CHAPTER 32 — UNDER PRESSURE

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 32 — UNDER PRESSURE

It was exactly 08:00 AM. The camp was completely silent. After everything that happened yesterday... Everyone was sleeping soundly. Percy slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling for a moment. Then he felt warmth in his hand. He turned his head. Clara was still beside him. She hadn't returned to her own bed during the night. She had fallen asleep at the edge of his bed. One of her hands was still holding Percy's. Percy looked at her for a few seconds. Then he looked at her hair. It was scattered everywhere. A strand lay across her face. The rest was spread across the pillow. Percy knitted his brows.

"So messy..."

He reached out his hand. He tried to fix her hair. He smoothed down one side. The other side became even worse. Percy stopped. He tried again. It turned out even messier. Percy pulled his hands back.

"Why did I even touch it?"

Clara stirred in her sleep. Percy instantly froze in place. Clara fell back into a deep sleep. Percy breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly withdrew his hand. He changed his clothes. He got ready. Then he quietly stepped outside.

The morning was cool. The lake looked calm once again. Not a trace remained of yesterday's hell. There was no red sand. There were no scorpions. The piranhas were nowhere to be seen either. Holar Jun was waiting by the lake. Percy walked up to him.

"Grandfather."

Holar turned around.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

Percy looked around.

"Is the area cleared?"

Holar nodded.

"Yes."

"The piranhas were withdrawn from the lake."

Percy:

"Good."

Holar:

"The scorpions were returned to their natural habitat."

Percy:

"Good."

Holar:

"All the sand has been removed."

Percy looked around once more. Not a single trace was left behind.

"Good."

Holar looked at his grandson.

"A new task?"

Percy smiled.

"Yes."

Holar felt in his gut... That something was about to go wrong again.

Percy:

"I might need your help."

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"Mine?"

"Yes."

Holar turned to face Percy completely. In the last two tasks, Percy... Had avoided asking for help as much as possible. Now he had come straight to Holar. This was not a good sign.

Holar:

"What do I need to do?"

Percy gave an innocent smile.

"My magic power is sealed."

Holar:

"Yes."

Percy pointed at the tents.

"So I will kindly ask you."

Holar watched him.

Percy:

"Could you wake everyone up?"

Holar waited for a few seconds. Percy added.

"Show no mercy."

Silence. Then... A grin formed on Holar's face. When Percy saw that grin... He took a step backward.

"Grandfather."

Holar:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"Why did you smile like that?"

Holar:

"I just smiled normally."

Percy:

"..."

Holar:

"What?"

Percy:

"Alright."

Holar rolled his shoulders. He took a deep breath. Then...

"WAKE UP, YOU DAMN KIDS!"

Percy flinched. Holar's voice shattered the quiet camp.

"YOU LAZY FLEA BAGS!"

Sounds of movement came from inside the tents.

Arthur:

"WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

Nathaniel:

"IS IT AN ATTACK?!"

Charlotte:

"ARTHUR, GET UP!"

Arthur:

"I'M UP!"

William:

"What time is it?"

Holar continued.

"WHO SLEEPS THIS MUCH ON A BATTLEFIELD?!"

Then... He released his aura.

BOOM.

The entire camp collapsed. The tent poles trembled. The surface of the lake rippled violently. Arthur fell out of his bed. Nathaniel slammed face-first into the dirt. Charlotte rolled over together with her blanket. William's bed slid sideways. Ethan fell directly onto the ground. And inside another tent... Eleanor rolled off her bed.

"OW!"

She stopped for a second. She felt the pressure. Her eyes snapped open. She recognized this aura.

"HOLAR!"

Holar shouted from outside.

"GOOD MORNING!"

Eleanor stood up. Her hair was completely wild.

"SOMEDAY, OLD MAN!"

Holar's ear twitched slightly.

Eleanor:

"SOMEDAY I WILL KILL YOU!"

Holar replied from the lake shore:

"I HEARD THAT!"

Eleanor froze. Percy turned his head away. He was trying hard not to laugh.

Holar:

"You come out too, Eleanor!"

Eleanor:

"JUST YOU WAIT!"

Percy whispered.

"Get well soon."

Holar:

"What did you say?"

Percy:

"Nothing at all."

Minutes later... Everyone was outside. Not a single face looked happy. Clara's hair was still completely disheveled. Percy tried his best not to look at her. Clara noticed.

"What?"

Percy:

"Nothing."

Clara:

"What did you do to my hair?"

Percy froze.

"I didn't do anything."

Clara:

"Percy."

Percy:

"It was the wind."

Eleanor:

"There is no wind."

Percy:

"Aunt."

Eleanor:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"Why is everyone selling me out?"

Eleanor:

"Because it's funny."

Percy took a deep breath. Then he looked at his class.

"I assume you're ready."

Arthur:

"No."

Percy:

"You look full of energy."

Nathaniel:

"We aren't."

Percy:

"Wonderful."

Nathaniel:

"WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!"

Percy clapped his hands.

