CHAPTER 23 — RIVAL

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 23 — RIVAL

The next few days went by rather strangely. Especially for Percy and Arthur. Because they no longer hated each other. Though it couldn't be said that they liked each other either. Or rather... Both of them would firmly deny it.

Percy walked into the cafeteria. Clara was still holding his hand.

"Clara."

"What?"

"I'm going to eat."

"Eat."

"With one hand?"

"Yes."

"I have two hands."

"One is mine."

Percy looked at her.

"That's my hand."

"Now it's debatable."

William raised his head.

"I think you should file a property lawsuit."

Percy sat down in his chair.

"Finally someone talking sense."

Clara looked at William.

"Stay out of this."

William returned to his food.

"I'm not interfering."

Charlotte sat across from them. She looked at the held hands.

"You're really not letting go."

"Nope."

Percy sighed.

"It's been like this for three days."

Clara smirked.

"He wanted it himself."

"I didn't ask for this much."

"You should have read the terms."

Percy's eyes narrowed.

"There were terms?"

"There are now."

Charlotte burst out laughing.

Just then, Arthur arrived. He placed his tray on the table. Percy immediately looked at him.

"There's no room here."

Arthur looked at the empty chairs.

"There are three."

"I filled them spiritually."

Arthur pulled out a chair.

"Shrink your spirit a bit."

Percy's eyebrow raised. Clara burst out laughing. Arthur sat down across from them.

A few seconds of silence followed. Percy looked at Arthur's plate. Then he looked at his own plate. He looked back at Arthur's again.

"Why is yours bigger?"

Arthur continued eating.

"Because they give more to the winners."

Percy froze. Charlotte hid her cough. Clara looked at Arthur. William put his fork down. Percy slowly leaned forward.

"I beat you."

Arthur nodded.

"Then you slept for seven days."

Percy's face fell. Arthur smiled. Clara covered her mouth. Charlotte burst into laughter.

Percy slammed his hand on the table.

"Here you go again."

Arthur shrugged.

"Truth hurts."

"I sent you flying four meters."

"Four meters and twenty-three centimeters."

Percy went quiet. Arthur continued eating. Percy's eyes widened.

"How do you know that?"

Arthur looked at him.

"You told everyone."

William nodded.

"He really told everyone."

Percy leaned back with pride.

"Science matters."

Arthur laughed.

"You really are an idiot."

Percy smiled too.

"You slammed into that wall real nice, though."

The smile vanished from Arthur's face.

"Grant."

"Green."

"Cut it out."

"Flying Green."

"Percy."

"Wall-loving Green."

Arthur stood up. Percy tried to stand up too. Clara didn't release his hand. Percy sat back down.

"CLARA!"

Clara looked innocent.

"What?"

"I need to run."

Arthur was coming around the table.

"I think you should stay."

"HE'S GOING TO BEAT ME UP."

Arthur approached.

"I haven't decided yet."

Percy looked at Clara.

"You're betraying me."

"You're paying the price."

"THIS PRICE IS TOO EXPENSIVE."

Arthur stood in front of Percy. Percy looked up. Arthur looked down. Silence fell. Then Arthur extended his hand. Percy looked suspiciously.

"What?"

"I want some of your food."

Percy relaxed.

"No."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Just a bite."

"Go eat your own food."

"Yours looks better."

"Just a second ago, yours was bigger."

"Being bigger doesn't mean it's better."

Percy guarded his plate.

"Stay away."

Arthur reached out. Percy pulled the plate away. Arthur reached out again. Percy slapped his hand.

"DON'T STEAL, MAN."

Arthur snatched the bread.

"Thanks."

"ARTHUR!"

Arthur sat back down. He began eating the bread. Percy watched in horror.

"This is cause for war."

Arthur swallowed his bite.

"Do you want to sleep for seven more days?"

Percy fell silent. Then he laughed.

"One day I'm going to get you."

Arthur chuckled softly too.

"You can try."

Charlotte was watching the two of them. Clara had noticed it too. William kept eating his food. Charlotte leaned toward William.

"Are these two aware?"

William didn't answer.

"William."

"They're not aware."

"Of what?"

"That they're starting to become friends."

Percy and Arthur turned at the same time.

"WE ARE NOT."

William nodded.

"You definitely aren't."

Percy looked with suspicion.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Yes."

Arthur laughed. Percy looked at him.

"Why are you laughing?"

"It was funny."

"He made fun of me."

"That's why it was funny."

Percy almost raised his middle finger. Clara squeezed his hand. Percy turned to her.

"What?"

Clara raised an eyebrow. Percy lowered his hand.

"Fine."

After classes, Percy went to train. Arthur was already there. He was practicing alone. Percy stood at the doorway. Arthur noticed him.

"What do you want?"

Percy shrugged.

"Nothing."

"Then why did you come?"

"Do you own this place?"

Arthur turned back to the target.

"Unfortunately not."

Percy set his bag down. Arthur prepared a spell. Percy watched closely.

Arthur attacked. The spell hit the target. Percy knitted his brows.

"Your right shoulder."

Arthur didn't turn around.

"What about it?"

"It sways too far forward."

Arthur prepared again.

"I didn't ask for your opinion."

"I didn't ask for permission either."

Arthur fired the spell. Percy shook his head.

"You did it again."

Arthur turned to him.

"Did you notice?"

"No."

Percy pointed at the tree.

"It did."

Arthur stared for a few seconds.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"Can't you give a normal answer?"

