CHAPTER 114.2 — OUR MOM

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON III

CHAPTER 114.2 — OUR MOM

Eleanor stopped as she brought the plates for lunch.

Percy was at one end of the table.

Clara at the other.

There were three empty chairs between them.

Eleanor looked at the chairs first.

Then at the children.

“What happened to you two?”

“We had a fight,” Clara said.

Percy nodded.

“Yes.”

The Shiri in Galahad's hand slowly lowered.

Arthur straightened.

William put a finger between the pages of his book.

Charlotte immediately looked at Clara.

Holar pulled one of the empty chairs toward himself.

Eleanor turned to him.

“What are you doing?”

“Sitting down.”

“You're smiling.”

Holar rearranged his face.

“Out of concern.”

Marcus turned his head.

“First time I've seen it.”

Holar looked at him.

Marcus added.

“You being concerned like that.”

Eleanor put the plates down.

She turned to Percy first.

“What happened, son?”

Percy looked at Clara.

Clara folded her arms.

“Tell her.”

“She used to lie on my shoulder.”

Eleanor waited.

“Now she puts her head closer to my chest.”

Holar's expression slowly changed.

Percy continued.

“Then she falls asleep.”

“Should she not sleep?” Eleanor asked.

“She should.”

“Should she not rest her head there?”

“She should.”

Galahad interrupted.

“I missed which part we're supposed to be angry about.”

Clara immediately leaned forward.

“And Percy smells my hair more than he used to.”

Percy looked at her.

“It smells nice.”

The seriousness on Clara's face cracked.

“Thank you.”

Arthur put both hands on the table.

“STOP.”

They turned to him.

“Weren't you fighting?”

Clara folded her arms again.

“We are.”

Percy grew serious, too.

“Yes.”

Charlotte asked very carefully.

“Clara, does it bother you?”

“No.”

“Percy?”

“Doesn't bother me, either.”

William closed his book.

“Now it's bothering us.”

Eleanor sat down.

“Start from the beginning.”

Percy was about to speak.

Clara got there first.

“He told me I was the one getting closer more often.”

“You are.”

“And you won't let go of me.”

“Do you want me to?”

“No.”

“And I never told you not to come closer.”

They fell silent.

Eleanor looked at their faces for a while.

“So you're both saying the other hugs more.”

“Because it's true,” they said together.

Arthur pushed his chair back.

“Yesterday, we only had to watch. Today, they're narrating it.”

Galahad turned to Holar.

“Feeling less concerned?”

Holar pushed the empty chair back.

“I shouldn't have got my seat ready.”

Clara moved closer to Eleanor.

“Mom, I say I'm getting up. He doesn't move his arm.”

Percy objected.

“I ask if you'll stay a little longer.”

“And I stay.”

“How is that my fault?”

Clara was quiet for a moment.

“You say it so nicely.”

Percy's face lit up.

“Really?”

Charlotte covered her face with both hands.

Eleanor closed her eyes.

Arthur looked at Galahad.

“Why did you invite us?”

“I didn't.”

“Why did I come?”

Marcus pointed at the plate in front of him.

“Food.”

Arthur looked at his plate.

It was still empty.

“I haven't seen any benefit yet.”

Eleanor stood.

“You both love each other. You both want to be close.

I've understood that much.”

Percy nodded.

“Yes.”

“Now help. Let's set the table.”

Clara stood immediately.

So did Percy.

They met at the table.

Clara lifted her head.

Percy smiled faintly.

Clara reached up and kissed his cheek.

Galahad looked at the three empty chairs in front of him.

“The peace talks were brief.”

William shook his head.

“There was no opposing side.”

Galahad brought the cheese plate to the table himself.

He put it right in front of him.

He set his fork beside it.

Then sat down.

Arthur looked at him.

“Ready?”

Galahad nodded.

“This time.”

Marcus took a few olives from the plate for himself.

Galahad turned to him.

“What are you doing?”

“Might not be able to reach them later.”

William looked over his glasses.

“You're exaggerating.”

Clara was talking to Percy just then.

She finished her sentence.

Then turned to Galahad.

“Bro, could you pass the cheese?”

Galahad smiled.

