CHAPTER 51 — THE SHADOW OF DEATH

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

CHAPTER 51 — THE SHADOW OF DEATH

Two days were left until the end of camp. In the afternoon... The battle was still ongoing.

But there was no trace left of how they were this morning. Fifteen students were exhausted. Their clothes and appearance were ragged. Some of their faces were bleeding. Some of their hands were trembling. Some were struggling to breathe. But... Nobody was quitting.

Galahad attacked once again. Arthur stepped forward. Deployed his shield.

BOOM!

Arthur was dragged backward. But he didn't fall.

"Charlotte!"

Charlotte had already moved. Cut off Galahad's right side. Marcus closed in from the left. William shouted.

"NOW!"

Three attacks landed at the same time. Galahad retreated. Nathaniel's eyes widened.

"HE RETREATED!"

Galahad:

"One meter."

Nathaniel:

"A RETREAT IS A RETREAT!"

Elizabeth:

"Nathaniel."

Nathaniel turned.

"Yes?"

The orb exploded in his face.

BOOM!

Percy laughed from his chair.

"We told you not to talk."

Nathaniel yelled from the ground.

"YOU'RE TALKING TOO!"

Percy:

"I'm not fighting."

Nathaniel:

"YOU SON OF A BITCH."

Percy was doing better today. Much better. This morning, standing up was difficult. Now... He could walk on his own. Some of his bandages had been removed. He could move his arm freely. There was still pain in his leg. But he didn't let it show on his face.

Eleanor had noticed this. When Percy stood up once again... She came to his side.

"Percy."

Percy turned.

"Aunt Eleanor?"

"Where to?"

Percy pointed at the field.

"I'll get a bit closer."

"Can you walk?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Eleanor looked at him.

Percy:

"...Most likely."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

Percy:

"I can walk."

"For sure?"

Percy stayed quiet for a few seconds.

"Yes, Auntie."

First step. Second. Third. Eleanor was walking beside him. But she didn't touch Percy. Percy noticed this. He smiled.

"Thank you."

Eleanor:

"For what?"

"You're not holding me."

Eleanor smiled too.

"If you need it, I'll hold you."

Percy nodded.

"I know."

Holar watched them from afar. Galahad saw it even in the middle of battle. Percy was now... Walking more upright.

Just at that moment... Clara was blown back. Percy's head turned instantly.

"CLARA!"

Clara flipped in mid-air. Set her foot on the ground. Skidded. But didn't fall. Elizabeth sent a second attack. Clara saw it. She was about to dodge to the right. Percy yelled.

"NOT RIGHT!"

Clara stopped. Left. The orb passed to her right.

"NOW FORWARD!"

Clara charged forward. Closed off Elizabeth's second angle.

"THREE STEPS!"

One. Two. Three.

"DUCK!"

Clara ducked. The wind passed right over her head.

"NOW!"

Clara raised her palm. An Orin orb formed.

BAM!

Elizabeth, for the first time... Was forced to deploy a shield.

Clara stopped. Elizabeth stopped as well. Even the class watched for a few seconds.

On Percy's face... There was a massive smile.

"That's it."

Clara looked at him.

Percy:

"THAT'S IT, CLARA!"

Clara's face lit up. Percy approached excitedly.

"You didn't dodge right."

"You saw the second attack."

"You read the area."

"You saw Teacher Elizabeth's angle."

Clara:

"You told me."

Percy shook his head.

"I only gave direction."

"You were the one who did it."

Clara went quiet. Percy continued.

"If it were the first day..."

"...you wouldn't have seen the second attack."

Clara listened attentively.

"During the scorpion training..."

"...you were looking straight ahead."

"Now you look around you."

"Before, you ran from attacks."

"Now you think about why..."

"...the attack came from there."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy had noticed... All of this.

"Your core control has changed."

"Your footwork has changed."

"Your decision time has dropped."

"And most importantly..."

Percy smiled.

"When you're afraid, you don't stop anymore."

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Clara was looking at him. Silently.

Percy:

"You really became so..."

"...so much better, Clara."

It came out of Clara's mouth without thinking.

"I love that you see me..."

"...so well."

Silence.

Clara froze. Percy froze.

Arthur turned his head. Charlotte's eyes widened. Even William forgot about the battle.

Nathaniel:

"Whoa."

Clara turned bright red.

"I..."

Percy was still looking at her.

Clara:

"Um..."

"I mean..."

Percy smiled.

"Me too."

Clara's brain stopped. Completely.

