CHAPTER 62 — BACK TO CLASS 1-A

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON II

CHAPTER 62 — BACK TO CLASS 1-A

The academy hallways were as crowded as ever. But the returning students were no longer the same. Percy and Clara walked up the stairs together. Their hands were still clasped in each other's. A few students in the hallway turned to look at them. Percy paid attention to none of them. Clara didn't even turn her head. They reached the classroom door. Percy opened the door with his free hand. The two entered together. The chatter in the class diminished within a few seconds. Then died down completely. Charlotte's eyes first darted to Percy. Then shifted downward. She saw their intertwined hands. Looked back up. Then looked at the hands again.

"No way."

William had noticed them as well. Marcus raised an eyebrow slightly. Nathaniel's jaw dropped. Arthur leaned back in his chair and scrutinized them. Percy, however, only looked at Clara. Clara looked at him too. Small smiles formed on both their faces. Charlotte couldn't hold back and leaned forward.

"You can see us, right?"

No answer came. Nathaniel waved his hand toward Percy.

"President?"

Percy was still looking at Clara.

"Percy?"

Clara tried to hide her smile. A few people in the class began to laugh. Arthur finally chimed in.

"Looks like the leash got a bit shorter."

Percy's eyes turned to Arthur. Arthur had a subtle smirk on his face. Percy scrutinized him for a few seconds.

"Wall Green."

Arthur's smirk vanished instantly. The classroom fell silent for a second. Then those who remembered the past burst out laughing. Charlotte slumped over her desk.

"No!"

Nathaniel couldn't hold back his laughter. Arthur closed his eyes.

"You still haven't forgotten that?"

"It's hard to forget four meters."

Arthur looked at Percy.

"Seven days."

Percy immediately retorted.

"Four meters."

"Seven days."

"Four meters, Wall Green."

Arthur shook his head.

"One day I'm really going to beat you up."

Percy turned back to Clara.

"Sure."

Arthur's eyebrow twitched. Right at that moment, he noticed something else. Clara. The amusement on Arthur's face faded. Clara's Orin was different. Very different. Arthur sat up straight in his chair.

"Clara."

Clara looked at him. Arthur wasn't sure for a few seconds.

"You..."

William finally noticed as well. His eyes widened slightly. Charlotte first looked at William. Then at Clara.

"Wait a minute."

Marcus's expression turned serious. Arthur slowly stood up.

"Advanced Core."

The classroom fell silent once again. Clara calmly nodded.

"Advanced Core One."

Charlotte's mouth stayed open.

"WHAT?"

Nathaniel bolted upright in his chair.

"WHEN?"

Even William couldn't hide his shock. Arthur, on the other hand, said nothing. He just looked at Clara. Clara immediately recognized that look of his. That encounter years ago. The match Arthur hadn't fought. And the promise that had been made. Clara's lips curved slightly.

"You remember, don't you?"

Arthur was quiet for a few seconds. Then gave a small smile.

"I haven't forgotten."

Clara nodded slightly.

"Good."

Arthur sat back down in his seat. But the expression in his eyes had changed. This time, he was truly going to fight. The class hadn't even digested this yet. Charlotte ran over to Clara.

"ADVANCED CORE ONE?!"

Clara laughed.

"Yes."

"YOU'RE SEVEN YEARS OLD!"

Clara pointed at Percy.

"He's seven too."

Charlotte looked at Percy. Then turned back to Clara.

"He isn't normal to begin with!"

Percy raised an eyebrow from afar.

"I heard that."

"You were supposed to hear it."

A voice came from near the door.

"I heard it too."

Everyone immediately turned back to their seats. Adrian Wycliffe entered the classroom. However, the class's reaction was short-lived. Because the students felt him too. Arthur's expression changed again. William raised his head. Percy smiled faintly.

"Professor."

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Wycliffe looked at Percy.

Percy continued innocently:

"You're looking good."

Wycliffe's face darkened.

"Don't say a single word, Grant."

Percy fell silent. But kept smiling. Wycliffe walked toward his desk. His gaze rested on Percy for a brief moment. He remembered Percy before the camp. Now, the class looked at him differently. He wasn't just a strong student anymore. The class involuntarily centered around him. Even Arthur had accepted him as president. Clara was walking beside him. The others listened to his decisions. Wycliffe could see this clearly. And it wasn't limited to just the classroom. News began to spread throughout the day. First it reached the second-years. Then the third-years. Then the fourth-years. The main reason for this was Galahad. In the fourth-year classroom, he was already surrounded by a crowd.

