CHAPTER 36 — BALANCE

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 36 — BALANCE

DAY ELEVEN — 06:02

The camp was quiet. Uncomfortably quiet. The seventy-two-hour test was over. After that... No one had gotten up for an entire day. Literally no one. Arthur had turned twice in his sleep. Charlotte had drunk water once. Nathaniel had woken up to eat. Then gone back to sleep. How William knew this was unknown. But Percy... Woke up before everyone else. He opened his eyes. Looked at the ceiling. Checked his body. Arms. Legs. Head. Orin. All present and accounted for. He turned his head. Clara was asleep. Her hair covered half of her face. Percy looked at her for a few seconds. Then pulled her hair away from her face. Clara stirred slightly. Percy froze. Clara settled down again.

Percy:

"Good."

He got up slowly. Got ready. Stepped out of the tent. The sun was just rising. The lake was calm. Percy looked around. Took a deep breath. Then... Gathered Orin in his throat. Galahad opened his eyes in his sleep far away.

"...No."

Percy filled his lungs. And...

"WAKE UP, YOU BUMS!"

"GET UP!"

"GET UP!"

"GET UP!"

"GET UP!"

"IS THIS YOUR FATHER'S BARN?!"

"TIME FOR DUTY!"

"MUSTER UP! FORMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

The voice... Pounded across all of Lake District. Birds fled from the trees. Arthur fell out of his bed. Charlotte threw her blanket aside. Nathaniel bumped into the tent as he scrambled up. William opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. Clara sat up. Her hair was sticking out in every direction. And... Eleanor fell off her bed.

"DIE!"

From the adjacent tent came Olsen's voice.

"YOUR MOTHER—"

Another tent swung open. Galahad stepped outside. His hair was a complete mess. He looked at Percy. Looked at him for a long time.

Percy:

"Good morning, bro."

Galahad:

"..."

Percy:

"Bro?"

Galahad:

"You hadn't done this in a long time."

Percy:

"Did you miss it?"

Galahad:

"No."

Percy:

"I think you missed it."

Galahad:

"No."

Percy:

"It's obvious from your face."

Galahad:

"My face wants to kill you."

Percy:

"Basically the same thing."

Eleanor stepped out of her tent. Her hair looked like it had survived a battlefield.

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes, my dear Auntie?"

Eleanor:

"Run."

Percy:

"Why?"

Eleanor:

"RUN."

Percy instantly bolted. Eleanor gave chase.

"I'M GOING TO CATCH YOU!"

Percy:

"AUNTIE, VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER!"

Eleanor:

"IT'S THE ANSWER FOR YOU!"

Percy:

"GRANDPAAAAAA!"

Holar stepped out of his tent. Completely unbothered. Percy ran toward him.

"Grandpa!"

Holar stepped aside. Percy zipped past him.

Percy:

"..."

Eleanor was closing in. Percy looked at Holar.

"You sold me out."

Holar:

"I am neutral."

Eleanor:

"OUT OF THE WAY, OLD MAN!"

Holar:

"I already stepped aside."

Percy:

"TRAITOR!"

Just as Eleanor was about to grab him... Someone else cut off Percy's path. Elizabeth Olsen. Percy stopped. Olsen's hair... Was normally flawless. Right now, it wasn't. Percy took a step back.

Olsen:

"Good morning."

Percy:

"Good morning, Teacher."

Olsen:

"Did you sleep well?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Olsen:

"I didn't sleep."

Percy:

"Why?"

Olsen:

"BECAUSE SOMEONE WAS YELLING."

Percy looked behind him.

"Who?"

Olsen's eyes widened.

Galahad from a distance:

"Wrong answer."

Percy bolted to the left. Olsen ran after him. Eleanor came from the other direction.

Percy:

"TWO ON ONE IS UNFAIR!"

Arthur came out of his tent. Saw what was happening.

"Percy, run!"

Percy:

"HELP ME OUT HERE!"

Arthur:

"No."

Charlotte:

"Catch him!"

