CHAPTER 57 — PERCY AND THE 50,000 AWE-DOLLARS

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON II

CHAPTER 57 — PERCY AND THE 50,000 AWE-DOLLARS

The crowd at the academy had slowly dispersed. The one-week break had officially begun. Students were returning home. Professors had started to leave as well. Percy was also about to head home. Just as he started walking... A familiar voice came from behind him.

"Percy."

Percy stopped. He turned around. Elizabeth was looking at him. Then she smiled faintly.

"Dear student."

"Come here."

Percy immediately changed direction. He walked over to his teacher.

"Yes, teacher?"

In Elizabeth's hand was a black card. Percy first looked at the card. Then he looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth extended the card to him.

"This is yours."

Percy took the card. He saw the amount written on it. And... He froze. He looked again. He thought he was seeing things. He brought the card a bit closer. Then he looked at Elizabeth.

"Fifty thousand AWE-Dollars?"

Elizabeth nodded. Percy's eyes widened.

"What is this?"

Elizabeth's smile grew a little broader.

"The reward for the responsibility you took on."

"Your presidency reward."

"And the return for your contribution to the world."

Percy looked back at the card. Fifty thousand. It really said fifty thousand. Elizabeth continued.

"We could have given more."

"Much, much more."

Percy raised his head. Elizabeth pointed to the card.

"But you're seven years old."

"Even this amount for you..."

She thought for a brief moment.

"Counts on a cosmic scale."

Percy looked at the card once more. Elizabeth's voice grew slightly serious.

"Spend it carefully."

"And don't make us regret it."

Percy raised his head. Something had caught his attention.

"Us?"

Elizabeth:

"Yes."

Percy frowned slightly.

"Who is 'us', teacher?"

Elizabeth answered calmly.

"The Four Pillars of the world."

She paused for a second. Then she pointed to herself.

"And me, of course."

Percy looked at her for a few seconds. Then he held the card carefully. He bowed his head slightly.

"Thank you, teacher."

Elizabeth smiled.

"Enjoy spending it."

Percy put the card into his pocket. Then he bowed his head again.

"See you, teacher."

"See you, Percy."

Percy started walking toward home. Elizabeth watched him from behind. A seven-year-old child... Walking with fifty thousand AWE-Dollars in his pocket.

When Percy returned home... Clara was already there. Eleanor was there too. Holar Jun was also home. Percy stepped inside. Clara immediately looked at him. Percy smiled. But he headed straight for Holar.

"Grandpa?"

Holar looked at him.

"Yes, son?"

Percy stepped a bit closer.

"Can we talk in private?"

Holar raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Sure, of course."

Percy's demeanor had shifted. Ever since returning from the camp... His politeness had become more pronounced. He had been respectful before as well. But now he showed it even more. Especially around Holar. Clara had noticed this. Eleanor had noticed it too. As Percy and Holar walked away... Clara moved closer to her mother.

"I'm curious."

Eleanor nodded.

"Me too."

Both of them watched their backs.

Percy stood before his grandfather. Holar waited. Percy reached into his pocket. He pulled out the black card. Holar looked at the card.

Percy:

"Grandpa."

"I was given fifty thousand AWE-Dollars."

Holar nodded calmly.

"I know."

Percy's eyebrows shot up.

"You know?"

"Yes."

Percy held up the card.

"Isn't this too much?"

Holar smiled faintly.

"For your age right now?"

"Yes."

"It's a lot."

Percy looked at him. Holar continued.

"But they wanted to give you something."

Percy:

"Who?"

"The Three Pillars."

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Holar paused for a moment.

"Richard approved it in particular."

Percy listened silently.

"They know the technique originated from you."

Percy nodded. He knew that. Holar continued.

"Rowena knows as well."

"Furthermore, she asked something."

Percy became curious.

"What did she ask?"

"Whether she could meet you."

Percy was a bit surprised.

"With me?"

"Yes."

"What did you say?"

Holar answered without hesitation.

"I told her I wouldn't give an answer without asking you first."

Percy's expression softened.

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Holar nodded. Percy thought for a moment. Then he realized something.

"Who is Rowena, Grandpa?"

Holar looked at Percy for a few seconds. Then he smiled.

"I am the President of the Council."

"And the leader of the Pillars."

He shrugged.

"Essentially the same thing."

Percy was listening.

"Rowena used to be in second place."

Percy's full attention snapped to him. Holar continued.

"The second Pillar of the Council."

"She was its second founder."

"Then Eleanor rose."

Percy involuntarily glanced toward his aunt. Holar's tone shifted slightly.

"It was a stroke of genius, her rise."

"And incredibly fast."

