CHAPTER 36 — BALANCE II

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 36 — BALANCE II

Galahad stepped off the log onto the shore. There wasn't a single drop of panic on him. Percy looked at him for a long time. Galahad flipped his hair back.

"Perfect?"

Percy exhaled through his nose.

"Show-off."

Galahad laughed. The students in the class were still talking. William was trying to process what he had seen. Clara was looking at Galahad in admiration. Arthur was silently examining the log. Nathaniel was shaking his head.

"Advanced twelve is another world."

Galahad looked at Percy.

"One day you'll do it too."

Percy's brow arched slightly.

"One day?"

Galahad:

"Percy..."

Percy smiled.

"Watch and learn, bro."

Galahad's smile slowly faded. Percy turned around.

"Aunt Eleanor."

Eleanor:

"Yes?"

"I need your help."

Eleanor's expression grew serious. Percy didn't ask for help easily. She walked over to him.

"What do you want, Percy?"

Percy pointed at the lake.

"You use wind power."

"Yes."

"Can you raise the waves?"

Eleanor looked at the lake.

"How much?"

Percy:

"Six meters."

Silence.

Nathaniel:

"...How many?"

Percy:

"Six."

Charlotte:

"Meters?"

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Percy."

Percy looked at him.

William:

"This log."

"Yes."

"A six-meter wave."

"Yes."

William went quiet.

"Alright."

Arthur looked at him.

"Alright?"

William:

"What else can I even say?"

Eleanor, however, wasn't laughing.

"Percy."

"Yes, Auntie?"

"Are you sure?"

Percy:

"I'm sure."

Eleanor stepped a bit closer.

"You won't use Orin."

"No."

"No balance magic."

"None."

"You won't anchor the log."

"No."

"Six meters is a serious wave."

Percy nodded.

"I know."

Eleanor's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Percy looked at the class. Then at Galahad.

"I'm their leader."

No one spoke. Percy continued.

"If I'm asking something of them..."

"I have to be able to do it myself first."

Arthur's face shifted.

Percy:

"I know it will be hard for them."

"I know they'll be afraid."

"They'll fall."

"They'll get back up."

"I can't just stand on the shore and tell them to do it."

Galahad was watching him silently.

Percy:

"I'm going to do something even harder."

"So when they get scared..."

"They'll remember what their president did."

Percy turned to Galahad.

"Watch and learn, bro."

This time, Galahad didn't smile.

"I'm watching."

Percy walked to the shore. He took off his shoes. He set aside his jacket.

Clara:

"Percy."

Percy turned around. There was worry on Clara's face.

"Six hours?"

Percy:

"Six hours."

"On a six-meter wave?"

"Yes."

Clara:

"That's stupid."

Percy:

"Maybe."

Clara:

"You don't have to do it."

Percy:

"I can do it."

Clara didn't reply. Percy stepped into the water. He swam out to the log. He climbed up on it. He placed both feet firmly. Galahad watched carefully.

Percy:

"Auntie."

Eleanor was still hesitant. Percy nodded.

"Start."

Eleanor raised her hand. The wind... Changed direction. The lake's calm surface shivered. The first wave formed. Then the second. The third was larger. One meter. Two. Three. The students' expressions changed.

Nathaniel:

"Percy..."

Four meters. The log began to rise. Five. Clara stepped forward instinctively. Galahad extended an arm.

"Wait."

Clara looked at him. Galahad's eyes were fixed on Percy.

"He believes he can do it."

Six meters. The wave surged high. Percy was carried upward. Then... The log plummeted down. Percy's knees bent. His chest plunged forward. For a moment, he seemed about to fall. But... He stayed. Arthur's eyes widened.

"How?"

William didn't answer. A second wave hit. This time Percy was thrown to the left. His foot slipped. He came right to the edge of the log.

Clara:

"Percy!"

Percy planted his foot back down. He gathered his balance. Third wave. Fourth. Fifth. Percy was still standing. But it wasn't perfect. He was struggling. He was losing it. He was finding it again. Galahad noticed this. Percy... Wasn't like Galahad. Galahad's balance was flawless. Percy's balance was constantly being shattered. But what Percy was doing was something else. Every time it broke... He relocated his center. William whispered.

"I get it."

Arthur:

"Get what?"

William:

"Bro Galahad adapted to the wave."

"Bro Galahad already knows this."

William pointed at Percy.

"But Percy is learning."

Galahad's lips curled up.

"Correct."

Eleanor had noticed too. Every wave came differently. She wasn't letting Percy memorize the pattern. Eleanor was deliberately breaking it up. From the right. From the left. Diagonally. In rapid succession. Sometimes she stopped for a few seconds. The moment Percy relaxed... A new wave.

Percy:

"AUNTIE!"

Eleanor:

"WHAT?"