Percy:

"YOU TOO?"

Charlotte:

"ESPECIALLY ME!"

Clara finally stepped outside. Percy saw her.

"CLARA!"

Clara:

"What?"

Percy:

"HELP!"

Clara thought for a few seconds. Then called out to Eleanor.

"Auntie!"

Eleanor:

"WHAT?"

Clara:

"I'll block his left side!"

Percy:

"..."

Clara moved to the left. Percy stopped. Clara in front of him. Eleanor behind him. Olsen to his right. Galahad appeared to his left.

Percy:

"Bro."

Galahad:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"You're my brother."

Galahad:

"I know."

Percy:

"Protect me."

Galahad:

"You put us through a seventy-two-hour test."

Percy:

"You did perfect!"

Galahad:

"It's a matter of principle."

Percy looked around. There was no escape. Then... He looked at Holar.

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"Count me out."

Percy:

"I'm your grandson."

Holar:

"Not right now."

Percy:

"YOU SON OF A—"

Holar raised an eyebrow.

Percy:

"—most precious grandfather."

Holar:

"Good boy."

Eleanor grabbed Percy by the ear.

Percy:

"AUNTIE!"

Olsen grabbed his other ear.

Percy:

"TEACHER!"

Clara pulled his hair.

Percy:

"CLARA!"

Galahad lightly tapped his head.

Percy:

"BRO!"

Arthur applauded from afar.

Nathaniel:

"Justice."

William:

"Absolutely."

Percy:

"I HATE ALL OF YOU!"

Eleanor:

"Will you yell like that again?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Eleanor:

"What?"

Percy:

"No."

Olsen:

"Which one is it?"

Percy:

"Depends on the situation."

Clara:

"Wrong answer."

Percy:

"OW!"

Ten minutes later... The entire class was lined up. Percy stood before them. His hair was disheveled. Both of his ears were beet red. Clara was immensely pleased with herself.

Arthur:

"President."

Percy:

"What?"

Arthur:

"Your hair."

Percy straightened his hair.

"Shut up."

Charlotte:

"Your ears too."

Percy:

"Shut up."

Nathaniel:

"Both of them."

Percy:

"Nathaniel."

Nathaniel:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"You're starting first today."

Nathaniel:

"...I'm sorry."

Percy:

"Get over there."

Nathaniel:

"Ah, damn it."

Percy turned around. He pointed at the lake. About thirty meters out... A thick log was floating. Everyone looked.

Percy:

"Your task is simple."

William:

"It's not."

Percy:

"I haven't explained it yet."

William:

"It's still not."

Percy:

"You're biased."

William:

"I'm experienced."

Percy pointed at the log.

"Do you see that log in the lake?"

Arthur:

"Yes."

Percy:

"Each of you, in turn..."

"Will stand on that log."

Nathaniel:

"Is that it?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Silence.

Nathaniel:

"For real?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Arthur:

"For how long?"

Percy:

"Ten minutes."

Charlotte:

"Magic?"

Percy:

"Forbidden."

William:

"Orin?"

Percy:

"Forbidden."

Clara:

"Helping each other?"

Percy:

"Forbidden."

Nathaniel:

"Fish?"

Percy:

"Normal."

Nathaniel:

"Piranhas?"

Percy:

"None."

Nathaniel relaxed.

Percy:

"I think."

Nathaniel:

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'I THINK'?!"

Percy:

"Just a joke."

Nathaniel:

"I hate you."

Percy:

"I know."

William looked at the log. The waves were gentle. The task... Really looked easy. Which was precisely why William didn't like it.

"Percy."

"Yes?"

"What's the test?"

Percy:

"Balance."

William:

"Physical?"

Percy:

"Yes."

William waited. Percy remained silent.

William:

"Anything else?"

Percy:

"No."

William:

"Liar."

Percy:

"Prove it."

William went quiet. Percy smiled.

Arthur:

"HE SMILED AGAIN."

Percy:

"I smiled normally!"

Everyone:

"LIAR!"

