CHAPTER 58 — THE ULTIMATE DEFEAT OF PERCY GRANT

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON II

CHAPTER 58 — THE ULTIMATE DEFEAT OF PERCY GRANT

Percy and Clara had headed down to the market. They were walking hand in hand. In Percy's pocket was the black card. And inside the card... lay 50,000 AWE-Dollars. Percy still hadn't gotten used to the amount. Clara, meanwhile, was looking at the shop windows. The market was quite crowded. They passed by bakery storefronts. A price was written on a sign. One loaf of bread... 20 AWE-Dollars. Percy looked at the sign. Then he looked at his pocket. Clara noticed this.

"What's wrong?"

Percy calculated.

"Two thousand five hundred loaves of bread."

Clara stopped.

"What?"

"I can buy that with my money."

Clara laughed.

"Why would you buy two thousand loaves of bread?"

"Two thousand five hundred."

"PERCY."

Percy laughed.

"I won't."

They continued walking. They passed a restaurant. A good meal for two... Was about 100 AWE-Dollars. In weapon shops, prices were climbing higher. A decent training sword... 700 AWE-Dollars. High-quality real combat swords... Rose to a few thousand AWE-Dollars. Then they arrived at an Orin shop. Percy stopped. He looked at the crystals in the window. Pure Orin crystals... Could absorb magic power. They supported the growth of pure strength. However... They were not cheap. A medium-sized Orin crystal... 4,000 AWE-Dollars. Percy's eyes widened slightly. Clara saw the price too. Then she looked at Percy's pocket.

"You really have a lot of money."

Percy nodded.

"I'm just realizing it now."

Clara laughed. They kept walking. In women's clothing stores... Prices were generally high. Quality pieces... Ranged between 1,000 and 2,000. Percy understood by now. Elizabeth hadn't been joking. 50,000 AWE-Dollars... Was a fortune for a seven-year-old.

After a while... Percy suddenly stopped. Clara took two steps forward. Their hands were still joined. So she stopped too.

"What happened?"

Percy didn't answer. He was staring into a shop window. Clara followed his gaze. A wand. It stood among the others. Yet... It was unlike the rest. It was roughly 15.6 centimeters long. Its dark body curved slightly. Its surface wasn't entirely smooth. It had natural ridges. Veins running through its body... Glowed in an amber hue. As if frozen fire lay within it. The grip portion was a bit thicker. It tapered gracefully toward the tip. It looked ancient. Yet it wasn't worn down. Percy's eyes... Shifted to the inscription beneath the wand.

CHAOS DRAGON.

Percy froze. Clara looked at Percy. Then she looked at the wand. Then back at Percy.

"You're not thinking of buying that, are you?"

Percy didn't answer. Clara noticed the writing.

"Percy."

Percy:

"Hm?"

Clara pointed to the sign.

"Look at its name."

Percy looked again.

CHAOS DRAGON.

And... He remembered. He had stayed in meditation for five days. Core 12 had shattered. He had transitioned to Advanced Core. Element selection had begun. Then the voice of the Universe had resounded: Flame of the Chaos Fire Dragon.Fire Element. Then... Scope exceeded.Chaos Fire Dragon locked. Percy continued staring at the wand. Clara saw his expression. She stayed quiet for a moment.

Then she asked:

"You want it, don't you?"

Percy answered honestly:

"Yes."

Clara sighed.

"Let's go take a look."

Percy looked at her. Clara opened the door. Percy followed right behind her.

Inside, the shop was quiet. Hundreds of wands lined the walls. Some were behind glass. Some were in special cases. Others were displayed out in the open. Behind the counter stood a man. Percy pointed straight at the display window.

"Mr. Cliff."

The man looked at them.

Percy continued:

"May I look at that wand?"

Cliff's face instantly shifted.

"That one?"

"Yes."

Cliff looked at the wand in the display. Then at Percy.

"You can look at it."

"But that wand is not for sale."

Percy frowned.

"Why?"

Cliff stepped over to the display. He opened the glass. But he didn't touch the wand.

"Because it became a curse to my reputation."

Clara looked on with curiosity.

Cliff continued:

"It was forged from the heart of a Chaos Dragon."

Percy's eyes widened slightly. Cliff pointed to the wand's body.

"At its core lies a Chaos Dragon feather."

Percy fell completely silent.

Cliff:

"Many have tried."

"No one could use it properly."

"Those who tried to cast magic were blasted backward."

Clara:

"All of them?"