"If you ask a normal question, I'll try."

Arthur rolled his eyes.

He took his position again. This time he corrected his shoulder. He sent the spell flying. The center of the target shattered. Percy watched silently.

"Better."

Arthur turned slowly.

"Was that a compliment?"

"No."

"That's how it sounded."

"Must be lingering damage in your ears."

Arthur smirked.

"Guess **[Absolute Heal]** worked incomplete then."

Percy's eyes narrowed.

"Don't mock me."

Arthur raised his hand. He mimicked Percy.

"Absolute..."

Percy's face fell.

"Arthur."

Arthur dramatically closed his eyes.

"...Heal."

"ARTHUR."

Arthur burst into laughter. Percy walked toward him.

"I won't heal you next time."

Arthur was still laughing.

"You can think about that if you ever beat me again."

Percy stopped. Then he smirked.

"Now that I like."

Arthur's laughter faded.

"What?"

"You're not making excuses."

Percy pointed at the arena.

"You want to win again."

Arthur shrugged.

"I lost."

"Next time I'll win."

Percy nodded.

"Good."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Don't get too used to it."

"To what?"

"To winning."

Percy laughed.

"You flew four meters."

Arthur answered instantly.

"You slept seven days."

Percy's face fell again. Arthur smirked.

"Drop that line."

"You drop the four meters."

"No."

"I won't drop mine either."

"Scumbag."

"Trash."

Percy stopped. Arthur stopped too.

The old silence returned. Just for a second. Arthur's face turned serious.

"Wrong word."

Percy watched him. Arthur didn't avert his gaze.

"Habit."

Percy went silent for a few seconds. Then he shrugged.

"Doesn't matter."

Arthur nodded.

"Matters to me."

The joke faded from Percy's face. Arthur continued.

"I remember the things I said."

Percy didn't answer.

"Including what I said about your family."

Arthur let out a breath.

"And what I did to Clara."

"And the four of us cornering you."

Percy listened silently. Arthur loosened his fist.

"I won't forget those."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

Arthur looked at the targets.

"So I don't do them again."

Percy didn't speak for a long time. Then he stepped beside Arthur. He selected a target. He raised his hand.

"Let's compete."

Arthur looked at him.

"At what?"

"Ten targets."

"Most center hits wins."

Arthur smiled faintly.

"The prize?"

Percy thought.

"Loser buys food."

Arthur nodded.

"Deal."

Percy held out his hand. Arthur was about to shake it. Percy pulled back.

"One more condition."

Arthur sighed.

"What?"

"No crying about Charlotte."

Arthur's face instantly changed.

"Grant."

Percy ran away laughing. Arthur chased after him.

"COME BACK HERE."

"IF YOU CAN CATCH ME."

"I'M GOING TO SHOVE YOUR CORE LEVEL UP YOUR HEAD."

"I'LL TELL CHARLOTTE."

Arthur stopped instantly. Percy stopped too. The two looked at each other.

Arthur raised a finger.

"That's low."

Percy nodded solemnly.

"I'm learning."

Arthur went quiet for a few seconds. Then he burst out laughing. Percy laughed too.

Outside the door stood Galahad. Charlotte beside him. William had arrived as well. Clara was looking for Percy. The four of them watched inside. Percy and Arthur were still arguing. But it was different now.

Charlotte smiled.

"They really started."

Clara nodded.

"Yeah."

Galahad crossed his arms.

"Good."

William raised an eyebrow.

"What's good about it?"

Galahad looked down at the arena.

"They will push each other to grow."

Clara smiled faintly.

"Unless they kill each other first."

Charlotte looked at her.

"Percy won't let that happen."

Clara didn't answer. She simply watched Percy.

Arthur hit the first target. Right in the center. Percy's eyebrow raised.

"Luck."

Arthur stepped back.

"Sure."

Percy attacked. Right in the center. Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"Luck."

Percy looked at him.

"I said that already."

"It's mine now."

"Word stealer."

Arthur laughed.

"I stole your bread too."

Percy's expression changed.

"I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN THAT."

"I ate it."

"YOU SON OF A BITCH."

Arthur turned to the second target while laughing.

Galahad smiled as he watched them. They weren't close. They weren't friends yet either. But they were no longer just enemies. Something else was beginning between them. Rivalry. Respect. And an involuntary trust forming between them.

Percy hit the second target. Arthur hit right after him. Both hit the center. Percy looked at him. Arthur looked at Percy. They spoke at the same time.

"Mine was closer."

Both went silent. Then at the exact same time again:

"No, mine was."

Clara covered her face. Charlotte burst into laughter. William shook his head. Galahad smirked.

Arthur pointed at Percy.

"Let me measure."

Percy's eyes lit up.

"THAT'S IT."

Clara shouted.

"YOU ARE BOTH IDIOTS."

Percy and Arthur turned at the same time.

"STAY OUT OF THIS."

Silence.

Percy looked at Arthur. Arthur looked at Percy. Clara's eyes narrowed. Both of them realized the danger.

Arthur whispered.

"Run."

Percy nodded.

"Definitely."

The two... Fled at the exact same time.

Clara:

"PERCY!"

Charlotte collapsed in laughter. Galahad shook his head. William spoke calmly.

"They are definitely becoming friends now."

From the hallway, Percy's voice came.

"WE ARE NOT!"

Arthur's voice followed right behind him.

"NEVER!"

William:

"Yes."

"They definitely are."

END OF EPISODE