CHAPTER 35 — ONE SECOND

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 35 — ONE SECOND

The night of the fifth day passed in silence. Exceedingly silent. And that exact silence was making everyone uneasy. Because Percy Grant... Hadn't prepared anything in a long time. At least, not on the surface. When William stepped out of his tent, he spotted Percy. He was sitting alone by the edge of the lake. In front of him were fifteen small boxes. William inspected them for a few seconds. Then he looked at Percy.

"A new task?"

Percy didn't turn around.

"Yes."

"When?"

"Tomorrow morning."

William looked at the boxes.

"What's inside them?"

Percy smiled. William immediately turned around.

"Good night."

Percy:

"William."

William stopped.

"Yes?"

"Why are you running away?"

"Because you smiled."

"I just smiled normally."

"No."

William walked back to his tent. Percy watched him leave.

"You guys have become completely paranoid."

Arthur's voice came from inside the tent.

"WITH GOOD REASON!"

MORNING — 07:00 AM

Everyone was standing in front of Percy. Clara looked at him with sleepy eyes.

"What is today's hell?"

Percy:

"You won't sleep."

Silence. Nathaniel raised his eyebrows.

"For how long?"

Percy:

"Seventy-two hours."

The silence continued.

Arthur:

"Three days."

Percy:

"Good boy."

Arthur:

"Three days?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Charlotte:

"Without stopping?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"No."

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"No."

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"Let's change the presidential system."

Percy:

"No."

William:

"Are we just going to stay awake?"

Percy's eyes turned to William. William sighed.

"Of course not."

Percy:

"Not."

Everyone:

"Ugh..."

Percy pointed at the boxes behind him.

"Each of you will wear one of these."

The boxes were opened. Out came magic tools resembling earphones. Arthur picked one up.

"What is this?"

Percy:

"A sound stone."

Clara:

"What will it play?"

Percy:

"Waves."

Nathaniel:

"Waves?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Percy snapped his fingers. The devices activated. Shhhhh... Huuuush... Shhhhh... Huuuush... Waves crashing onto a sea shore. Slow. Rhythmic. Repetitive. Soothing.

Clara:

"This is actually nice."

Percy:

"Yes."

Clara immediately looked at him.

"Which is why it's terrible."

Percy smiled.

"You're learning."

William took the device off.

"Monotonous sound."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"It reduces brain stimulation."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Combined with sleep deprivation..."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Our decision-making speed will drop."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Our reflexes too."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Our attention span too."

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Our perception too."

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"Say 'no' just once, will you?"

Percy:

"No."

Nathaniel:

"Thank you."

Percy clasped his hands behind his back.

"The rules are simple."

"Seventy-two hours without sleep."

"Your magic is permitted."

"Food is permitted."

"Water is permitted."

"Helping each other is permitted."

"Talking is permitted."

"Walking around is permitted."

"You can rest as much as you like."

Arthur:

"Without sleeping."

Percy:

"Without sleeping."

Charlotte:

"Will there be tasks?"

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"When?"

Percy:

"You won't know."

"It could be at the very first minute."

"It could be at the seventy-first hour."

"They could come back-to-back."

"Nothing might happen for hours."

Clara:

"And you want us to make the right decision."

Percy:

"No."

William's brows knitted.

Percy:

"That is not today's lesson."

Everyone fell silent.

Percy:

"When your consciousness is not fully present..."

"I don't want you performing heroics."

"Nor do I want you making instant right decisions."

"I want the exact opposite."

Percy pointed at his temple.

"If something is wrong in here..."

"First, you will notice it."

"Then..."

"You will stop."

"You will allow your consciousness to catch up."

Arthur:

"For how long?"

Percy:

"As long as necessary."

William understood.

"Delaying the decision."

Percy:

"No."

"Making the decision conscious."

Silence.

Percy:

"It could be one second."

"It could be five seconds."

"It could be one minute."

"However..."

"When your sleep-deprived brain gives you the first answer..."

"You will not accept it as reality."

Percy drew a line in the dirt.

"Warning."

Second line.

"Stop."

Third line.

"Check."

Fourth line.

"Decision."