Cliff:

"All of them."

The man sighed.

"Eventually, it started hurting my reputation."

"People thought I was selling defective wands."

Percy was still staring at the wand. Finally, he asked:

"Mr. Cliff."

"Can I at least hold it?"

Cliff scrutinized Percy for a few seconds. Then he shrugged.

"Try it."

Percy reached out his hand. But he didn't reach inside the display. Clara frowned. Cliff didn't understand either. Percy looked at the wand. He had read about this in books. Certain wands... Could answer a call. But first... It required a name. Percy looked at the wand. A single word came to his mind.

"Blaze."

The wand vibrated. Cliff's eyes widened. Clara saw it too. Percy held his palm open.

"Come."

In an instant... The wand shot out of the display. Cliff backed away. Blaze flew directly toward Percy. And... Settled into his palm. Percy's fingers closed around it. At that moment... The Chaos Flame inside him surged.

BOOM!

Percy's eyes widened. The flame wasn't attacking. Nor was it spiraling out of control. It simply... Felt as if it had stood up. Just for a moment. Then it quieted down once more. Cliff wasn't moving. Clara was looking at Percy. Percy was looking at Blaze. Cliff was finally able to speak.

"Percy."

Percy raised his head. Cliff was staring at the wand.

"The wand recognized you."

Percy frowned slightly.

"Recognized me?"

Cliff nodded.

"Wands can be tested with magic."

"However, some go further."

Cliff stepped a bit closer.

"If a soul bond possibility exists..."

"The wand can manifest its nature within its wielder."

Percy looked at Blaze. The Chaos Flame... Had surged the second Blaze entered his hand. Cliff took a deep breath.

"You may purchase it now."

Percy asked directly:

"Price?"

Cliff remained silent for a few seconds.

"25,000 AWE-Dollars."

Clara's eyes widened.

"WHAT?"

Percy looked at Cliff too.

Cliff immediately added:

"Its normal price is forty thousand."

"However, it hasn't sold for years."

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"Furthermore, it brought me a lot of trouble."

Cliff looked at Blaze.

"I will leave it to you for twenty-five thousand."

Clara turned to Percy.

"Percy."

Percy looked at her. Clara looked serious.

"This is too expensive."

"Forget it."

Percy looked back at Blaze. Then he turned to Clara.

"Clara."

"Hm?"

Percy slightly raised the wand.

"It feels like it's connected to me."

Clara went quiet. She looked at Blaze. Then at Percy. She didn't say anything for a while. Finally, she smiled.

"Then buy it."

Percy was surprised.

"You're not going to say anything..."

"About me buying something so expensive?"

Clara shook her head.

"No."

Percy was genuinely surprised.

Clara continued:

"Because even I can feel its connection."

Percy's expression shifted. Clara noticed it too.

"I think it's strange that I can feel it."

Percy:

"You too?"

Clara nodded.

"Yes."

Percy fell silent. Suddenly... A message from his mother crossed his mind. The message that opened at seven years old. Then... Clara had arrived. Galahad's attack. Clara leaping backward. And the two words she had spoken. [Absolute Cancel]. Percy looked at Clara. He wanted to ask something. He really did. But... He didn't ask. Not yet. He looked back at Blaze.

"Alright then."

He pulled out his card.

"I'll take it."

Cliff completed the transaction. Percy's 50,000... Instantly became 25,000. Percy held Blaze out in front of him. He pricked his finger slightly. A drop of blood... Fell onto Blaze's body. The amber veins flashed brightly. The blood completely vanished. Blaze vibrated faintly. Percy felt it. It recognized him. It truly recognized him. Percy smiled.

"Blaze."

"Return to your space."

Nothing happened. Percy waited.

"Blaze?"

The wand didn't move. Clara's lips twitched.

Percy said it again:

"Return to your space."

Blaze... Refused. Then it moved on its own. It slid into Percy's pocket. Silence. Clara looked at his pocket. Then at Percy.

"You two are strange."

Percy frowned.

"No, we're not."

Clara started walking.

"For now."

Percy followed right after her.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Clara didn't answer.

"Clara."

Clara was laughing.

"CLARA."

They walked out the door.

The next half hour was peaceful. Percy was still thinking about Blaze. Clara was looking at shop displays. Then Percy spotted a window display. He stopped. Clara stopped too. It was a women's clothing store. Percy looked at the window. Then at Clara.

"Let's go in here."

Clara was surprised.

"Why?"

Percy shrugged.

"To look."

