CHAPTER 60 — THE DAUGHTER OF LIGHT

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON II

CHAPTER 60 — THE DAUGHTER OF LIGHT

Night was already far advanced. But there were two people in the house who could not sleep. Percy... And Clara. Percy tossed and turned in his bed. To the right. To the left. Right again. Finally, he gave up. Now he was sitting on the edge of the bed. He had Blaze in his hand. Percy looked at the staff. Blaze was... most likely looking back at Percy. Percy wasn't sure about that.

"I can't sleep."

Blaze didn't answer. Percy frowned.

"Because of you."

Blaze still didn't answer. Percy released it into the air.

"Come."

Blaze returned to his hand. Percy released it again.

"Come."

Blaze came back once more. A smile formed on Percy's face.

"One more time."

He let go of the staff.

"Come."

Blaze returned to his palm. Percy smiled. Then he turned serious.

"Return to your space."

Blaze didn't move. Percy's smile vanished.

"Right."

"You're not doing that."

Blaze trembled slightly. Percy narrowed his eyes.

"Are you kidding me?"

Silence. Percy leaned back on his bed.

"You're acting like Clara."

Blaze's amber veins glowed. Percy's mouth dropped open.

"BRO..."

But... In another room of the house... Blaze was on Clara's mind.

Clara was sitting on her bed. She had tried to sleep multiple times. It hadn't worked. Eventually, she had started meditating. She crossed her legs. Closed her eyes. Slowed her breathing. She felt the Orin. But her thoughts wouldn't settle. She was thinking about what had happened today. Especially... The staff. Blaze had come into Percy's hand. The flame inside Percy had responded. She could make sense of all that. But... There was one thing she couldn't make sense of. She had felt it too. How could Clara have felt Percy's connection with his staff? She opened her eyes. Looked into the darkness.

"How?"

No answer came. Clara closed her eyes again. And at that moment... Another memory surfaced. The day she turned seven. The message that had stayed locked for a long time. The message that could only be opened at that age. The message from her biological mother. Clara's breathing slowed. The words re-appeared in her mind.

"My dearest daughter Clara."

"Your father and I are in the middle of a great war."

"And our belief..."

"...that we can protect you is beginning to fade."

Clara's face turned serious. The message continued.

"Your father and I talked for a long time."

"Years ago, we saw GN-z11."

"An ancient galaxy."

"A place untouched by wars."

"We chose one of the planets there."

"Orange..."

"White..."

"And red."

"We decided to send you there."

Clara's hands tightened slightly. She knew the words that followed. Yet... Every time she remembered them, something shifted inside her.

"We never abandoned you."

"And we never will."

"We will watch over you constantly."

"Even if from very far away."

"One day, you may need to return to us."

"We have prepared the necessary information for that."

"It will unlock on your twenty-fifth birthday."

The end of the message... As always, was different.

"With love."

"Your mother, who loves you very much."

"And your father, who loves you..."

"...just a little less very much."

Clara's eyes opened. She remained silent for a few seconds. Then her lips curved.

"They definitely had an argument."

A small laugh escaped her. She didn't know her mother. She didn't know her father either. But in that final sentence... She could feel a bit of both. Clara closed her eyes again. Her smile slowly faded. Percy's staff... Why had it felt familiar to her? She didn't know the answer. And tonight... She wasn't going to try to find the answer. She would simply... Draw in Orin.

Clara regulated her breath. Felt the surrounding Orin. Slowly called it to herself. The first amount was small. Then she drew a bit more. Core 11 responded. Clara remained calm. A little more. Then... A little more. The surrounding Orin began to stir. Clara didn't notice. Her thoughts were deep. The flow gradually grew larger. Her Core was processing the energy it received. But the amount coming from outside... Kept increasing. In another room... Percy's head snapped up. He stopped spinning Blaze. Narrowed his eyes.

"Clara?"