Percy:

"Do not forget this sequence."

"Especially in the final hours."

Galahad was listening from a distance. Percy turned to him. His expression suddenly shifted.

"Brother."

Galahad:

"Yes, little commander?"

Percy:

"Don't call me little."

Galahad:

"Alright, little commander."

Percy:

"Brother..."

Galahad smiled.

Percy:

"Why don't you join this test too?"

Everyone looked at Galahad.

Galahad:

"Me?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Galahad:

"Why?"

Percy:

"I'm curious."

Galahad looked at Percy for a few seconds. Then he shrugged.

"Sure."

Arthur:

"Really?"

Galahad:

"Why not?"

Nathaniel:

"Seventy-two hours with us?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

On Percy's face... That look appeared.

Galahad:

"Don't look at me like that."

Percy:

"Like what?"

Galahad:

"You're going to test me."

Percy:

"Maybe."

Galahad:

"You can try."

Percy:

"Ambitious."

Galahad:

"Twelfth-stage Advanced level."

Percy:

"Show-off."

Galahad:

"Don't be jealous."

Percy:

"One day I will surpass you."

Galahad smiled.

"I'm waiting."

FIRST 12 HOURS

Nothing happened. Seriously. Nothing at all. The first few hours were easy. The children talked. Played cards. Walked around. Practiced magic. Clara pulled Percy's hair. Percy tried to retaliate. Arthur and Charlotte argued. William read a book. As for Nathaniel... He ate. Then ate again. Then ate some more. Percy looked at him.

"What are you doing?"

Nathaniel swallowed the bread in his mouth.

"Surviving."

Percy:

"You ate four meals in three hours."

Nathaniel:

"Five."

Percy:

"That's even worse."

Nathaniel:

"Not to me."

Arthur:

"This kid gets stronger when he eats."

William raised his head.

"Actually, yes."

Nathaniel:

"What?"

William:

"Your signs of fatigue decreased."

Percy looked as well. Nathaniel's eyes... Were wider open than the others.

Percy:

"Interesting."

Nathaniel:

"Don't touch my food."

Percy:

"I won't."

Nathaniel pulled his plate to his chest.

"I don't trust you."

Percy:

"You're right not to."

18TH HOUR

The first test arrived. A scream echoed from inside the forest. Everyone jumped up. Arthur was about to sprint immediately.

Percy:

"Arthur."

Arthur stopped. Percy pointed at his temple. Arthur remembered. Warning. Stop. Check. Decision. Arthur closed his eyes. He listened. The scream came again.

Charlotte:

"A child's voice."

William:

"East."

Arthur took a breath.

"Alright."

He opened his eyes.

"Now."

They moved together. It was an illusion. When they returned, Percy said nothing.

Arthur:

"Did I pass?"

Percy:

"I don't know."

Arthur:

"You prepared it."

Percy:

"I won't tell you the results."

Arthur:

"Why?"

Percy:

"Because you'll try to please me."

Arthur went quiet. Galahad smiled softly.

24TH HOUR

The first day was complete. Conversations had grown sparse. The ocean waves... Had never stopped. Shhhhh... Huuuush... Shhhhh... Huuuush... Clara was sitting beside Percy.

"This sound..."

Percy:

"What?"

"Is starting to get on my nerves."

Percy:

"I still like it."

Clara:

"You're weird anyway."

Percy:

"Thank you."

Clara:

"It wasn't a compliment."

Percy:

"That's how your compliments are."

Clara was about to reply. She yawned. Percy looked at her.

Clara:

"Don't look."

Percy:

"I wasn't looking."

Clara:

"You were looking."

Percy:

"Don't sleep."

Clara:

"I'm not sleeping."

Percy:

"Your eyes are closed."

Clara:

"I was just..."

Her eyes opened.

"Checking."

Percy:

"Checking what?"

Clara:

"My eyelids."

Percy:

"The result?"

Clara:

"They work."

Percy laughed. Clara swatted his shoulder.

31ST HOUR

Galahad was still... Completely normal. Olsen was watching him from afar.

Eleanor:

"Hasn't he gotten tired?"

Olsen:

"He is tired."

