CHAPTER 31 — BEING ABLE TO SEND THEM

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 31 — BEING ABLE TO SEND THEM

Percy had been the first to enter the lake. But he wasn't going to be the first one out. Because now, it was their turn. William waited at the edge of the water. He observed the movements of the piranhas. For a while, he did nothing. Arthur called out from behind him.

"Are you scared?"

William didn't answer. He took off his shoes. Then he stepped into the water. Percy watched him from a distance. William waded in up to his waist. Then he took a deep breath. And dived. The first attack came immediately. William pulled his arm back. He was too late. Teeth tore into his skin. When he surfaced, his arm was bleeding. Olsen involuntarily stepped forward. Percy raised his hand.

"Keep going."

William heard it. He dived again. The second attack hit his leg. The third grazed his shoulder. William surfaced. He caught his breath. And dived again. He caught the first piranha. Then the second. When he reached the shore, he was trembling.

Percy immediately yelled:

"Potion!"

The potion was handed over. William drank it. His wounds began to close. Percy walked up to him.

"Are you alright?"

William nodded.

"I'm fine."

Percy extended his hand. William took it.

"Two."

William smiled.

"Two."

Arthur was next. Without saying a word, he entered the water. Within the first minute, he was bitten. Then again. Then again. Charlotte's expression shifted.

"Arthur..."

Arthur heard her. But he didn't turn back. He caught one. He missed the second. He dived again. This time, the fish slipped from his grip. Arthur turned underwater. Another one attacked his leg. When he surfaced, he let out a shout. But he didn't come to the shore. Percy's fists clenched tightly. Galahad noticed. Arthur dived once more. And caught the second one. When he reached the shore, Charlotte ran over.

"Potion!"

Arthur:

"I'm fine."

Charlotte:

"Shut your mouth."

She pressed the bottle to his lips. Arthur was forced to drink. His wounds began to close. Arthur looked at Charlotte.

"Thank you."

Charlotte:

"If you try to show off like that again, I'll beat you up."

Arthur:

"Alright."

Charlotte:

"Seriously."

Arthur:

"I said alright."

Charlotte smiled as she walked away. Arthur watched her leave. Then he saw Percy. Percy was smirking.

Arthur:

"Don't look."

Percy:

"I'm not looking."

Arthur:

"You are looking."

Percy:

"I didn't see a thing."

Arthur:

"Percy."

Percy:

"Two piranhas."

Arthur went silent. It was Charlotte's turn. Then Nathaniel. Then Ethan. Sophia. Daniel. Marcus. Theodore. Noah. Adrian. Elias. Lucas. One by one, they entered the water. One by one, they felt fear. One by one, they were wounded. Some came out at the very first attack. Then went back in. Some cried. Nobody made fun of them. Whenever someone returned to the shore... Percy only said the exact same thing:

"Try again."

And they would enter again. Galahad was watching them. However, as time passed... He was looking less at the children. He was looking more at Percy. Something wasn't right. Galahad could feel it. Percy had taken all the safety measures. The potions were ready. Holar was there. Eleanor was there. Olsen was there. He himself was there. If a child was in actual danger... Any one of the four of them would pull them out in a split second. Percy knew this. In that case... It couldn't be this simple. Galahad approached Holar.

"Something's missing."

Holar looked at him.

"What?"

Galahad pointed at Percy.

"It can't be this easy."

Eleanor overheard the conversation as well. Olsen turned her head. Galahad continued.

"He knows they will heal."

"He knows we will help."

"He knows they aren't in real danger."

"He knows it full well."

Olsen:

"Yes."

Galahad:

"But he's doing something."

Eleanor looked at Percy. Percy was standing by the shore. Watching Nathaniel dive into the water.

Holar:

"What?"

Galahad shook his head.

"I don't know."

The four of them began watching Percy closely. Nathaniel was bitten. Percy's hand clenched into a fist. Nathaniel was bitten again. Percy's fingernails dug deep into his palms. Eleanor's eyes narrowed. A short while later... Nathaniel caught the second fish. Percy's hand opened. There were small traces of blood in his palm. Eleanor froze. The next student went in. Percy clenched his hands once more. One bite. A bit tighter. A second bite. A bit tighter. Eleanor whispered.

"Holar."

Holar had seen it too. Blood was trickling from Percy's palms. Galahad's expression changed. Olsen finally realized.

"He's watching their pain."

Galahad:

"No."

He looked at Percy.

"He's stopping himself."

Holar didn't answer. Because it was true. All Percy had to do... Was say a single word.

"Help."

That was it. Holar could drain the entire lake. Eleanor could pull them all out. Olsen could part the water without boiling it. Galahad could end it in seconds. But Percy wasn't saying it. With every scream, he clenched his hands tighter. With every wound, he bled a little more. And still...