Blaze's veins glowed. Percy stood up. A second later... He stepped out into the hallway. He could now clearly feel the flow of Orin. He moved toward Clara's room. Reached the door. Opened it. And... His expression changed.

"Clara."

Clara didn't hear him. The Orin around her had intensified. Percy immediately went inside. Clara was pulling in too much energy. What's more... The flow was still growing. Percy moved behind her. Kneeled. Reached his hand toward her back. He had done this before. Thanks to [Perfect Match]... He could select the amount Clara could accept. He could guide the energy along with her. As Percy's hand approached... A hand grabbed his wrist. Percy flinched. Looked behind him. Holar Jun.

"Move back."

Percy frowned.

"Grandpa?"

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Holar pulled Percy back. Eleanor had arrived at the doorway too. Percy looked back at Clara.

"She's drawing too much."

Holar:

"I see."

Percy:

"I can help."

Holar looked at him.

"I know."

Percy paused. Holar moved behind Clara. There was concern on Percy's face.

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"What?"

Percy asked seriously.

"Do you know what you're doing?"

Silence. The corner of Eleanor's mouth twitched. Holar slowly turned to Percy. His look... Was incredibly calm.

"Percy."

"Yes?"

Holar narrowed his eyes.

"A couple of your little inventions..."

"...aren't enough to define what I've done in my past."

Percy's mouth opened slightly. Holar continued.

"I am the strongest in the world."

"And I am the savior of this world."

Then he pointed at Clara.

"Know your place, little brat."

Eleanor turned her head away. She was trying not to laugh. Percy looked at Holar for a few seconds. Then... He quietly backed off. Sat down. Placed his hands on his knees.

"Alright, Grandpa."

The corners of Holar's lips curved slightly.

Percy added:

"But if anything goes wrong, I'm stepping in."

Holar:

"You do that."

Percy relaxed. Eleanor sat beside Percy.

"Watch."

Percy looked at her. Eleanor pointed to Clara.

"Watch your grandfather."

Percy turned back forward.

Holar placed his hand on Clara's back. Nothing happened. Percy waited. One second. Two seconds. Then... Percy's eyes slowly widened. The flow of Orin had changed. But Holar... Hadn't stopped the energy. Hadn't cut it off. Hadn't redirected it away from Clara. On the contrary... Even more energy was coming in. Percy started to stand up. Eleanor grabbed his arm.

"Wait."

Percy:

"Aunt..."

Eleanor:

"Watch."

Percy looked again. And... He understood. Holar wasn't reducing the amount of energy. He was changing the way Clara accepted it. Percy's eyes widened. Holar's control... Was unbelievable. Energy was coming in waves. Holar felt every wave. Before it even reached Clara's Core... He was altering the shape of the flow. Softening the sharp spikes. Gathering the scattered energy. Matching it to Clara's rhythm. But... It wasn't like what Percy did. Percy had used [Perfect Match]. He had attuned himself with Clara. Holar didn't have anything like that. Instead... There was pure control. Thousands of years of experience. Countless battles. Countless breakthroughs. Countless uses of energy.

Percy whispered:

"How..."

Eleanor heard him.

"Experience."

Percy didn't reply. Because it wasn't just experience. Holar... Was genuinely insanely skilled. Percy knew that. But knowing was one thing. Seeing it... Was something else entirely. Holar stood behind Clara's back. His eyes weren't even closed. He wasn't sweating. He wasn't struggling. He was simply... Directing it. A smile slowly formed on Percy's face.

"Grandpa is such a badass."

Silence. Percy's face froze. Eleanor turned her head toward him.

Percy:

"I thought I said that in my head."

Eleanor covered her mouth. Holar's shoulder twitched slightly.

Percy immediately added:

"Keep going, Grandpa."

Holar:

"Shut up, little brat."

Percy sat with a smile.

"Okay."