Holar:

"He isn't showing it."

Eleanor:

"Percy noticed."

Percy was looking at Galahad from a distance. Galahad waved at him. Percy waved back.

Then said to himself:

"Show-off."

36TH HOUR

Second test. An explosion. Everyone flinched. A red light rose on the west side. Nathaniel stood up. Began to run. Then... He stopped. Everyone looked at him. Nathaniel closed his eyes. Took a breath. Once. Twice. Three times. Then he opened his eyes.

"William."

William:

"Yes?"

"Were the sound of the explosion and the light at the exact same time?"

William was surprised.

"No."

"How much difference?"

"About two seconds."

Nathaniel:

"Then they didn't come from the same spot."

William's eyes widened. Percy smiled from a distance.

Nathaniel:

"Two groups."

Arthur:

"I'll take the light."

Charlotte:

"I'm with you."

William:

"I'll take the sound."

Clara:

"I'm with William."

Nathaniel:

"I..."

Everyone looked at him.

Nathaniel:

"First I'm going to eat something."

Arthur:

"NATHANIEL!"

Nathaniel grabbed a loaf of bread.

"I NEED ENERGY!"

And ran.

48TH HOUR

Second night. Things had changed. Arthur was repeating a sentence twice. Charlotte wasn't noticing it. Clara sometimes stopped while walking. Forgetting why she had stopped. While William was doing calculations... He was re-checking simple numbers. As for Nathaniel... As long as he was eating... He was disturbingly fine. Percy looked at him.

"You're cheating."

Nathaniel:

"Food isn't cheating."

Percy:

"How are you still standing?"

Nathaniel:

"Potatoes."

Percy:

"Scientific explanation?"

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Nathaniel:

"Potatoes."

William:

"I can't argue with that."

Percy:

"At least you try."

William:

"I'm too tired."

But Galahad... Was still perfectly fine. Percy walked up to him.

"Brother."

"Yes?"

"How many fingers?"

Percy held up three fingers.

Galahad:

"Three."

Percy:

"Arthur's hair color?"

Galahad answered.

Percy:

"What was the first task?"

Galahad:

"Willpower."

"Second?"

"Courage."

"Third?"

"Pressure."

"Fourth?"

"Decision."

Percy:

"Today?"

Galahad:

"Waiting for consciousness to catch up."

Percy narrowed his eyes.

"Are you even human?"

Galahad:

"For now."

Percy:

"You are annoying."

Galahad:

"Thank you."

56TH HOUR

Right here... Hell broke loose. Percy's own mind... Was starting to play tricks on him. He thought he heard Clara calling his name. He turned around. Clara hadn't spoken.

"Did you say something?"

Clara:

"No."

Percy stopped. His first instinct... Was to move on. But he didn't. He closed his eyes. Warning. Stop. Check. He asked himself three questions. Where am I? Who am I with? What was I doing? He opened his eyes. Clara was watching him.

"Are you alright?"

Percy:

"Now I am."

Clara:

"Just now?"

Percy:

"I wasn't."

Clara's face turned serious.

Percy:

"That is the test."

Clara understood.

Percy:

"If I had made a decision..."

"Before coming to my senses..."

"It could have been wrong."

Clara held his hand.

Percy:

"What are you doing?"

Clara:

"A reference point."

Percy:

"What?"

Clara squeezed his hand.

"Know that I am real."

Percy looked at her. Then he smiled.

"Good idea."

Clara:

"I know."

61ST HOUR

The big test began. In the middle of the camp... An alarm blared. Holar stood up. Even Eleanor didn't know what it was. Olsen looked at Percy. Percy looked surprised as well. A mage ran out from the forest.

"MONSTERS!"

"OUTSIDE THE WALL!"

Arthur stood up. Charlotte stood up. Nathaniel set his food down.

William:

"How many?"

The mage:

"Around thirty!"

Clara:

"Stage?"

"Stages two and three!"

Arthur:

"We can go."

Percy:

"Stop."

Arthur looked at him. Percy's own eyes... Were barely staying open.

Percy:

"All of you, stop."

The mage:

"There is no time!"

Percy:

"That is exactly why."

