CHAPTER 63 — ONLY THE FIRST DAY

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON II

CHAPTER 63 — ONLY THE FIRST DAY

Adrian Wycliffe's voice had echoed across the entire academy.

"IT'S ONLY THE FIRST DAY!"

Percy stopped. Clara stopped with him. Their hands were still clasped together. Percy slowly turned around. Wycliffe was standing in the distance. The expression on his face... Was not good. Percy looked for a few seconds. Then turned to Clara.

"Should we run?"

Clara thought seriously about it.

"We'll get caught."

"We won't know unless we try."

"Percy."

"Alright."

Wycliffe called out again.

"GET OVER HERE!"

Percy's shoulders slumped. Clara squeezed his hand gently.

"I'm by your side."

Percy looked at her.

"Do you want to get scolded together?"

Clara let go of his hand.

"I'm, like, right next to you."

And took two steps back. Percy's mouth dropped open.

"Clara."

Clara smiled innocently.

"Good luck."

Percy felt as if he had been betrayed for the second time in his life. The first... Was a few minutes ago when Holar allowed Clara to call him "Grandpa."

And now... He was walking toward Wycliffe alone. With every step, his professor's face became a little clearer. Percy approached. Bowed his head slightly.

"Yes, Professor?"

Wycliffe looked at the students on the ground. Then at Percy. Then back at the students.

"Seven."

Percy nodded.

"Yes."

Wycliffe's eyebrow twitched.

"Don't be proud of this."

"I'm not."

"You're smiling."

Percy tried to straighten his face.

"I'm not smiling anymore."

Wycliffe looked at him for a few seconds. The corners of Percy's lips were still curved.

"You failed."

Percy sighed.

"I'm a little proud."

Wycliffe closed his eyes. Took a deep breath.

"Percy."

"Yes?"

"How long has it been since you returned to the academy?"

Percy thought.

"One day."

Wycliffe opened his eyes.

"No."

Percy frowned.

"What do you mean, no?"

"It's been four hours since classes started."

Percy fell silent. Wycliffe pointed at the students on the ground.

"Within four hours, you sent seven students to the infirmary."

Percy immediately objected.

"They haven't gone to the infirmary yet."

Wycliffe's glare hardened. Percy realized his mistake.

"That didn't make it better, did it?"

"No."

"Got it."

Nathaniel's voice came from behind.

"I think that was a pretty solid defense."

William immediately grabbed his arm.

"Don't get involved."

Nathaniel:

"But—"

"No."

Arthur had his arms crossed. Charlotte was looking at the kids on the ground. Marcus was watching the entrances of the crowd. Clara... Was looking at Percy. There was a subtle smile on her face. Percy saw it. Then turned back to Wycliffe.

"Professor."

"What?"

"They challenged me to a duel."

"I know."

"I wasn't the one who attacked first."

"I know that too."

"I only struck each of them once."

Wycliffe narrowed his eyes.

"Stop using that sentence as a defense."

Percy fell silent. Wycliffe continued.

"Defeating a student who challenges you in the duel arena is not a problem."

Percy's face brightened up.

"However."

It dimmed again. Wycliffe pointed at the other six people on the ground.

"You didn't get permission to fight six people single-handedly."

Percy:

"You wouldn't have given permission."

"Correct."

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"That's why I didn't ask."

Wycliffe didn't say anything for a few seconds. Arthur turned his head away. William closed his eyes.

Nathaniel whispered:

"The president is digging his own grave."

Charlotte:

"I think he already stepped inside."

Wycliffe stepped a bit closer to Percy.

"Would you say that one more time?"

Percy looked at his professor's face. Then... He saw Galahad. Standing at the back of the crowd. Shaking his head silently from side to side. Percy got the message.

"I phrased that wrong."

Wycliffe:

"And the correct way?"

Percy thought.

"Next time I'll ask for permission."

"And if I don't give permission?"

Percy went quiet. Wycliffe waited. Percy looked entirely serious.

"Depends on the situation."

All hope vanished from Wycliffe's face. Galahad burst out laughing. Wycliffe instantly turned to him.

"Is it funny?"

Galahad turned serious.

"No, Professor."

"You are a fourth-year."

"Yes."

"You were here."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you stop it?"

Galahad looked at the students on the ground. Then at Percy.

"There was no need to."

Wycliffe closed his eyes.

"I hate both of you."

Percy:

"You said you missed me."

"I take it back."

"You can't."

Wycliffe opened his eyes.

"Why?"

Percy smiled faintly.

"I heard it."

Wycliffe didn't answer. Because he knew whatever answer he gave wouldn't be suitable for a professor.

