Jack groggily opened his eyes. He knew exactly where he was without looking. His frequent stays in the hospital were getting to be all too common. He reached for the glass on the side table, only to be crippled by a sudden jolt of pain.

"Arggg." was all he could muster.

"Don't move," someone said from beside his bed. He felt a hand reach over and grab the glass, steadying it for him as he eagerly drank some water.

"Ugh, thanks."

"No problem," they replied.

Jack blinked his eyes a few more times, attempting to bring clarity to his vision. He didn't recognize the figure, but he did know the clothing they wore—the same style Gant had been wearing when they met in the hospital. On the tunic was the symbol of the Royal Whispers. The man was very stoic looking. He was middle-aged and reminded Jack of the head of security, Seras Cornwall.

Jack didn't say anything else. He simply took a few more sips of water and tried to process all that had occurred. Suddenly Ariel came to mind lying on the ground deep underground. "Shit Ariel!" Despite the discomfort, he attempted to get out of bed. Instantly, the figure was beside him, pushing Jack back down with ease. "M..My friend is badly hurt and I need to help her."

"Relax," they said calmly. "Ariel Rambova is safe. We even have a piece of your other friend that still seems to work."

"My other friend?" Jack said, perplexed.

"I believe his name is Henry."

“Oh, I guess that’s good. What happened? Someone attacked the city?”

He looked ashamed as he spoke. “Yes…unknown assailants managed to enter the city and cause serious civilian casualties. Eventually, we were able to push back the invaders, but not before serious damage was done. I have you to thank for saving untold lives at the Academy.”

“But why? Why attack civilians and students?”

The man’s face grew very dark as he looked at Jack. “Politics. We believe another nation was attempting to cause inner turmoil.”

“That’s fucked up.”

“Yes. I agree. But more importantly, Jack Warwick,” with that the man stood up and bowed just like Gant had. “My name is Titus Hanover. I am a sergeant in the Royal Whispers. The academy and city were attacked by multiple coordinated assailants. Right now I want to talk about your accomplishments. In the aftermath, we have been able to retrace your steps and determine most of what happened. I was hoping you could fill me in on some details, however.”

“How did they put everyone to sleep?” Jack asked curiously.

“We are still analyzing the full extent of the spell, but it appears that it was a multiple-step process. Only people who had an extreme reason and motivation would have stayed awake. It would appear they activated the first spell around 7 pm. The first one was a subtle spell that encouraged everyone to go to bed early. Then every hour after that they increased the power of the spell. Until midnight only those under extreme adrenaline would be able to stay awake. You were one of the few individuals who managed to stay conscious. Not only that, but you were able to save your friend from the beast that has been disturbing the residents for months. After saving your friend you were able to make it back to the academy and stall the enemy. By stalling the enemy they were not able to do nearly as much damage as they could have. You did an outstanding job and you are to be commended. There are a few other people who also did an exemplary job of stepping up and you will all be receiving a special accommodation of valor and prestige. The ceremony will be later this week. I want to personally thank you for your achievements.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Jack and Titus Hanover spent the rest of the afternoon covering the details they had missed and what Jack knew. He was a very interesting man. He began to explain the intricacies of the Royal Whispers Guild. Explaining that each member was chosen carefully; only those with a strong sense of discretion and loyalty were accepted, for this was paramount to their success. The man went on to explain that the Royal Whispers Guild maintained an extensive network of contacts throughout the kingdom, allowing members to access information from many sources quickly and easily. They also had dedicated spaces for meetings, where members could gather and discuss matters without fear of spies or being overheard.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Jack asked confused.

"After your accomplishments through this trying time. I want to offer you a position in the Royal Whispers. As a member of the guild, you will be expected to stay alert and attentive to your surroundings at all times. Other tasks may include gathering information from various sources, and conducting covert surveillance and investigations. You could also be called upon to protect VIPs in high-risk areas."

Jack had to cut the man off. "Wait, I don’t know if I want to."

Titus looked a little surprised. But then he said. "I understand, It’s a big decision and you should think through the pros and cons carefully before making it." Titus paused for a moment, thinking about what he was about to say next. "The job is demanding and can be dangerous at times, but the rewards are great too. You will gain invaluable skills in intelligence collection and analysis, as well as unparalleled access to knowledge from all corners of the kingdom. Furthermore, you will have the chance to use your talents in a meaningful way that can benefit both yourself and others.” Titus looked into Jack's eyes and then smiled with assurance. "The choice is yours Jack and I will be here to help you make it."

“I will have to think about it.”

Eventually, Titus left the room. Leaving Jack to his thoughts. They were a mess. He had dealt with the beast that had been troubling him for months. But he didn’t feel better. He tossed and turned in his bed. While laying on his side he noticed his gear. Beside his bed was the sword Gant had given him. Then his heart stopped. Beside it was Jared’s sword. The one he had picked up and used during the duel. The memory hit him like a punch in the gut. He remembered Jared collapsing to the floor; his throat pierced by an arrow. Jack bit down on his lip as tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over. He closed his eyes and tried to get rid of it, but the image seemed to burn into his eyes. He curled up his knees close to his chest. Tucking his head into his knees he quietly wept.

A few days later Jack was able to visit Ariel. She had been hurt more than him and was going to be in the hospital for a little while. The beast had ripped apart her lower intestines. Chad, Sable, and Salem were all extremely frustrated that they couldn’t do anything.

The group talked animatedly about the event, Jack's story earning the most attention.

"Man, I can't believe you were able to fight off a full elemental user," Chad said.

"I wonder if they are going to make a statue of you," Sable said absently

Salem grumbled, "I can't believe I was caught in the sleep spell."

Ariel was surprisingly talkative throughout this discussion.

Soon the group was talking and joking in the hospital room forgetting their worries as they enjoyed their time with friends.