"Keep going,"

he said. Then it was Clara's turn. Clara walked past Percy.

Percy:

"Two."

Clara:

"Three."

Percy:

"Clara."

Clara:

"Three."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara looked at him.

"Because you caught two."

Percy:

"That doesn't make sense."

Clara:

"It makes sense to me."

And she leaped into the water. Percy took a deep breath.

Arthur:

"She's going to catch three."

William:

"Probably."

Charlotte:

"Stubborn."

Percy:

"I noticed."

Clara quickly found the first piranha. But she couldn't catch it. On her second attempt... She was bitten on the wrist. Percy's fist snapped shut. Clara surfaced. She caught her breath. Dived again. This time, she caught the fish. One. Cheers rose from the shore.

"One!"

Clara dived again. A fish attacked her leg. Clara's face contorted in pain. Percy took a step forward. Eleanor saw it. But Percy stopped. Clara surfaced again.

Percy:

"Two is enough!"

Clara:

"No!"

Dived again. Caught the second one.

Percy:

"Get out already!"

Clara shook her head.

"Three!"

Percy:

"CLARA!"

Clara went back under the water. This time, she didn't come up for a long while. Blood was dripping from Percy's hands. Holar looked at him. Eleanor's breathing quickened. Galahad got ready. Olsen's aura flickered. Percy still didn't speak. Then... Clara surfaced. In her hand was the third piranha.

"THREE!"

Everyone cheered. Percy closed his eyes. Clara came to the shore. She collapsed to her knees. The potion was given instantly. Percy walked up to her. Clara drank it. Her wounds began to close. Percy said nothing. He just made sure she was healed. The last student finished too. Potions were distributed. Wounds closed. The pain faded. The task was complete. Percy turned around. He walked a little distance away. And unclasped his hands. Blood... Dripped from his fingertips onto the sand. Galahad saw it. Now he understood.

"Percy."

Percy stopped. Galahad walked toward him.

"The second task..."

"Wasn't about them."

Everyone went quiet. Percy didn't turn around. Galahad continued.

"Was it?"

Percy turned around slowly. The whole class was looking at him. Galahad's voice was serious.

"The purpose of this task..."

"Was about you."

Percy didn't answer.

Galahad:

"Being able to choose to send them."

Silence. Arthur's face shifted. William understood instantly. Charlotte looked at Percy's hands. Clara's eyes widened.

Galahad:

"Am I right?"

Percy looked at his hands. Blood was still dripping. Then he raised his head.

"Yes."

No one spoke.

Percy:

"One day..."

"I might be the one sending them onto the battlefield."

Holar's expression shifted. Percy continued.

"Maybe I will give an order."

"Arthur will go."

Arthur looked at him.

"Charlotte will go."

Charlotte remained silent.

"William will go."

William closed his eyes.

"Nathaniel will go."

Nathaniel's face turned grim.

"Clara will go."

Percy's voice strained for the first time. Clara noticed.

Percy:

"And I..."

"Will have to allow them to go."

Eleanor's eyes welled up with tears. Percy looked at his hands.

"I must know that I am capable of doing it."

"It won't be easy."

"Nor do I want it to be easy."

"But on that day..."

"If I hesitate..."

"Someone could die."

Percy raised his head.

"I cannot allow that."

Galahad:

"So..."

Percy:

"So I bear the pain now."

Silence. Percy's voice was calm.

"I learn now."

"While they are hurting..."

"If the right decision does not change..."

"Not to change the decision."

Holar closed his eyes.

Percy:

"Because one day..."

"There might be no potions."

"You might not be there, brother."

Galahad's expression fell.

"My aunt might not be there."

Eleanor stayed silent.

"Professor Olsen might not be there."

Olsen looked at Percy.

"Even my grandfather might not be there."

Holar opened his eyes.

Percy:

"And on that day..."

"If I am the one making the decision..."

"I must learn it today."

Nobody cared about their own pain anymore. Everyone was staring at Percy. Then... Clara stood up. She picked up the three piranhas. She walked over to Percy. She set all three down in front of him. Percy looked at the fish. Then at Clara. Clara said nothing. She simply took Percy's hand. Percy immediately tried to pull back.

"My hand is dirty."

Clara didn't let go. Percy looked at her. Clara's hand was stained with blood.

Percy:

"Clara."

Clara:

"What?"

Percy looked at the hand she was holding. Then back at Clara.

"It has never been this clean."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy leaned in. He placed a gentle kiss on the bridge of her nose. Clara froze. Then on the corner of her eye. Charlotte's mouth fell open. Arthur slowly turned to her. Nathaniel held his breath. Even William was watching. Finally, Percy... Kissed Clara on her cheek. Clara didn't move for a few seconds. Then she wrapped her arms around Percy. Without a trace of embarrassment. Without trying to hide. She just hugged him tightly. Percy hugged her back. Arthur smiled softly.