“Of course.”

He lifted his fingers.

The plate rose into the air.

It passed above Percy's reach.

Arthur watched admiringly.

“There.”

Galahad was about to lower the plate to Clara.

Percy leaned down.

He took a piece of cheese from the small plate on his knee.

He put it on Clara's plate.

“Here.”

“Thank you, darling.”

Clara smiled at Percy.

The large plate in the air stopped.

So did Galahad.

William slowly looked under the table.

Arthur bent down.

Charlotte leaned over curiously, too.

Galahad spoke with difficulty.

“There's cheese on your leg.”

Percy looked down.

“On a plate.”

“THERE'S A PLATE ON YOUR LEG.”

“There wasn't room on the table.”

Galahad looked at the table.

The space where he'd lifted the plate was empty.

NovelPhoenix publishes the author's chapter, though the version here was taken without permission; the source page supports their writing.

Percy put his small plate there.

“There we go. Thanks, bro.”

Arthur's mouth fell open.

William closed his eyes.

Galahad was still holding the large plate in the air.

“When did you prepare that?”

“When I went to the kitchen.”

“Why?”

Percy pointed at Clara.

“She likes these.”

Clara nodded.

“Less salty.”

Galahad looked at them for a few seconds.

“I made a plan.”

Percy smiled.

“I saw. You carried it nicely.”

Charlotte burst out laughing.

The floating plate tilted slightly.

Marcus took the last olive, too.

“Good thing I acted early.”

Eleanor saw the scene when she returned from the kitchen.

The cheese was in the air.

The children were looking under the table.

Galahad was looking at Percy.

“What's going on?”

Galahad turned to her immediately.

“Percy—”

Percy spoke.

“Galahad was bringing the cheese.”

Eleanor looked at the plate.

“Why couldn't he finish?”

Galahad's mouth hung open.

Arthur sank into his chair.

“My condolences, bro.”

Galahad lowered the plate to the table.

“I'm taking this personally.”

Percy looked at him in surprise.

“What?”

“You and I will talk later.”

“Okay.”

Percy offered him his own small plate.

“Want some of this?”

Galahad looked at the plate.

For a while, he said nothing.

Then he took a piece.

Arthur turned to him.

“Bro?”

Galahad popped the cheese into his mouth.

“I'm hungry.”

William nodded.

“Hostilities postponed.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“Whose hostilities?”

Clara leaned against his arm, laughing.

“You eat, sweetheart.”

Percy kissed the top of her head.

Galahad looked at the cheese in his hand.

Then at Arthur.

“Cancel the postponement.”

Eleanor walked around the table.

She filled Marcus's glass.

She moved William's book away from the plates.

She straightened the bread basket in front of Arthur.

She stopped as she passed Percy.

“Give me that arm.”

Percy held it out immediately.

Eleanor unfolded his shirt cuff.

The thread on one button had come loose.

“What did you do to this?”

Percy looked.

“I don't know.”

Clara raised her hand slightly.

“I might have held on to it.”

Percy turned to her.

“Could be.”

Arthur turned his face away.

“Here we go.”

Eleanor only checked the button.

“I'll sew it after lunch.”

Percy nodded.

“Okay, Mom.”

Eleanor's fingers paused for a moment.

Percy didn't notice.

Because he was moving Clara's glass closer to her.

Clara noticed.

She looked at her mother.

Eleanor straightened the cuff.

Then lightly touched Percy's head and returned to the kitchen.

Clara followed her with her eyes.

Percy leaned closer.

“What is it?”

“Nothing.”

Percy waited.

Clara looked at him.

“My mom loves you so much.”

Percy's face softened.

“I love her, too.”

Clara took his hand.

“I know.”

When the soup arrived, Holar was looking at the paper in front of him.

Eleanor called him.

“Holar.”

Holar didn't lift his head.

“One second.”

Eleanor waited with two bowls.

“Holar, clear some space.”

“Let me finish this line.”

William had turned to Galahad.

“After Galaxy level—”

Holar immediately lifted his head.

“Yes?”

The room went quiet.

Eleanor looked at the bowls in her hands.

Then at Holar.

“So you can hear.”

