Chapter 38 – Instinct

  Infirmary Wing – Nightfall

  Frostveil 9, 200

  As night gracefully draped itself over Novastra, the city transformed into a stunning canvas, where the soft glow of moonlight danced with the gentle sea breeze. The warm reflections shimmered across the rivers and highlighted the beautifully crafted rooftops, bringing to life the ancient stone bridges that wove through the districts like threads in a magnificent tapestry.

  Inside the War Rabbit Guild’s infirmary, the atmosphere was calm and serene, with cozy lights casting a warm ambiance.

  Then, unexpectedly, a sound broke the stillness.

  “Mmnh... Saya...”

  The whisper was soft and barely there.

  Fluffy, comfortably perched on her stool with her legs draped over the side, blinked in surprise. A half-eaten cracker hung from her mouth, and her little bunny tail gave a playful twitch.

  With her ears perked up in curiosity, she teased, “Oh? Dreaming about me already, mystery boy?”

  She chuckled warmly, popping the cracker into her mouth. “You know, for someone who picked a fight with five War Rabbits, you sure love your naps!”

  Leaning in just a bit closer, she noticed his brow flicker.

  Suddenly, his fingers stirred, and his eye flew open with alarm.

  For a heartbeat, he didn’t recognize her face, merely sensing danger.

  In an instant, a brilliant turquoise light flared through his veins, revealing his instinctive reaction.

  Fight or flight? He chose to take flight.

  Infirmary Hall – Chaos Unleashed

  Seven jolted awake with a startled gasp, sending the sterile blanket tumbling to the floor. He felt the bandages around his torso shift as he instinctively braced himself, rolling off the bed and landing in a defensive crouch.

  Fluffy shot upright, barely managing to avoid choking on her cracker.

  “Whoa—easy there, champ!” she exclaimed, a playful laugh escaping her lips. “No one’s here to munch on you—hopefully!”

  The joke fell a bit flat, but Fluffy stayed cheerful, trying to lighten the mood.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Seven didn’t respond, but his left hand twitched as a flicker of mana danced along his fingertips. It wasn’t enough to cast a spell, yet it sparked a surge of strength within him. He feinted toward Fluffy, gauging her reaction—

  Then he took off.

  “WAIT—WHAT?!”

  With a rush, Seven barreled through the door and into the corridor, his bare feet hitting the ground as he raced away, still wrapped in bandages and leaving a trail of blood behind him.

  Main Guild Hall – A Heartbeat Later

  Chaos erupted.

  Scouts, recruits, and staff all sprang from their seats, eyes wide as Seven rushed past, darting down the stone-floored hallway like a swift shadow in the moonlight. He searched desperately for exits, hallways, anything that could provide an escape.

  A senior scout shouted, “He’s up! HE’S UP!”

  Another voice called out, “He’s loose—don’t let him reach the stairwell!”

  Fluffy dashed around a corner, her feet sliding as she raced after him.

  “SEVEN! You idiot, slow down! You’re literally still bleeding!!”

  But he was moving like a whirlwind. One-armed, wrapped in linen, and utterly exhausted—but oh so fast.

  Too fast.

  The hallway blurred before him. His breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, and every step sent jolts of pain through him—but he didn’t stop.

  A sense of distrust nagged at him.

  He didn’t trust this place.

  Didn’t trust the soldiers. The polished floors. The intricate carvings on the walls.

  He didn’t trust the eyes that were watching him.

  No one.

  Command Hall – A Place of Rising Action

  The main command hall ignited with urgency. Doors flung open, and voices quickly rose in concern as Miss Hopps bounded down the staircase, taking two steps at a time with her long red cloak billowing behind her.

  Ripper followed, a calm presence amidst the chaos, clearly not surprised.

  “What on earth is happening now?” Hopps’s voice was sharp and determined, cutting through the atmosphere like tempered steel.

  Ripper replied with a grunt, “He woke up.”

  Hopps rolled her eyes, frustration flickering beneath the surface. “No kidding.”

  A startled shout echoed from a nearby scout as Seven vaulted over a table, sliding under a swinging banner before coming to a halt at the far end of the grand hall.

  He looked wild.

  Cornered.

  Desperate.

  Their eyes met, and in that moment, everything around them fell silent.

  With a steady determination, Hopps took a step forward—arms crossed, chin held high. She wasn’t drawing a weapon or shouting.

  She was simply being there.

  “You’re injured. Exhausted. Surrounded,” she said, her tone calm yet unwavering. “Fighting us would be a mistake.”

  Seven remained silent, yet he could feel his legs shifting beneath him. A faint aura flared again; he was preparing for another surge of strength.

  But Hopps didn’t pause.

  In a heartbeat, she moved—quicker than the eye could track.

  A flash of red and wind—

  CRACK.

  A swift strike to his collar. Not lethal. Not harsh.

  Absolutely precise.

  Seven’s aura flickered and sputtered.

  His legs gave way beneath him.

  He collapsed.

  Knees then chest. Face down against the cold stone floor.

  Silence – The Eye of the Storm

  The room fell silent in an instant.

  Fluffy skidded to a stop next to him, breathless and alert.

  Miss Hopps knelt beside Seven, gently checking his pulse.

  It was steady yet faint, pulsing rapidly.

  “He’s still channeling mana even while unconscious,” she murmured.

  Just then, a medic hurried forward.

  “Should we restrain him, Guildmaster?”

  Without looking up, Hopps replied firmly, “Yes. Secure him with gentle binds. We need to ensure he remains stable.”

  Rising slowly, her gaze swept over the concerned faces in the room.

  In a calm yet authoritative tone, she continued, “This information stays within these walls.”

  “He’s not a prisoner,” she affirmed.

  “He’s not a weapon,” she clarified.

  “He is... a mystery,” she added thoughtfully.

  Ripper stepped closer to her. “If the Council finds out, they’ll label us reckless.”

  “They might want to detain him or even dissect him,” Hopps said quietly. “Either way, we won’t uncover his true nature before it’s too late.”

  Gently, she brushed a few damp strands of hair from Seven’s forehead.

  “Let’s set up an isolation room in the lower quarters. No visible weapons and no signs of hostility.”

  “He’s not our enemy. Not yet,” she reminded everyone.

  Turning her attention to Fluffy, who was still catching her breath, she stated, “You’re still his observer.”

  Fluffy blinked and nodded. “Y-Yes ma’am! But... he’s incredibly fast for a human.”

  Hopps fixed her with an encouraging look. “So are you.”

  With renewed determination, Fluffy straightened, a smile spreading across her face. “Right! No more distractions on duty!”

  Ripper clapped his hands decisively. “You heard her! Secure him, then clear the hall!”

  As the scouts moved to re-establish order in the guild, Miss Hopps took a moment to observe the boy—no, the anomaly—who had just challenged everything she believed about her command.

  Softly, she whispered, “Welcome to Novastra, soldier. Let’s see what you can truly do.”