After returning from the Academy of Magic, Hilbert goes right to the meeting room that was very large and with a huge rectangular table placed in the center.

That room was made to gather many important advisers and officials of the kingdom, although that afternoon only the Commanders and Vice Commanders of the four brigades were gathered. This left the place looking very empty.

The kingdom was composed of eight main sectors. The Whitecastle Academy of Magic sector was responsible for the study of the most diverse spells, enchantments, and research. The academy was run by Dean Duke Habbermann and the council of elder wizards.

The section dedicated to the seven gods was led by the high priest Tobias F. Cardinus, who also took care of the orphanage and mystical rituals dedicated to the seven gods.

The royal guard sector was directly commanded by Queen Helena, there were no complex hierarchies in the royal guard, only the cadet and then soldier level.

The outstanding soldiers were promoted to any of the four brigades depending on their specific skills. The queen had maximum authority over all sectors of the kingdom.

The Wolf Brigade specializes in patrolling, territory recognition, espionage, research and data collection on enemies and threats, camouflage, making potions and antidotes, training wolves and other wildlife, setting, and disarmament of traps. They wear light leather armor, preferring mobility, with fur ornaments in some parts that resemble the fur of gray wolves. The soldiers' magic level ranges from low to medium. The Commander is the wise Kayleigh Wolffmann and the Vice Commander is Gödel.

The Bear Brigade specializes in fighting giant enemies, wearing heavy armor and weapons, forging extremely strong weapons and armor, loading and handling heavy war equipment for conflict zones, fighting multiple opponents at once. Most of their heavy armor contained retractable claws and covered the entire body. Their helms resembled bears' heads. Soldiers' use of magic is considered low, but their force level is very high. The Commander is Bravius Troderitch the Vice is his twin brother Brando Troderitch, they differed only by the color of their hair and attitude.

The Octopus Brigade specializes in sea combat, ocean exploration, data collection on the seas and the creatures that inhabit it, underwater exploration, building warships, and patrolling the coast of the kingdom, its soldiers are excellent swimmers and divers. Their armor is made of hydrodynamic and light, yet resistant metal scales. The level of the magic of the soldiers varies from low to high depending on the role that the brigadier plays. Its Commander is Napoleon Serraphin and its Vice is Eugene Florian.

At last, The Eagle Brigade. Their specialties involve fighting against aerial opponents, patrolling the skies, using various magic weapons and armor, combat spells, enchanting weapons, and armor, training war eagles or messenger ones, developing innovative combat tactics, leading other brigades in combat, and development of attack formations. Their armor contained feather carvings and is very light, golden in color and with black details. The soldiers' level of magic varies from medium to the highest. The Commander is Hilbert Ygdrazz White and the Vice is the beautiful and fearless Daniela O’Hara.

All basic combat training was carried out by the royal guard, but each brigade had its own combat style, which consists of three variations, depending on the strength, agility, and magic level of the soldiers. Hilbert began to speak to all in a simple manner.

“Greetings ladies and gentlemen!” Hilbert greets everyone as he heads to the chair that was in the main corner of the huge table. "Let's set the formalities aside and stick to the subject objectively.” he looked at everyone around him while they all sat down.

“The night I was wandering around the library…” Hilbert looks around at everyone around him again.

“I was attacked and almost killed by an unknown creature.” almost everyone in the room starts to murmur with a face of astonishment. After all, he was a highly trained and experienced Commander.

“Who or what hurt you, eagle prince?” Bravius asks with a puzzled look.

“What would be the reason for this attack? And how did that creature get past the patrolmen and the royal guard, boy?” asks Kayleigh.

“It was a creature from the world of the dead, I am sure of that Bravius.” Hilbert turns to Kayleigh. “I still don't know what that wanted Kay. None of the brigades reported anything strange in the skies, on land, and even less the sea. That was just lurking there.”

The murmurs continue and echoed in the room. Hilbert explains the creature's shape, his combat with it, and how Gödel had saved him from being petrified.

