CHAPTER 28 — YOU HAD TO SEE IT

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 28 — YOU HAD TO SEE IT

It was 06:34 AM. The tenth lap had come to an end. Nobody could walk properly anymore. Yet nobody collapsed to the ground either. Percy checked the time. Then he looked at his class. Their condition from the first night was gone. They were exhausted. They were wounded. Yet their eyes were still alive. Percy clapped his hands.

"Everyone."

Everyone turned to him.

"It's 06:34."

"It looks like we can make it."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"It looks like?"

Percy continued.

"Let's rest for twenty minutes."

Nobody objected.

"You will drink your potions as well."

Ethan immediately straightened up.

"Now that I support."

Percy looked at his watch again.

"If the time turns out not to be enough..."

"...we can extend it to 08:20."

A second of silence followed. And then...

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IF IT'S NOT ENOUGH?!"

Percy jumped. The entire class had shouted at once.

"WE WILL MAKE IT!"

Percy looked at them. He was genuinely surprised. Clara placed her hands on her hips.

"You're the president."

"Do we have to teach you math?"

William calculated immediately.

"Twenty minutes is sufficient."

Arthur nodded.

"It will end at 11:30."

Charlotte:

"It has to end."

Nathaniel:

"Because we will finish it."

Daniel:

"There is no other possibility."

Marcus:

"We came all this way."

Theodore:

"We will bring it to an end."

Sophia:

"I'm not quitting."

Noah:

"Me neither."

Adrian:

"Nobody is quitting."

Lucas:

"Nobody is left behind."

Elias:

"We started together."

Ethan took a deep breath.

"We will finish together."

Percy said nothing. He simply looked at them. Then he smiled faintly.

"Alright."

"11:30."

"Bring the potions."

The wagons were brought closer. The bottles were distributed. Percy looked at Olsen.

"Professor Olsen."

Elizabeth turned to him.

"Rest."

Olsen raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You are very tired."

Olsen was quiet for a few seconds. Then she burst into laughter.

"Finally, someone who thinks of me."

Percy nodded.

"You've been radiating an aura for six and a half hours."

Olsen took her bottle.

"Thank you, President."

Percy then turned to Holar.

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"Yes?"

"You rest too."

Holar blinked.

"Why?"

Percy pointed at him.

"You've been holding the zone since morning."

Holar thought about it in all seriousness. Then he shrugged.

"It's not even 0.1% of my power."

Silence. The entire class turned to Holar. Arthur's mouth remained open. Charlotte lowered her bottle. For the first time, William didn't calculate. Nathaniel slowly looked at Percy. Clara looked at Holar. Then at Percy. Then back to Holar. Percy puffed out his chest.

"That's my grandpa."

"Heh."

Everyone looked at Percy. Then at Holar. Then back to Percy. Ethan finally spoke.

"Monster family."

Percy turned instantly.

"What did you say, damn it?"

Ethan:

"Nothing."

Holar laughed out loud. Eleanor shook her head.

"As if either of you is normal."

Percy:

"Auntie."

Eleanor:

"Yes?"

"You rest too."

Eleanor narrowed her eyes.

"I'm not doing anything."

Percy:

"You get tired watching us."

Eleanor:

"Percy."

Percy immediately turned to Arthur.

"Arthur, how are you feeling?"

Eleanor watched his back.

"Don't run away."

Percy pretended not to hear.

However, Arthur did not laugh. Percy noticed this immediately. Arthur walked toward him.

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes?"

Arthur stood opposite him. He didn't speak for a while. Then he asked.

"How do you know all of this?"

The smile on Percy's face vanished. Arthur continued.

"We are seven years old."

"All of us."

"You gave speeches during training."

"You taught me a lesson in the arena."

"Now you are saying the same things again."

Percy listened silently. Arthur's voice slowed down.

"You talk about losing someone."

"You talk about death."

"You talk about protecting each other."

"We are seven years old, Percy."

Arthur looked straight into his eyes.

"How did you know?"

A silence fell over them. Charlotte had drawn closer as well. Clara looked at Percy. William lowered his bottle. Even Nathaniel was completely silent. Galahad was watching them from afar. His face had changed as well. He did not know the answer either.

Percy thought for a moment. Then he sat down in the sand.

"Were all of you curious?"

William:

"Yes."

Charlotte nodded. Clara said nothing. But Percy knew her answer.

Percy took a deep breath.

"Thinking a lot."

Arthur frowned. Percy continued.

"And the help of two people."

His gaze drifted to Holar. Then to Galahad. Holar's face changed. Percy turned back to his friends.

"Clara knows."

"My auntie knows too."

"My grandpa took me there."

Arthur:

"Where?"

Percy:

"To the battlefield."

Silence. Arthur's face froze. Charlotte's eyes widened. William looked directly at Holar.

Nathaniel:

"What battlefield?"

Percy answered.

"The Monster Front."

Holar closed his eyes. Eleanor slowly turned to him. Her glare was anything but gentle. Percy continued.

"I saw Emperor Monsters."

