CHAPTER 30 — COURAGE

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 30 — COURAGE

It was 11:53 AM. The Lake District had finally quieted down. The scorpions had scattered back to their territories. Red sand was still beneath their feet. But no one looked at it with hatred anymore. Looking at the sand... They remembered the night. The twelve laps. The four hundred and twenty kilometers. Each other's hands. And the final path that had opened up. Except for Ethan. He was completing his thirteenth lap. His voice echoed from a distance.

"PERCY GRANT!"

Percy didn't turn around.

Ethan:

"I WILL FIND YOU!"

Percy:

"FINISH THE LAP FIRST!"

Ethan:

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Arthur shook his head.

"Incredibly motivated."

William:

"Anger is an effective motivator."

Charlotte:

"Are you going to start too?"

William:

"No."

Ethan yelled from afar.

"WILLIAM, I HEARD YOU TOO!"

William:

"How did he hear?"

Percy:

"Hatred has heightened his senses."

Clara laughed. Then she clutched her stomach. Her laughter cut off abruptly. Percy noticed.

"What happened?"

Clara:

"I'm hungry."

Arthur looked at his own stomach too.

"Me too."

Charlotte:

"We haven't eaten since yesterday."

Nathaniel instantly turned to Percy.

"Food."

Percy:

"What about it?"

Nathaniel:

"Where is it?"

Percy didn't answer. One second passed. Two. Three. The corner of Percy's mouth curved upward. Slowly. Very slowly. A devilish smile formed. Everyone went quiet. Arthur backed away.

"No."

Percy:

"What?"

Charlotte:

"What is that smile?"

Percy:

"What smile?"

Clara pointed at Percy.

"That one."

Percy:

"I just smiled normally."

William:

"No."

Percy:

"Yes."

Ethan finally reached the finish line. He collapsed onto the ground.

"I'm dead."

Then he saw Percy's face. He stood right back up.

"No."

Percy:

"You too?"

Ethan:

"I recognize this look."

Percy:

"Recognize what?"

Ethan:

"Something terrible is about to happen to us."

Percy:

"You're paranoid."

Arthur:

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes?"

Arthur:

"I hate you."

Percy:

"Thank you."

Charlotte:

"Me too."

Percy:

"Thanks."

Ethan:

"I already did."

Percy:

"I know."

Clara:

"I hate you too."

Percy looked at her. Clara smiled.

"For now."

Percy's eye twitched.

"Give that back."

Clara:

"No."

Percy clapped his hands.

"Alright."

"Second task."

Everyone went silent. Percy pointed at the lake.

"You will gather your own dinner."

Instantly, their faces relaxed.

Arthur:

"Is that it?"

Charlotte:

"That sounds easy."

Nathaniel:

"Finally."

Ethan:

"Are we going fishing?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Ethan:

"That's all?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Ethan breathed a sigh of relief. Percy continued.

"From the piranhas."

Silence. Ethan's smile vanished. Arthur slowly turned to the lake. Then to Percy. Then back to the lake.

"Piranhas?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Charlotte:

"The ones in that lake?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"Wasn't it enough that the scorpions were stinging us?"

Percy:

"They were stinging."

Nathaniel:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"These bite."

Nathaniel:

"THAT MAKES ME FEEL SO MUCH BETTER."

Galahad burst out laughing in the distance. Eleanor glitched a glare at him.

"Don't laugh."

Galahad:

"I'm not laughing."

Olsen:

"You're laughing."

Galahad:

"Alright."

Holar was watching Percy. This time, he hadn't grasped the purpose yet. Percy turned back to the class.

"Everyone will catch two."

Arthur:

"How?"

Percy:

"With your hands."

Charlotte:

"Fishing rod?"

Percy:

"None."

William:

"Net?"

Percy:

"None."

Nathaniel:

"Spear?"

Percy:

"None."

Ethan:

"Magic?"

Percy:

"Forbidden."

Everyone:

"DAMN IT!"

Percy:

"Also..."

Everyone held their breath.

Percy:

"Helping each other is forbidden."

This time, even William knitted his brows.

Clara:

"Yesterday you taught us the exact opposite."

Percy:

"Yes."

Clara:

"Now you're telling us not to help."

Percy:

"Yes."

Arthur:

"Why?"

Percy:

"If I tell you, the training loses its meaning."

William narrowed his eyes. Percy noticed.

"Don't try to solve it either."

William:

"Too late."

Percy:

"If you solve it, stay quiet."

William:

"Alright."

Percy pointed at the lake.

"Rules are simple."

"Two piranhas."

"No magic."

"No help."

"You have until evening."

Nathaniel:

"What if we can't catch them?"

Percy:

"No food."

Everyone stared at Percy.

Percy:

"I didn't make the rules."