"Line up."

Everyone took their places sluggishly. Arthur. Charlotte. William. Nathaniel. Clara. Ethan. Sophia. Daniel. Marcus. Theodore. Noah. Adrian. Elias. Lucas. The other students. Galahad was walking over from a distance. Olsen stepped up beside Eleanor. The four adults... Were in their watching positions once again. Percy put his hands behind his back.

"I have prepared our new task."

Then he smiled. Arthur's face dropped.

"No."

Percy:

"What?"

Charlotte:

"He smiled again."

Percy:

"I just smiled normally."

Nathaniel:

"No."

Clara:

"Definitely no."

Ethan:

"It was devilish."

Percy:

"You're exaggerating."

William watched in silence. Then he spoke up.

"Something is coming."

Percy looked at him.

"What's coming?"

William:

"I don't know yet."

Percy:

"You think too much."

William:

"You taught me."

Percy went quiet for a few seconds.

"True."

Then he clapped his hands.

"The task is very simple."

Everyone looked at him suspiciously.

"Five hundred push-ups."

Silence.

Arthur:

"Is that all?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Charlotte:

"Really?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"Five hundred?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Ethan:

"Until evening?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Arthur relaxed.

"Easy."

Clara nodded.

"After yesterday's ordeal..."

"This really is easy."

William said nothing. Percy continued.

"The last fifty..."

"Single-handed."

Arthur:

"Still doable."

Charlotte:

"If we have ten hours, it's comfortable."

Nathaniel:

"First time we get a normal task."

Percy's smile widened. William immediately spoke up.

"Wait."

Everyone turned to him.

William:

"He hasn't finished."

Silence. Percy looked at William. William looked at Percy. Percy was smirking.

Arthur:

"Here it comes."

Charlotte:

"I knew it."

Nathaniel:

"Oh come on."

Percy:

"Grandfather."

Holar:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"Sixty percent."

Everyone went quiet.

Arthur:

"What sixty percent?"

Percy:

"His aura."

Silence.

Nathaniel:

"I don't get it."

William:

"You get it."

Nathaniel:

"I didn't want to get it."

Percy continued.

"The first two hundred and fifty push-ups..."

"Under my grandfather's sixty percent aura."

Arthur looked at Percy. Then at Holar. Then back at Percy.

"The man who brought us to our knees yesterday?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Arthur:

"Sixty percent?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Arthur:

"Push-ups?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Arthur:

"I hate you."

Percy:

"There's more."

Arthur:

"Of course there is."

Percy:

"One more catch."

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William perked up his attention.

Percy:

"The first two hundred and fifty..."

"We won't move to the next phase until everyone finishes."

Charlotte:

"What do you mean?"

Percy:

"Simple."

"If someone lags behind..."

"You will wait."

Nathaniel:

"In push-up position?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes?"

Nathaniel:

"You are sick."

Percy:

"Thank you."

William:

"You mentioned an exception."

Percy looked at him.

William:

"Whoever finishes first can rest."

Percy smiled.

"Good boy."

"Yes."

"Whoever finishes two hundred and fifty..."

"Can rest until the others finish."

Arthur:

"That's good."

Percy:

"Maybe."

Arthur:

"Why maybe?"

Percy didn't answer.

"Then..."

"From two hundred and fifty..."

"To four hundred and fifty..."

He looked at Holar.

"Grandfather."

Holar smiled.

"Eighty percent."

Everyone's face dropped.

Nathaniel:

"Eighty WHAT?"

Percy:

"Eighty."

Charlotte:

"Percy!"

Percy:

"Yes?"

Charlotte:

"You'll be doing them too, right?"

Percy:

"Of course."

Arthur:

"Alright."

Percy:

"Why did you relax?"

Arthur:

"You will be in pain too."

Percy:

"Our friendship is evolving."

Arthur:

"Definitely."

Percy continued.

"And the last fifty..."

Everyone looked at Holar. On Holar's face... Was that exact same devilish grin.

Percy:

"One hundred percent."

Silence.

Eleanor:

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes, auntie?"

Eleanor:

"One hundred percent?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Eleanor looked at Holar.

"Full aura?"

Holar:

"Yes."

Olsen:

"The last fifty single-handed."

Percy:

"Yes."

Galahad raised his eyebrows.

"Interesting."

Nathaniel turned to him.

"INTERESTING?!"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"YOU COME AND DO IT THEN!"

Galahad:

"If you want."

Nathaniel:

"...I don't want to."

Percy continued.

"Your time limit..."

"Ten hours."

William:

"Sufficient."

Percy:

"I hope so."

Arthur:

"Penalty?"

Percy's smile returned. Everyone shut their mouths.

Percy:

"Very simple."

"Anyone who can't complete it..."

He looked at Galahad. Galahad looked back at him.

Percy:

"Will duel Brother Galahad..."

"One-on-one."

Silence. Galahad's mouth slowly opened. Then...

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Everyone turned to him. Galahad was doubled over with laughter.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Nathaniel's face was white as a sheet.