Minutes passed. Clara's Core was filling up. But this... Was no ordinary filling. The limits of Core 11 were being pushed. Percy felt it. Eleanor felt it too. Clara's breathing changed. Holar's hand was still on her back. The Core trembled. Around Clara... The first particles of light appeared. Percy leaned forward.

"This is..."

Eleanor turned serious as well. Core 11... Broke.

CORE 12.

Clara's aura expanded. But the energy didn't stop. Percy immediately looked at Holar. Holar was extremely calm. Core 12 began to fill up. Percy wasn't talking anymore. The Orin around Clara... Was flowing under Holar's control. After a while... The limit of Core 12 appeared. Clara's body trembled. Holar spoke for the first time.

"Clara."

Clara was in meditation. But she heard him.

"The energy is yours."

"I am only showing the path."

Clara's brows relaxed slightly.

Holar:

"Accept it."

Clara took a breath. And... Touched the wall of Core 12. First attempt. The wall trembled. Second attempt. A crack formed. Percy stood up. Eleanor straightened up too. Holar's expression didn't change.

"Again."

Clara pushed a third time.

CRACK!

The Core wall shattered. In an instant... The entire room turned white.

Percy raised his arm over his eyes. Eleanor stepped back. Holar, however, didn't move an inch. Clara's body... Was enveloped in light. The Core level was changing. The Core stage had come to an end. A new foundation was being formed.

ADVANCED CORE 1.

Percy's heart raced. Then... Everything fell silent. And the Universe spoke.

"A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT!"

Percy's eyes widened. Eleanor froze. Holar raised his head. The voice of the Universe continued.

"CLARA LEYVAR."

"HAS REACHED ADVANCED CORE 1."

"CONGRATULATIONS."

Percy caught his breath. Clara was still in meditation.

"AWARDING REWARD."

"ELEMENT..."

"LIGHT."

All at once... The whiteness around Clara shifted. The light... Moved as if it were alive. Eleanor's expression changed. Holar watched carefully. And Percy... Didn't move.

"ELEMENT SUCCESSFULLY CREATED."

"CREATING LIGHT SKILL."

A second passed. Then... The Universe's voice came again.

"SKILL CANCELLED."

Percy:

"What?"

Eleanor frowned. Holar's gaze sharpened.

"CREATING PASSIVE TRAIT."

The light in the room... Was suddenly pulled into Clara. Percy's eyes widened. The Universe spoke one last time.

"DAUGHTER OF LIGHT."

"PASSIVE TRAIT SUCCESSFULLY CREATED."

"LIGHT ATTACKS..."

"DEAL FIFTY PERCENT MORE DAMAGE."

Silence. Absolute silence. Percy was looking at Clara. Eleanor was looking at her daughter. And Holar... Was looking at the spot where the Universe had gone silent. In Percy's mind... Pieces began to move. His own seventh birthday. His mother's message. Being sent to Earth. [Absolute Cancel]. Clara using it. Blaze. Clara sensing Blaze. And now... The Universe's reaction to Clara. Percy's eyes slowly widened. Now... He was sure. Clara... Was like him. He didn't know how. He didn't know where she came from. He didn't know why she was here. But he knew one thing. Clara, too... Did not belong to this world.

Clara didn't open her eyes. The foundation of Advanced Core was solidifying. Holar pulled his hand back from her back. Percy immediately approached.

"Is she okay?"

Holar nodded.

"She's fine."

Percy relaxed.

"How long will it take?"

Holar inspected Clara.

"A day or two."

"She needs to settle her new foundation."

Percy nodded. Then sat next to Clara. Eleanor adjusted her daughter's hair. For a while, no one spoke. Finally, Holar stood up. Eleanor went out with him. As for Percy... He stayed beside Clara.

When they stepped out into the hallway... Eleanor quietly closed the door. Holar walked a few steps. Then stopped. Eleanor stopped too. They looked at each other. The same thought was on both of their minds. Holar was the first to speak.