He closed his eyes. William did too. Clara. Arthur. Charlotte. One by one... They all stopped. The mage yelled.

"People could die!"

Arthur's hand trembled. But he didn't move.

Percy:

"Check."

William:

"Which sector of the wall?"

The mage answered.

Charlotte:

"Where is the patrol?"

Answered.

Arthur:

"Why did the alarm sound from inside the camp?"

The mage went quiet. Everyone opened their eyes.

Percy:

"I'll ask again."

"Why did the alarm sound from here?"

The mage's expression shifted. And... The illusion shattered. Nathaniel sat down on the dirt.

"Son of a..."

Percy:

"Nathaniel."

Nathaniel:

"Very creative."

Galahad smiled.

"There it is."

Percy looked at him.

"What?"

Galahad:

"In the first hour..."

"You would have sprinted."

Percy:

"Yes."

Galahad:

"At the thirty-sixth hour..."

"Some of you would have paused."

Percy:

"Yes."

Galahad:

"At the sixty-first hour..."

"All of you stopped."

Percy remained silent for a few seconds. Then he looked at his class. He was right.

68TH HOUR

Nobody was doing well. Even Nathaniel had collapsed. He had bread in his hand. But he had forgotten to chew.

Percy:

"Nathaniel."

Nathaniel:

"Hmm?"

"Food is in your mouth."

Nathaniel chewed.

"Thank you."

Arthur was sitting on the ground. Charlotte was leaning her back against his.

"Don't sleep."

"I'm not sleeping."

"You're sleeping."

"So are you."

"I'm checking on you."

"I'm checking on you too."

Both fell silent. Then at the exact same time:

"Definitely not romantic."

William:

"Nobody asked."

Arthur:

"Shut up."

Clara was holding Percy's hand.

Percy:

"How many hours?"

William:

"Sixty-eight."

Percy:

"Four."

William:

"Yes."

Percy:

"Easy."

William looked at him.

"Your math is broken."

Percy:

"Why?"

William:

"Four hours right now..."

"Feels longer than the first forty hours."

Percy thought about it.

"True."

72ND HOUR

The final test arrived. There was no alarm. There was no scream. There was no explosion. Just... Percy stood up.

"Friends."

Everyone looked at him. Percy held a small slip of paper in his hand.

"The final task."

Arthur forced himself upright.

Percy:

"What is written on this paper..."

"You will execute immediately."

William's eyes shifted. Percy handed the paper to Arthur. Arthur read it. Then passed it to Charlotte. Then to William. To Clara. To Nathaniel. The paper made its way through everyone.

Written on it was:

ATTACK HOLAR JUN.

Everyone looked at Holar. Holar... Said nothing.

Percy:

"Begin."

Nobody moved.

Percy:

"I gave an order."

Arthur's hand rose. He began gathering magic. Then... He stopped. Lowered his hand.

Percy:

"Arthur?"

Arthur closed his eyes.

"One second."

Percy fell silent. Arthur took a breath.

"Why are we attacking?"

Percy didn't answer. Charlotte closed her eyes as well. William re-read the paper.

Nathaniel:

"This..."

He paused.

"This is ridiculous."

Percy:

"You are disobeying an order."

Clara looked at Percy. Her eyes were close to shutting. However... She didn't pull her hand from Percy's.

"No."

Percy:

"No what?"

Clara:

"I'm not disobeying."

"I'm waiting for my consciousness to catch up."

In Percy's eyes... Something sparkled.

William:

"There is no threat."

Arthur:

"Holar isn't attacking us."

Charlotte:

"No reason was provided."

Nathaniel:

"And I..."

Everyone looked at him.

Nathaniel:

"Am extremely tired."

Percy:

"That is not a valid reason."

Nathaniel:

"I know."

He closed his eyes. Five seconds passed. Ten. Then he opened them.

"No."

Percy:

"Why?"

Nathaniel:

"Because..."

"I still don't know why we're attacking."

Percy looked at the class for a long time. Then... He smiled.

"Correct."

He tore up the paper.

"The test is over."

Nobody reacted.

Percy:

"Seventy-two hours are complete."

Silence.