Nathaniel:

"OOOOOOOOOOOO—"

Elizabeth slapped the back of his neck. Nathaniel faceplanted into the ground.

Percy walked past Clara. Clara still wasn't moving. Percy stopped after two steps. Looked back.

"By the way."

Clara:

"...What?"

Percy:

"You're in the middle of a battle."

Clara's eyes widened. Elizabeth's orb was coming.

"YOUR MOTHER—"

BOOM!

Percy burst into laughter. Clara raised her head from the dirt.

"PERCY GRANT!"

Percy:

"YOU DIE LIKE THIS!"

Clara:

"BECAUSE OF YOU!"

Percy:

"WHAT DID I DO?"

Clara:

"YOU SAID ME TOO!"

Percy:

"I TOLD THE TRUTH!"

Clara's face turned red again.

"Shut up."

Eleanor was covering her mouth. Trying not to laugh. Percy looked at her.

"Auntie."

Eleanor:

"I didn't say anything."

"Your look says it."

Eleanor:

"I'm her mother."

Percy:

"You're my aunt too."

Eleanor:

"In that case..."

"...I will remain neutral."

Percy:

"Treason."

The battle restarted. Another hour passed. Then another hour.

Percy was no longer in the chair. He was standing at the edge of the field. Sometimes walking. Sometimes stopping. And constantly watching.

"Arthur!"

Arthur turned.

"Don't deploy the shield for yourself!"

Arthur understood. He moved toward Charlotte. Deployed the shield in front of her.

BOOM!

"William!"

William:

"What?"

"Don't try to calculate everything!"

William frowned.

Percy:

"Sometimes you just have to decide!"

William thought for a second. Then shouted.

"MARCUS, LEFT!"

He was right.

"Nathaniel!"

Nathaniel:

"WHAT?"

Percy:

"You're awesome!"

Nathaniel's face lit up.

"SERIOUSLY?!"

Elizabeth struck. Nathaniel flew.

Percy:

"Except for your focus!"

Nathaniel yelled from mid-air.

"GO FUCK YOURSELF!"

Eleanor couldn't hold back her laughter.

As evening approached... The smile on Percy's face faded. Because he had noticed something.

Galahad was pulling back. Elizabeth was selecting her attacks. Both of them... Were pushing the students. But protecting them.

When Galahad could land a blow... He was slowing down. Elizabeth wasn't striking critical areas. The students were suffering. But... They were still fighting their teachers.

Percy went quiet. Eleanor noticed.

"What are you thinking?"

Percy didn't answer. Watched for a while longer.

Then...

"Brother Galahad."

Galahad stopped. Elizabeth also looked at Percy.

Percy:

"Hold on a minute."

The battle stopped. Fifteen students collapsed where they stood. Nathaniel lay flat on his back.

"THANK GOD."

Percy:

"Get up."

Nathaniel:

"Why?"

Hearing Percy's voice... Nathaniel got up. Percy slowly entered the field. Everyone looked at him.

"I'm going to tell you something."

Silence.

"Throughout this camp..."

"I made you suffer."

"I scared you."

"I exhausted you."

"I deprived you of sleep."

"I kept you under pressure."

Percy looked at Clara. Then at Arthur. At William. At Charlotte. At Nathaniel. At all of them.

"But none of you..."

"...were ever truly afraid of dying."

Arthur's expression changed.

"Why?"

Percy answered.

"Because you knew."

"Brother Galahad won't kill you."

"Teacher Elizabeth won't kill you."

"Aunt Eleanor won't kill you."

"My grandfather won't kill you."

Percy pointed to himself.

"I won't kill you."

Silence.

"This trust is beautiful."

"Don't lose it."

"But on the battlefield..."

"...your enemy will not give you this."

Galahad's face grew serious.

Percy:

"The monster won't stop."

"It won't wait because you're hurt."

"It won't slow down when you cry."

"When it sees that you're afraid..."

"...it won't hug you."

Clara was watching Percy.

"Quite the opposite."

"When it sees your fear..."

"...it will attack right through it."

Percy's voice dropped.

"And death..."

"Will not give you a second try."

Nobody spoke. Percy turned to Galahad.

"Bro."

Galahad was beginning... To understand what he was going to ask. Percy looked at Elizabeth.

"Teacher."

Then... He looked into both of their eyes.

"Don't hold back anymore."

Clara's eyes widened. Arthur straightened up.

William:

"Percy?"

Percy continued.

"Attack them..."

"...with your full power."

Silence.

Nathaniel:

"What?"

Galahad's face changed completely.

