CHAPTER 21 — NOT ROTTEN

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 21 — NOT ROTTEN

Arthur Green... Didn't come to the academy the next day. Nor on the second day. On the third day... He came.

Quietly.

Oliver met him at the entrance. Henry and Edward were beside him.

Oliver:

"Are you okay?"

Arthur:

"Yes."

It was a lie. But... Not physically.

Percy's **[Absolute Heal]**... Had truly healed everything.

There were no bruises. No cuts. No broken bones.

On Arthur's body... Not a single trace remained of his fight with Percy. But inside his head... There were plenty.

Be my rival. Not a parasite. Arthur... Had been unable to forget those words for three days.

Henry:

"Should we go after Percy again—"

Arthur looked at him. Henry went quiet.

Arthur:

"No."

Oliver:

"No what?"

Arthur:

"We are never going four against one again."

Silence.

Edward:

"But—"

Arthur:

"Never again."

"We don't do that."

The three of them looked at each other. Arthur began walking. Then he stopped.

Without turning around:

"And..."

He paused for a moment.

"If any of you say anything about Percy's family..."

Oliver:

"We won't."

Arthur nodded. He kept walking. That day... He saw Charlotte.

In the past, he would have walked over to her. If Percy was beside her, he would have walked over even faster. This time... He stopped. Charlotte saw him too.

Arthur looked at her for a few seconds. Then... He gave a slight nod.

And walked in the other direction. Charlotte was surprised. William was beside her.

"That's new."

Charlotte:

"Yeah."

Arthur... For the first time... Was thinking that wanting someone... Didn't mean possessing that person.

And... To hate Percy Grant... He didn't want to turn into someone he would hate himself.

But... Percy Grant... Knew none of this.

Because... He still hadn't woken up.

DAY ONE

Percy was lying in his bed. Holar stood at the bedroom doorway. Eleanor beside him. Clara... Was in the chair right next to the bed.

She was running her fingers through Percy's hair.

A strand. Let go. Another strand. Smooth it down.

Eleanor:

"The doctors said it."

Clara didn't raise her head.

"His Core is stable."

"His Orin is regenerating."

"Physically, there's nothing wrong."

Clara:

"I know."

Holar:

"He will wake up."

Clara:

"I know."

Holar looked at Eleanor. Eleanor at Holar. Both of them... Knew Clara wasn't going anywhere.

DAY TWO

Percy was still asleep. Clara... Was still there. This time she had a pen in her hand. She looked at Percy's face.

Then... At his forehead. She smiled. She raised the pen. She wrote slowly.

P

A

I

N

Space.

I

N

Space.

M

Y

Space.

A

S

S

Clara leaned back.

Percy Grant. Core 5. 100% Orin Affinity. **[Absolute Cancel]**. **[Absolute Heal]**.

And on his forehead:

PAIN IN MY ASS

For the first time in two days... Clara laughed. Just then... The door opened.

Holar. Eleanor. The two of them stopped. They looked at Percy. At the writing.

Clara hid the pen behind her back.

Silence.

Holar:

"...Clara."

Clara:

"Yes?"

Eleanor pressed her lips together.

Clara:

"What?"

Holar pointed at Percy's forehead.

"What is this?"

Clara:

"Nothing."

Eleanor couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing.

"DID YOU WRITE 'PAIN IN MY ASS'?!"

Clara:

"HE STARTED IT!"

Holar:

"He's asleep."

Clara:

"HE STARTED IT YEARS AGO!"

Eleanor was laughing so hard she held onto the edge of the bed. Holar shook his head.

"Neither of you will ever grow up."

Clara... Smoothed Percy's hair again.

"Nope."

DAY THREE

Charlotte arrived. William beside her. Galahad too. The moment Galahad entered the room, he saw Percy's forehead. He stopped.

"Who did that?"

Clara looked at him.

Galahad:

"Alright."

Charlotte stepped closer. She saw the writing. She burst into laughter.

"HE DESERVED IT."

William looked at Percy's forehead.

"It's not symmetrical."

Clara turned to him.

"WHAT?"

William:

"The lettering."