Percy:

"You may sleep."

Nathaniel:

"...For real?"

Percy:

"For real."

Nathaniel fell straight to the ground.

Arthur:

"Bed..."

Took two steps. Then came back.

"Too far."

Charlotte lay down beside him.

"Agreed."

William collapsed right where he stood. Clara... Still didn't let go of Percy's hand.

Percy:

"Clara."

"Hmm?"

"The test is over."

"I know."

"You can let go of my hand."

Clara closed her eyes.

"No."

Percy:

"Alright."

However, one person... Was still standing up. Galahad. Percy looked at him. Galahad's hair was neat. His posture was straight. His gaze was clear.

Percy:

"Brother."

Galahad:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"Are you..."

"Are you alright?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Percy:

"Aren't you going to sleep?"

Galahad:

"In a bit."

Percy:

"The test?"

Galahad:

"Perfect."

Percy's mouth hung open. William opened an eye from the ground.

"Perfect?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Arthur:

"Fuck off, bro."

Galahad:

"Thank you."

Percy looked at Galahad. Then clenched his fist.

"One day."

Galahad:

"What?"

Percy:

"I will surpass you."

Galahad smiled.

Percy:

"Definitely."

Galahad leaned down. Ruffled Percy's hair.

"Sleep first."

Percy:

"Don't mess up my hair."

Galahad:

"Good night, little commander."

Percy:

"Don't call me lit—"

Percy's eyes closed. Before he could finish the sentence... He collapsed beside Clara. Clara half-opened an eye. Pulled Percy's hand closer. Tucked it beside her.

"Dummy..."

And fell asleep.

A short while later... Four people were watching the camp. Holar Jun. Eleanor. Elizabeth Olsen. Galahad.

Eleanor:

"What did they learn this time?"

Galahad looked at the sleeping children.

"To slow down."

Olsen:

"By keeping them awake for seventy-two hours?"

Galahad:

"Strange."

"But yes."

Holar:

"Percy didn't teach them fast thinking."

Eleanor:

"He did the exact opposite."

Holar nodded.

"When their minds are at their worst..."

"He taught them to give themselves time."

Olsen:

"In a battle..."

"One second can be very long."

Holar:

"Sometimes."

Then he looked at the sleeping Percy.

"However, a wrong decision..."

"Can be as long as a lifetime."

Galahad remained silent.

Eleanor:

"Did you really perform perfect?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Eleanor:

"Without any struggle?"

Galahad:

"I struggled."

Olsen:

"But you didn't show it."

Galahad nodded.

"That was Percy's lesson anyway."

"It wasn't to not struggle."

"It was to give yourself the time..."

"To come to your senses."

Holar smiled.

"Good student."

Galahad:

"Good teacher."

The four of them looked at Percy. The seven-year-old boy... Was sleeping beside Clara. His hand was still in hers.

Eleanor:

"How long will they sleep now?"

Holar:

"As long as they want."

Galahad:

"Do you know Percy's task for tomorrow?"

The three of them looked at him. Galahad smiled.

"I don't know either."

Eleanor:

"Why did you say it like that then?"

Galahad:

"I wanted to scare you."

Olsen laughed.

Holar:

"Good night, Galahad."

Galahad:

"Good night."

He took a few steps. Then stopped. Turned around.

"By the way..."

Everyone looked at him. Galahad was grinning softly.

"BOOOOOOW YEAAAAAAH."

The three of them froze. Percy suddenly spoke in his sleep:

"THAT'S MINE, DAMN IT..."

Galahad's eyes widened. Eleanor burst into laughter. Olsen covered her mouth. Holar turned his head away.

Galahad:

"YOU WERE ASLEEP!"

Percy didn't answer. He really was sleeping.

Eleanor:

"Give the boy's catchphrase back."

Galahad:

"I only said it once."

Holar:

"Even while sleeping, he protects it."

Galahad nodded.

"Alright."

"I won't use it again."

He walked toward his tent. Then whispered very softly.

"Bow yeah."

Percy's voice didn't come. Galahad relaxed. And the camp... Finally fell completely silent.

EPISODE 35 — ONE SECOND

END