Nathaniel was chosen first. He took off his shoes. Entered the water. Swam out to the log. Climbed up on top. For the first few seconds, he wobbled. Then... Found his balance.

Nathaniel:

"Is this it?"

Percy from the shore:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"This is easy!"

Percy:

"Nice."

William looked at Percy. Percy's hands were behind his back. He wasn't doing anything. One minute passed. Nathaniel was balanced. Two minutes. Three.

Nathaniel:

"Is there food afterward?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"Alright."

Fourth minute. Galahad looked at the log. Then at the water. Then at Percy. He had noticed something. But he didn't speak. Fifth minute. Nathaniel was standing on one foot now.

Arthur:

"Don't show off."

Nathaniel:

"Don't be jealous."

Sixth minute. And... The first large wave came. The log rose.

Nathaniel:

"Whoa—"

Bent his knees. Balanced.

Arthur:

"Nice!"

Nathaniel:

"Did you see that?"

Second wave. Nathaniel stayed up again. Third wave. Stronger. Nathaniel almost fell. But saved it.

Percy:

"Six minutes forty seconds."

Nathaniel:

"Easy!"

Percy:

"Alright."

William looked at the lake. The waves... Were getting a little bigger. Olsen noticed too.

"They're gradually rising."

Eleanor:

"It's not natural."

Holar:

"It's natural."

Eleanor looked at him.

Holar:

"Percy deliberately chose the morning hour."

Galahad:

"He calculated the tide."

Percy from afar:

"I CAN HEAR YOU!"

Galahad:

"I said it on purpose."

Percy:

"Shut up, bro."

Nathaniel:

"EIGHT MINUTES YET?"

Percy:

"Seven forty-two."

Nathaniel:

"TIME HAS SLOWED DOWN!"

Percy:

"No."

Nathaniel:

"ARE YOU SURE?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Eighth minute. A wave struck hard. Nathaniel fell.

SPLASH.

Arthur:

"HAHA!"

Nathaniel surfaced from the water.

"Shut your mouth!"

Percy:

"Eight minutes thirteen seconds."

Nathaniel swam back.

"Again?"

Percy:

"Later."

Nathaniel:

"I didn't pass."

Percy:

"No."

Nathaniel:

"Punishment?"

Percy:

"None."

Nathaniel was surprised.

"None?"

Percy:

"None."

William looked at Percy. This was even stranger.

Arthur went out next. Nine minutes. He fell. Charlotte went out. Eight forty-seven. She fell. Ethan. Six minutes. Sophia. Seven. Marcus. Eight. One by one... They all tried. William made it to nine minutes forty-two. He fell on the last wave. As he returned to shore... He wasn't angry. He was thinking.

This content has been unlawfully taken from NovelPhoenix; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Percy:

"What are you thinking?"

William:

"The log isn't the problem."

Percy:

"It's not."

William:

"Neither is the wave."

Percy:

"It's not."

William:

"We are the problem."

Percy smiled.

William:

"That face again."

Percy:

"Go on."

William:

"When we see the wave coming..."

"Our body reacts in advance."

Percy went quiet.

William:

"The wave isn't breaking our balance."

"Thinking the wave is coming breaks our balance."

Galahad's gaze shifted. Olsen understood as well.

Eleanor:

"Expectation."

William:

"Yes."

Percy nodded for the first time.

"You're close."

Clara's turn came. She got onto the log. Percy was standing on the shore.

Clara:

"Don't look."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara:

"You'll laugh if I fall."

Percy:

"I won't laugh."

Clara:

"Liar."

Percy:

"I'll laugh a little."

Clara:

"I knew it."

The first few minutes passed easily. Then the waves started. Clara was doing well. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.

Percy:

"Good."

Clara:

"Don't talk."

Percy:

"Alright."

Ninth minute. Clara's legs were shaking. Percy noticed. Clara was staring at the wave. She was waiting for the next one.

Percy:

"Clara."

"I told you not to talk."

Percy:

"Look at me."

Clara:

"No."

