CHAPTER 43 — MASTER-STUDENT PACT

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 43 — MASTER-STUDENT PACT

Percy opened his eyes on the fifth day. The first person he saw was Clara. Clara was sitting right in front of him.

"Finally."

Percy blinked.

"How long has it been?"

"Five days."

Percy's eyes widened.

"FIVE DAYS?!"

Clara nodded.

"Five."

Percy stood up rapidly.

"There are only five days left of camp!"

Clara stood up too.

"First, remember how to walk."

Percy took a step. His knees wobbled slightly. Clara grabbed his arm. Percy looked at her.

"Don't tell anyone."

Clara smirked.

"The President forgot how to walk."

"Clara."

"An Advanced 2 can't walk."

"CLARA."

Clara burst into laughter and walked away. Percy was about to chase after her. When a voice came from behind.

"Percy."

Percy stopped. Elizabeth Olsen was standing alone. The expression on her face was serious.

"Come with me."

Percy raised his eyebrows.

"Did I do something?"

"Not yet."

Percy grew even more suspicious.

"That's even scarier."

Elizabeth turned around.

"Come."

They walked a little ways away from the lake. They arrived at a secluded spot where no one else was around. Elizabeth stopped. Percy stood opposite her. Elizabeth didn't speak for a long time. Percy finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Teacher?"

Elizabeth looked at him.

"I've been watching you for five days."

Percy remained quiet.

"You started from Core 6."

"You stopped at Advanced 2."

"You gained the Fire element."

"You unlocked a domain skill."

Percy nodded.

Elizabeth continued:

"These caught my interest."

Percy:

"But?"

Elizabeth's eyes shifted. Percy caught on immediately.

"But those aren't the reason."

Elizabeth smiled faintly.

"Correct."

Percy listened attentively.

"For five days, you didn't wake up."

"You could have pushed further."

"You could have drawn in more energy."

"You could have forced your new level."

"You didn't."

Percy:

"My foundation wasn't ready."

Elizabeth nodded.

"That is the reason."

Percy didn't understand. Elizabeth stepped a few paces closer.

"I've seen plenty of children who crave power."

"I've seen talented children."

"I've seen those hailed as geniuses."

"Most of them made the exact same mistake."

Percy:

"They wanted more."

"Yes."

Elizabeth looked into Percy's eyes.

"You chose to stop."

"Because continuing would have been foolish."

Elizabeth chuckled.

"Precisely."

Then she turned serious again.

"Percy Grant."

Percy straightened up.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"I am going to offer you something."

Percy waited. Elizabeth's next sentence... Wiped the relaxed expression clean off Percy's face.

"I want you to become my student."

Percy couldn't speak for a few seconds.

"I'm already your regular student."

"No."

Elizabeth shook her head.

"That's not what I mean."

Percy's eyes widened slightly.

Elizabeth:

"My personal student."

Silence. Percy was completely serious now.

"Do you know what that means?"

"No."

Elizabeth seemed to like that answer.

"At least you didn't pretend to know."

Percy:

"You can teach me."

A small smile formed on Elizabeth's face.

"A Master-Student Pact."

Percy listened in silence.

"It is a magical bond."

"I won't dominate your Core."

"I cannot touch your will."

"I cannot order you around."

Percy listened carefully.

"But if I accept you as my student..."

"My Orin signature will recognize you."

"When I pass down my teachings..."

"Our resonance will recognize each other."

"And most importantly..."

Elizabeth stepped closer.

"It is easy to take pride in your successes."

"I will also be held responsible for your failures."

Percy's expression shifted. Now *that*, he understood.

Elizabeth:

"I will be your teacher."

"Not just someone who shows you magic."

"If you make a mistake, I'll correct you."

"If you fall, I'll pick you up."

"If you get arrogant, I'll tell it to your face."

"If you do something stupid, I'll stop you."

Percy:

"I do a lot of stupid things."

Elizabeth:

"I noticed."

Percy gave a soft chuckle. Then he became serious once more.

"Why me?"

Elizabeth didn't hesitate for a second.

"Because I want to raise you."

Percy went quiet.

Elizabeth:

"And one day..."

"I want you to surpass me."

Percy's eyes widened. Elizabeth didn't extend her hand. On the contrary... She knelt down. Percy was bewildered.

"Teacher?"

Elizabeth bowed her head. The shock on Percy's face grew even greater.

"What are you doing?"

"In a Master-Student Pact..."

"The teacher speaks the first oath."

Thin lines of fire formed upon the ground. Percy immediately looked down. The lines were forming a circle.

Then Elizabeth spoke:

"I, Elizabeth Olsen."

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"As a bearer of the Fire teachings..."

"Call upon Percy Grant to enter discipleship."

Percy's eyes widened. Orin moved. However... It didn't remain confined to just their surroundings.