Holar pointed at William.

“He mentioned me.”

William shook his head.

“I hadn't started yet.”

Eleanor moved the papers and put Holar's soup in front of him.

“Galaxy should eat before it gets cold.”

Holar picked up his spoon.

Percy was laughing.

Holar looked at him.

Percy immediately straightened his face.

A little later, Eleanor looked for the salt.

It was beside Holar.

Eleanor spoke without even looking at him.

“Galaxy?”

“Yes?”

“Salt.”

Holar passed the salt.

Eleanor took it.

Charlotte's shoulders started shaking.

Marcus was looking at his soup.

Arthur was laughing openly now.

Holar stopped after setting down the salt shaker.

He looked at Eleanor's face.

“You said that on purpose.”

Eleanor calmly nodded.

“It works.”

Percy burst out laughing.

He took Clara's hand.

“Our mom is so good.”

Clara smiled.

“I know.”

William was showing Galahad a small flow diagram.

“Breaking the wall each time reduces the amount coming in while extending

the time it takes to pass through. But the intervals aren't the same.”

Clara lifted her head.

“They shouldn't be.”

William turned to her.

With one hand in Percy's, Clara pointed at the diagram with the other.

“You need more to break through at the beginning. It can be thinner toward the end.

If you keep the same thickness as Galahad gets used to taking in the energy, you'll slow it down

unnecessarily.”

Galahad nodded.

“That's how it felt to me, too.”

William wrote a note beside the drawing.

“I hadn't written that down.”

Percy was looking at Clara.

Clara turned her head toward him.

“What?”

“You're so smart.”

Clara blushed.

William stopped his pen.

Percy leaned over and kissed Clara briefly.

Galahad looked up at the ceiling.

William spoke very slowly.

“When she says something correct, I take notes.”

Percy turned to him.

“Go ahead.”

“You could, too.”

“I'll remember.”

William thought for a moment.

Then he held his book out to Galahad.

“Bro, look at the second part of this.”

Galahad took the book.

William immediately leaned back.

“I've chosen this. Safest option.”

Galahad looked at the page.

“Safest how?”

“He won't kiss you when you answer.”

Galahad's hand stopped.

Percy burst out laughing.

Clara covered her face.

Holar put his spoon on the table.

“How did you get the conversation here?”

Arthur pointed at his two friends.

“I've been saying it from the start.”

Arthur reached for the water.

The jug was beside Percy.

“Percy, could you pass the water?”

Percy was listening to something Clara was telling him.

He didn't hear.

Arthur said it a little louder.

“Percy.”

Percy lifted his head.

“Hm?”

“Water.”

Percy picked up the jug.

He poured water into Clara's glass.

Arthur stared at him.

Clara looked at the glass, too.

“I didn't ask.”

Percy paused.

“Who did?”

Arthur raised both hands.

“THE DROUGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE.”

Percy passed the jug immediately.

“Sorry.”

Arthur filled his glass.

Charlotte was laughing.

Arthur pointed at his glass.

“I'm alive, too.”

Charlotte nodded.

“I noticed.”

A little later, Marcus asked for the bread.

Percy didn't hear again.

Marcus didn't repeat himself.

He looked at Clara.

“Could you tell Percy to pass the bread?”

Clara turned immediately.

“Perc, bread.”

Percy picked up the basket.

Clara pointed at Marcus.

Percy passed it to him.

Marcus took it.

“Thank you.”

Arthur's face lit up.

William raised an eyebrow.

Charlotte shook her head.

Galahad watched it happen.

“Solution found.”

Percy looked around.

“To what?”

Arthur didn't hesitate.

“Clara, could you ask Percy to pass the salt?”

Clara opened her mouth.

Eleanor interrupted.

“My daughter isn't a waitress.”

Arthur fell silent immediately.

“Sorry.”

Eleanor turned to Percy.

“And you, listen.”

Percy nodded.

“Okay, Mom.”

He passed Arthur the salt.

Then the bread basket to Galahad.

A glass to William.

Clara kissed his cheek.

Percy smiled.

Arthur looked at the salt shaker in his hand.

“We asked for water, and they found another excuse.”

After lunch, Holar was going to the kitchen.