“For all these reasons, I ask you to carry potions against petrification, magic, and healing potions.” Hilbert gets up from the chair and put both hands on the table. “And I ask you to increase the number of people available to patrol the palace and the kingdom. If necessary, abort all missions outside our territory.”

“Is that the whole truth, Hilbert?” Napoleon asks with a malicious look. “Didn't you forget to give us any details? What did you want in that library and why did it have to be at night?” The Commander now looks suspiciously at Hilbert.

“Are you deaf, Napoleon? Did you not listen to Hilbert or are you assuming something?” Daniela glares at the Commander of the Octopus Brigade.

“Hey, young lady! Put yourself in your shoes, your insolent! Napoleon is also a Commander or have you forgotten?” Eugene counters with pride. Before Daniela could reply, Bravius' deep voice, and with its imposing eight feet height, echoes in the room:

“Bird, fish! Shut those mouths! This small talk of yours is only hindering my understanding of this conversation!” Bravius bangs his fist on the table, shaking everything.

“Even my most uneducated rangers have more manners than you, Bravius, you brute!” Kayleigh states in a harsh tone, while Bravius put his hand on his forehead looking at the crumpled table in regret.

“Wolf woman is right.” Brando laughs at his brother's face. Bravius cast an angry look at Brando who tries to soften his brother's mood with a giggle.

“But this arrogant prick is right.” Says Kayleigh being struck by Serraphin's glare. “The boy is not known for his reading habits. What were you doing there, Hilbert? Couldn't sleep because of the nightmares again and decided to read some boring books to get drowsy?” now all attention was turned to Hilbert that now was thinking of a quick way to avoid the question, he could not trust some of those present.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Hilbert could barely open his mouth and was interrupted by Gödel.

“I'll tell the whole truth, Hilbert. We don't have to hide it from them.”

While everyone looks at Gödel, Hilbert glares at him with a deadly look, but Gödel gives the prince a wink and keeps talking.

“I asked Hilbert to get me some love storybooks.” everyone looks shocked at Gödel.

“There is this girl who works in the kitchen, in a posh inn out there, and I'm very much in love with her. But as I am very coward, and I also don't know how to treat a woman properly, when I'm really in love, I decided to appeal to reading. I thought that some romance books could help me to be more polite to the ladies.”

Hilbert intensifies his furious glance at Gödel, as he was talking covertly and mockingly about his love problem in front of everyone. Hilbert thought that no one would believe all that bullshit, but Gödel continues blabbering.

“And that's why I was around and heroically saved our most delicate Commander, who was crying like a young girl when he passed out pathetically in my strong arms,” says Gödel trying not to laugh.

In the prince's mind, Gödel was killed in several terrifying ways. “I was waiting for the book when I saw a flash and the rest of the story you already know.”

A huge silence takes over the room for a few seconds. Everyone looks at each other and burst out laughing, except for Kayleigh, who blushes in shame for her subordinate's infamous story.

Everyone, apparently, had believed Gödel's story. Hilbert still didn't believe it had worked, but he carried on.

“Well Gödel, I told you to start taking a bath a year, at least, stop brushing your teeth with frog shit and also stop using pig blood in your hair, if you wanted to conquer that ugly old toothless horse-faced old rag, but you had to appeal to books you can barely read.” Hilbert joins Gödel, but not without first taunting his best friend.

At that moment the two friends think of the retaliations they would give each other for the infamous comments made in that environment and glare at each other with very angry looks.

“It's true Gödel! I can smell you from here,” says Daniela, while covering her nose.

“Hey, Dani! It is this smell that keeps me alive in the forests, rivers, and mountains!” Gödel says with a face of anger.

“Brando understands the loneliness of the stinky man-wolf; the poor thing should fall in the river first.” Brando starts poking Gödel's head and tousling his hair.

Gödel struggled free of Brando's huge arms and was panting due to the enormous strength of the crushing embrace. Gödel was starting to fix his messy hair.

“Responding to Commander Napoleon questions, after so many odd and divergent conversations,” Hilbert continues looking at the Commander with a haughty look.