Clara shook her head.

"I don't have money."

Percy looked at her.

"Nope."

"You do."

Clara instantly stiffened.

"No."

"I don't."

Percy pointed to the card in his pocket.

"Look."

"We still have twenty-five thousand dollars."

Clara:

"It's your money."

Percy frowned.

"Mine?"

Clara:

"Yes."

Percy looked at her as if she were talking nonsense.

"Is there such a thing as mine or yours?"

Clara went silent. Percy smiled. And... He didn't know he was making the greatest mistake of his life. Clara slowly looked at the store. Then she looked at Percy.

"Are you sure?"

Percy didn't hesitate for a second.

"Yes."

Clara:

"Okay."

Percy smiled. Five minutes later... He was not smiling.

Clara had entered the fitting room. Percy was waiting outside. The first curtain opened. Clara stepped out. She wore an ice-blue dress. The waist area fitted gently. The skirt flowed comfortably. Delicate cream embroidery... Traced the edges of the dress. Clara twirled around.

"How is it?"

Percy looked at her. He looked a bit too long.

Clara:

"Percy?"

Percy snapped back.

"Pretty."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

"Just pretty?"

Percy panicked.

"Very pretty."

Clara smiled.

"Better."

Percy relaxed. Clara returned to the fitting room. Percy leaned back in his chair. That was easy. The second outfit arrived. A cream-colored lightweight sweater. Beneath it was a burgundy pleated skirt. Clara flipped her hair behind her shoulder.

"This?"

Percy:

"This is pretty too."

Clara:

"The first one or this one?"

Percy froze. Danger. He felt it for the first time. This was a test.

Percy:

"They're different."

Clara narrowed her eyes.

"Which one?"

Percy thought. On the battlefield... He could calculate thousands of possibilities. Right now... He couldn't see a single one.

"Both?"

Clara laughed.

"You're dodging."

Percy:

"No."

"I'm giving a strategic answer."

Clara returned to the fitting room. Percy wiped his forehead. He had survived the second attack. The third arrived. A sage-green dress. With small cream details on it.

Clara:

"This one?"

Percy looked.

"Very pretty."

Clara:

"Compared to the previous ones?"

Percy's face fell.

"Again?"

Clara burst into laughter.

"Answer."

Percy:

"You're doing this on purpose."

Clara:

"Maybe."

Percy looked at her. Then at the dress.

"I think this one is sweeter."

Clara paused. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Sweet?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Clara quickly retreated to the fitting room. Percy watched her back.

"What happened?"

A voice came from inside:

"Nothing."

Percy:

"Why did you run away?"

"I DIDN'T RUN AWAY."

Percy smiled. One point. He guessed.

The fourth outfit... Was navy blue. It had subtle embroidery on the shoulders. A thin silver-colored belt wrapped around the waist. Clara stepped outside. Percy's expression changed.

Clara:

"What?"

Percy:

"This is different."

Clara looked in the mirror.

"Is it bad?"

Percy answered immediately:

"No."

"Quite the opposite."

Clara turned to him.

Percy:

"You look more serious."

Clara thought for a moment.

"Do you like it?"

Percy nodded.

"Yes."

Clara smiled.

"Me too."

Percy breathed a sigh of relief internally. This was easy. Then... The fifth arrived. A soft dress in powder tones. With tiny floral embroidery on it. When Clara stepped out... Percy smiled involuntarily. Clara noticed it.

"You like this one."

Percy:

"Yes."

"How did you know?"

Clara:

"From your face."

Percy tried to straighten his expression. Clara laughed.

"Too late."

Percy:

"How much is it?"

Clara looked at the tag.

"1,400."

Percy:

"Let's get it."

Clara:

"I'm not done yet."

Percy froze.

"There's more?"

Clara:

"Yes."

Percy looked at the store. Then at the fitting room. Then up at the ceiling. His grandfather...Had stepped into 251,000 monsters.Galahad...Had broken through into the Awakened level.Percy...Had fought twelve people.They had broken his leg.They had pierced his arm.Yet...None of it had prepared him for this.

The sixth outfit arrived. A cream-colored cardigan. With an ice-blue skirt underneath.

Clara:

"How is it?"

Percy:

"Very pretty."

Clara:

"The fifth one or this one?"

Percy closed his eyes.

"Clara."

"Hm?"

"Why are you doing this to me?"

Clara was laughing.

"I'm curious about your opinion."

Percy:

"You look pretty in all of them."

