CHAPTER 111 — NOT FINISHED YET

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON III

CHAPTER 111 — NOT FINISHED YET

Percy lifted his head.

"Let's do it."

Eleanor smiled.

Percy smiled too.

A second passed.

Eleanor's smile didn't disappear.

Percy's faltered.

"What?"

Eleanor:

"What do you mean, what?"

Percy narrowed his eyes.

"You're looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you're not finished."

Eleanor was silent for several seconds.

Then...

"I'm not."

Everyone in the room answered together:

"WHAT?"

Percy's face fell completely.

Arthur burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Percy looked at him.

Arthur stopped immediately.

"I'm sorry."

One second.

"No, I'm not."

Percy:

"Arthur."

Arthur covered his mouth.

Eleanor approached Percy.

"What I just told you..."

"Were your final goals."

Percy relaxed.

"Okay."

"But..."

Percy's face fell again.

Clara brought a hand to her mouth.

Trying not to laugh.

Percy looked at her.

"You too?"

Clara:

"I didn't do anything."

"Your lips are doing it."

Clara pressed her lips inward.

Eleanor continued.

"Those are your power goals."

Percy's expression grew serious.

Eleanor tilted her head slightly.

"I'm also going to give you..."

"Combat goals."

William suddenly produced a pen.

Percy looked at him.

"Why are you writing?"

William:

"At this point..."

"Keeping records feels safer."

Marcus nodded.

"Reasonable."

Arthur:

"Don't encourage him."

Eleanor stopped in front of Percy.

"First additional assignment."

Percy took a deep breath.

"I'm listening."

"For the first three months..."

"You won't use Master of Probability."

Silence.

Percy's eyebrow rose.

William stopped writing.

Clara looked straight at Eleanor.

Holar smiled slightly.

Percy:

"Mom."

"Yes?"

"That's my ability."

"I know."

"I developed it."

"I know."

"It works."

"I know."

Percy was silent for several seconds.

"Why am I not using it?"

Eleanor didn't answer.

Percy waited.

Eleanor finally spoke.

"Because..."

"You can see probability now."

"That's good."

Percy nodded.

"But sometimes..."

"You need to decide without seeing."

Percy's expression shifted slightly.

Eleanor continued.

"In a battle..."

"You can't see every answer in advance."

"Not every person..."

"Can be reduced to a possibility."

Percy listened quietly.

"For three months..."

"You'll make the decision."

"Not probability."

Percy:

"What if I really need it?"

Eleanor:

"Use it if someone's life is in danger."

"Otherwise..."

"No."

Percy thought for several seconds.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

Arthur leaned slightly toward William.

"This is really bad."

William:

"For Percy?"

Arthur:

"For us."

William looked at him.

Arthur whispered.

"He'll use us to practice making decisions."

Percy:

"I can hear you."

Arthur:

"This house is too quiet."

Marcus:

"You're too loud."

Arthur:

"Marcus."

Marcus:

"Fact."

Eleanor raised her second finger.

"Second additional assignment."

Percy closed his eyes.

"Go on."

"Every month..."

"You'll choose a mission."

Percy opened his eyes.

"What kind of mission?"

Eleanor's voice grew calmer.

"Not a killing mission."

Percy listened intently.

"Rescue."

"Evacuation."

"Protection."

"Escort."

"Killing monsters..."

"Will be the secondary objective."

Percy's face grew serious.

Eleanor continued.

"The primary objective..."

"Is bringing people home."

Percy said nothing for a while.

Clara looked at him.

So did Arthur.

Charlotte's face softened.

Eleanor:

"And..."

"If even one person dies..."

"The mission fails."

Percy frowned slightly.

"Even one?"

"Yes."

"Things outside my control?"

Eleanor:

"There will be some."

"That's why it's hard."

Percy stayed silent.

Eleanor didn't take her eyes off him.

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"You can't control everything."

"But..."

"You can't say it's beyond your control..."

"And turn people into numbers, either."

Percy's gaze changed.

Nathaniel.

Ethan.

Daniel.

Lucas.

Sophia.

For a moment...

They all passed through his mind.

Percy took a deep breath.

"Okay."

Eleanor nodded.

"Third additional assignment."

Percy's head lifted.

"Third?"

Arthur started laughing again.

Percy looked at him.

Arthur gestured for them to continue.

"Pretend I'm not here."

"Carry on."

Percy:

"You have assignments too."

Arthur's laughter stopped.

"True."

Eleanor spoke.