Clara:

"I HAVEN'T SLEPT IN THREE DAYS."

William:

"In that context, it's a success."

Charlotte:

"William."

"What?"

Galahad walked over to Percy. He checked his Core. Then he relaxed.

"He's good."

Clara:

"When is he going to wake up?"

Galahad looked at her.

"I don't know."

Clara's face fell.

Galahad quickly added:

"But he will wake up."

Clara nodded. Galahad... Reached out his hand to ruffle Percy's hair. Clara slapped his hand away.

**SLAP!**

Galahad:

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Clara:

"I do that."

Galahad:

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DO THAT?!"

Clara ran her fingers through Percy's hair.

"This."

Galahad:

"I CAN DO THAT TOO."

Clara:

"Not right now."

Galahad:

"I'M HIS BROTHER."

Clara:

"I AM..."

She stopped. Everyone looked at her.

Clara:

"...I'm Clara."

Charlotte covered her face.

William:

"Strong argument."

Galahad:

"SERIOUSLY?"

DAY FOUR

Holar... Was beginning to worry. Not because of Percy. Because of Clara. He opened the door.

Same chair. Same girl. Same boy.

Dark circles had formed under Clara's eyes. Her lips were dry. Holar looked at the table. The food he had left yesterday... Was untouched.

The water... Was at almost the exact same level. Holar's expression turned stern.

"Clara."

Clara was playing with Percy's hair.

"Hm?"

"When did you last eat?"

Clara went quiet.

Holar:

"Clara."

"I don't remember."

Holar's expression changed.

"Water?"

Clara didn't answer. Holar walked over to the chair.

"This won't do."

Clara:

"I'm not hungry."

"It doesn't matter."

Clara looked at Percy.

"Until he eats..."

Her voice cracked slightly.

"...I can't eat."

Holar fell silent. For a moment... He looked at Clara. Then... He understood.

This... Wasn't stubbornness. It wasn't punishment. Clara... Truly couldn't eat.

Because until Percy woke up... Nothing could go down her throat. Holar sighed. Then he reached into his pocket. He pulled out an apple.

Clara looked at him. Holar turned the apple in his hand.

Bright. Red. Fresh.

"Look."

Clara knitted her brows.

"This isn't rotten."

Clara froze. Charlotte's voice... Echoed in her mind. You and Percy were like two halves of an apple.

Looking at it now from here... That half of the apple was rotten. Clara's eyes welled with tears. Holar continued.

"New."

"Fresh."

"Restored."

He held the apple out to Clara.

"Just like you two."

Clara looked at Holar. Holar smiled.

"Just because one side of an apple went bad..."

"...you don't have to throw the whole apple away."

A tear rolled down Clara's cheek.

Holar:

"You fix the part that went bad."

"You look after it."

"You give it time."

Then he looked at Percy.

"And sometimes..."

"...the other half forgives you before you even ask."

Clara bowed her head.

Percy... Despite everything... Had forgiven her.

But Clara... Hadn't forgiven herself yet.

The slap. Arthur. Her stubbornness. The silence. The wrong choices.

Percy's forgiveness... Didn't erase those things. There was still so much... She needed to make up for. Clara took the apple.

A bite. Even chewing was difficult. Holar waited. A second bite. Clara closed her eyes.

A third. Holar smiled.

"Water, too."

Clara:

"You're acting like a grandfather."

Holar:

"I am a Grandfather."

Clara looked at him. Holar looked at her too. The two of them... Realized at the exact same time.

Clara:

"...Uncle Holar."

Holar:

"That's more like it."

But... He was smiling. Clara drank the water too. Then she sat back down beside Percy. She ruffled his hair.

"Idiot."

Percy didn't answer.

"If you were going to sleep for seven days..."

"...you should have told me before kissing me."

Silence.

Clara's face flushed red.

"Though..."

She looked at the writing on Percy's forehead.

"...I think it was worth it."

DAY FIVE

Clara's body... Finally gave out. It was night. Eleanor entered the room. Clara wasn't in the chair.

Eleanor looked around in panic. Then... She saw the bed. She stopped.