"When Percy came..."

Eleanor listened quietly.

"He was five months old."

Holar's voice had softened.

"I followed the light falling from the sky."

"And I found him."

Eleanor knew this. But she listened to Holar tell it.

"He grabbed onto the beard on my neck."

Eleanor smiled softly. Holar smiled too.

"He wouldn't let go."

"I was the world's First Awakened."

"I had seen thousands of battles."

"I had fought monsters."

"I had seen the destruction of humanity."

"Then a tiny kid..."

"...pulled my beard."

Eleanor laughed. Holar's smile softened.

"And my life changed."

There was a moment of silence. Then... Holar's face fell a little.

"He's not my grandson."

Eleanor looked at him. Holar continued.

"Not in the true sense."

"I didn't bring him into this world."

"He's not of my blood."

Eleanor remained silent.

Holar:

"Sometimes I think about it."

"His real family is somewhere out there."

"He has a mother."

"He has a father."

"And I..."

Holar didn't finish his sentence. Eleanor spoke slowly.

"I didn't give birth to Clara either."

Holar looked at her. Eleanor's eyes were on the door.

"She's not of my blood."

"She's not my biological daughter."

She paused for a moment.

"Sometimes it hurts."

Holar listened quietly. Eleanor continued.

"Because ever since I first saw her..."

"...she's been my daughter."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"I don't know any other way to describe it."

Holar's face softened. Eleanor looked at him.

"Maybe it's selfish."

Holar answered immediately.

"It's not."

Eleanor quieted. Holar continued.

"Percy calls me Grandpa."

"No one taught him to."

"No one forced him."

"I didn't even ask for it."

Eleanor's eyes softened.

Holar:

"He chose to."

Eleanor smiled slightly.

"Clara calls me Mom, too."

Holar nodded.

"She chose to, as well."

The two remained silent for a moment. Holar looked at the door. Behind the door... Were two children. One was awake. The other was in meditation. Both of them... Had come to this world from elsewhere. Holar took a deep breath.

"We aren't the ones who brought them into the world."

Eleanor nodded.

"No."

Holar:

"But we are the ones raising them."

Eleanor:

"Yes."

The corners of Holar's lips curved slightly.

"I am his Grandpa."

Eleanor smiled too.

"And I am her Mother."

A second passed.

Eleanor added:

"Clara's."

Holar laughed.

"I know."

Eleanor looked at him.

"I just wanted to specify."

Holar:

"You claim Percy too."

Eleanor felt no shame.

"Of course."

"He's my nephew."

Holar:

"My grandson."

Eleanor:

"I know, Holar."

Holar:

"Just thought I'd remind you."

Eleanor rolled her eyes. But she was smiling.

A day passed. Then the second day began. Clara was still in meditation. The foundation of her Advanced Core was settling. The Light Element... Was establishing itself in her Core. As for Percy... He came by her side often. Sometimes he read a book. Sometimes he played with Blaze. Sometimes he just watched Clara. In the later hours of the second day... Clara's breathing changed. Percy noticed right away. He put Blaze down. Leaned forward. Clara's fingers moved slightly. Then... Her eyes opened. The first thing she saw... Was Percy. Percy was sitting next to the bed. He had rested his chin on both hands. Clara looked at him for a few seconds. On Percy's face... A huge smile formed.

"Welcome back."

Clara blinked. Percy stepped a little closer. That smile was still in his eyes.

Then he said:

"Welcome back..."

"...[Daughter of Light]."

Clara's eyes narrowed instantly.

"Percy."

Percy's smile widened.

"Yes?"

Clara kept looking at him. But... She realized something. Percy's look was different. He wasn't just joking. He knew something. No. Something... He had understood. The annoyance on Clara's face slowly vanished. Percy didn't speak either. The two just looked at each other. And for the first time... Neither of them knew the exact same thing. But... They had both approached the same question.