The door to the infirmary opened. The first student was carried inside. Then the second. Then the rest. A total of seven people. The healer stopped upon seeing them. Then looked at Wycliffe.

"What happened?"

Wycliffe pointed at Percy. The healer looked at Percy. Then at the seven students. Then back at Percy.

"Single-handedly?"

Percy was about to answer. Wycliffe spoke before him.

"Don't ask."

The healer nodded.

"I won't ask."

He laid the first student on a bed. He had taken a single blow to the stomach. No broken bones. No serious internal organ damage visible. But the punch he had taken... Had knocked all the air out of his body. The healer checked the second. Then the third. After a while, he looked at Percy.

"You struck each of them once?"

Percy's face brightened up.

"Yes."

Wycliffe:

"Don't be proud of it."

Percy went silent again. The healer smiled faintly.

"He controlled his strikes."

Wycliffe:

"I know."

"He could have caused much more damage if he wanted to."

"I know that too."

Percy looked at his professor. Wycliffe knew everything. Yet he was still angry. The amusement on Percy's face faded. For the first time... He began to ponder why. Wycliffe turned to Percy.

"Do you understand now?"

Percy remained quiet for a few seconds.

"A little."

"Explain."

Percy looked at the students on the ground.

"I knew I could beat them."

"Yes."

"But something could have gone wrong."

Wycliffe didn't reply. Percy continued.

"I knew their levels."

"I could calculate their moves."

"Even so..."

He paused for a moment.

"They could have had a skill I didn't know about."

Wycliffe's expression softened slightly.

Percy:

"Or something I couldn't control could have happened."

"Yes."

"Big brother Galahad was there."

Wycliffe retorted immediately.

"Galahad won't always be there."

Percy went silent. That sentence... Felt heavier than he had expected. Wycliffe looked at him.

"Being strong doesn't mean you can take reckless risks."

Percy:

"I know."

"No."

Wycliffe's voice was stern.

"You are only just learning."

Percy bowed his head slightly. Wycliffe continued.

"A leader putting himself in danger doesn't concern only himself."

Percy's eyes slowly shifted to his friends. Clara was standing by the door. Arthur was right behind her. William was watching silently. The smile on Charlotte's face was gone. Marcus was serious. Even Nathaniel wasn't joking.

Wycliffe:

"If you fall..."

"...the order of everyone moving with you breaks down."

Percy didn't answer. Wycliffe's gaze stayed fixed on him.

"If you accepted to be their leader..."

"...you must also accept that your life doesn't belong only to you."

The infirmary grew quiet. Percy didn't speak for a long time. Then he looked at Clara. There was no fear in Clara's eyes. But there was worry. Percy recognized that expression. He had seen it many times at the camp. He turned his head back to Wycliffe.

"I understand, Professor."

This time, his voice sounded different. Wycliffe watched him for a few seconds. Then nodded.

"Good."

Percy looked at the students on the ground.

"Can I heal them?"

The healer raised an eyebrow.

Wycliffe:

"Why?"

Percy answered simply.

"I injured them."

The sternness on Wycliffe's face softened a bit more. The healer made room for Percy.

"Show me what you've got."

Percy sat next to the first student. Placed his hand on his stomach. Closed his eyes. Heal. Warm energy radiated from his palm. The student's muscles slowly relaxed. His breathing normalized. Percy pulled his energy back. Then moved to the second. Heal. Then the third. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth. By the time he reached the last one, there was light sweat on Percy's forehead. Charlotte noticed.

"You're tired."

Percy nodded.

"A little."

Charlotte came over.

"Let me do the last one."

Percy looked at her.

"Are you sure?"

Charlotte pulled out her staff.

"I'm a healer."

Percy smiled faintly.

"Right."

He stepped back. Charlotte sat next to the last student. Green Orin gathered at the tip of her staff. Spread over the injured area. Percy watched carefully. Charlotte's method was different from his. It moved slower. But... It was gentler. Every piece of energy seemed to know its place. Percy stepped a bit closer. Charlotte noticed.

"What?"

"I'm watching."

"Why?"

"It was beautiful."

Charlotte's face flushed slightly.

"Can healing be beautiful?"

Percy nodded.

"Yours is."

Nathaniel turned to William from behind.

"The president is at it again."

William:

"He doesn't realize it this time."

Clara crossed her arms.

"I notice."

Nathaniel slowly looked at her.

"I sense danger."

Arthur:

"You sensed right."

Percy turned to them.

"What are you talking about?"

William:

"Nothing."

