CHAPTER 109 — HELEN THE WATER MASTER

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON III

CHAPTER 109 — HELEN THE WATER MASTER

Percy sat on a ledge at the top of the Third Tower, looking toward the horizon.

His feet dangled over the empty air.

Sylvia had finished her meeting and was walking toward the tower.

“Big sis Sylvia.”

She looked up.

Percy smiled at her.

“Welcome back.”

Sylvia stopped.

“You already knew I'd arrived, from up there?”

Percy nodded.

“How did you know it was me?”

“Your scent.”

Sylvia looked at him for a few seconds.

“My scent?”

“Enriched with a blend of ambergris and oud. Custom-made.”

A faint flush rose in Sylvia's cheeks.

“Why are you here, Percy?”

Percy's smile didn't change.

“I thought you knew.”

“Knew what?”

Percy looked toward the horizon again.

“Emperor Crowley and dozens of King Monsters are about to launch a raid.”

The expression vanished from Sylvia's face.

“How do you know?”

Percy laughed.

Sylvia turned her gaze toward the same horizon.

“We need to notify the Pillars immediately.”

“First Spark of Hope is here.”

Sylvia turned back to him.

“I only see y—”

She stopped.

The others had taken their places on the ledges to either side of Percy.

Eight people.

All watching the horizon.

Sylvia's gaze returned to Percy.

“Pathfinder.”

Percy nodded.

The auras approaching from ahead sharpened.

Sylvia's shoulders tensed as she felt them.

“Crowley's coming,” Percy said.

Sylvia looked at the team.

None stepped back.

There was no fear on any of their faces.

No unease either.

Percy turned to her.

“Big sis. Under no circumstances let the mages enter the battlefield.”

Sylvia looked at him.

“You can join us if you want.”

Percy's expression changed.

Chaos Fire erupted from his eyes.

His team understood.

They rose together.

Percy looked down.

Then laughed.

“Shall we begin?”

He dropped into the open air.

His team jumped with him.

5 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS EARLIER

Percy watched the water above his palm.

The small sphere trembled slightly.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Percy focused a little harder.

The water steadied for a moment.

Then...

Splish.

It splashed into his palm.

Clara sat on the edge of the bed.

Her chin rested in her hand.

She'd been watching Percy for about half an hour.

“Four seconds.”

Percy looked at her.

“No.”

Clara's eyebrow rose.

“Four.”

“Three.”

“I counted.”

“I lived it.”

Clara fell silent for a few seconds.

“Four.”

Percy shook his head.

“Three.”

Clara narrowed her eyes.

“Fine.”

Percy opened his palm again.

Orin gathered around his fingers.

Moisture in the air drew together.

Water formed again.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Splish.

The sphere scattered again.

Percy immediately turned to Clara.

“Four.”

Clara didn't hesitate.

“Three.”

Percy stopped.

Clara looked completely serious.

Percy's lips curved.

Clara saw it.

“Don't laugh.”

Percy's shoulder shook.

“Percy.”

Percy couldn't hold it in any longer.

“HAHAHAHAHA!”

Clara's face reddened.

“WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?!”

Percy wiped the corner of his eye.

“So it was three.”

“You just said four!”

“I was wrong.”

“Percy!”

“Three.”

Clara stood.

Percy was still laughing.

“Definitely three.”

Clara's eyebrow twitched.

Then...

The air in the room changed.

Percy's laughter slowly stopped.

Darkness appeared on Clara's shoulders.

At first, it was thin.

Almost invisible.

Then it rapidly thickened.

A black aura surrounded Clara.

Her hair lifted slightly.

Percy straightened.

“Clara?”

Clara looked surprised too.

But the darkness didn't stop.

It gathered toward her palm.

A small sphere formed.

Percy's expression grew serious.

“Clara.”

The sphere shot forward.

BOOM!

Percy tried to raise his arm.

Too late.

Darkness struck his chest.

Percy was thrown into the air.