Clara went quiet all of a sudden. Percy continued without noticing:

"The problem isn't the clothes."

Clara's cheeks flushed.

Percy:

"It's you."

Clara:

"Me?"

Percy:

"Yes."

"Whatever you wear looks pretty."

Clara turned bright red. Percy finally realized what he had said. He turned red too. Both of them stayed quiet for a few seconds. The store employee was smiling from afar.

Clara:

"I'll try one more."

Percy's face fell.

"Just one?"

Clara:

"Maybe."

Percy held his head.

The seventh outfit... Was a burgundy dress. With a small cream-colored collar. Clara stepped outside. Percy looked.

"This one."

Clara:

"This what?"

Percy:

"Get this one."

Clara laughed.

"Directly?"

"Directly."

Clara looked in the mirror. She liked it too. Price... 1,700 AWE-Dollars. Clara nodded.

"Okay."

Percy relaxed. It was over. Finally. Clara returned to the fitting room. Percy stood up. Then the curtain opened again. Percy slowly sat back down.

"Why did you come out?"

Clara:

"The eighth."

Percy stared into space.

"Of course."

The eighth combination... Was an ivory top. With a light blue skirt underneath. Delicate gold embroidery ran across it. Clara stepped outside. Percy looked at her.

Clara:

"How is it?"

Percy answered wearisomely:

"You're pretty."

Clara:

"I'm asking about the outfit."

Percy:

"I can't separate them anymore."

Clara burst into laughter.

Percy:

"Seriously."

"I try to look at the clothes."

"Then I look at you."

"Then I forget what I was evaluating."

Clara's laughter stopped. Her face flushed. Percy realized it too.

"What did I say again?"

Clara:

"Nothing."

She quickly returned to the fitting room.

Percy:

"CLARA."

No answer came from inside. Percy held his head.

"Shopping with a woman..."

"The biggest mistake of my life."

The ninth outfit arrived. A dark green skirt. A cream shirt. With a short knit cardigan over it.

Percy:

"Pretty."

Clara:

"Compared to which one?"

Percy:

"ALL OF THEM."

Clara started laughing.

Percy:

"I'm not comparing anymore."

"I surrender."

Clara:

"Percy Grant surrenders."

Percy nodded.

"Yes."

Clara:

"I'll remember this."

Percy:

"Please forget it."

Clara:

"Never."

Percy took a deep breath. Here it was... The ultimate defeat of Percy Grant.

Clara went back to her clothes. Together they browsed the store. Then... Clara suddenly slowed down. Percy noticed. Clara was looking at a dress. It was different from the others. It was in a soft ivory tone. The fabric carried a faint pearl sheen. Elegant embroidery stretched around the waist. The skirt portion was layered. Yet it wasn't flashy. Simple... Graceful... And fitting for Clara. Percy watched Clara's face. Clara looked at the price tag. 4,800 AWE-Dollars. Her expression changed instantly. She looked at the dress once more. Then she said nothing. She kept walking.

Percy:

"Didn't you like it?"

Clara shrugged.

"It was pretty."

Percy:

"Aren't you going to try it on?"

Clara:

"No."

Percy looked at the tag. Then at Clara. He understood. Even Clara... Found it expensive. Percy said nothing.

They selected what they were going to buy. Clara had decided on a few pieces. They made the payment. Then they were about to exit the store. Percy suddenly stopped.

"I forgot something."

Clara looked at him.

"What?"

Percy:

"Give me a minute."

Clara:

"I'll come too."

Percy answered immediately:

"No."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

Percy:

"I mean..."

"No need."

Clara looked at him suspiciously.

Percy:

"Just a minute."

Clara:

"Okay."

Percy quickly returned inside. He went straight to that dress. 4,800 AWE-Dollars. He didn't hesitate for a single second.

"I'll take this."

While the package was being prepared... Percy kept looking back at the door. Clara couldn't see this. He took the package. He hid it among the other bags. Then he walked outside. Clara scrutinized him.

"What did you forget?"

Percy:

"A thing."

Clara:

"What thing?"

Percy:

"The thing I forgot."

Clara narrowed her eyes.

"You're suspicious."

Percy:

"No."

Clara:

"You're very suspicious."

Percy extended his hand.

"Come on."

Clara looked at him for a few seconds. Then she took his hand.

"You're hiding something."

Percy:

"Prove it."

Clara went silent. Then she smiled.

"I stole that line of yours too."

Percy's face fell.

"Why do I even speak?"