Percy:

"Look at me."

Clara shifted her eyes to him. The wave was approaching.

Percy:

"How old are we?"

Clara:

"What?"

Percy:

"How old are we?"

Clara:

"Seven."

Percy:

"Am I a better mage than you?"

Clara:

"No!"

Percy:

"Are you sure?"

Clara:

"Yes!"

Percy:

"I'm stronger."

Clara:

"You are not!"

The wave hit. The log surged up. Clara... Balanced without even realizing it.

Percy:

"Nine thirty."

Clara understood all at once.

Percy:

"Don't look at the wave."

Clara didn't take her eyes off Percy.

"You're cheating."

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"You are."

Percy:

"Prove it."

Clara:

"I'm going to beat you up in a bit and prove it."

Percy:

"Don't fall first."

The last wave arrived. The log lifted. Clara was looking right at Percy. And... She stayed standing.

Percy:

"Ten minutes."

Clara's eyes widened.

"I did it?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Clara:

"I DID IT!"

She threw her arms up. And... Lost her balance.

SPLASH.

Silence. Then Arthur burst into laughter. Charlotte squatted down. Nathaniel was pounding the ground. William covered his face. Percy tried to stay serious for a few seconds. It didn't work. He started laughing. Clara surfaced from the water. Her hair was plastered to her face.

Percy:

"You completed ten minutes!"

Clara:

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes?"

Clara started swimming toward him.

Percy:

"Why are you coming toward me?"

Clara:

"Run."

Percy:

"Clara."

Clara:

"RUN."

Percy:

"I'm the president."

Clara:

"NOT RIGHT NOW YOU AREN'T."

Percy ran.

A little later... Everyone gathered again. Clara was standing next to Percy. Percy's clothes were wet. No one asked how that happened. Clara was thoroughly satisfied.

Percy:

"William..."

"Was close."

He wrote a single word on the board.

BALANCE

Percy:

"Today's goal..."

"Is not 'don't fall'."

Arthur:

"What?"

Percy:

"You fell."

Nathaniel:

"We noticed."

Percy:

"You will keep falling."

"The log will move."

"The wave will come."

"The wind will blow."

"The ground will change."

Percy pointed at his own chest.

"But you..."

"Don't have to change with every change."

William:

"Expectation."

Percy:

"Part of it."

Percy pointed at the lake.

"You were afraid before the wave even arrived."

"When it arrived, you stiffened up."

"When it passed, you relaxed."

"Then you waited for the next one."

"Which means..."

"For ten minutes..."

"The waves were commanding you."

Silence.

Percy:

"I don't want that."

Arthur:

"What do you want?"

Percy:

"See the wave."

"Accept it."

"Adapt."

"But don't surrender your center to it."

Galahad smiled.

Percy:

"Because in battle..."

"The ground changes."

"The plan changes."

"Your comrade falls."

"The enemy changes."

"You get scared."

"You get angry."

"You get hurt."

Percy looked at Clara. Then back at the class.

"Everything moves."

"Your center does not have to move."

Galahad applauded. Alone. Percy looked at him.

"Bro?"

Galahad:

"Good."

Percy's face lit up.

"For real?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Percy:

"BOOOOOOOW YEAAAAAAH!"

Arthur closed his eyes.

"Here it comes."

Clara:

"I've been waiting eleven days for this."

Percy looked at her.

"Don't you use it."

Clara:

"BOO—"

Percy slammed a hand over her mouth.

"DON'T YOU DARE."

Clara pulled Percy's hand away.

"One day I'm going to steal it."

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"Yes."

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"For now."

Percy froze.

Arthur:

"She stole that too."

Percy:

"CLARA!"

Clara ran off.

Galahad looked at the log. Then at Percy.

"Can I try?"

Percy:

"Bro..."

Galahad:

"What?"

Percy:

"This test is for first-years."

Galahad:

"Scared?"

Percy:

"..."

Holar:

"My condolences."

Eleanor:

"He said it to the wrong person."

Percy pointed at the log.