Percy and Clara were beside the door.

Clara was holding Percy's cuff.

Percy said something as he looked at her.

Clara smiled.

She kissed him briefly on the lips.

Holar stopped where he was.

Then changed direction without saying anything.

He went into the hallway.

He circled around to the kitchen from the other side.

Eleanor raised an eyebrow when she saw him.

“Why did you come that way?”

“The shortcut's blocked.”

Eleanor looked at the door.

She understood.

Galahad came from behind.

“Could we get through?” he asked.

Percy and Clara immediately parted and stepped aside.

Galahad passed through.

Holar saw it.

Eleanor looked at him.

“You could have asked.”

“Am I supposed to ask permission at every door?”

Galahad sat in the kitchen chair.

“They both approve. It's a quick process.”

Holar turned to him.

“You too?”

Galahad shrugged.

“I couldn't get an appointment with the cheese this morning. I'm used to it.”

Laughing, Eleanor reached for Holar's collar.

There was a small crumb.

Holar lowered his head toward her.

Eleanor removed the crumb.

Then her hand stayed at his collar for a moment.

Holar was looking at her.

Eleanor smiled faintly.

She kissed his cheek.

Galahad slowly rose from the chair.

Holar looked at him.

“Where are you going?”

“To find another room.”

Eleanor turned her head.

Galahad walked to the door.

“The youngsters are there. You're here. I'll update the map.”

Percy's voice came from the hallway.

“Bro, is the kitchen free?”

Galahad didn't stop.

“No.”

Holar spread both hands.

“THERE'S NO PEACE LEFT IN THIS HOUSE.”

Galahad looked back.

“This time, you're part of it.”

Arthur closed the living room window.

Then sat in the chair beside Charlotte.

Charlotte looked at him.

“Thank you.”

Arthur nodded.

Percy saw it.

“Did you notice she was cold?”

Arthur turned immediately.

“The window was open.”

“Yes.”

“I closed it.”

“I saw.”

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

“Don't lump me in with you two.”

Charlotte smiled.

“He hasn't said anything yet.”

“He's going to.”

Percy raised his hands.

“I'm like that, too.”

“YOU ARE NOT.”

Clara leaned against Percy's arm.

“A little.”

Arthur turned to Charlotte.

“You tell him.”

Charlotte pretended to think.

Then she put a hand on Arthur's arm.

“You saw before I said I was cold.”

Arthur's face softened.

“You were hunching your shoulders.”

“See? You noticed.”

For a moment, Arthur didn't know what to say.

Percy opened his mouth.

Arthur raised a finger.

“One word.”

Percy closed his mouth.

Clara looked at Charlotte.

They smiled.

Marcus set down his glass.

“Now there are four.”

Arthur turned to him.

“THERE ARE NOT.”

William leaned back.

“At least these two close the window. The others block the door.”

Galahad heard as he entered the living room.

“I can show you where both are.”

A little later, Eleanor brought a needle and thread.

She called Percy to the chair beside the window.

“Come on, let's fix that button.”

Percy stood immediately.

Clara started to move with him.

Eleanor lifted her head.

“Clara.”

Clara stopped.

“There's one button.”

Percy laughed.

Clara looked about to stick out her tongue, then decided against it.

“I can sit beside him.”

“You can. But you'll let go of his arm.”

Clara loosened her grip.

Percy held his cuff out to his mother.

Eleanor smoothed the fabric.

“Now don't move.”

Percy nodded.

Clara sat on his other side.

For a while, she watched her mother work.

So did Percy.

Conversation had resumed in the room.

William was showing Galahad something.

Arthur was really listening this time.

Charlotte was clearing the table.

Eleanor checked behind the button.

“You've loosened all the thread by pulling it.”

Clara lowered her head a little.

“Sorry.”

“Hold his hand next time.”

Percy immediately looked at Clara.

Clara looked at him.

Eleanor lifted her head.

“I should have thought before saying that.”

Percy laughed.

But didn't move.

Eleanor tied the final knot.

She cut the thread.

She turned the cuff over.

“Done.”

Percy looked at his arm.

Then at his mother.

“Thank you.”