"After every mission..."

"You'll write a report."

Percy's expression didn't change.

"Okay."

"But..."

Percy:

"Of course."

Eleanor continued.

"Not about what you did."

"About what you felt."

Percy's expression changed.

Clara slowly smiled.

Holar's lips curved.

Percy:

"Mom."

Eleanor:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"This is punishment."

"No."

"Definitely punishment."

"No."

"I write reports."

Eleanor:

"I know."

"You write tactics."

"You write times."

"You write distances."

"How many people."

Percy went quiet.

Eleanor continued.

"But..."

"You don't write what frightened you."

Percy's gaze slipped away.

Clara saw it.

"When you got angry..."

"When you wanted to run..."

"When you wanted to die..."

The room fell silent.

Percy looked at Eleanor.

Eleanor wasn't smiling at all.

"You'll write those too."

Percy said nothing for a long time.

Then...

"Okay."

Clara took his hand.

Percy looked at her.

Clara said nothing.

Only squeezed his hand.

Percy squeezed back.

Eleanor stepped back.

"For now..."

"That's all."

Percy's eyebrow rose.

"For now?"

Eleanor smiled.

Percy:

"I don't like those words."

Clara:

"I do."

Percy turned to her.

Clara:

"For now."

Percy's eye twitched.

Arthur started laughing.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Percy turned to Arthur.

"You're too happy."

Arthur:

"For once, I'm not the target."

Percy stared for several seconds.

Then...

Smiled.

Arthur stopped laughing.

"No."

Percy:

"What?"

Arthur:

"I know that face."

William looked at Percy.

Then at Arthur.

"So do I."

Charlotte:

"Me too."

Marcus:

"You're too late."

Percy slowly stood.

The team looked at him.

Percy clasped his hands behind his back.

"I'm making an adjustment."

William's eyes closed.

"Here we go."

Arthur:

"No."

Percy ignored them.

"The Advanced Nine target..."

"Is canceled."

Silence.

Charlotte's face lit up.

"Really?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Arthur raised both hands.

"THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"

William took a deep breath.

Clara looked at Percy.

Saw the smile on his face.

Clara's face fell.

"Percy."

Percy:

"Hm?"

Clara:

"There's more."

Percy:

"Of course."

Arthur's hands stayed in the air.

Percy continued.

"Not Advanced Nine."

He paused for a second.

"Advanced Twelve."

Complete silence.

Arthur's hands slowly lowered.

Charlotte looked at Percy.

William's glasses slipped slightly.

Even Marcus turned his head.

Clara:

"Twelve?"

Percy nodded.

"Yes."

Arthur:

"You..."

Percy:

"Yes?"

Arthur:

"You're a bad person."

Percy:

"Thank you."

Arthur:

"That wasn't a compliment."

Percy:

"I took it as one."

William immediately began calculating.

"One year."

"Six months of training."

"The last six months for missions."

"Advanced Twelve."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Fifty percent Core."

"Yes."

"One hundred percent element."

"Yes."

"Two combined abilities."

"Yes."

William took off his glasses.

Set them on the table.

Then looked at Percy.

"You hate us."

Percy:

"No."

Marcus:

"I think he loves us."

Arthur looked at Marcus.

Marcus continued.

"That's worse."

Arthur:

"EXACTLY."

Charlotte laughed.

Percy raised his hands.

"There's a reason."

Clara:

"We're listening."

Percy grew a little more serious.

"I..."

"Am aiming for Awakened Two."

The team fell silent.

Percy continued.

"As I move forward..."

"You can't fall behind."

Arthur:

"You could slow down."

Percy:

"No."

Arthur:

"Worth a try."

Percy:

"Failed."

William nodded.

"Expected outcome."

Percy continued.

"Advanced Nine..."

"Looked sufficient."

"It doesn't anymore."

Charlotte:

"Why?"

Percy looked at them.

"Because..."

"In the next battle..."

"I don't want to be out in front alone."

The room fell silent.

Arthur's face grew serious.

Percy continued.

"If I rise..."

"You rise too."

"There won't be a gap between us."

"If one of you falls behind..."

"We all slow down."

Marcus:

"True."

Arthur looked at Marcus.

"You..."

"Help us for once."

Marcus:

"I am helping."

Arthur:

"How?"

Marcus:

"By telling the truth."

Arthur:

"It's not working."

Percy smiled.

"Advanced Twelve."

"That's the new target."

Clara nodded.

"Okay."