"How was the camp?"

Galahad leaned back in his chair. Thought about the question for a moment. Then a strange smile appeared on his face.

"Hell."

The students facing him laughed. Galahad didn't laugh. The laughter slowly died down.

"I'm serious."

A student raised an eyebrow.

"What did you do?"

Galahad shrugged.

"They beat each other up."

"The teachers beat them up."

"Then they beat each other up again."

"Then the teachers beat them up again."

Someone looked at him in shock.

"Is that training?"

"According to them, yes."

Galahad paused briefly.

"Percy became Advanced Core Two."

Silence. Someone started to laugh. But stopped upon seeing Galahad's face.

"How much?"

"Advanced Two."

"At seven years old?"

"Yes."

Another person asked immediately.

"Clara?"

Galahad's smile grew a little bigger.

"Advanced One."

This time, no one spoke. The news could no longer be stopped. By noon, the entire academy knew. The first-years already knew Percy. The second-years began talking about his name. The third-years watched with curiosity. As for the fourth-years, they were showering Galahad with questions. But Galahad didn't tell everything. He only described the camp. The hellish training. The battles. And the levels they had reached. When Percy passed through the hallway, the looks directed at him had changed. Where there used to be curiosity... Now they were trying to measure him up. Some believed it. Some still couldn't believe it. Others simply watched. Percy answered none of them. Because Clara was still by his side. And their hands still hadn't separated. During a brief part of the day, Elizabeth arrived. She took Percy to the training grounds. They did a short practice on Fire Element. Elizabeth made a few corrections. Percy reshaped his fire. Then he returned to his classes. Clara was waiting for him at the door. Percy extended his hand. Clara took it. They continued walking. And right here was where the problem started. An upperclassman blocked their path. His gaze was directly on Clara. Percy stopped. Clara stopped too. The boy barely glanced at Percy.

"Clara."

Clara raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Will you go out with me?"

Several heads in the hallway snapped around instantly. Percy remained quiet. Clara's hand was still in his hand. Clara looked at the boy.

"No."

The boy finally scrutinized Percy.

"Is it because of him?"

Clara frowned slightly.

"Because I said no."

The boy looked at Percy with contempt.

"I've heard the stories about you."

Percy didn't answer.

"I don't believe you're Advanced Two."

Percy was still silent.

"I'm Core Six."

Percy finally looked at him.

"Okay."

The boy took that as mockery.

"A duel."

The hallway began to quiet down. News spread within seconds. Percy looked at Clara. Clara looked at him too. Their classmates were coming from behind. Arthur stopped upon seeing the situation. William felt the boy's level. Then looked at Percy. Nathaniel shook his head.

"This kid has a death wish."

Charlotte winced.

"Someone notify his family."

Arthur crossed his arms.

"I'm not getting involved."

Clara stepped closer to Percy. Lowered her voice so only he could hear.

"He just wanted to try."

Percy looked at Clara.

"I understand."

Clara gently squeezed his hand.

"Please don't hit him too much."

Percy nodded calmly.

"I'll hit him once."

Clara pulled back, feeling relieved. Students began gathering in the duel arena. The second-years came. The third-years came too. There were even spectators from the fourth-years. Galahad noticed what was happening from afar. Quietly approached the crowd. Didn't see any need to intervene. Not yet. The boy raised his staff. Percy, on the other hand, pulled Blaze out of his pocket. The crowd grew a bit quieter. The signal to start was given. The boy instantly sent out his spell. Percy merely raised Blaze. The tip of the staff touched the spell. Percy flicked his wrist slightly. The structure of the spell collapsed instantly. Surprised murmurs rose from the crowd. Percy had already moved. One step. Second step. The boy tried to raise his staff again. Percy was already in his range. Reflexively, the boy swung a punch. Percy ducked his head. The punch passed right over his hair. Percy's foot planted firmly on the ground. His hip rotated. His shoulder followed. His fist slammed into the boy's stomach. A single hit. The boy's breath was instantly knocked out of him. His knees gave out. Percy stepped back. The boy collapsed to the ground. Silence. Percy put Blaze back in his pocket. Clara looked at him from afar. Percy raised a single finger.

"One."

Clara looked at the boy on the ground. Then looked back at Percy. A slight hint of regret formed on her face.