Percy:

"YOU'RE DOING THIS ON PURPOSE!"

Eleanor:

"YOU ASKED FOR SIX METERS!"

Percy:

"I SAID SIX METERS!"

"NOT AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT!"

Eleanor:

"FOCUS!"

Percy:

"I AM FOCUSING!"

Another wave struck. Percy nearly flew off.

Nathaniel:

"He's dead."

William:

"No."

Percy straightened back up.

Nathaniel:

"How is he not dead?"

William:

"Because he's Percy."

Clara's fists were clenched tight. But she didn't take her eyes off him.

FIRST HOUR

Percy's legs began to tremble. Arthur wasn't talking anymore. Neither was Charlotte. Ethan. Sophia. Nathaniel. William. They were all watching. For an hour... Percy had lost his balance hundreds of times. But he hadn't fallen into the water.

Galahad:

"Percy!"

Percy looked at him.

"WHAT?"

"You're relying too much on your right shoulder!"

Percy tried it on the next wave. He met it much cleaner.

Percy:

"THANKS, BRO!"

Galahad smiled.

SECOND HOUR

Eleanor's wind continued unabated. Percy's feet had turned red. His knees were shaking involuntarily now. Clara couldn't take it anymore:

"That's enough!"

Percy looked at her.

Clara:

"You proved your point!"

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"You've been up there for two hours!"

Percy:

"I said six."

Clara:

"Percy!"

Percy:

"Clara."

His voice was calm.

"I told them six hours."

"I will stand here for six hours."

Clara went quiet. Percy looked straight ahead again.

THIRD HOUR

Arthur had sat down on the ground. He was watching Percy. In the past... The things he had said about him came to mind. Loser. You're a nobody. Orphan. Arthur lowered his eyes. Then he looked at Percy again.

To himself:

"I really was an idiot."

Charlotte heard him. But she said nothing. Arthur didn't explain either. Not yet... He knew he hadn't earned the right to fix certain things yet.

FOURTH HOUR

Percy was struggling severely now. Eleanor was about to reduce the wind several times. Every time, Percy noticed.

"Auntie."

Eleanor:

"What?"

"Don't reduce it."

Eleanor:

"Percy..."

"Don't reduce it."

Eleanor took a deep breath. She powered it back up. Holar looked at his grandson from afar. He wasn't hiding his pride.

"My grandson."

Eleanor instantly:

"Mine too."

Holar:

"He's not your grandson."

Eleanor:

"I don't care."

Holar:

"Genetically speaking—"

Eleanor:

"Shut up, old man."

Olsen:

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit NovelPhoenix for the authentic version.

"Don't start now."

Holar:

"She started it."

Eleanor:

"You were born."

Holar:

"That's not my fault."

Olsen:

"Both of you, quiet."

Galahad shook his head.

"Percy is more mature."

Both of them at the same time:

"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS."

Galahad:

"...Alright."

FIFTH HOUR

Not a single member of the class had left. In the beginning, this was Percy's show. It wasn't anymore. This... Had become their standard. Their president wasn't on the shore. Their president... Was going beyond what he was going to ask of them.

Nathaniel:

"He's going to stay until the sixth hour."

William:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"How do you know?"

William:

"Because he said so."

Nathaniel went silent. Then he nodded.

"Yeah."

FIVE HOURS AND FIFTY-NINE MINUTES

Percy was completely breathless now. Eleanor checked the time. So did Galahad. Clara was counting down.

"Ten."

Percy met the wave.

"Nine."

Another one.

"Eight."

Percy slipped. He corrected himself.

"Seven."

Arthur stood up. So did William. One by one... The entire class stood up.

"Six."

Percy's knees looked ready to buckle.

"Five."

The wave surged high.

"Four."

Percy vanished. Behind a six-meter wall of water... No one could see him.

"Three."

The wave collapsed. The log reappeared. Percy... Was standing.

"Two."

Eleanor prepared the final wave. This one... Was the most chaotic of all.

"One."

The wave struck. The log flipped almost vertical. Percy's foot slipped completely. His body was thrown backward. Clara held her breath. At the very last instant, Percy shifted his weight. He slammed his foot back down. The log leveled out. And... Eleanor lowered her hand. The wind cut out. Six hours. It was complete. No one spoke for several seconds. Percy was standing on the log. Then he looked at Galahad.

"Bro."

Galahad:

"Yes?"

Percy smiled.

"Did you see that?"

Galahad burst out laughing.

"I saw it."

Percy:

"Perfect?"

Galahad:

"No."

Percy's face fell.

Galahad:

"It was better than perfect."

Percy paused.

Galahad:

"Because for me, it was easy."

"For you, it wasn't."

A small smile formed on Percy's face.

Galahad:

"And yet you didn't give up."

Percy threw his head back.

"BOOOOOOOOW YEAAAAAAH!"