Flew several meters backward.

His back hit the wall.

CRACK!

Cracks spread across the wall.

Percy dropped to the floor.

Lay still.

The darkness vanished at the same instant.

Clara didn't move for several seconds.

Then she saw Percy.

All color drained from her face.

“...Percy?”

The door suddenly opened.

Eleanor came in.

Holar was right behind her.

Eleanor looked at the wall first.

Then at Percy.

Then at Clara.

“Clara?”

Clara didn't answer.

Eleanor frowned.

“What are you doing?”

Clara snapped out of it.

This chapter appears on NovelPhoenix under its author's publication; the text here was reproduced without consent.

Ran toward Percy.

“Percy!”

Knelt beside him.

Took his shoulder.

“Percy, wake up.”

Percy didn't move.

Clara's breathing quickened.

“I didn't do it on purpose.”

She shook his shoulder gently.

“I don't know what happened to me.”

“Percy.”

“Wake up.”

Holar joined them.

Looked at Percy's face.

A thin trickle of blood ran from his nose.

Holar bent down.

“He's unconscious.”

Clara turned to Holar.

“I know!”

Eleanor joined them too.

Looked at Clara's hands.

No trace of darkness remained.

“Clara.”

“Calm down.”

Clara looked at her.

“How can I calm down, Mom?”

She pointed at the wall.

“I threw Percy into the wall!”

Holar turned back to Percy.

Tapped his shoulder lightly.

“Percy.”

No answer.

He tapped again.

“Percy.”

Percy's eyebrow twitched.

Clara immediately leaned in.

“Percy?”

Percy opened his eyes.

Looked at the ceiling for a few seconds.

Then turned his gaze to Clara.

Clara started talking at once.

“I didn't do it on purpose.”

“The darkness just came out.”

“I didn't understand what was happening.”

“I didn't want to attack you.”

“I really didn't.”

Percy watched her for a few seconds.

Brought his hand to his nose.

Wiped away the blood with his thumb.

“Okay, Clara.”

Clara froze.

“Okay?”

Percy sat up.

“Yes.”

“Percy.”

“I knocked you out.”

Percy looked at the wall.

“The wall's worse off.”

Holar looked at the wall too.

“The wall doesn't have a Heal ability.”

Percy nodded.

“True.”

Eleanor looked at them both.

“You're discussing the wall?”

Percy stood.

Checked his balance for a moment.

Then straightened his clothes.

Clara was still looking at him.

“Percy?”

Percy turned to her.

“I'm not sulking.”

Clara's eyes widened slightly.

Percy continued.

“Really.”

“I saw that you couldn't control it.”

Clara looked down.

“Still...”

Percy touched her forehead lightly.

“Clara.”

Clara looked at him.

“I'm fine.”

Clara waited a few seconds.

Then nodded.

Percy walked toward the door.

Eleanor asked.

“Where are you going?”

“To think.”

Holar raised an eyebrow.

“Where?”

Percy stopped at the door.

Thought for a moment.

“Somewhere no one will throw me into a wall.”

Clara's face reddened.

“PERCY!”

Percy laughed.

And went out.

Evening had long since fallen.

The old Magic Academy was quiet.

Since the new system had been established...

The building hadn't been as busy as before.

Some classrooms were still in use.

Some halls were mostly empty.

Percy entered the old training hall.

Closed the door behind him.

Walked toward the center.

Then sat on the floor.

For a while, he did nothing.

He thought about Clara's darkness.

It had first appeared in 108.

But this was different.

Back then, it had only emerged.

Now it had attacked.

And...

Without Clara wanting it to.

Percy closed his eyes.

Darkness wasn't evil.

He was sure of that.

Fire could burn.

But fire wasn't evil.

Water could drown.

But water wasn't evil.

Light could kill.

But light wasn't good.

An element...

Was an element.

Good and evil lay in the user.

But Clara's darkness...

Had emerged through emotion.

