Chapter 36 – A Stranger Among Giants

  City of Novastra

  Snow clung to Seven’s tattered clothing and blood-streaked boots as the War Rabbit Guild made their entrance through the outer gates of Novastra. The crisp wind carried a refreshing blend of sea salt and frost, weaving between the timeworn stone walls and lantern-lit streets, invigorating the atmosphere.

  Seven remained silent, lost in his own world.

  Draped over Fluffy’s shoulder like a half-frozen trophy, the unconscious human presented an astonishing sight—especially in a city where humans were rarely seen beyond the protective barrier.

  The guild glided through the streets with an air of purpose. The echoes of battle had faded, leaving them with two remarkable spoils: the lifeless form of an Arctic Frostbearer snugly stored within a dimensional bag, and the battered, magic-exhausted man who had bested the beast.

  Yet, within the heaviness of the moment, Fluffy's enthusiasm radiated beside Raven, her breath puffing in excited clouds.

  “Can you believe this?” she whispered, gripping her swords with joy. “A human actually pushed us back! Just one arm, no backup, and he stood his ground like it was a casual stroll!”

  Ripper ambled ahead, giving her a skeptical glance. “Let’s not forget—he also knocked out some of our recruits and nearly took your head off. It might be best to save the celebrations.”

  Fluffy shrugged, her smile unwavering. “But that’s impressive! He’s not even from Novastra, right? He’s a fighter!”

  Raven chimed in from her left, her voice laced with contemplation. “That’s precisely what concerns me. No human should be able to pull off what he did without Aether tech or city-issued gear. He faced you with sheer willpower and that weapon of his. He’s… an anomaly.”

  The weight of her words lingered in the air, painting a picture of uncertainty.

  As they neared the city checkpoint, two armored human guards raised their eyebrows in surprise. One stepped forward, squinting at the figure slumped across Fluffy’s back.

  “What in the—? Is that a corpse?”

  “Not exactly,” Raven replied. “We found him near Frostfang Ridge. He fought and defeated an Arctic Frostbearer. Alone.”

  The guards exchanged astonished glances but chose not to delve deeper. They swiftly waved the guild through, eager to spread the tantalizing news of strange magic now stirring within their city.

  War Rabbit Guild Hall – Infirmary Wing

  News traveled swiftly through the hallways.

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  By the time the scouts arrived at the War Rabbit Guild Hall, an air of intrigue had enveloped the place—recruits exchanged hushed speculations about a human being carried in unconscious. As they entered the infirmary, the diligent staff had already prepared a bed, anticipating the urgent situation.

  “Gently set him down,” Ripper instructed, his voice reassuringly steady.

  Fluffy knelt beside the bed, carefully placing the figure of Seven onto the soft surface. His body lay still, but a faint, rhythmic glow from a number etched into his skin—“07”—lit up like soft embers, drawing attention to the unusual mark upon his collarbone.

  The man on the cot looked nothing like the disciplined soldier they expected.

  His hair—once cropped close to the scalp—had grown uneven and heavy from weeks of snow and wind. A coarse beard shadowed his jaw, streaked with frost and grime. Beneath it, faint scars traced the lines of old discipline and survival

  Raven hovered protectively over him, her expression a mixture of concern and contemplation. “I’m still trying to figure out what kind of human we’re dealing with,” she mused, her gaze shifting from his pale face to the peculiar rifle secured beside the cot. “The sigils he activated… there’s something off about them. They glitched, like corrupted runes.”

  Ripper crossed his arms, his demeanor calm and composed. “One thing is clear: he’s not from the city. However, right now, he poses no danger.”

  At that moment, the door creaked open.

  The sound of metal clinking echoed with each step.

  Miss Hopps arrived.

  With an imposing presence clad in leather-trimmed officer armor, her fiery red braid cascaded down her back like a banner of resilience. She scanned the room, her crimson eyes locking onto Seven with an intensity that commanded attention.

  “What in the name of the heavens is going on here?” she inquired, her arms crossed defiantly.

  Ripper stepped forward, maintaining his usual composure. “We found a stray human. He single-handedly took down a Frostbearer. We brought him in for treatment.”

  Hopps raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but searching for humor. “You must be joking.”

  “I wish I were,” he replied, gesturing toward the motionless figure of Seven. “He also incapacitated two of our recruits before he collapsed.”

  Fluffy, filled with excitement, chimed in, “He almost got the best of me too! We had a little sparring session.”

  A concerned shadow crossed Hopps’s face. “That was not a spar, Fluffy. That was a desperate man fighting for survival. How hard were you hit?”

  Holding her fingers an inch apart, Fluffy beamed, “Just a tiny bruise!”

  Miss Hopps chose to focus on Seven instead. Her expression softened as she took in his injuries—the raw, sealed wound where his right arm had been, the frostbite along his side, and the deep, barely-closed scars grazing his ribs.

  “He’s healing…” she murmured, her voice tinged with concern. “But it’s not a clean process. That arm…”

  A medic approached with an update. “The stump is stable, but the surrounding muscle is rejecting mana flow. His system is struggling to adapt to our magic.”

  Another medic added, “He’s in survival mode. His body is fighting off death rather than healing.”

  With a sharp exhalation, Hopps voiced what everyone feared. “Fantastic. A patient who can’t seem to die properly.”

  Ripper let out a quiet chuckle. “At least he’s still breathing.”

  “Barely,” Raven replied, her brow furrowed. “And his magic… it’s completely different from ours. When he activated his technique, the sigils faltered, like mana was desperately trying to fit into an unfamiliar mold.”

  That insight made Hopps halt in thought. “Unstable runes?”

  “Worse,” Raven corrected. “They seem foreign, like fragmented pieces of a system we’ve never encountered.”

  After pacing once and then again, Hopps made a decisive call.

  “He stays here under observation. No visitors. No reports to the Council until we fully understand what he is.”

  Her authoritative tone resonated through the room.

  “Is that clear?”

  Her squad responded in unison, “Yes, ma’am!”

  “Fluffy, you’ll be on watch duty. If he wakes, ensure he remains calm. But remember—do not provoke him. He’s still in recovery.”

  Fluffy snapped a serious salute. “Yes, ma’am!”

  Miss Hopps tilted her head, a knowing look in her eye. “And remember, don’t flirt with him either.”

  Fluffy blinked in surprise. “Wha—why would I—who said—”

  But Hopps was already turning away, chuckling softly, “Because I know you too well.”

  Later – Empty Infirmary

  As the rest of the Guild wrapped up their tasks, Fluffy stayed behind, nestled in the corner next to Seven’s cot. The hum of the mana stabilizer filled the air, a gentle reminder of Seven's steady, albeit faint, breaths.

  His pale face and slightly cracked lips showed signs of dehydration, but the best part? He was still with us.

  Fluffy tilted her head, curiously observing him.

  “What kind of human are you, huh?” she mused, lightly tapping her chin with a gloved finger.

  In his sleep, Seven twitched, a fleeting expression of discomfort crossing his features.

  Fluffy’s ears drooped ever so slightly.

  “You’d better pull through after everything you’ve put us through…”

  With a thoughtful glance out the window, she noticed the soft snowfall dancing beyond the glass.

  Unbeknownst to the city, a storm was stirring, and at its heart lay the unconscious hero of Novastra. Let’s hope he wakes up soon—there’s so much more to fight for!