In the camp, Galahad raised his head.

"What?"

Eleanor felt it too. Holar Jun stood up instantly. Clara looked into the distance.

Arthur:

"What's happening?"

William looked up at the sky. And then... Elizabeth's voice rang out. It echoed across the entire camp.

"I call upon Percy Grant to enter discipleship."

Silence. Clara's mouth hung open.

Arthur:

"WHAT?!"

Charlotte:

"ELIZABETH OLSEN?!"

William:

"A personal Master-Student Pact."

Nathaniel:

"WHAT KIND OF PACT?!"

Galahad's eyes sparkled.

"Well damn, little bro."

Eleanor turned to Holar.

"Did you know about this?"

"No."

Eleanor's eyes widened.

"EVEN YOU DIDN'T KNOW?!"

Holar:

"Elizabeth doesn't have to ask me."

But the shock on Holar's face... Told the whole story.

Clara:

"Did Percy know?"

Galahad shook his head.

"No."

Clara smiled.

"I'd love to see his face right now."

Percy's face was truly a sight to behold. Elizabeth was still kneeling. Percy looked around.

"Teacher."

"Yes?"

"Everyone heard that."

"Yes."

Percy:

"You could have told me beforehand."

Elizabeth:

"I did."

"THIRTY SECONDS AGO!"

The corner of Elizabeth's lip twitched upwards.

"Your decision?"

Percy went quiet. Then his face turned serious. He knelt down. Bringing himself to the exact same level as Elizabeth.

"What do I need to say?"

"I don't want recited script."

Percy looked at her.

"Speak your own words."

Percy thought for a few seconds. Then he bowed his head.

"I, Percy Grant."

"Accept you as my teacher."

The lines of fire flickered.

Percy continued:

"I will learn the path you show me."

"But I will not follow it blindly."

Elizabeth smiled.

"Don't."

"I will question things."

"Question them."

"If I see you make a mistake, I'll say so."

"Say it."

"If I can surpass you, I will."

Elizabeth's smile widened.

"Surpass me."

Percy raised his head.

"But..."

"I won't forget what you teach me."

Elizabeth's expression softened.

"That is enough."

The Orin of both parties met. The ring of fire flared brilliantly. And the Universe spoke.

MASTER-STUDENT PACT CONFIRMED.

Everyone in camp heard it.

MASTER:

ELIZABETH OLSEN.

STUDENT:

PERCY GRANT.

Arthur held his head in his hands.

"WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THIS KID?!"

Charlotte:

"Don't say it out loud."

Arthur:

"Why?"

"The Universe might hear you."

Nathaniel:

"She's right."

Galahad stood up with a boisterous laugh.

"That's my brother!"

Eleanor smiled with pride. Holar was still staring into the distance. As for Clara, she simply smiled. Percy hadn't known. He hadn't expected it. He hadn't planned it. Elizabeth had genuinely... Chosen him as her personal student.

Elizabeth stood up. Percy stood up as well. Elizabeth looked at him.

"You are my student now."

Percy:

"Yes, Teacher."

"Are you ready for your first lesson?"

Percy smiled.

"Always."

Elizabeth:

"Good."

Percy waited. Elizabeth's smile shifted into something else.

"Because the first lesson..."

Percy's smile vanished.

"...is getting your ass beat."

Percy:

"What?"

Elizabeth turned around.

"Head back to camp."

"The students are waiting for you."

Percy:

"Why are the students waiting for me?"

Elizabeth didn't answer. Percy stood still for a few seconds. Then he narrowed his eyes.

"Teacher."

Elizabeth kept walking.

"TEACHER."

No response. Percy took a deep breath.

"Some bullshit is coming."

And for the very first time... The Master-Student Pact flared faintly. Elizabeth laughed in the distance. Percy froze.

"YOU HEARD THAT TOO?!"

Elizabeth:

"You'll learn."

Percy:

"SON OF A—"

He stopped. He looked at his new teacher. Elizabeth spoke without turning around:

"Go on."

Percy:

"...I love my teacher very much."

Elizabeth burst into laughter.

Back at camp, three people... Were waiting for Percy's return. Clara. Arthur. William. Elizabeth had already chosen them. Galahad was smirking on the sidelines. Eleanor was beginning to find this thoroughly entertaining. Holar Jun stood with his arms crossed. Nathaniel looked at Arthur.

"Are the three of you going to fight him?"

Arthur nodded. Nathaniel looked in the direction Percy would be coming from. Then he looked at the three of them.

"My condolences for your loss."

Clara:

"Shut up."

William spoke calmly:

"Three on one."

Arthur smiled.

"We'll push him."

Galahad suppressed a laugh. Clara looked at him.

"What?"

Galahad shook his head.

"Nothing."

But only one thought was running through his mind. Percy's new power... None of them had seen it yet.