Percy opened his eyes.

“Is she using her emotions?”

Silence.

Percy thought for a few seconds.

Then tilted his head.

“Or are her emotions using her?”

That was worse.

Clara had gotten angry.

The darkness had emerged.

Clara hadn't controlled it.

The darkness had amplified the attack.

Percy touched his nose.

The bleeding had stopped.

“It's strong.”

He paused for a second.

Then smiled.

“Very strong.”

He thought a little longer.

Finally exhaled.

“She'll need new training.”

He paused.

“Maybe I shouldn't be the one to tell Clara.”

Thought some more.

“No.”

“I'll tell her.”

He nodded.

“We can't run away.”

Percy reached into his pocket.

Took out a Core Enhancement Crystal.

Turned it in his palm.

The last time he'd checked his Core layers...

Had been six months earlier.

The fourth layer.

Fifty percent.

The fifth layer.

Fifty percent.

The sixth layer.

Fifty percent.

And the seventh...

Percy closed his eyes.

Focused on the crystal.

Forty-two percent.

“Here we go.”

The Orin inside the crystal stirred.

Percy didn't draw it in directly.

First, he divided the flow.

Then distributed it among the layers.

He protected the first six.

Directed the main flow to the seventh.

Minutes passed.

Forty-three percent.

Percy regulated his breathing.

An hour passed.

Two hours.

Forty-five percent.

The crystal's Orin began to dwindle.

Percy didn't speed up the flow.

He made it more precise.

Forty-six percent.

The night wore on.

The hall went completely dark.

Percy didn't move.

Forty-seven percent.

Hours passed.

The moon shifted.

Forty-eight percent.

The first light of morning arrived.

The academy's doors opened.

Percy was still sitting.

Forty-nine percent.

Students began passing through the corridor.

Two young students stopped.

Looked inside.

One whispered to the other.

“Is that Percy Grant?”

The other immediately hushed him.

“Shhh.”

“Why?”

“He's concentrating.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you talking?”

“You're talking too.”

“You started it.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

A third student came up behind them.

Looked at both.

“Both of you, be quiet.”

All three fell silent.

Then began watching.

Five minutes passed.

Three became seven.

Ten minutes passed.

Seven became fifteen.

Half an hour later...

The doorway was packed.

Percy noticed none of them.

The Orin in the crystal dwindled further.

Percy directed the last of it.

Forty-nine point nine percent.

A little more.

A little more.

Finally...

Fifty percent.

Percy opened his eyes.

There were children in front of him.

A lot of children.

Percy looked at them for a few seconds.

They looked back.

Silence.

One child raised a hand.

Percy looked at the child.

The hand went back down.

Percy's eyebrow rose.

“Good morning?”

About thirty children shouted.

“GOOD MORNING!”

Percy jumped.

“Okay.”

A voice came from the back.

“Finally.”

The students parted.

Wycliffe stood at the front.

Olsen waited beside him.

Percy looked at them both.

“What are you doing here?”

Wycliffe raised an eyebrow.

“Us?”

“Yes.”

Olsen looked around.

Then at Percy.

“This is the academy.”

Percy went quiet for a few seconds.

Then looked around.

“Right.”

Wycliffe laughed.

“What are you doing here?”

Percy stood.

Put the crystal in his pocket.

“Trying to be alone, if possible.”

Olsen looked at the students.

“You've been very successful.”

Percy looked at the children.

“The plan failed.”

The child at the front whispered to a friend.

“Is he going to kick us out?”

Percy turned.

“No.”

The child froze.

Percy narrowed his eyes.

“But work on your whispering.”

The child hid behind the friend.

Wycliffe laughed.

Olsen wasn't laughing.

She was looking at Percy's Core.

After a while...

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

“Fifty percent.”

Percy looked at her.

Olsen continued.

“All of them.”

Wycliffe's expression changed.

“Really?”

Percy nodded.

“Yes.”

Wycliffe extended his perception.