Eleanor touched his cheek.

“You're welcome, son.”

Percy didn't get up immediately.

“Mom.”

“Yes?”

“Can I show you the other one, too?”

Eleanor held out her hand.

Percy gave her his other arm.

Clara looked at her mother's face.

Eleanor was smiling.

For a long time, this time.

When Percy went to get water from the kitchen, Clara stayed beside her mother.

Eleanor was putting away the thread.

Clara moved a little closer.

“You did that this morning, too.”

Eleanor lifted her head.

“Did what?”

“Smiled.”

Eleanor's eyes went to the door.

Percy was opening and closing a cupboard in the kitchen.

Then his voice came.

“Mom, weren't the clean glasses in here?”

Eleanor answered.

“In the cupboard next to it, son.”

Another door opened.

“Found them.”

Clara looked at her mother.

Eleanor turned the thread in her hand.

“Before, he mostly called for me when he was hurting.”

Clara's gaze softened.

“Now he's asking about glasses.”

Eleanor nodded.

“Showing me his button.”

For a while, neither spoke.

Clara leaned against her mother's shoulder.

“You like it.”

“Very much.”

Clara smiled.

“Me too.”

Eleanor stroked her daughter's hair.

“I know.”

Percy returned with two glasses.

He slowed when he saw them side by side.

“Did something happen?”

Clara lifted her head.

“No.”

Eleanor held out her hand.

“Come here.”

Percy put the glasses on the table.

He went over to them.

Eleanor pulled him to her other side.

Percy stood for a moment.

Then sat.

Eleanor put her arms around both their shoulders.

Clara leaned her head against her again.

Percy did, too, a little later.

There was no crystal in Eleanor's hand, nor a training plan.

Percy had no new method to explain, either.

For a while, they simply sat.

Galahad saw them when he lifted his head.

William looked, too.

Arthur was about to say something.

Charlotte touched his arm.

Arthur fell quiet.

Holar lowered the paper in his hand.

Eleanor looked at the children's hair.

She kissed Clara's forehead first.

Then Percy's.

Percy closed his eyes.

Clara saw it.

She smiled.

Percy straightened a little later.

“Mom.”

Eleanor turned to him.

Clara called at the same time.

“Mom.”

They looked at each other.

Percy gestured with his hand.

“You go.”

“You go.”

“You first—”

Eleanor touched both their cheeks.

“I'm not going anywhere. I'll listen to both of you.”

The urgency left Percy's face.

Clara snuggled a little closer to her mother.

Then looked at Percy.

“Our mom.”

Percy nodded.

“Our mom.”

Holar smiled from a distance.

So did Galahad.

The room stayed peaceful for a while.

Then Percy looked at Clara over Eleanor's other shoulder.

Clara caught his gaze.

She smiled.

Percy leaned a little.

Eleanor lifted both hands and held them between the two.

“No.”

They stopped.

“NOT OVER ME.”

Arthur doubled forward on the sofa.

William threw his head back.

Charlotte wasn't trying to quiet Arthur anymore.

Galahad covered his face with both hands.

Percy sat back, blushing.

So did Clara.

Eleanor looked at them.

“I'm sitting in the middle.”

Percy nodded.

“I noticed.”

“A little late.”

Laughing, Clara rested her head on her mother's shoulder.

Percy rested his on the other.

Eleanor took a deep breath.

Then she started laughing herself.

Holar turned to Galahad.

“The shortcut's blocked again.”

This time, Galahad couldn't hold it in.

A little later, Eleanor stood.

The children straightened, too.

“Okay. Now we're clearing the table.”

Arthur picked up the plate in front of him.

Marcus collected the glasses.

William left his book on the sofa.

Charlotte moved beside Eleanor.

Galahad reached for the cheese plate.

Percy lifted his hand before him.

Galahad immediately touched his wrist.

“Me.”

Percy looked at him.

“Okay, bro.”

He withdrew his hand.

Galahad was surprised.

“That's it?”

“You wanted to carry it.”

“Yes.”

“Carry it.”

Percy put his own small plate beside Galahad's.

“Could you take this one, too?”

Galahad looked at the two plates.

Then at Percy.

“How did I win and end up working?”