"Get on."

Galahad swam out. Climbed onto the log. First wave. Zero movement. Second wave. Zero. Third wave. Galahad's body... Was harmonizing with the wave's movement. But his center... Felt as if it were fixed in space. Percy's eyes widened. William stood up.

"How?"

Olsen:

"Experience."

Holar:

"No."

Galahad closed his eyes. Stood on one foot.

Arthur:

"Show-off."

Percy:

"Definitely a show-off."

Five minutes. Seven. Nine. Ten. Galahad opened his eyes.

Percy:

"Alright, bro."

Galahad:

"Alright?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Galahad:

"Perfect?"

Percy:

"No."

Galahad:

"Why?"

Percy:

"Minus points for being annoying."

Galahad laughed. Jumped off the log.

But Percy didn't finish the task. On the contrary... He had three more logs brought beside the first.

Arthur:

"Why are there four?"

Percy:

"Because..."

Percy pointed at the four logs.

"Now is the second stage."

Everyone's face fell.

Nathaniel:

"Of course it is."

Percy:

"Groups of four."

Charlotte:

"On the same log?"

Percy:

"Yes."

William understood immediately.

"The movement of one person..."

Percy:

"Affects everyone."

Arthur:

"So finding your own balance isn't enough."

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"We'll feel each other's balance too."

Percy:

"Yes."

Nathaniel:

"And if one falls?"

Percy:

"All of you fall."

Nathaniel:

"Great."

Percy:

"In the third stage..."

William:

"Third?!"

Percy:

"Yes."

William:

"Go on."

Percy:

"We will tie all four logs together."

Silence.

Percy:

"And the entire class..."

"Will become a single system."

The smile on Galahad's face vanished. This time... He understood where Percy was heading.

Eleanor:

"Unity."

Galahad:

"No."

Eleanor looked at him.

Galahad:

"He already taught unity."

Olsen:

"Then what?"

Galahad looked at the logs.

"Perceiving each other's movement..."

"As naturally as their own movement."

Holar nodded.

"Now you understand."

Percy looked at his class.

"On the first day..."

"You carried each other's burden."

"Then you made decisions for each other."

"Then you kept each other awake."

Percy pointed at the logs.

"Now..."

"A mistake by one of you..."

"Will be a mistake by all of you."

Arthur:

"If one of us falls..."

Percy:

"All of you into the water."

Nathaniel:

"If one of us gets an itch?"

Percy:

"All of you into the water."

Charlotte:

"If one of us sneezes?"

Percy:

"All of you into the water."

William:

"If one of us turns out to be Nathaniel?"

Nathaniel:

"Hey."

Percy:

"Especially into the water."

The class looked at the logs. Then at each other. Arthur extended his hand to Charlotte.

"Definitely not romantic."

Charlotte took his hand.

"Definitely."

Clara took Percy's hand.

Percy:

"We haven't even started."

Clara:

"Practice."

Percy:

"You're just using my hand as an excuse."

Clara:

"Yes."

Percy:

"..."

Clara:

"What?"

Percy:

"Nothing."

William looked at the logs. Nathaniel set his food bag on the ground. Ethan took off his shoes. One by one... They prepared. Galahad was watching them. And for the first time... He saw the unifying line running through Percy's training. Willpower. Courage. Pressure. Decision. Awareness. Balance. These weren't independent lessons. Percy... Was building something. Something that none of them could see just yet. Galahad looked at Percy. Percy noticed.

"What, bro?"

Galahad:

"Nothing."

Percy:

"You're looking at me like that."

Galahad:

"Carry on."

Percy:

"With what?"

Galahad smiled faintly.

"I want to see what you're creating."

Percy looked at him for a few seconds. Then turned back to his class. Clapped his hands.

"LET'S GO, YOU BUMS!"

"INTO THE WATER!"

Everyone yelled at the same time:

"WE HATE YOU!"

Percy grinned.

"I KNOW!"

And on the calm lake of Lake District... The real training of the eleventh day began.