Arthur turned to her.

"Why are you so calm about this?"

Clara:

"I know Percy."

Arthur:

"So do I."

Clara:

"Not well enough."

Arthur went quiet.

"That was harsh."

Charlotte touched his shoulder.

"Stone Man."

Arthur:

"Not now."

Percy raised a finger.

"And..."

Arthur answered immediately:

"No."

Percy stopped.

"What?"

Arthur:

"Don't add another thing."

Percy:

"Two things."

Arthur's face went blank.

William:

"Of course."

Charlotte:

"I'm going home."

Percy:

"You're already home."

Charlotte looked around.

"Right."

Marcus:

"You can't escape."

Charlotte looked at him.

"Why have you become like this?"

Marcus:

"I've always been like this."

Percy tried not to laugh.

"Seventh assignment."

William picked up his pen again.

Arthur looked at him.

"Why are you writing?"

William:

"We'll need it in court."

Percy:

"William."

William:

"Go on."

Percy grew serious.

"Ten missions."

"With temporary teams."

Arthur:

"We're already doing those for points."

Percy:

"As the leader."

Silence.

William's pen stopped.

Charlotte:

"Each of us?"

"Each of you."

Arthur:

"I'm not a leader."

Percy:

"You will be."

Arthur:

"I don't want to."

Percy:

"I don't care."

Arthur:

"Where's democracy?"

Percy:

"On another team."

Clara burst out laughing.

Percy continued.

"Your team..."

"At least five people."

"None of us."

Clara's laughter stopped.

"Me too?"

Percy looked at her.

"You too."

Clara:

"You won't be there?"

"No."

Clara was quiet for several seconds.

Then nodded.

"Okay."

Percy continued.

"You can't use the same people..."

"For more than two missions."

William's eyebrow rose.

"Adaptation."

Percy nodded.

"Yes."

"Every time..."

"You'll read new people."

"Their strengths."

"Their fears."

"Their mistakes."

"Who'll run."

"Who'll charge ahead."

Charlotte:

"And zero casualties?"

Percy looked at her.

"Zero."

The room grew quieter.

Percy continued.

"If one person dies..."

"The mission won't count."

Arthur's face grew serious.

"This..."

"Is harder than the monster count."

Percy:

"I know."

William slowly nodded.

"Good assignment."

Arthur looked at him.

William:

"What?"

Arthur:

"Pick a side."

William:

"The survivors'."

Marcus:

"The right side."

Arthur threw his hands up.

"I'm alone."

Charlotte:

"You have me."

Arthur looked at her hopefully.

Charlotte:

"But Percy's right."

Arthur's face crumpled.

"I'm alone."

As though he had no eighth finger...

Percy raised his hand once more.

Arthur looked at him.

"You're out of fingers."

Percy:

"That's not a problem."

Arthur:

"It is for me."

Percy smiled.

"Eighth assignment."

Marcus leaned forward a little.

Percy continued.

"Three missions."

"Alone."

Arthur:

"Again?"

Percy:

"Again."

"For each mission..."

"A restriction will be chosen."

William:

"What kind of restriction?"

Percy looked at them.

"Your mentor will choose."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

Percy continued.

"It could be an Orin limit."

"An element restriction."

"A weapon restriction."

"One of your abilities could be disabled."

Arthur's expression changed.

"They can't disable my shield."

Percy:

"Maybe."

Arthur:

"Percy."

Percy:

"I'm not choosing."

Arthur looked at Eleanor.

Eleanor smiled.

Arthur immediately turned back to Percy.

"You choose."

The room erupted in laughter.

Percy continued.

"The point..."

"Is to see what you do..."

"When your strongest tool is gone."

William began thinking.

"So..."

"Pushing the weak side."

Percy:

"Yes."

Charlotte:

"What if my Heal is disabled?"

Percy looked at her.

"You'll find out what you are..."

"When you're not a healer."

Charlotte was quiet for several seconds.

Then smiled slightly.

"Okay."

Arthur looked at her.

"You too?"

Charlotte:

"Now I'm curious."

Arthur:

"You're all crazy."

Marcus:

"You're here too."

Arthur:

"Against my will."

Percy:

"True."

Arthur turned to Percy.

"At least you admit it."

Percy clapped his hands.

"New list."

William immediately began writing.

Percy listed them.

"Advanced Twelve."

"All previous Core layers..."

"Fifty percent."

"Main element..."

"One hundred percent."

"Except Clara's darkness."

"Two combined abilities."