"Eleanor stepped into second place in terms of raw power."

Percy looked back at Holar. He knew his aunt was powerful. She was the world's second strongest warrior. But... He only now understood the weight of that rise. She had surpassed someone like Rowena. Percy's respect for Eleanor... Grew a little more. Holar noticed this. But he didn't say anything.

Percy asked:

"How strong is Rowena?"

Holar answered:

"She's about equal with Eleanor."

Percy listened attentively.

Holar added:

"Yet at the same time, she isn't."

Percy frowned.

"How so?"

"Rowena uses two elements."

Percy's eyes widened.

"Two elements?"

"Yes."

Percy immediately leaned in.

"Which ones?"

"Earth."

"And lightning."

Percy went quiet for a few seconds.

"She develops both at the same time?"

Holar nodded.

"Yes."

"It's a special situation."

There was curiosity in Percy's eyes. Holar continued.

"I possess three elements as well."

Percy was surprised again.

"Three?"

"Yes."

"Eleanor possesses three elements too."

Percy looked toward his aunt once more. Eleanor was further away. She seemed to be with Clara. Percy turned back to Holar.

"Which are their strongest?"

Holar answered:

"Rowena's is earth."

"Eleanor's is wind."

Percy thought about it.

"They're opposites of each other."

Holar nodded.

"Precisely."

"Your Aunt Eleanor is slightly stronger."

Percy:

"By how much?"

Holar:

"I can't put that into numbers."

"No one knows what will happen in battle."

Percy accepted this. Then... Came a very important question.

"What about you?"

Holar looked at him. Percy looked completely serious.

"What if both of them attacked you?"

Holar thought for a second. Then he spoke with absolute calm.

"I'd package both of them and send them packing at the same time."

A voice came from the far side.

"I HEARD THAT!"

Holar's face instantly changed. Percy's eyes widened. Eleanor was looking right at them. Holar turned to her.

"Did I say something wrong?"

Eleanor's gaze was stern.

"Holar."

A single word. Yet it was enough. Holar stopped. Percy noticed this. Holar had noticed it too. Eleanor... Had overheard a conversation she shouldn't have been listening to. The playfulness vanished from Holar's face. Eleanor understood this as well. She fell silent for a moment. Then she turned her head slightly.

"No."

And she truly went silent. Percy looked at the two of them. Clara was looking too. Both of them understood. A boundary had been drawn. And Eleanor had accepted it.

Holar turned back to Percy.

"Rowena is someone who has contributed a great deal."

Percy nodded.

"I understand."

"If you want to meet her, I can arrange it."

Percy thought for a few seconds.

Then he answered:

"Of course I'll meet her."

Holar waited.

Percy continued:

"If our paths happen to cross."

Holar raised an eyebrow. Percy looked behind him. Clara was there. Then he turned back to his grandfather.

"Right now, I want to spend time with Clara."

A small smile appeared on Holar's face.

"You like Clara."

Percy didn't try to dodge it at all.

"Yes."

Holar's smile grew wider.

Percy continued:

"And I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

Holar remained quiet for a few seconds.

Then he spoke calmly:

"In that case..."

"You know what you shouldn't do, Percy."

Percy looked at him. He thought for a moment. Then he understood. A smile spread across his face.

"Yes, Grandpa."

Holar gently adjusted his hair. Percy didn't object this time.

"Go then."

Percy nodded. But he didn't go to Clara. Not yet. First... He walked toward Eleanor.

Eleanor saw Percy coming. Percy stopped in front of her. Eleanor looked at him. Percy slightly raised his head.

"Auntie."

Eleanor's face softened instantly.

"Yes, Percy?"

Percy was completely serious. Clara was a few steps behind. And Percy began to speak.

"I like your daughter."

Eleanor's eyebrows shot up. Clara... Froze. Percy continued.

"With your permission..."

"I'd like to continue liking her."

Eleanor said nothing. Percy looked entirely serious.

"I don't know what things like being boyfriend and girlfriend are."

"Those are topics for the distant future."

Clara's face had turned beet red. Percy continued.

"But she is your daughter."

"So..."

"Do I have your permission?"

Eleanor looked at Percy. Stared at him for a long moment. She narrowed her eyes. Percy grew a little anxious. Inside Eleanor's head, however... Was somewhere else entirely. This child...Is too much for my heart.His cuteness is going to kill me.He's seven years old.He's only asking permission to like her.Furthermore...He doesn't even need to ask permission.Yet he cares about my opinion. Another thought crossed Eleanor's mind. I want to eat him up.But I can't do that either. Eleanor scolded herself internally. Then she looked at Percy. Percy was still waiting for his answer. Eleanor finally spoke.