Percy narrowed his eyes. But didn't press further. Because the first student had begun to wake up.

The boy opened his eyes. The first person he saw was Percy. His body instantly tensed up. Percy noticed.

"Relax."

The boy tried to sit up. The pain in his stomach was mostly gone. He looked around. His friends were waking up too. Then he turned back to Percy.

"Did you heal us?"

Percy nodded.

"Charlotte helped."

The boy was silent for a few seconds. The expression on his face was complex. Shame. Anger. And a bit of fear. Percy waited. The boy finally asked.

"Why?"

Percy didn't understand.

"Why what?"

"Why did you heal us?"

Percy frowned.

"I injured you."

The boy couldn't reply. Percy continued.

"Besides, the duel is over."

"You're not my opponents anymore."

That sentence... Caught the attention of the other students on the ground as well. The boy who had first challenged him averted his eyes. Clara stood quietly by the door. A few seconds later, the boy looked at her. Then bowed his head.

"I'm sorry."

Clara didn't reply. The boy continued.

"When you said no..."

"...I shouldn't have insisted."

Clara's look softened slightly.

"Yes."

The boy raised his head.

Clara:

"But if you understand, it's fine."

Percy said nothing. That apology wasn't meant for him. Nor did he have the right to accept or reject it. Wycliffe noticed this. His gaze rested briefly on Percy. Then a subtle look of satisfaction formed on his face. The second student looked at Percy.

"Are you really Advanced Two?"

Percy nodded.

"Yes."

The kid sighed.

"You should have said so in the first place."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"They did."

The kid shut up. Nathaniel poked his head through the doorway.

"Half the academy was talking about it."

William tried to pull him back. Nathaniel was resisting.

"Let them know before they die!"

Wycliffe:

"Nathaniel."

Nathaniel fell quiet.

"Yes, Professor?"

"Out."

Nathaniel nodded.

"Okay, Professor."

Took a step. Then turned back again.

"But I was right."

William grabbed his arm and pulled him out.

"Come on."

Nathaniel's voice faded down the hallway.

"Am I wrong, Arthur?"

Arthur's voice echoed back:

"You're right."

"SEE THAT?"

Wycliffe closed his eyes. One of the students in the infirmary involuntarily laughed. Then another. The tension slowly dissipated.

After a while, everyone was ready to leave the infirmary. The seven students had stood up. The boy who first challenged Percy stopped at the door. Looked at Percy.

"Next time..."

Percy waited. The boy thought briefly. Then sighed.

"Never mind."

Percy raised an eyebrow. The boy shook his head.

"There won't be a next time."

Percy laughed.

"Smart."

The boy involuntarily smiled as well. Then left with his friends. Wycliffe watched them. The door closed. Percy turned to his professor.

"May I go?"

Wycliffe:

"No."

Percy's face fell.

"Why?"

"Punishment."

"No one was seriously hurt."

"Seven students."

"Once each."

Wycliffe's eye twitched. Percy fell silent right away.

"What's my punishment?"

Wycliffe pointed to the files on the desk.

"You will write the duel reports."

Percy froze.

"How many?"

"Seven."

The terror on Percy's face... Was greater than when he faced six Core students.

"Seven reports?"

Wycliffe:

"A separate one for each."

"Professor..."

"You will explain why you used every single strike."

"Professor..."

"You will also write down which possibilities you calculated."

Percy's shoulders slumped.

"This is torture."

For the first time, an explicit smile formed on Wycliffe's face.

"No."

He handed Percy a pen.

"Training."

Percy took the pen. He was questioning all his life choices. Clara came to his side. Percy looked at her hopefully.

"Will you help me?"

Clara smiled.

"No."

Percy's face fell.

"Why?"

"A leader's responsibility."

Percy looked at her. Clara had used the lesson he had just received against him.

Percy:

"That's not fair at all."

Clara:

"Neither is life."

Percy went quiet for a few seconds. Then turned to Wycliffe.

"Did you teach her that?"

Wycliffe sat back in his chair.

"No."

He looked at the smile on Clara's face.

"I think she learned it from you."

Percy put the pen to paper. First report.

First question:

What was your reason for accepting the duel? Percy thought. Thought for a long time.

Then wrote:

He challenged me. Wycliffe looked at the paper. Shook his head.

"Longer."

Percy raised the pen again. Underneath the sentence, he added: And he was an idiot. Wycliffe closed his eyes.

"Percy."

"Yes, Professor?"

"Erase it."

Percy sighed. First day... Was turning out to be very long indeed. And Adrian Wycliffe... Was considering retirement more seriously than ever.

END OF CHAPTER