"Six thousand five hundred monsters."

"Two million contribution points."

"Five Halmea."

"Ten solo missions."

"Ten leadership missions."

"Three restricted solo missions."

"And all the reports."

William stopped writing.

Looked at the page.

Then at Percy.

"This list..."

"Is it for a human being?"

Percy:

"Five human beings."

Marcus:

"Six."

Percy looked at him.

Marcus:

"You're included."

Percy smiled.

"True."

Arthur:

"No."

"His list is different."

Charlotte:

"His is hell."

Clara:

"So is ours."

Arthur:

"His is special hell."

Holar folded his arms.

"It hasn't started yet."

Percy slowly turned to him.

"What do you mean?"

Holar:

"I've given my assignments."

Percy relaxed.

Holar pointed at Eleanor.

"But your mother..."

Percy's face fell again.

Eleanor smiled.

"I didn't say I was finished."

Percy:

"Mom."

Eleanor:

"Yes, son?"

Percy was silent for several seconds.

"You can't make me do everything..."

"Just by calling me son."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

"Seems like I can."

Clara burst out laughing.

Percy looked at Clara.

"You're not helping."

Clara:

"You're both so sweet."

Percy:

"I'm suffering."

Clara:

"You're suffering very sweetly."

Percy:

"That's a horrible sentence."

Eleanor approached Percy.

"One more assignment."

Percy closed his eyes.

"Of course."

Eleanor:

"Every month..."

"With Holar or me..."

"You'll do an escape drill."

Percy opened his eyes.

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"Me too?"

Eleanor:

"Yes."

Holar:

"Why didn't you ask me?"

Eleanor:

"Would you say no?"

Holar thought.

"No."

Eleanor:

"Then there's no problem."

Holar:

"Reasonable."

Percy looked at them both.

"Do I get a say?"

Eleanor and Holar answered together:

"No."

Arthur burst out laughing.

Percy looked at him.

Arthur:

"This is beautiful."

Eleanor continued.

"The goal..."

"Isn't to beat us."

Percy:

"Thank goodness."

Holar:

"You couldn't anyway."

Percy:

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"Fact."

Percy:

"I want support."

Holar:

"Should I lie?"

Percy:

"A little."

Eleanor spoke.

"Ten minutes."

Percy listened intently.

"For ten minutes..."

"You won't strike us."

Percy's eyebrow rose.

"You'll only run."

Arthur:

"That's easy."

Holar looked at Arthur.

Arthur fell silent.

"I have a feeling it isn't."

Eleanor continued.

"Every month..."

"The rule will change."

"One month, magic is allowed."

"One month, no magic."

"One month, your perception is disabled."

Percy:

"What?"

Eleanor didn't pause.

"One month, a single element."

"One month, physical movement only."

Percy's face...

Fell a little further with every sentence.

Charlotte looked at Percy.

"Are you okay?"

Percy:

"No."

Marcus:

"It hasn't started yet."

Percy:

"I know, Marcus."

Marcus:

"Just reminding you."

Percy:

"Thank you."

Eleanor continued.

"Last ten minutes..."

"And you pass."

Percy:

"What if I can't?"

Eleanor smiled.

"Again."

Percy:

"The same day?"

"No."

Percy relaxed.

"The next morning."

Percy's relief vanished.

Arthur:

"HAHAHAHA!"

Percy:

"You've laughed a lot."

Arthur:

"I'm happy."

Percy:

"You won't be in a minute."

Arthur went quiet.

Eleanor waited a moment.

Then spoke.

"And the last one."

Percy looked at her suspiciously.

"The actual last one?"

"The actual last one."

Holar:

"I'm a witness."

Percy took a deep breath.

"Okay."

Eleanor's face grew serious.

"At the end of the year..."

Percy listened closely.

"You'll face your team."

The room fell silent.

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

William stopped writing.

Clara looked at Eleanor.

Percy:

"How?"

Eleanor continued.

"The five of them..."

"Against you."

Percy's expression changed.

"Perfect Match?"

Eleanor looked at Clara.

"No."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

Eleanor:

"Percy alone."

"The team of five."

Percy thought for several seconds.

On Arthur's face...

A smile slowly formed.

Percy saw it.

"Arthur."

Arthur:

"Nothing."

Charlotte:

"Your face is saying something."

Arthur:

"I've been waiting a year."

William:

"It hasn't started yet."

Arthur:

"I'm waiting already."

Marcus:

"Me too."

Percy looked at Marcus.