"You won't make my daughter sad, Percy."

Percy answered immediately.

"Of course not."

The expression in Eleanor's eyes softened.

"Then I give my permission."

Percy's face lit up. Eleanor raised her finger.

"But."

Percy became serious again.

"Yes?"

Eleanor continued.

"When the things you're thinking about for the future arrive..."

"We'll have another one of these talks."

Percy didn't object at all.

"Okay."

Eleanor smiled. Percy smiled too. Then... He turned around. He saw Clara. Clara had heard everything. Every. Single. Thing. Her face was bright red. Even her ears were flushed. Percy looked at her for a few seconds. Then he smiled.

Clara:

"Don't say a word."

Percy didn't say a thing. He simply extended his hand. Clara looked at his hand. Then she looked at Percy. Percy was still waiting. Clara rested her hand in his. Percy gently closed his fingers. Clara held his hand too. The two of them walked toward the door. Eleanor watched them from behind. Holar stepped beside her. Before walking out the door, Percy turned around.

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"Yes?"

Percy pointed to his pocket.

"I have fifty thousand."

Holar's face changed. Percy smirked.

"We're going to the market."

Holar answered immediately.

"Don't spend all of it."

Percy:

"I won't."

Clara looked at him.

"What are you going to buy?"

Percy thought.

"I don't know."

Clara:

"Then why are we going?"

Percy looked at her.

"To spend time with you."

Clara's face flushed red once more. Eleanor closed her eyes. Holar laughed quietly. Clara tugged at Percy's hand.

"Come on."

Percy:

"I'm walking already."

Clara:

"Faster."

Percy:

"Why?"

Clara:

"Because I want you to shut up."

Percy burst into laughter. The two of them stepped outside together. And walked toward the market.

The door closed. The house grew quiet. Eleanor was looking at the door. Holar was looking at the same spot. For a few seconds... Neither of them spoke. Finally, Eleanor asked:

"They're seven years old."

Holar nodded.

"Yes."

Eleanor:

"Percy asked for my permission."

The corners of Holar's lips curled up.

"I saw."

Eleanor turned to him.

"To continue liking her."

Holar laughed this time.

"I heard that too."

Eleanor brought both hands to her face.

"This kid is going to kill me."

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"You wanted to eat him up a moment ago."

Eleanor lowered her hands.

"Did you hear that too?"

Holar:

"No."

Eleanor paused. Holar smirked.

"I just found out now."

Eleanor glared at him.

"Holar."

Holar was laughing. Eleanor shook her head. Then she looked back at the door. Her smile returned.

"Clara genuinely likes him."

Holar:

"Percy does too."

Eleanor nodded.

"Very much so."

Holar thought for a few seconds.

"Good."

Eleanor looked at him.

"Good?"

"Yes."

Holar leaned back on the sofa.

"They push each other forward."

Eleanor thought about it. It was true. Clara pushed Percy. Percy pushed Clara. When one rose... The other didn't stop. But it wasn't just about power.

Eleanor:

"Percy genuinely cares about her."

The smile on Holar's face softened.

"Yes."

Eleanor:

"And Clara cares about him."

Holar:

"Yes."

Eleanor took a deep breath.

"They're seven years old."

Holar looked at her.

"You said that again."

"Because I'm reminding myself."

Holar chuckled softly. Eleanor looked back at the door.

"I think they're progressing correctly."

Holar nodded.

"They're not rushing."

"They're not trying to be something they aren't."

"They like each other."

"And they want to be together."

Eleanor smiled.

"For now, that's enough."

Holar:

"More than enough."

Eleanor was quiet for a few seconds. Then she looked at Holar.

"What about in the future?"

Holar shrugged.

"We'll talk about the future in the future."

Eleanor laughed.

"Just like what you told Percy."

Holar nodded.

"If he doesn't know what he should do..."

"Knowing what he shouldn't do is enough."

Eleanor pondered the sentence. Then she nodded.

"Not bad."

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"Not bad?"

Eleanor smiled.

"It was pretty good."

Holar:

"Pretty good?"

Eleanor:

"Don't get cocky."

Holar laughed. Then both of them looked back at the door. On one side... Stood the two strongest warriors in the world. On the other side... Were two children walking to the market. In the pocket of one... Lay 50,000 AWE-Dollars. And both of them knew. The real danger was beginning now.

Eleanor asked quietly:

"How much of it do you think he'll spend?"

Holar thought for a few seconds. Then he answered with utmost gravity:

"With Clara beside him?"

Eleanor nodded.

"Yes."

Holar looked at the door.

"I have no idea."

Eleanor laughed. Holar laughed too.