When they returned home... Eleanor greeted them. Holar was inside as well. Clara was carrying the bags. Percy, meanwhile... Was holding one bag behind him in particular. Eleanor noticed immediately. But she didn't say anything. Then... Something slipped out of Percy's pocket. Blaze. The wand slid out on its own. Eleanor's expression shifted instantly.

"Holar."

Holar looked at her. Eleanor's eyes were on Blaze.

"Take a look."

Percy stopped. Holar stepped closer. He looked at Blaze. Then at Percy.

"Where did you find this?"

Percy:

"From the market."

Holar:

"From the market?"

Percy:

"Yes."

Clara cut in:

"For 25,000 AWE-Dollars."

Holar looked at Percy.

Percy:

"Before you yell, I can explain."

Holar:

"I wasn't going to yell."

Percy:

"Good."

Holar extended his hand.

"Show me."

Percy held Blaze.

"Blaze."

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"You named it?"

"Yes."

Percy didn't hand Blaze over to Holar. He just brought it closer. Eleanor stepped over to them as well. Blaze's amber veins were glowing. Eleanor looked closely.

"Summon the wand."

Percy:

"Blaze."

"Come."

Percy held open his palm. Blaze instantly flew into his hand. Eleanor's gaze hardened. Holar went quiet.

Percy:

"The first time I did that..."

"The Chaos Flame inside me surged."

Eleanor looked at Percy immediately.

"Chaos Flame?"

Percy nodded.

"Then it quieted down."

"Cliff said the wand recognized me."

Holar looked at Blaze.

Percy continued:

"It accepted my blood too."

Eleanor:

"Did you try sending it to your space?"

Percy's expression changed.

"I tried."

Holar:

"And?"

Percy pointed to his pocket.

"It refused."

Clara laughed.

"Then it went into his pocket."

Eleanor went silent for a few seconds. Then she looked at Blaze.

"I've seen this regarding wands before."

Percy looked at her with curiosity.

Eleanor continued:

"A wand can accept a wielder."

"There's nothing strange about that."

"Some can bind more strongly to their owner."

Holar listened quietly. Eleanor looked at Blaze's veins.

"But this is different."

Percy:

"Why?"

Before Eleanor could answer... Holar spoke.

"Because it seems to have recognized you before choosing you."

Percy looked at him.

Holar continued:

"You called Blaze."

"And Blaze accepted you."

Eleanor:

"It responded to your Chaos Flame."

Holar nodded.

"Then it accepted your blood."

Percy looked at Blaze. Holar's tone grew heavy.

"Some bonds are formed afterward, Percy."

"While others..."

"Manifest when paths cross."

Percy:

"What does that mean?"

Holar looked at Blaze.

"Sometimes the paths of two entities..."

"Were shaped long before."

"Then one day, they intersect."

Percy listened silently.

Holar:

"At that moment, a bond isn't formed."

"The bond that already existed simply becomes visible."

Clara was listening too. Eleanor looked at Blaze.

"It's too early to speak with certainty."

Holar nodded.

"Yes."

Then he looked at Percy.

"But if you ask me..."

"Your fate and Blaze's have been tied together."

Percy looked at his wand. Blaze vibrated faintly. Its amber veins flashed for a moment. Then dimmed. Silence fell.

Percy:

"Grandpa."

"Hm?"

"That was a bit spooky."

Holar laughed.

"A little."

Clara pointed to Percy's pocket.

"I think it likes you too."

Percy looked at Blaze.

"It doesn't listen to me."

Clara:

"It resembles you even more then."

Percy slowly turned to Clara. Clara looked innocent.

Percy:

"Resembles me?"

Clara:

"Maybe."

Eleanor laughed. Holar smiled too.

Percy:

"Respect is dead in this house."

Clara came beside him. She linked her arm through his.

"I respect you."

Percy looked at her.

"Really?"

Clara:

"Sometimes."

Percy:

"CLARA."

Clara ran away laughing. Percy chased after her. As he ran, however... He looked at the bag he was hiding. 4,800 AWE-Dollars. Clara still didn't know. Percy smiled. Blaze was in his pocket. Clara was a few meters ahead of him. And out of Percy's 50,000 AWE-Dollars... Much less remained. Yet in Percy's mind... There wasn't a single regret regarding the money. He had simply learned one truth. He could endure Holar Jun. He could fight twelve people. He could stand back up on a broken leg. Yet... While Clara tried on clothes? Percy Grant... Had been utterly, unconditionally defeated.