Marcus passed them with the glasses.

“Council work.”

William walked to the kitchen, laughing.

Galahad lifted the plates into the air.

This time, he took them neatly to the kitchen.

Percy called after him.

“Bro!”

Galahad stopped.

“What?”

Percy offered him a piece of bread.

“There's cheese left. If you want.”

Galahad looked at his brother.

There was no triumph on his face.

He was genuinely offering bread.

Galahad sighed.

He took it.

Percy smiled.

“Enjoy.”

Galahad returned to the kitchen.

Arthur approached him.

“Did you make peace?”

Galahad pointed at the bread.

“He doesn't know about it. I'm fighting by myself.”

Arthur nodded.

“I think that's how it goes in this house.”

Once the last plates had been cleared, Eleanor dried her hands.

Holar had stayed at the head of the table.

A cup sat in front of him.

Eleanor looked.

“Bring that, too.”

Holar lifted the cup.

He looked inside.

“There's a little left.”

“Finish it.”

Holar drank the last sip.

He carried the cup to the kitchen.

Percy was waiting beside the door with Clara.

Clara was holding his hand.

When Percy saw Holar, he immediately stepped aside.

So did Clara.

Holar stopped.

He looked at the clear passage in front of him.

Then at the children.

“So learning is possible.”

Percy smiled.

“Mom told us.”

Clara nodded.

“We can't go over her.”

Laughing, Holar put down the cup.

Eleanor looked at him.

“Don't you laugh, either.”

“At what?”

“Whatever you're laughing at inside.”

Holar didn't answer.

Galahad came to the door.

“She can hear Galaxy's thoughts, too.”

Percy and Clara looked at their mother at the same time.

Their faces held the same admiration.

Seeing them, Eleanor shook her head.

“Don't turn me into something, too.”

Percy approached.

He kissed her cheek.

“No need.”

Clara kissed her other cheek.

For a moment, Eleanor was caught between them.

Then she smiled.

Galahad looked at Arthur.

“This time, it went to the right person.”

Arthur nodded.

“No objection from me.”

As Eleanor switched off the kitchen light, Percy and Clara were walking to the living room.

They were still holding hands.

But Percy suddenly stopped.

Clara turned to him.

“What is it?”

Percy grew serious.

“Our fight isn't over.”

Arthur froze where he was.

William slowly turned his head.

Galahad looked at the last piece of cheese in his hand.

Clara raised an eyebrow.

“It isn't.”

Percy continued.

“You're still the one coming closer more often.”

Clara took a step.

“Right now, yes.”

Percy smiled.

Clara kissed him on the lips.

Then she stepped back.

“Now you decide.”

Percy moved closer without thinking.

Arthur turned away.

“I saw nothing.”

Marcus looked at him.

“Worked this time.”

Eleanor didn't step between them.

She only called.

“Children.”

They turned to her immediately.

“Yes, Mom?”

Eleanor pointed at the two glasses on the table.

“You forgot these.”

Percy picked up a glass.

Clara took the other.

They walked to the kitchen together.

Galahad watched them go.

“We talked all morning.”

Holar nodded.

William added.

“We tried various methods.”

Arthur spread his hands.

“Didn't work.”

Eleanor folded the dish towel.

“I'm their mother.”

Just then, Percy's voice came from the kitchen.

“Mom, where do we put the glasses?”

That smile appeared on Eleanor's face again.

“Leave them on the counter, son.”

“Okay.”

A second passed.

Clara's laughter could be heard.

Then Percy's.

Then silence.

Holar turned his head toward the kitchen.

So did Galahad.

Arthur closed his eyes.

Eleanor raised her voice.

“PUT THE GLASSES DOWN FIRST.”

Two small clinks came.

Then two voices together.

“WE DID, MOM!”

Eleanor lowered her head.

Her shoulders were shaking.

Galahad sat in his chair.

“I think you should adopt us, too.”

Eleanor looked at him.

“Take the plate in front of you to the kitchen.”

Galahad picked it up immediately.

He took two steps.

Stopped.

Looked back.

Holar wore an enormous smile.

“Done.”

CHAPTER 114.2 — OUR MOM

END