"Percy."

Percy:

"I know."

Elizabeth:

"No."

Percy:

"Teacher."

Elizabeth:

"Percy..."

"With our full power..."

"I know."

Percy remained calm.

"You won't kill them."

"But..."

"Let them think they will die."

The smile on Eleanor's face vanished.

Percy:

"What death is..."

"...they cannot learn without dying."

He paused for a moment.

"But they can get close to it."

Holar silently watched Percy.

"Let them see an attack..."

"Truly coming for their head."

"Let them think about what happens if they don't dodge."

"Let them feel that a single second of hesitation..."

"...could be their final seconds."

Arthur clenched his fist.

Percy:

"I am their chairman."

"Protecting them is my duty."

His voice didn't tremble.

"But protecting them..."

"Is not hiding them from reality."

Eleanor's gaze softened.

Percy:

"One day..."

"I might not be by their side."

Clara immediately:

"You will be."

Percy looked at her.

Clara:

"You will be."

Percy smiled faintly.

"I'll try."

Then he looked at the others.

"But your lives..."

"...I cannot tie to me being there."

Percy turned to Galahad.

"Bro."

"Show them the shadow of death."

Galahad didn't speak for a long time. Finally...

"Okay."

Elizabeth looked at him.

Galahad:

"Percy is right."

Elizabeth looked at her students. All of them. Then at Percy.

Elizabeth:

"On one condition."

Percy:

"What is it?"

Elizabeth:

"You will not interfere."

Percy went quiet. His eyes involuntarily drifted to Clara. Then to Arthur. To William. To Charlotte. To Nathaniel. To all of them.

Elizabeth:

"When one of us attacks..."

"You won't step in front of them."

"You won't use [Absolute Heal]."

"You won't take a hit in their place."

"When they fall to the ground..."

"You won't run and pick them up."

Percy's jaw tightened.

"In a situation where they could die?"

Elizabeth:

"We won't let them die."

Percy:

"But they won't know that."

"No."

Percy took a deep breath.

This was what he had wanted. But... Having what he wanted come true... Was far heavier than he had expected.

Percy:

"Okay, Teacher."

Elizabeth looked at him carefully.

"Percy."

"Yes?"

"Is it really okay?"

Percy didn't answer for a few seconds. Then he nodded.

"Okay."

Eleanor came beside him. Looked at Percy's hands. His fists were already clenched tightly. She quietly touched his shoulder. Percy turned his head.

"Aunt Eleanor..."

"I'm here."

Percy turned to his class.

"Friends."

Fifteen people looked at him.

"You can be afraid."

Arthur raised his eyebrows. Percy continued.

"There is nothing wrong with being afraid."

"When it hurts, you can scream."

"When you fall, you can cry."

"You can say you don't want to die."

He paused for a moment.

"But..."

"Don't stop moving."

Clara straightened up. Arthur stood up. William as well. One by one... They all prepared themselves once again.

Percy smiled.

"Because courage..."

"Is not lack of fear."

"It's being able to make the right decision..."

"...while being afraid."

Galahad stepped forward. Elizabeth stepped beside him. Percy pulled back. Beside Eleanor.

Galahad:

"I'm asking one last time."

"Are you ready?"

Silence.

Percy frowned.

"ANSWER HIM, DAMN IT!"

Fifteen people shouted at the same time.

"WE'RE READY!"

The corner of Galahad's mouth lifted.

"Wrong answer."

He vanished.

BOOOOOOM!

The ground exploded. Arthur was launched into the air. Charlotte rolled away. Marcus crashed to the ground. Nathaniel screamed.

Percy's body involuntarily moved forward. One step. Eleanor held his shoulder.

"Percy."

Percy stopped. Gritted his teeth. Elizabeth's attack formed. In front of Clara.

This time... It wasn't slow. It wasn't soft. The expression on Clara's face changed.

Percy didn't move. The orb shot forward. Clara dodged at the very last second.

BOOOOM!

The giant rock behind her... Didn't shatter. It vanished.

Clara turned and looked. The color drained from her face. Percy's fingers were trembling. But he didn't leave his spot.

Elizabeth gave him a brief glance. Percy was keeping to his condition.

Galahad attacked again. Arthur raised his shield. Wrong angle.

Percy saw it. Instinctively opened his mouth. Then stopped.

Elizabeth's voice came.

"Percy."

Percy looked at her. Elizabeth spoke while continuing to fight.

"Did I tell you to shut up?"

Percy's eyes widened.