Arthur:

"Why is he laughing?"

William looked at Galahad. Then at Percy. Then back at Galahad.

"This is bad."

Charlotte:

"How bad?"

William:

"Very."

Nathaniel:

"Twelfth-stage Advanced level bad."

Arthur:

"Ah."

A second passed.

Arthur:

"WE ARE SCREWED."

Galahad was still laughing.

"Little commander."

Percy:

"Don't call me little."

Galahad:

"Is this the penalty?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Galahad:

"You made me the penalty."

Percy:

"Yes."

Galahad straightened up with pride.

"Best day of my life."

Eleanor:

"Psychopath."

Galahad:

"Thank you."

Percy raised his hand.

"One more detail."

Everyone:

"ENOUGH!"

Percy:

"Healing potions are forbidden."

Silence. Galahad's laughter stopped. Then it started up even louder.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Arthur:

"WHY DID THAT MAKE HIM LAUGH MORE?!"

Charlotte:

"THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW!"

Nathaniel:

"PERCY!"

Percy:

"What?"

Nathaniel:

"If we don't finish in time..."

Percy:

"You fight brother."

Nathaniel:

"Without potions."

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"And then?"

Percy:

"You'll probably cry."

Galahad:

"Definitely."

Nathaniel:

"I WILL DO IT, DAMN IT!"

Percy smiled.

"Now that's motivation."

Then his face turned serious. Everyone noticed the shift.

Percy:

"However..."

"The purpose of this task is not strength."

William raised his head.

Percy:

"Yesterday, you learned courage."

"The night before, willpower."

"Today..."

He looked at Holar.

"You will learn pressure."

Silence.

Percy:

"In battle, you won't be comfortable."

"Your body won't be comfortable."

"Your breath won't be comfortable."

"Your mind won't be comfortable."

"Maybe you won't even be able to stand."

Percy looked at the ground. Then at his friends.

"However, your task will continue."

Arthur listened quietly.

Percy:

"You cannot wait for the pressure to lift."

"You cannot wait for the danger to go away."

"You cannot wait for fear to pass."

"You cannot wait for pain to end."

"Because sometimes..."

"None of it will end."

Percy clenched his fist.

"And you will still keep going."

William's eyes shifted. Galahad was no longer laughing. Olsen was watching Percy intently.

Percy:

"My grandfather's aura..."

"Is not your enemy today."

"It's not something you should run from."

"It's not something you should wait out."

"It will be there."

Percy shrugged.

"And you will do your job."

Holar smiled. Percy lowered himself to the ground. He took the push-up position. Everyone was shocked.

Arthur:

"You're doing it now too?"

Percy:

"When else?"

Clara moved beside Percy. She took the push-up position. So did Arthur. Charlotte too. William. Nathaniel. One by one, everyone lowered themselves to the ground. Percy looked at Holar.

"We are ready."

Holar:

"Are you sure?"

Percy:

"No."

Everyone looked at Percy. Percy smiled.

"I don't need to be sure to start."

A proud smile formed on Holar's face.

"That's my grandson."

Eleanor:

"Mine too."

Clara from a distance:

"Me?"

Eleanor:

"You too."

Clara smiled.

Percy:

"Grandfather."

Holar:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"Sixty percent."

Holar closed his eyes. The aura expanded.

BOOM.

The whole class collapsed at the exact same moment. Percy's elbows bent. Arthur's chest hit the dirt. Charlotte gritted her teeth.

Nathaniel:

"SON OF A—"

Percy:

"KEEP GOING!"

William tried to draw a breath. Clara's arms were shaking. Percy tried to rise again. One centimeter. Two. Three. Arthur began to rise as well. Charlotte right behind him. William gritted his teeth. Nathaniel rose while cursing out loud. And the first push-up... Was complete.

Percy:

"ONE!"

Everyone:

"ONE!"

The second began. The pressure persisted.

Percy:

"TWO!"

Everyone:

"TWO!"

The third.

"FOUR!"

William:

"THREE!"

Percy stopped. Everyone looked at Percy.

Percy:

"I was testing you."

William:

"No."

Percy:

"I know how to count."

William:

"I doubt it."

Percy:

"THREE!"

Everyone:

"THREE!"

Eleanor shook her head side to side. Olsen smiled. Galahad folded his arms. Holar kept his aura steady. Then he looked at Percy. Percy's arms were trembling. But on his face... Was a small smile. Holar recognized it. Percy wasn't just training their bodies. This time... He was preparing their minds for something. To think in the middle of pressure. To decide in the middle of pressure. To move in the middle of pressure. And most importantly... Before the pressure lifted... To be able to keep going.

Percy:

"FOUR!"

Everyone:

"FOUR!"

Percy:

"FIVE!"

Everyone:

"FIVE!"

Holar's aura grew heavier. The earth sank slightly beneath them. Their arms trembled again. But none of them stopped. Because now, they knew. The pressure didn't need to end. They needed to keep going.

EPISODE 32 — UNDER PRESSURE

END