"Finally."

Charlotte elbowed him.

"Shut up."

Arthur:

"What?"

Charlotte:

"Don't ruin the moment."

Nathaniel:

"I'm not going to say anything."

William:

"First time you made the right call."

Nathaniel:

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

"Why, you..."

William:

"Don't ruin the moment."

Nathaniel shut his mouth. Ethan was smiling. Sophia had clasped her hands together.

Daniel:

"They're so sweet."

Marcus:

"Definitely don't say that out loud."

Daniel:

"Why?"

Marcus:

"Percy will hear."

Percy from a distance:

"I heard that."

Marcus:

"See?"

Galahad burst out laughing. Eleanor was wiping her eyes. Holar looked at her.

"Are you crying?"

Eleanor:

"No."

Holar:

"You're crying."

Eleanor:

"It's the wind."

Olsen:

"There is no wind."

Eleanor glared at her.

Olsen:

"I didn't say anything."

Holar looked at Percy. Then at Clara. He smiled.

"Kids."

Galahad:

"Yeah."

Holar:

"Thank goodness."

A while later... Percy walked a little distance away. He went to heal his hands. The class remained where they were. Nobody spoke right away. Finally, Arthur broke the silence.

"We chose him."

William looked at him.

Arthur:

"He said it himself."

"And it's true."

Charlotte:

"At first, we listened because he was the president."

Nathaniel:

"Then because he was Percy."

William nodded.

"He never sent us first."

"He went first himself."

Charlotte:

"With the scorpions, he ran first."

Arthur:

"Into the lake, he jumped first."

Sophia:

"He took on our burden."

Daniel:

"When we fell, he lifted us up."

Ethan:

"He threw me."

Everyone turned to look at Ethan.

Ethan:

"Thought I'd add to the general mood."

Nathaniel:

"You ruined it."

Ethan:

"Alright."

Charlotte looked at Percy again. In the distance, Eleanor was healing his hands.

Charlotte:

"We chose him as our leader."

"And he..."

"Didn't run from the responsibility."

William continued.

"In fact, the lesson we couldn't learn..."

"He chose to learn on his own."

Arthur frowned.

"What lesson?"

William looked at Percy's hands.

"Sending us."

Silence.

Nathaniel:

"We're seven years old."

William:

"I know."

Arthur:

"This isn't normal."

Galahad spoke from behind them.

"It's not."

Everyone turned to him. Galahad smiled.

"But if you don't leave him alone..."

"Maybe he won't have to be abnormal."

Charlotte:

"What do you mean?"

Galahad looked at Percy.

"Share his burden."

"Just like he taught you."

A short while later, Percy returned. His hands were healed. Everyone was staring at him. Percy stopped.

"What?"

Arthur:

"Nothing."

Percy:

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Nathaniel:

"You're ugly."

Percy:

"Fuck off."

Nathaniel smiled. Percy clapped his hands.

"Friends."

Everyone tensed up.

Percy:

"Your third task..."

Everyone stood up.

"WHAT?!"

Percy:

"Will start in the morning."

Silence.

Arthur:

"Liar."

Percy:

"What?"

Charlotte:

"You're lying."

Percy:

"No."

Nathaniel:

"You're definitely waking us up in the middle of the night."

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"I don't believe it."

Percy:

"Really."

William:

"Why?"

Percy smiled. This time, it wasn't devilish.

"I want you to rest."

Everyone grew even more suspicious.

Arthur:

"Something is definitely up."

Percy:

"Nothing is up."

"You learned enough today."

"You suffered enough."

"You worked enough."

Percy looked at the three piranhas.

"Now, let's cook these nicely."

Nathaniel:

"And then?"

Percy:

"Eat."

Arthur:

"And then?"

Percy:

"Go to bed."

Charlotte:

"And then?"

Percy:

"Sleep."

Ethan:

"And then?"

Percy:

"WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, DAMN IT!"

Everyone went quiet. Percy took a deep breath.

"Sometimes..."

"Knowing when to stop is important too."

William nodded.

"True."

Percy:

"We'll continue tomorrow."

"Now, double time."

"To your beds."

Arthur:

"Food?"

Percy:

"Food first."

Arthur:

"Alright."

Nathaniel:

"Your first sensible order."

Percy:

"Fourteen laps."

Nathaniel:

"I apologize."

Percy:

"Good boy."

THAT NIGHT

The camp finally grew quiet. The children had eaten their dinner. Most of them fell asleep the moment they hit their beds. But a little distance away from the camp... Four people were still awake. Holar Jun. Eleanor. Elizabeth Olsen. Galahad. They were sitting around the fire. For a long time, no one spoke. Finally, Olsen broke the silence.

"He's seven years old."

Eleanor:

"We know."

Olsen:

"I wanted to remind you."

Galahad looked at the fire.