“The only thing I was hiding was the secret of this unfortunate lover, but since he decided to tell you all everything, I guess there are no more doubts about my chores in the library, or about this idiot's inability to be a gentleman. Am I wrong?” the prince looks seriously at everyone in the room.

“One more thing I must add. Since I don't want to worry Queen Helena, I’ll ask a simple favor. Keep secret about the confrontation I had with this creature, you don't have to lie about the creature. Just don't mention that I was the one involved in the confrontation. My mother already has so many concerns about the funds allocated to each brigade. I think nervousness would have a negative impact on resource counting, don't you think, Napoleon?” Everyone looks silent at Hilbert. That was the most subtle threat that had ever been made in that meeting room. Hilbert starts talking in a less serious manner:

“Report any kind of encounter with unknown enemies. Do use spells or light enchantments or other elements on your weapons! Do carry healing potions and various antidotes. I will be away for perhaps three weeks, at most, with a small group, to assess Southbridge and we’ll leave at midnight through the main road. Any matter to be dealt with the Eagle Brigade, please speak with Vice Commander Daniela O’Hara. She will, one hundred percent, answer for me in my absence. Her voice will be mine in any decision made. In the name of Queen Helena and the Kingdom of Whitecastle you are excused from this meeting.”

While everyone leaves, Hilbert asks Daniela to stay for a moment. The young woman's heart beat faster when Hilbert called her by name.

“What do you need Hilbert?” Daniela had to hold on a lot to not show her feelings, after all, he was her superior, but the more the girl stifled that feeling the more it increased.

“I kept a letter for you.” Says Hilbert. “It is in the drawer of my desk in our room at the brigade’s main office.” Hilbert looks deeply into the young woman's bright brown eyes. “And I want you to read it if I don't return. Daniela, please promise me!” Hilbert takes the Vice Commander's hand while making his plea.

“Okay, I promise!” The girl starts blushing. “But you won't be back in three weeks?” questions the girl with a sigh she lets slip out.

“Maybe Dani, but even so, I want you to do me this favor! I will explain all the details later.” Says the prince and hands the key to the desk drawer to his subordinate.

“Yes Hilbert, I would do anything for you,” says Daniela in sighs, as she saw Hilbert far away, leaving the room. She sighed again and was holding the key, close to her chest.

A few moments later, Hilbert and Gödel were in the Royal Garden making small talk and also talking about the trip and the preparations. They say goodbye and each leaves for a different location.

Far away in a corner of the palace, Napoleon watched them through the window with an angry expression, while Eugene approached the Commander.

“That stupid excuse must have convinced those idiots!” says Eugene.

“Do not underestimate those people Eugene! They are pathetic, but there is a reason for their high hierarchy” says Napoleon and turns to Eugene. “I still do not believe that Hilbert was able to defeat the wraith of the ancient one. I also didn't expect him to be carrying his sword and shield that night. Weeks were wasted waiting for a breach to capture him.” Napoleon grits his teeth in anger. “But it doesn't matter now, for I already know Hilbert might have some knowledge about the Black Iron Island. Unfortunately, we didn't get his body, yet.”

“But what he does not know and will not know is that the island is hidden at the bottom of the northwester sea. All of our subordinates are prohibited from approaching that location. Our master needs a vase to receive Marhg Naroth's spirit. Does it really have to be that idiot?” asks Eugene with an empty stare.

“Yes Florian, it has to be him. That person needs to have the blood of the White lineage; our master was very specific about this part. Even if petrified by the poison it would still do.” Napoleon seemed to be staring vaguely at the void.

“How much does he know about the whereabouts of the Black Iron Islands?” 

“Don't be put off by appearances, Florian. Hilbert may seem naive and immature in behavior, but he is one of the most brilliant minds in the kingdoms. I can only assume, because he was at the library with that damn old man, that he must have found some reference to the Island and the damn elves from the Shadow Forest. Our master said that the elves pledged to protect this world. ” Says Napoleon and looks back at Eugene. “He warned me that the elves could cause problems to our mission if they met with the prince. We must go to the bottom of the sea again, we need to report to master and prepare our next trap. The world will be at our feet when the black wizard returns!”