"I wish you had hit him a lot."

Charlotte's head snapped to Clara.

"CLARA!"

Clara shrugged.

"What?"

"YOU JUST SAID DON'T HIT HIM TOO MUCH!"

"I changed my mind."

Nathaniel burst out laughing. Percy looked at Clara and laughed. However, the crowd hadn't dispersed yet. The fallen boy's friends had arrived. Six people. Percy sighed upon seeing them.

"Ah."

One of them stepped forward. Percy tilted his head slightly.

"I should have guessed."

Arthur immediately moved forward. William stepped up beside him. Marcus had already approached. Charlotte prepared her staff. Even Nathaniel had turned serious. Clara walked over to Percy's side. Percy raised his free hand.

"Stop."

Arthur frowned.

"Percy."

"I'll handle it."

William was gauging the group opposite them.

"Core Seven."

His gaze shifted to the next one.

"Nine."

Then to the others.

"Ten."

"Eleven."

"Twelve."

The murmur of the crowd grew louder. Galahad was watching them from afar. This time, his body leaned forward slightly. He would intervene if necessary. Percy, on the other hand, looked at the six people. Then he smiled. Arthur's face changed instantly. Charlotte noticed this.

"No."

Nathaniel saw Percy's smile. The color drained from his face a bit.

"Holy shit."

Charlotte turned to him.

"WHAT HOLY SHIT?"

Nathaniel pointed at Percy.

"Look at his face!"

Charlotte looked. Then remembered the camp. Her eyes widened.

"AGAIN?!"

Clara shook her head. The six students didn't understand what was happening. Percy's smile grew bigger and bigger. The familiar excitement of battle was returning. His heart sped up. His thoughts cleared. Possibilities began to open up in his mind. Percy raised Blaze.

"I am possibility."

Fire began to stir around him.

"I too am possibility."

[Nature of Fire] activated. The five-meter area began to transform. Arthur took a step back.

"My condolences."

The six students looked at Arthur. Clara looked at them too. Then spoke quite calmly.

"My condolences."

The first student attacked. Percy laughed. He really laughed. Swept through the crowd. Slipped past the first spell. A punch. The first student went down. The second student spun his staff. Percy moved through the fire. A strike. The second student fell. The third attacked from behind. Percy side-stepped without turning around. Used his elbow just once. The third student collapsed. The fourth was Core Eleven. Blocked Percy's path. Percy saw his attack. The possibility was already calculated. One step left. One step forward. A single hit. The fourth student went down. The crowd was now completely silent. The fifth student was Core Twelve. He was much faster than the others. Managed to reach Percy's front. Two attacks came at the same time. Percy slipped under the first. Disrupted the direction of the second with Blaze. Then closed the distance. A single punch. The fifth student collapsed as well. The last one backed up a few steps. Percy looked at him. The kid raised his staff. Percy was still smiling. The kid attacked. Percy passed through the fire as if vanishing. A moment later, he was right in front of him. A single blow. The sixth student went down too. Percy stood where he was. Six people were on the ground. He had struck each of them only once. [Nature of Fire] slowly deactivated. Percy's smile settled into calmness. The school was quiet. The first-years were frozen. The second-years couldn't speak. The third-years looked at each other. The fourth-years turned to Galahad.

Someone asked quietly:

"What on earth did you guys do at camp?"

Galahad smiled faintly.

"I told you. Hell."

Arthur crossed his arms again. Looked at the six people on the ground. Then turned to Percy.

"One each, really."

Clara nodded proudly.

"He kept his word."

Charlotte looked at her in disbelief.

"IS THAT YOUR TAKEAWAY?!"

Clara walked over to Percy's side. Percy extended his hand. Clara took his hand. They walked as if nothing had happened. The crowd involuntarily parted ways for them. Wycliffe was watching from afar. There were seven students on the ground. Percy and Clara were walking away hand in hand. Wycliffe closed his eyes. Took a deep breath.

"I should have retired."

Percy turned his head from afar. Wycliffe's patience finally snapped.

"PERCY!"

Percy stopped. Wycliffe's voice echoed through the academy.

"IT'S ONLY THE FIRST DAY!"

Percy thought for a few seconds. Then looked at Clara. Clara looked at Percy. Both of them smiled at the same time. Wycliffe's eye twitched.

"DON'T YOU DARE SMILE, GRANT!"

END OF CHAPTER