Examined Percy for a few seconds.

“The seventh too?”

“Yes.”

“What was it before?”

Percy answered.

“Forty-two percent.”

Olsen fell silent.

“When?”

“Sixteen hours ago.”

Wycliffe looked at him.

Olsen looked at him.

Percy looked at them both.

“What?”

Olsen folded her arms.

“Eight percentage points in sixteen hours.”

Percy shrugged.

“It was a good crystal.”

Olsen nodded.

“Of course.”

“The crystal did all the work.”

Percy thought.

“I did a little too.”

Wycliffe exhaled.

“A little.”

Percy looked at the students.

“Don't they have class?”

Wycliffe answered.

“They did.”

Percy turned to him.

“Did?”

“They've been watching you for the last half hour.”

Percy looked at the children.

“Why?”

None answered.

A voice came from the very back.

“We were curious.”

Percy nodded.

“Reasonable.”

Olsen approached Percy.

“Elements?”

Percy put his hands in his pockets.

“Chaos Fire is at seventy-seven percent.”

Wycliffe nodded slightly.

“Good.”

Percy continued.

“Water is at thirty-two.”

Olsen's eyebrow rose.

“Thirty-two?”

“Yes.”

“Show me.”

Percy opened his palm.

Water slowly gathered.

A small sphere formed.

One.

Two.

Three.

The sphere trembled.

Scattered in the fourth second.

Olsen watched.

“Four seconds.”

Percy answered immediately.

“Three.”

Wycliffe turned to Percy.

So did Olsen.

Percy looked at them both.

“Long story.”

Wycliffe nodded.

“I don't want to hear it.”

“I'm not telling it.”

Olsen held out her palm.

Formed a small water sphere.

It didn't tremble at all.

Percy looked at her.

Olsen spoke.

“You have thirty-two percent understanding.”

“But you're forcing the water to stay.”

Percy frowned.

“Forcing it?”

“Yes.”

“You give it shape.”

“You give it movement.”

“Then you stop it from moving.”

Percy looked at the water.

“Won't it scatter if I don't hold it?”

Olsen smiled slightly.

“There's the problem.”

Percy looked back at her.

Olsen closed her hand.

The water vanished.

“I shouldn't be the one to teach you this.”

“Why?”

“Water isn't my main element.”

Percy thought.

“My grandpa?”

“He could teach you.”

“Eleanor?”

“She could teach you.”

Olsen was silent for a few seconds.

“But there's someone better.”

Percy understood at once.

“Water?”

Olsen nodded.

Percy's eyes widened.

“Helen?”

Olsen smiled.

“You know her.”

Percy nodded.

“I do.”

Olsen shook her head.

“No.”

“You know who she is.”

“That's not the same thing.”

Wycliffe leaned against the wall.

“Helen isn't a master of the water element.”

Percy looked at him.

Wycliffe continued.

“She's a master of masters.”

Percy's gaze changed.

Olsen raised her hands.

Water formed in her left palm.

Fire in her right.

Percy watched closely.

Olsen brought her hands together.

Percy expected the fire to go out.

But it didn't.

The water wound around the fire.

The fire didn't break the water apart.

The two elements rotated together.

Percy stepped a little closer.

“They aren't suppressing each other.”

Olsen nodded.

“They don't have to.”

“Elemental harmony.”

Percy repeated it quietly.

“Elemental harmony.”

Olsen separated the two elements.

“First, you learn the element.”

“Then its relationship with the others.”

“Two-element harmonies.”

Water and fire joined.

“Three-element harmonies.”

A third layer of energy formed.

“Then more.”

Percy watched closely.

Olsen looked at him.

“And finally...”

“The six elements you've chosen.”

Percy's eyes widened slightly.

“Harmony between all six.”

“Yes.”

Wycliffe spoke immediately.

“Don't try it today.”

Percy turned to him.

“Why did you specifically say that?”

Wycliffe didn't hesitate.