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Clara... Was lying next to Percy. How she got there wasn't clear. Her head was resting on Percy's chest. One hand was clutching Percy's uniform.

Percy was still asleep. So was Clara.

Soundly.

Eleanor looked for a few seconds.

Then:

"...Are these idiots sleeping together now?"

From the door, Holar's voice:

"What?"

He walked in. He stopped.

"...Oh."

Eleanor:

"'Oh' what?"

Holar:

"I didn't say anything."

Eleanor:

"Your face is saying it."

Holar:

"It looks familiar."

Eleanor looked at him.

"What looks familiar?"

Holar:

"Two people who hate each other."

Eleanor:

"Holar."

Holar:

"What?"

Eleanor:

"Get out."

Holar walked out laughing.

DAY SIX

The door opened.

Galahad. Charlotte. William.

The three of them stepped inside. And... All three stopped at the exact same moment. Percy. Asleep.

Clara. On top of him. Asleep.

Silence.

Charlotte's eyes... Slowly widened. On Galahad's face... A devilish grin formed.

William:

"No."

Charlotte:

"No what?"

"Don't wake them up."

Galahad:

"Why?"

William:

"Because I want to remember this."

Charlotte covered her mouth. Galahad approached quietly. He looked at Clara's hair. Then at Percy.

The writing on Percy's forehead... Was still there.

PAIN IN MY ASS

Galahad couldn't hold it in any longer. A small chuckle escaped his nose. Clara stirred.

ALL THREE FROZE.

Clara went back to sleep. Charlotte gave Galahad a death glare.

Galahad mouthed:

SORRY.

William started backing out of the room.

Charlotte whispered:

"Where are you going?"

"Food."

Charlotte:

"IN THIS SITUATION?!"

William:

"Day six."

"My routine continues."

Galahad nodded.

"I respect this kid."

Meanwhile, Arthur... On the very same day... Was training alone.

First match. He won. His opponent fell to the ground. The old Arthur... Might have landed one more attack.

Arthur stopped. He extended his hand. His opponent looked in surprise.

Arthur:

"The match is over."

The boy took his hand. Arthur pulled him up. From behind the stands... Richard Green was watching. He said nothing.

But... He smiled. On another day, Arthur saw Charlotte. This time... He walked up to her.

Charlotte looked at him warily.

Arthur:

"I want to say something."

Charlotte waited.

"About Percy..."

Arthur paused.

"I was wrong."

Charlotte didn't answer.

"About you, too."

Charlotte's expression shifted slightly.

Arthur:

"I like you."

Charlotte froze.

Arthur immediately added:

"You don't have to say anything."

Charlotte remained silent.

Arthur:

"And regarding that..."

"...I don't expect anything from you."

A moment.

"I just wanted you to know."

Arthur turned around.

Charlotte:

"Arthur."

Arthur stopped.

Charlotte:

"This..."

She thought for a second.

"...was better."

Arthur smiled faintly.

"I'm learning."

And he walked away.

DAY SEVEN

Morning.

The sun... Was streaming into the room. Percy's finger... Twitched.

Once.

Then... His eyes opened. The ceiling. Percy stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.

"..."

Where am I? Then... He noticed a weight on his chest. He looked down.

Hair.

Long hair. Percy's eyebrows knitted. He looked a little closer.

Clara.

Percy... Froze. Clara... Was sleeping right on his chest. One hand was clutching Percy's clothes.

Percy's eyes widened.

"..."

One second.

Two.

Three.

Percy:

"...Clara?"

Clara stirred. She raised her head slightly. Her eyes fluttered halfway open. She saw Percy. Closed them again.

Then... In an instant, snapped them open again.

PERCY.

Clara bolted up.

"PERCY?!"

Percy:

"AHHH—"

THEIR HEADS COLLIDED.

CLACK!

Both of them recoiled.

"OW!"

"OW!"

Percy held his forehead. Clara did as well. The two stared at each other.

And... For a moment... The two kids who had bumped heads while running near the bad stone years ago... Returned.

Percy:

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Clara:

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"I WAS SLEEPING!"

"I WAS SLEEPING TOO!"

"ON TOP OF ME!"