"He scared me today."

Holar turned to him.

"Why?"

Galahad:

"Not because of his decision."

"Because he understood the price of that decision."

Eleanor listened silently.

Galahad:

"Most leaders give orders."

"They look at the outcome later."

"He..."

"Tries to experience the outcome first."

Olsen:

"Isn't that a good thing?"

Galahad thought for a moment.

"It's both good."

"And dangerous."

Holar:

"Why?"

Galahad looked at Percy's tent.

"Because if he tries to carry everyone's pain..."

"As if it were his own..."

"One day, he might be crushed under it."

Eleanor replied immediately:

"That's why we won't leave him alone."

Olsen nodded.

"Absolutely."

Galahad:

"Just protecting him isn't enough."

Holar looked at him.

Galahad:

"We need to protect his character."

Eleanor:

"Speak."

Galahad:

"Not his power."

"Percy will grow powerful anyway."

"Nor his intellect."

"He's already thinking ahead."

Galahad looked into the fire.

"We need to protect the child he is today."

Olsen nodded silently.

"The child who, even while in pain..."

"Cares about the pain of others."

Eleanor:

"The child who heals even his rival."

Holar:

"The child who protects life."

Galahad:

"And the child who can remain a child."

Silence fell over them. Holar smiled.

"That is my duty."

Eleanor looked at him.

"Ours."

Galahad:

"Count me in too."

Olsen:

"Me as well."

Holar looked over the three of them. Then he chuckled softly.

"So we are four now."

Eleanor:

"Not enough."

Holar:

"What?"

Eleanor pointed at the tents.

"There are fifteen more over there."

Holar looked.

Eleanor:

"You saw it today."

"He will protect them."

"And they will protect him."

Galahad smiled.

"A team."

Holar:

"A team."

PERCY AND CLARA

Percy was lying in his bed. But he wasn't sleeping. He was staring at the ceiling. A voice came from the neighboring bed.

"Percy."

"Yes?"

"You're not sleeping."

"Neither are you."

Clara turned around. Percy looked at her too. They remained silent for a while.

Clara:

"Do your hands hurt?"

Percy looked at his hands.

"No."

"The potion healed them."

Clara:

"Liar."

Percy:

"Really."

Clara:

"I didn't ask about those."

Percy went silent.

Clara:

"Does it hurt inside?"

Percy didn't answer. Clara got out of bed. She walked up to Percy's bed. She sat on the ground.

Percy:

"What are you doing?"

Clara:

"Sitting beside you."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara:

"I want to."

Percy stared at her for a few seconds. Then he looked back at the ceiling.

"They were in so much pain."

Clara:

"I know."

Percy:

"You too."

Clara:

"Yes."

Percy:

"I wanted to say stop."

Clara:

"I know."

Percy looked at her.

"How?"

Clara:

"From your hands."

Percy went silent.

Clara:

"Percy."

"Don't carry everything on your own."

Percy:

"I'm the president."

Clara:

"And I'm Clara."

Percy:

"What kind of answer is that?"

Clara:

"A perfectly fine answer."

Percy chuckled involuntarily. Clara smiled too. Then Percy looked at her. For a long while.

Clara:

"What?"

Percy:

"Something."

Clara:

"What?"

Percy knitted his brows. As if searching for the right words. Finally, he found them.

"Your lips..."

Clara waited.

Percy:

"Look like they were drawn with a pencil."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy continued immediately.

"But I'm too young."

Clara:

"For what?"

Percy thought seriously.

"To be your painter."

Clara stared at him for a few seconds. Neither of them fully understood... What had just been said. But they knew it was sweet. A tiny smile formed on Clara's face.

"You're an idiot."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara:

"I don't know."

Percy:

"I gave you a compliment."

Clara:

"I know."

Percy:

"Then say thank you."

Clara:

"I won't."

Percy:

"Pain in my ass."

Clara:

"Because of you."

Percy:

"Go to sleep already."

Clara didn't get up.

Percy:

"Clara."

Clara:

"What?"

Percy:

"Your bed is over there."

Clara:

"I know."

Percy:

"Aren't you going?"

Clara shook her head side to side.

"I'm going to stay here a little longer."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara held his hand.

"I told you I wouldn't leave."

Percy looked at his hand. Then at Clara. This time, he didn't protest.

"Alright."

Clara leaned against the edge of the bed. Percy closed his eyes. Clara didn't let go of his hand. Percy fell asleep a few minutes later. Clara waited a bit longer. Then she whispered.

"Good night, Percy."

Percy was sleeping. Clara smiled.

"My president."

She thought for a second. Then shook her head.

"No."

She squeezed his hand a little tighter.

"Percy."

And that night... For the first time, Clara realized this. Percy could carry everyone. But that... Didn't mean no one should carry him.

EPISODE 31 — END