Clara:

"NOW YOU'VE EARNED IT!"

Percy reached the shore. His legs buckled on his very first step. But before he fell... Clara caught him by the arm.

Percy:

"I'm fine."

Clara:

"I know."

"That's why I'm only holding you."

Percy looked at her. Then he turned to the class.

"Now it's your turn."

Everyone's face fell.

Percy:

"What?"

Nathaniel:

"Six hours?"

Percy:

"No, idiot."

Everyone relaxed.

Percy:

"Ten minutes."

Arthur:

"Normal waves?"

Percy:

"Normal waves."

Charlotte:

"One by one?"

Percy:

"First round."

William:

"And then?"

Percy:

"Groups of four."

Nathaniel:

"And after that?"

Percy:

"All together."

Nathaniel:

"Of course."

The test progressed faster than expected. Because now everyone... Knew what to pay attention to. Nathaniel passed on his second attempt. Ethan on his third. Sophia on her second attempt. Charlotte on her third. Arthur, on his second attempt... Slipped at the ninth minute. But he didn't panic. He relocated his center. He completed the ten minutes. When he stepped ashore, Percy just nodded. Arthur nodded back. Nothing else happened between them. But... For two boys who used to attack each other... Even this was progress. William passed on his first attempt. Clara had already passed. In the groups of four stage... They fell more often. Because now their individual balance wasn't enough. When Nathaniel slipped, three people fell. When Arthur threw his weight wrong... All four went into the water together. Charlotte didn't blame him.

Just:

"Again."

Arthur:

"Again."

On their second try, they passed.

The final stage arrived. The logs were tied together. The entire class was on top. Percy wasn't on the shore. He was among them too. Because he didn't hold himself separate from the class. But command was still his.

Percy:

"Nobody try to adjust on their own."

William:

"What if the right side gets heavy?"

Percy:

"Let the left side compensate."

Arthur:

"What if the front rises?"

Percy:

"Let the back wait."

Clara:

"What if someone slips?"

Percy:

"The person next to them grabs them."

Nathaniel:

"What if I fall?"

Percy:

"Then God help us all."

Nathaniel:

"Great."

The first wave came. The structure shook. But they didn't fall. Second wave. Charlotte slipped. Arthur reflexively grabbed her arm. His own balance broke. William grabbed Arthur. Nathaniel grabbed William. The wave passed. No one fell. Arthur let go of Charlotte's arm.

"You okay?"

Charlotte:

"I'm okay."

Arthur nodded. He said nothing else. Third wave. Clara caught Percy's hand.

Percy:

"Center."

Clara:

"I know."

Fourth. Fifth. Sixth. Now... They weren't speaking. They were feeling each other. When one shifted their weight... The others responded. When one slipped... Two hands reached out. When one panicked... The person next to them stayed grounded. Ten minutes were up.

Percy:

"FINISHED!"

Instantly, everyone jumped into the water. No one tried to stay balanced anymore.

SPLASH.

When they came ashore... Percy stood before them.

"Today's lesson?"

William:

"Balance."

Percy:

"Incomplete."

Clara:

"Maintaining your center."

Percy:

"Incomplete."

Arthur thought for a moment.

Then:

"Maintaining other people's balance too."

Percy looked at him. He nodded.

"That's it."

Arthur smiled faintly.

Percy:

"You can be strong on your own."

"You can stay balanced on your own."

"But in battle, there will be people beside you."

"Their mistake will affect you."

"Your mistake will affect them."

"When someone falls..."

"It's easy to blame them."

Percy pointed at the logs.

"The hard part..."

"Is holding onto them without falling yourself."

Silence fell.

Percy:

"Today, you learned that."

Galahad called out from behind.

"President."

Percy turned around.

"Yes, bro?"

Galahad:

"That was good training."

Percy's face lit up. But he caught himself. He nodded slowly and heavily.

"Thank you."

Galahad raised an eyebrow. Percy held out for three seconds.

Then:

"BOOOOOOOOW YEAAAAAAH!"

Galahad burst out laughing. Clara shook her head side to side.

Eleanor:

"He endures for six hours."

Olsen:

"He can't stay serious for three seconds."

Holar:

"He's still a kid."

Eleanor looked at Holar. Then at Percy. She smiled.

"Thank goodness for that."

Percy turned back to the class.

"No more tasks today."

Everyone froze.

Nathaniel:

"What?"

Percy:

"You're dismissed."

Arthur:

"For real?"

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"You're not planning something?"

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"He might be lying."

Percy:

"I'm not lying."

Nathaniel:

"Food?"

Percy:

"Available."

Nathaniel closed his eyes.

"Today is a good day."

Percy:

"But tomorrow—"

The whole class:

"SHUT UP!"

Percy went quiet. He smiled. Because the eleventh day was over. And now the class... Was not the class of the first day.