“Because I know you.”

Percy went quiet.

Wycliffe looked at Olsen.

“See?”

Olsen nodded.

“He really was thinking about it.”

Percy sighed.

“Is thinking forbidden?”

Wycliffe answered.

“It's risky when you do it.”

A student laughed.

Percy turned his head.

The child fell silent at once.

Percy looked back at Olsen.

“What can Helen do?”

Olsen's expression grew serious.

“You're trying to make a sphere.”

“Helen doesn't need a sphere.”

Percy grew quiet.

Olsen continued.

“She can use the O2 in the air.”

“Spread water everywhere.”

“Cover the entire battlefield.”

Percy's eyes lit up.

“Then lightning.”

Olsen smiled slightly.

“Then lightning.”

Wycliffe nodded.

“That's when you stay away.”

Percy began thinking.

“If water is everywhere...”

“Conduction is everywhere too.”

Olsen nodded.

“Yes.”

“She leaves no escape route.”

“Not if she doesn't want to.”

Percy looked at the water again.

“Water's different from what I thought.”

Olsen smiled.

“Water isn't simple.”

Percy lifted his head.

“I'll ask her.”

Olsen's smile changed.

“I can't guarantee she'll help.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“Why wouldn't she?”

Wycliffe and Olsen went quiet.

Percy looked at them both.

“What?”

Olsen asked.

“How many times have you talked to Helen?”

Percy thought.

“How many times?”

“A long conversation.”

Percy thought again.

“Never.”

Olsen nodded.

“There you go.”

Percy frowned.

“What kind of reason is that?”

Wycliffe answered.

“A very good one.”

“She's my grandpa's old teammate.”

Olsen nodded.

“That doesn't mean she'll help you.”

“She's a Pillar.”

“Neither does that.”

“She knows me.”

Wycliffe cut in.

“That part might work against you.”

Percy fell silent for a few seconds.

“What shape is my reputation in?”

Olsen shrugged.

“Mixed.”

Wycliffe corrected her.

“Very mixed.”

A child raised a hand.

Percy looked over.

The child spoke hesitantly.

“I like you.”

Percy smiled at once.

“See?”

Wycliffe looked at the child.

“You don't know him yet.”

The child slowly lowered the hand.

Percy turned to Wycliffe.

“Why are you crushing the kid's dream?”

“I'm preparing them.”

“For what?”

Wycliffe pointed at Percy.

“For you.”

Olsen suppressed a laugh.

Percy stared for a few seconds.

Then walked toward the door.

Wycliffe called after him.

“Where are you going?”

“To Helen.”

Olsen called.

“Now?”

Percy didn't turn around.

“The water lasts four seconds.”

His voice came from the corridor.

“I can't waste time.”

Olsen looked at Wycliffe.

Wycliffe nodded.

“He meant three.”

Olsen laughed.

The Left Tower was visible in the distance.

Percy walked toward its entrance.

The two mages at the door saw him.

One straightened.

“Percy Grant?”

Percy nodded.

“Yes.”

“Looking for Pillar Helen?”

Percy stopped.

“How did you know?”

The man went quiet for a few seconds.

“Why else would you come here?”

Percy thought.

“Fair point.”

The other mage opened the door.

“She's in the upper training hall.”

“Thank you.”

Percy went inside.

Began climbing the stairs.

First floor.

Second floor.

Third floor.

Fourth floor.

Percy stopped.

Looked up.

“Why a tower?”

No one answered.

Percy kept going.

At last, he reached the training hall.

The door was open.

Percy looked inside.

Helen stood in the center.

Hundreds of water droplets surrounded her.

But none fell.

Some spun rapidly.

Some were perfectly still.

Some had become thin threads.

Others spread through the air.

Helen turned her hand slightly.

Every droplet changed direction.

Percy stopped in the doorway.

Watched for a while.

Helen spoke without looking at him.

“You can come in.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“You knew I was here?”