"You too?"

Marcus:

"Yes."

Percy:

"Betrayal."

Clara slipped her arm through Percy's.

"I'm on your side."

Arthur:

"No, you're not."

Clara:

"True."

Percy looked at her.

Clara smiled.

"In battle, I'm on theirs."

Percy:

"Wonderful."

Eleanor continued.

"But..."

Percy:

"Again?"

Eleanor:

"This isn't bad."

Percy waited.

"If the team beats you..."

"They pass."

Arthur's eyes lit up.

Eleanor looked at Percy.

"If you beat them..."

"You pass."

William:

"What if it's a draw?"

Holar:

"It won't be."

William looked at him.

Holar:

"One side goes down."

Arthur clenched his fist.

"Percy."

Percy looked at him.

Arthur smiled.

"One year from now."

Percy's lips curved.

"I'll be waiting."

Charlotte:

"So will I."

William:

"Before the battle..."

"I'm taking out insurance."

Marcus:

"No need."

William:

"Why?"

Marcus:

"You can't die."

William:

"That's reassuring."

Marcus:

"Percy won't allow it."

Percy was quiet for a moment.

Then smiled.

"True."

The room fell silent.

Eleanor looked at Percy.

Percy looked back.

Then Percy...

Turned to his team.

They were all there.

Clara.

Arthur.

Charlotte.

William.

Marcus.

Some were missing.

Their absence was still felt.

Maybe it always would be.

But...

This time...

Percy didn't look away.

"One year."

Arthur nodded.

"One year."

William adjusted his glasses.

Charlotte closed her book.

Marcus put his hands in his pockets.

Clara stood beside Percy.

Percy continued.

"One year from now..."

"We'll be so strong..."

"We won't recognize each other."

Arthur:

"That sentence came out badly."

Percy looked at him.

Arthur:

"Let's recognize each other."

Charlotte laughed.

So did Percy.

"Okay."

"Smart enough..."

"To recognize each other."

"Strong enough..."

"Not to."

William:

"Still bad."

Clara:

"Let him talk."

Marcus:

"He's trying."

Percy:

"All of you, shut up."

The room erupted in laughter.

After a while...

Percy looked at the crystal on the table.

Team's Fate.

Six people.

Six paths.

Six different kinds of training.

But...

The same goal.

Percy touched the crystal.

"One year."

Clara placed her hand over his.

Arthur too.

Charlotte.

William.

Marcus.

Six hands...

Joined again.

Percy looked at them.

This time...

No one joked.

Percy's voice was calm.

"Never again..."

"Are we losing anyone."

Arthur's face hardened.

Charlotte nodded.

William's gaze changed.

Marcus said one word.

"Never."

Clara looked at Percy.

"Together."

On Percy's face...

A small smile formed.

"Together."

Just then...

Holar spoke from the back.

"You're getting up at four in the morning."

Percy's face fell.

The room erupted in laughter again.

Percy turned to Holar.

"Grandpa!"

Holar:

"What?"

"Helen said four."

Holar:

"Could be three."

Percy froze.

Clara slowly grinned.

Percy turned to her.

"You..."

Clara:

"What?"

Percy pointed a finger.

"You're behind this."

Clara looked innocent.

"Do you have proof?"

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"Then..."

"Three seconds."

Percy's eyebrow twitched.

Arthur:

"I don't understand any of this."

William:

"Don't."

Charlotte:

"It's safer."

Marcus:

"Definitely."

Percy took a deep breath.

Then...

Smiled.

"Okay."

"Three it is."

Clara's eyes widened.

"What?"

Percy walked to the door.

"See you tomorrow."

Clara:

"Percy?"

Percy waved without turning.

"I need to sleep."

Holar:

"It's still early."

Percy:

"Three in the morning."

Clara's face fell.

Percy opened the door.

Then poked his head back in.

"Kidding."

Clara grabbed a pillow.

Percy closed the door.

BAM!

The pillow hit the door.

Arthur stared for several seconds.

Then at the door Percy had closed.

"He's going to be Pathfinder, huh?"

Clara smiled.

"He will."

William:

"If he survives Helen first."

Holar suppressed a laugh.

Eleanor looked at her lilies.

Then at the door.

Smiled.

"The little prince..."

"Will survive."

Clara nodded.

"Of course."

She paused.

Then...

Her lips curved.

"But he'll get beaten up a lot."

The room erupted in laughter again.

CHAPTER 111 — NOT FINISHED YET

END