Arthur:

"You made them!"

Percy:

"True."

Arthur:

"I hate you."

Percy:

"You mentioned that."

Clara:

"What about you?"

Percy:

"What about me?"

Clara:

"Are you going to catch them too?"

Percy didn't hesitate for a moment.

"Of course."

Clara:

"How?"

Percy looked at the lake. Then he took off his shoes. Eleanor's expression shifted.

"Percy."

Percy took off his heavy outer coat. Only his shirt remained.

Arthur:

"What are you doing?"

Percy:

"Demonstrating."

Olsen stood up.

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes, Professor?"

"You're not going in there."

Percy:

"I am."

Eleanor:

"No."

Percy looked at her.

"Aunt."

Eleanor:

"No."

Percy:

"If I demand it from them and don't do it myself..."

"I'm no president."

Eleanor went silent. Holar looked at Percy.

"Protections are ready."

Percy nodded.

"The potion too."

Holar:

"If something goes wrong, you will be pulled out."

Percy:

"Alright."

Galahad stepped forward.

"I'll be on the shore."

Percy:

"Brother."

Galahad:

"No arguments."

Percy nodded.

"Alright."

Then he turned to the class. All of them were staring at him. Percy pointed at the lake.

"Two of them."

Nathaniel:

"You are crazy."

Percy:

"Probably."

And he leaped into the lake. The splashing water reached the shore. Clara involuntarily stepped forward.

"Percy!"

Percy surfaced above the water.

"I'm fine!"

Then he began to swim. William didn't take his eyes off the water. Arthur's hands were clenched into fists. Charlotte looked at Galahad.

"Is he really going to do it?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Charlotte:

"Why aren't you stopping him?"

Galahad didn't answer. Holar did.

"Because he does it himself first."

Percy reached the deeper part. He looked beneath the surface. A shadow passed. Then a second. Then five. Percy took a deep breath. And dived. Clara's hand clenched into a fist. Underneath the water, it was silent. Percy opened his eyes. Movement. To his right. He turned. A piranha shot past. Percy reached out his hand. It escaped. A second one approached. Percy tried to catch it. He missed. Then pain struck. From his leg. Percy's face contorted. On the shore, Clara gasped.

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"BLOOD!"

Red spread through the water. Eleanor stepped forward. Holar raised his arm.

"Wait."

Eleanor:

"He's bitten!"

Holar:

"I know."

Eleanor:

"Holar!"

Holar's eyes were fixed on Percy.

"He hasn't given up yet."

Percy surfaced. He gasped for air. His leg was bleeding.

Galahad:

"Percy!"

Percy:

"I'm fine!"

Clara:

"GET OUT!"

Percy looked at her. He shook his head side to side.

"Two."

And he dived again. Clara froze. Arthur whispered.

"Dumbass."

Charlotte:

"Yeah."

Arthur:

"But he won't come out."

William:

"No."

Nathaniel:

"Why?"

William kept his eyes on the water.

"Because he doesn't want us to quit."

Nathaniel turned to him. William continued.

"First, he won't let himself be afraid."

The water turned red again. This time Percy's arm was injured. Clara was no longer breathing. Flames flickered in Olsen's hands.

Eleanor:

"Elizabeth."

Olsen:

"I know."

The flames extinguished.

"I'm waiting."

Percy surfaced once more. There was nothing in his hands. He was out of breath.

Arthur:

"Enough, Percy!"

Percy didn't reply. He took a deep breath. He dived again. Galahad's face hardened.

"Three minutes."

Holar:

"I know."

Galahad:

"In three minutes, I'm pulling him out."

Holar:

"Alright."

Underneath the water... Percy was no longer chasing. He was waiting. He was watching the movements of the piranhas. One approached. Percy didn't move. Closer. Closer. At the very last second... He snapped his hand shut. The piranha thrashed violently. Percy didn't let go. Another attacked his arm. Percy flinched in pain. But he didn't release the first one. Then he spotted a second one. He pressed his foot against the lake floor. He pushed himself forward. He reached out with his other hand. Missed. Again. Missed. The piranha turned. It bit into Percy's shoulder. Air escaped from Percy's mouth. But he didn't pull back. He reached out once more. And... Caught it. Two. Percy broke through the surface.

"GOT THEM!"

The class erupted all at once.

Clara:

"GET OUT ALREADY!"

Percy swam to the shore. Galahad waded into the water.

Percy:

"Brother, help is forbidden!"

Galahad:

"The task is over!"

Percy thought for a second.

"You're right."

Galahad grabbed him. They hauled him onto the shore. Percy's legs were covered in cuts. There were bite marks on his arm. His shoulder was bleeding. Clara's face was pale as paper. Eleanor instantly knelt beside him.