“There are two people at the door.”

“Right.”

Percy entered.

Helen lowered her hand.

All the water vanished at once.

Percy looked around.

“Nice.”

Helen turned to him.

“What do you want?”

Percy answered directly.

“Teach me water.”

Helen didn't hesitate.

“No.”

Percy fell silent.

One second.

Two.

“I haven't explained yet.”

“No need.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

Helen set her staff aside.

“You're Holar's grandson.”

Percy thought for a few seconds.

“Was that an insult?”

“A diagnosis.”

Percy's lips curved.

“What did my grandpa do?”

Helen looked at him.

“What didn't he do?”

Percy laughed.

Helen didn't.

Percy stopped laughing.

“You're serious.”

“Very.”

Percy opened his palm.

Began forming water.

Helen watched.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Splish.

The water scattered.

Helen said nothing for several seconds.

“What was that?”

Percy answered.

“Water.”

Helen looked at him.

Percy looked at his hand.

“I think.”

Helen came closer.

“Understanding?”

“Thirty-two percent.”

Helen stopped.

Looked at his hand again.

“Thirty-two percent?”

“Yes.”

Helen went quiet for a few seconds.

Then covered her face.

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

Helen lowered her hand.

“That isn't water.”

Percy looked at the water.

“What?”

Helen answered seriously.

“It's moisture held hostage.”

Percy was silent for a few seconds.

Then laughed.

“Moisture held hostage?”

“Yes.”

“Isn't that a little harsh?”

“No.”

Percy formed water again.

Helen raised her hand.

“Stop.”

Percy stopped.

Helen looked at the water.

“You're trying to hold it.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Percy looked at her.

“So it won't scatter.”

Helen shook her head.

“Wrong.”

Percy's smile vanished.

“What's wrong?”

Helen came to his side.

Opened her palm.

A single drop of water formed.

It didn't stay in her palm.

It wandered between her fingers.

Climbed to her wrist.

Traveled along her arm.

Then rose into the air.

Helen wasn't holding anything.

The water moved on its own.

“You don't hold water.”

Percy watched closely.

Helen continued.

“You give it a path.”

Percy's eyes narrowed slightly.

Helen sent the drop to him.

It landed in Percy's palm.

Percy didn't try to hold it.

The drop immediately slipped.

Fell to the floor.

Splish.

Percy looked down.

Helen folded her arms.

“Terrible.”

Percy lifted his head.

“It was my first try.”

“A terrible first try.”

Percy looked at her.

Helen looked at him.

Several seconds of silence.

Percy smiled.

“So you are going to teach me.”

Helen's eyebrow rose.

“What gave you that idea?”

“You've started correcting me.”

Helen went quiet.

Percy's smile grew.

Helen closed her eyes.

Took a deep breath.

“You really are Holar's grandson.”

Percy nodded.

“Thank you.”

“That wasn't a compliment.”

“I took it as one.”

Helen exhaled again.

Then took her staff.

“Tomorrow.”

Percy's eyes lit up.

“What time?”

“Four in the morning.”

Percy fell silent for a moment.

“Four?”

Helen looked at him.

“Three.”

Percy froze.

The corner of Helen's mouth curved.

Percy narrowed his eyes.

“Did Olsen tell you that?”

Helen turned away.

“See you tomorrow.”

Percy walked toward the door.

Stopped just before leaving.

Looked back.

Helen had formed the water again.

Hundreds of droplets...

Spread throughout the hall.

Percy watched for a few seconds.

Then smiled.

“Not three.”

Helen didn't look at him.

“Out.”

Percy laughed.

Closed the door.

Helen was alone.

She looked at the door for a while.

Then shook her head.

“Four seconds.”

The water droplets trembled.

Helen smiled faintly.

“That boy really is interesting.”

A voice came from the other side of the door.

“I HEARD THAT!”

Helen's smile vanished.

“PERCY!”

Laughter rose from the corridor.

And Percy started running.