Elizabeth:

"I said you wouldn't interfere."

Galahad shattered Arthur's shield.

Elizabeth:

"You are their chairman."

"Their teacher."

"Their leader."

Percy understood. Eleanor's hand lifted from his shoulder.

"You can't fight in their place, Percy."

Percy looked at her. Eleanor smiled.

"But you can continue..."

"...teaching them how to fight."

The look in Percy's eyes changed. He turned back to the field. William was pulling back. Galahad was slipping out of his field of vision.

Percy:

"WILLIAM!"

William turned.

"DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU!"

William froze.

Percy:

"LOOK AT HIS SHADOW!"

William looked at the ground. Saw Galahad's shadow. Instantly threw himself to the side.

BOOM!

Galahad's fist... Passed right through where his head had been a moment ago. William's eyes widened.

Percy:

"THAT'S IT!"

Arthur got back up.

Percy:

"ARTHUR!"

Arthur looked at him.

"STOP PROTECTING YOURSELF!"

Arthur:

"WHAT?"

Percy pointed at Charlotte.

"YOU ARE THE SHIELD!"

Arthur understood.

Elizabeth attacked. Arthur could have dodged. He didn't dodge. Stepped in front of Charlotte. Five-layer shield.

BOOOOM!

Arthur was dragged backward. But Charlotte was on her feet.

Percy:

"NOW YOU ARE ARTHUR GREEN!"

Arthur smiled through his teeth.

Nathaniel was on the ground. Galahad was walking toward him. In Nathaniel's eyes... There was real fear.

Percy:

"NATHANIEL!"

Nathaniel looked at him.

Percy didn't run to help him. Didn't reach out a hand. He just shouted.

"GET UP."

Nathaniel:

"I can't..."

Percy's voice hardened.

"GET UP, DAMN IT."

Galahad was approaching.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes!"

"Are you afraid?"

"YES!"

Percy:

"GOOD."

Nathaniel's eyes widened.

"Fear is telling you..."

"...that you want to live."

Galahad was now a few meters away.

Percy:

"NOW GET UP..."

Nathaniel pressed his hands into the dirt.

"...AND SHOW HIM."

Nathaniel stood up. Dodged Galahad's attack... At the very last second. Percy raised his fist into the air.

"THAT'S IT, DAMN IT!"

Clara, on the other hand... Was facing Elizabeth.

Percy looked at her. But this time... He didn't say a word.

Clara dodged one attack. Read the second. Shifted direction on the third. On the fourth... Moved before Elizabeth made her move.

Percy's eyes widened. Eleanor saw it too.

"Percy."

Percy didn't answer. Clara was no longer just dodging attacks. She was reading Elizabeth. On Percy's face... A proud smile formed.

Clara suddenly shouted.

"PERCY!"

Percy:

"YES?"

Clara shouted while dodging an attack.

"DON'T TELL ME THIS TIME!"

Percy went silent.

Clara:

"I'LL SEE IT MYSELF!"

Percy's smile widened.

"UNDERSTOOD!"

Eleanor looked at Percy. Percy's eyes... Were fixed on her daughter.

But no longer with fear. With trust. Eleanor spoke quietly.

"You know her very well."

Percy shook his head.

"Not every move."

"Not every fear."

"Certainly not every decision."

Clara dodged again.

Percy:

"But I see..."

"...how much she has grown."

Eleanor smiled. Percy stayed silent for a while. Then turned his head to Eleanor.

"You raised her well, Auntie."

Eleanor's gaze softened.

"It's not over yet."

Percy looked back at Clara.

"I know."

The battle continued.

Percy was no longer intervening. He wasn't saving anyone. He wasn't stopping anyone's attack.

But his voice... Was everywhere on the field.

"CHARLOTTE, MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION!"

"MARCUS, TRUST ARTHUR!"

"WILLIAM, DON'T LOOK FOR PROBABILITY!"

"CREATE PROBABILITY!"

"NATHANIEL..."

Nathaniel:

"WHAT?!"

Percy thought for a second.

"YOU'RE DOING GOOD THIS TIME!"

Nathaniel:

"FINALLY!"

Galahad slapped the back of his neck. Nathaniel fell to the ground.

Percy:

"YOU GOT TOO HAPPY."

Eleanor burst into laughter. Even Elizabeth smiled. But the training didn't stop. Because Percy now understood the difference. He wasn't making decisions for them.

He wasn't fighting in their place. He wasn't saving them.

Just... Helping them see enough... So they could make their own decisions.

The rest... They had to do themselves.