Seventy Seventh Seven

"Sister…"

Oozing from the frost-covered staircase, cold air creeped into the room. As Seven stared at Eden below, the grip of his fingers on the necklace tightened. She was the one who gave that to him, and the pendant seemed to react to her presence.

His body shivered, unsure whether it was from the icy cold air or the sheer presence of his sister waiting below.

"What… is she doing here?"

Eden Hart wasn't supposed to be here.

Based on the original timeline, her return was set after the first season—each season with fifty-two days. Yet, here she stood on the training grounds, barely a week after leaving for the North.

Even the journey back should've taken longer.

But it wasn't just the sudden return—her magic. It was the flawless staircase, and the way the ice melted to her will. Just the sheer mastery required for them sent a chill down his spine.

A prodigy among prodigies, and a genius among geniuses. 

Step.

With a shaky step, the crunch of ice beneath his foot broke the suffocating silence. 

Step.

The cold air bit harder against his skin, and the remnants of the magic circle still flickered against Eden's wrist as five bracelet-like rings circled them. 

"She broke through the fourth gate…?"

Five aura gates. One level below the Archduke. And with her age, just her swordsmanship alone would be hailed not just in the seventh continent, but across seven of them. But then again, she also had magic.

But before he could think further, a familiar ding echoed in his mind.

Ding!

[Anomaly Detected.]

[The character, Eden Hart, underwent a drastic deviation from the original storyline. A revision is required.]

[Revising…]

[Replacing the original storyline…]

[Revision complete.]

[You have obtained 7777 Narrative Points.]

The system window floated before his eyes, a knot tightening in the pit of his stomach. Eden's change was inevitable since he's alive, but not in this way—not like this.

Swipe.

A sharp motion of fingers dismissed the window, only for another to materialize instantly.

Ding!

[Anomaly Detected.]

[The Character, Eden Hart, has—]

[Anomaly Detected.]

Another window flashed. Then another. And another. A total of seven. They all displayed the same thing:

[Anomaly Detected.]

[Anomaly Detected.]

[Anomaly Detected.]

The notifications came faster and faster, overlapping in a flood of messages. Seven staggered, nearly losing his balance on the icy staircase. 

"Hah… Hah…"

His breath came in sharp gasps as he tried to keep his balance.

[Total Narrative Points: 101,101.]

The number flashed in bold, and his chest tightened. 

"What the hell is going on?!"

Step.

Again, his legs wobbled. But the sharp crunch of ice beneath his feet forced his legs to take another step. The cold bit through his boots. 

Step.

With every step down, the air seemed to thicken. By the time he reached the bottom, the air was dense with frost, and his breath curled like smoke in the cold. 

"Hah…"

Eden still stood motionless, her sword hanging loosely at her side. The faint glow of a magic circle still lingered around her free hand.

"Sister…" 

Eden's gaze flicked to him with a calm expression.

"You're still hesitating. I told you to stop that." 

He swallowed his saliva, as he brushed his fingers against the necklace at his throat. 

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd stay in the North for weeks."

"And who decided that?"

"What?"

Eden tilted her head slightly and narrowed her eyes.

"Who decided when I should return? Was it you? Was it father? Was it…"

Eden looked at the distance, and Seven's heart skipped a beat. He understood what she meant through the way she spoke and the way she looked at him.

Ciae Arventis. 

The original protagonist. He's the only one capable of inducing fear even to those prodigies—Eden included.

"This isn't like you. You're not supposed to—"

"'Supposed to?'" 

Eden interrupted. She raised her free hand and the magic circle flared to life again. The temperature plummeted, and frost crept along the ground like an advancing tide. 

"Tell me, Seven. What do you think this world is?"

He froze, his breath heavy as frost crept along the edge of Eden's sword.

His lips parted, but no sound came. He struggled to grasp her words, to find meaning in the question that felt as cold as her magic and sword.

"Seven."

"I don't understand, sister. What are you talking—"

Swish.

Eden swung her sword in a clean downward arc. He raised his sword to block, but the force of her strike buckled his arms, and his knees hit the ice.

Her lips curled into a faint smile even if it held no warmth.

"Prove yourself."

"Again?"

Eden didn't reply. Instead, she slashed at his legs. He jumped back but lost his footing on the slick ice, falling hard onto his side.

Before he could scramble to his feet, Eden's sword was already descending. He lifted his sword to block, but the impact sent his weapon flying from his hands, clattering several feet away.

Eden paused, tilting her head slightly as if expecting him to retrieve it. 

He crawled toward his sword, but frost spread across the ground and encased the weapon in ice before he could reach it.

"Enough running." 

Eden stepped closer and thrusted her sword toward his shoulder. He rolled again, barely avoiding the strike, but the edge of the sword nicked his arm, drawing blood. 

"Hah…"

He clutched the wound.

Eden didn't give him a moment to recover. She kicked him in the chest, sending him sprawling onto his back.

He tried to sit up, but she was already there, pressing the tip of her sword to his throat.

"Pathetic."

He froze, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

"I thought you've improved by now."

Eden glanced over her shoulder, She raised her free hand and a swirl of frost formed around her fingers. The ice coiled and stretched, rushed toward his sword that was sent away.

The sword was encased in ice as it floated off the ground. With a flick of her wrist, the frost scattered and the sword landed at Seven's feet.

"Pick it up."

He hesitated as he stared at the weapon.

"I won't ask again. Pick. It. Up."

Reluctantly, he grabbed the hilt. His fingers trembled slightly as the cold steel stung his palm.

"Good."

Eden raised her sword once more. 

"Now, fight. Properly."