"Potion!"

Olsen handed over the bottle. Eleanor poured it down Percy's throat. The wounds began to close. The bleeding stopped. The bite marks disappeared. Clara knelt right across from Percy. She said nothing.

Percy:

"I'm fine."

Clara:

"Shut up."

Percy:

"Alright."

Clara:

"Dumbass."

Percy:

"Alright."

Clara:

"Maniac."

Percy:

"Alright."

Clara:

"I hate you."

Percy smiled.

"For now?"

Clara looked at him.

"...For now."

Percy stood up. He held up the two piranhas.

"Two."

Nobody laughed. Percy looked at his class. They were afraid. Just as he had intended.

Percy:

"Now it's your turn."

Nathaniel:

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes?"

Nathaniel looked at the lake.

"I'm scared."

Percy's expression softened.

"I was scared too."

Nathaniel turned to him. So did Arthur. And Charlotte. Even Clara was surprised.

Percy:

"I'm still scared."

Arthur:

"But you jumped."

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"How?"

Percy pondered for a few seconds. Then he pointed at the lake.

"Because my goal was over there."

Silence.

Percy:

"Courage..."

"Is not the absence of fear."

"If you aren't afraid, you aren't brave."

"You're just not afraid."

Holar's eyes shifted. Percy continued.

"Courage..."

"Is moving forward while you are afraid."

"It's moving forward knowing it will hurt."

"It's moving forward knowing you might not succeed."

Percy set the two fish down on the ground.

"And when necessary..."

"Knowing that help will come."

He looked at Galahad.

"But first, you try on your own."

Percy turned back to his class.

"Yesterday, you learned to act together."

"Today, you will act alone."

"Because your team might not always be by your side."

Arthur recalled the conversation from earlier.

Percy:

"One day, Nathaniel might be alone."

"Nathaniel will be afraid."

Nathaniel nodded.

Percy:

"One day, Charlotte might be alone."

Charlotte listened silently.

"One day, Arthur might be alone."

Arthur closed his eyes.

"Clara might be alone."

Clara looked at Percy. Percy paused for a moment.

"I might be alone."

Clara immediately cut in:

"No."

Percy looked at her.

Clara:

"I said I won't leave you."

The corner of Percy's mouth twitched up.

"A one percent chance."

Clara didn't answer. Percy continued.

"It is for that one percent..."

"That today, you will learn courage."

William looked at the lake.

"Two."

Percy:

"Two."

William took off his shoes. Arthur looked at him.

"You going first?"

William:

"No."

Arthur:

"What?"

William pointed at Percy.

"He went first."

"I'll be second."

Arthur smiled. He took off his shoes.

"I'm third."

Charlotte:

"Fourth."

Nathaniel swallowed hard.

"Fifth."

Ethan:

"Sixth."

One by one, hands went up. Clara didn't raise hers. Percy looked at her.

"Clara?"

Clara was taking off her shoes.

"I don't need to raise my hand."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara stood up. She walked to the edge of the edge of the lake. Then she looked back at Percy.

"My rival did it."

"So I will do it too."

Percy smiled.

Clara:

"For now."

Percy:

"GIVE THAT BACK, DAMN IT!"

Clara leaped into the lake.

Percy:

"CLARA!"

Her voice rang out from within the water.

"WHAT?"

Percy:

"DON'T CATCH MORE THAN TWO!"

Clara:

"WHY?"

Percy:

"YOUR DINNER!"

Clara:

"I'M CATCHING THREE!"

Percy:

"THIS ISN'T A RACE!"

Clara:

"IT IS A RACE NOW!"

Arthur shook his head.

"It has begun."

Charlotte:

"It never stopped."

Holar chuckled quietly. Eleanor walked up beside Percy.

"I'm going to ask you something."

Percy:

"Yes, auntie?"

Eleanor:

"Don't call me that again."

Percy:

"Alright, auntie."

Eleanor yanked Percy's ear.

Percy:

"OW!"

Eleanor:

"Courage."

Percy:

"THIS ISN'T COURAGE!"

Galahad laughed. Olsen looked at the lake. Then at Percy.

"What are you teaching tomorrow?"

Percy fell silent. Olsen grew suspicious.

"Percy?"

The corner of Percy's mouth curved upward. Slowly. That devilish smile returned. Olsen's face dropped.

"No."

Arthur spotted it from a distance.

"HE'S SMILING AGAIN!"

Nathaniel:

"HOLY SHIT!"

Percy:

"I just smiled normally!"

Everyone shouted in unison:

"LIAR!"

Percy raised his hands innocently. But Holar... Looked into his grandson's eyes. Percy had indeed planned something. And this time... Even Holar didn't know what it was.

EPISODE 30 — COURAGE

END