Clara went quiet. Her face flushed red. Percy saw it. Slowly... He smiled.

"You..."

Clara:

"Don't you dare."

Percy:

"...slept with me."

Clara:

"I SAID DON'T YOU DARE."

Percy's smile widened.

"Clara Leyvar..."

He took a deep breath. Clara's eyes widened.

"No."

Percy's chest puffed out.

"Percy."

The door burst open.

Galahad. Holar. Eleanor. Charlotte. William.

All of them... Entered at the exact same time.

Percy:

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—"

Galahad ran forward. Charlotte ran forward.

Eleanor:

"HE JUST WOKE UP, DON'T LET HIM YELL!"

Galahad clamped his hand over Percy's mouth. Charlotte pressed a pillow over his face.

"MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

Holar burst out laughing.

William:

"He was in a coma for seven days."

A second.

"And this is the very first thing he does."

Clara:

"BECAUSE HE'S AN IDIOT!"

Percy pulled the pillow away.

"I'M BACK!"

Holar:

"We can see that."

Eleanor came over to Percy. She held his face.

"Are you okay?"

Percy:

"I'm fine."

Clara instantly:

"No, you're not."

Percy turned to her.

Silence.

Then... He smiled.

"Look who learned."

Clara's face turned beet red. Charlotte burst out laughing. Galahad ruffled Percy's hair.

Percy:

"BRO."

Holar ruffled it from the other side.

Percy:

"GRANDPA."

Eleanor did as well.

Percy:

"AUNT."

Clara held out her hand.

Percy instantly:

"DON'T YOU DARE."

Clara:

"I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR SEVEN DAYS!"

Percy:

"WHAT?!"

Everyone went quiet. Percy looked at Clara.

Clara:

"...What?"

Percy:

"Seven days?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Percy:

"I SLEPT FOR SEVEN DAYS?!"

William:

"Yes."

Percy thought for a moment.

Then...

"Food."

William's eyes lit up.

"FINALLY."

Charlotte:

"You two really are soulmates."

William:

"I've been waiting for seven days."

Eleanor:

"You ate every day."

William:

"I've been waiting for him to wake up and ask for food."

Percy tried to get out of bed. Clara immediately held him back.

"Easy."

Percy looked at her. Clara's hand was still on his arm. The two of them... Were silent for a moment.

Percy:

"Clara."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Clara's expression softened.

"For what?"

Percy didn't answer. He simply... Smiled. Then Holar's gaze... Shifted to Percy's forehead.

The writing was still there.

PAIN IN MY ASS

Holar laughed. Percy knitted his brows.

"What?"

Eleanor saw it too. She started laughing. Galahad turned his face away. Charlotte was practically breathless from laughing.

William:

"I forgot."

Percy:

"FORGOT WHAT?!"

Clara's eyes widened. Quietly... She started backing toward the door.

Percy:

"Clara."

Clara didn't stop.

"Clara."

Her steps quickened.

"CLARA."

Clara started running. Percy grabbed the mirror next to the bed. He looked at his forehead.

Silence.

PAIN IN MY ASS

Percy's eyes widened. From the hallway, Clara's laughter echoed. Percy vaulted over the bed.

"CLAAAAAAAAARAAAAAAAA!"

From down the hall:

"COME AND GET ME IF YOU CAN!"

Percy ran out. Eleanor... Looked at the two of them rushing out the door. She smiled.

"There it is."

Holar came up beside her.

"What?"

Eleanor:

"The way they used to be."

From the end of the hallway:

"CLARA, I SWEAR—"

"WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?!"

"I'M GONNA WRITE ON YOUR FOREHEAD!"

"WHAT?!"

"PAIN IN MY ASS!"

"THAT'S MY LINE ALREADY, YOU IDIOT!"

Holar chuckled.

"No."

Eleanor looked at him.

Holar:

"Not the way they used to be."

Around the corner of the hallway... Percy finally caught up to Clara. Clara was trying to escape while laughing. Percy caught her by the arm. The two almost fell over again.

But... This time... They held onto each other.

Holar watched from afar. He smiled.

"Something better."

END OF EPISODE