interference did not come without consequences. After the mission's failure, the furious criminals decided to "teach the boy a lesson." It was that night he lost sight in one of his eyes.
Dinis listened to the boy's story in silence, with an expression of respect and sadness. He knew that Mathew carried a burden much heavier than any child should bear. The reality of Dordot was cold and merciless, and for Mathew, that was the only world he knew.
The boy looked at Dinis with determination, as if he still saw hope of changing his destiny.
"One day, do you think I can be like you?" Mathew asked, his voice trembling but full of hope.
Dinis hesitated, carefully choosing his words. He didn't want to destroy the dream that kept the boy going but knew that the path of the Sentinels was not a simple choice, nor a road anyone could walk.
"Mathew, being a Sentinel is... something you carry within your heart, something that chooses you. But true strength lies in deciding to be someone better, regardless of a title or mission. And I believe you have that strength."