This time, everyone spoke at once.

"WHAT?!"

Arthur stood up.

"EMPERORS?!"

Charlotte:

"HE TOOK YOU THERE?!"

William looked at Holar.

"Really?"

Nathaniel:

"A seven-year-old child?"

Ethan:

"NEXT TO EMPERORS?!"

Eleanor slowly turned to Holar.

"Holar."

Holar didn't look at her. Eleanor said it again.

"Holar Jun."

Holar cleared his throat.

"It was under my control."

Eleanor:

"Holar."

Holar:

"We were very far away."

Eleanor:

"Holar."

Holar:

"There was a shield too."

Eleanor's eyes narrowed. Holar shut his mouth.

Percy continued.

"Then I saw the normal battlefronts."

The class looked back at Percy. Percy's voice had changed.

"That place was worse."

Nobody spoke. Percy looked at his hands.

"Seeing the Emperors was terrifying."

"But they were far away."

"They seemed as if they weren't real."

"Then I saw the warriors."

Percy paused for a moment.

"There were teams."

"They were fighting together."

"There were mages."

"They were much stronger than us."

"They were real warriors."

Percy clenched his fist.

"Then they died."

The expression on Clara's face vanished. Percy continued.

"One team went."

"Another team came."

"That one went too."

"Then someone else came."

"Then another."

Percy raised his head.

"We are breathing right now."

"Because they are dying over there."

Nobody moved. Olsen's expression hardened. Eleanor had stopped glaring at Holar. She was now watching Percy.

Percy:

"I learned something there."

"Absolute power has no meaning."

Holar raised his head slightly. Percy continued.

"Power on your own has no meaning."

"You have to be a team."

"Someone protects your front."

"Someone protects your rear."

"When someone falls, you lift them up."

"When someone grows tired, you take their load."

Arthur looked at his own bag. Charlotte looked at him as well.

Percy:

"Because if you make a mistake..."

"...one person doesn't disappear."

"Sometimes the entire team disappears."

Clara stepped a bit closer to Percy. Percy noticed this. Yet he continued speaking.

"I was very scared."

Saying this surprised everyone. Percy Grant was saying he was scared.

Percy:

"I couldn't sleep that night."

"I thought."

"I thought about Clara."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy looked at Charlotte.

"I thought about Charlotte."

Charlotte went quiet. Then he looked at William.

"I thought about the brainiac, William."

William didn't roll his eyes. Percy continued.

"We were newly friends back then."

"What would I feel if I lost them?"

"That's what I thought."

Percy's face hardened.

"Then I cursed myself for thinking it."

Clara's eyes filled with tears.

Percy:

"I didn't want that feeling."

"I never wanted to experience it."

"Then I asked myself."

"What should I do?"

William was listening carefully. Percy clenched his fist.

"My decisions must belong to me."

"My actions must belong to me."

"My will must belong to me."

"Because if I make a wrong decision..."

"...I might die."

Percy looked at his friends.

"Maybe we all die."

Arthur bowed his head. Percy added immediately.

"I'm not saying the people there were wrong."

"They were heroes."

"I wasn't in their shoes."

"I don't know what they experienced."

"But I saw the outcome."

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Percy took a breath.

"And I was scared."

Nobody was surprised this time. Clara drew a bit closer. Percy looked at Galahad.

"Then I learned my brother's story."

Galahad's face fell. Percy continued immediately.

"I won't tell it to you."

"The story isn't mine."

"It's his."

Galahad looked at Percy. Percy smiled.

"But know this."

"He is no different from my blood brother."

Galahad's eyes filled with tears. He turned his head away. Eleanor saw this. Holar saw it as well. Olsen exhaled quietly.

Percy looked back at Holar.

"My grandpa..."

"...told me he wouldn't teach me lessons."

A small smile formed on Holar's face.

Percy:

"He taught me basic spells."

"He didn't push me."

"He wanted me to be a child."

He looked at Clara.

"He wanted me to bicker with Clara."

Clara:

"We weren't bickering."

Percy:

"We were."

Clara:

"You were starting it."

Percy:

"Not the time now."

Clara:

"The truth doesn't change."

Percy smiled faintly. Then he grew serious again.

"My grandpa wanted me to live my childhood."

"Yet he took me there."

"And he gave me the greatest lesson of all."

Percy looked into Holar's eyes.

"And he did it on purpose."

Holar's smile vanished.

Percy:

"You thought I wouldn't understand."

Holar didn't answer.

Percy:

"You probably wanted me not to understand right away."

Holar's eyes filled with tears. Percy continued.

"I couldn't give an answer that day."

"I can't say I can give one today either."

Percy stood up. He turned toward Holar.

"Grandpa."

Holar:

"Yes, Percy?"

Percy's voice didn't falter.

"I promise you."

"Together with you..."

"...I will erase those monsters from this world."

Holar froze. Percy continued.

"And while doing it..."

"I will not lose a single person."

Silence. A long silence. Holar walked toward Percy. He stood in front of him. He bent down. He brought himself to eye level with Percy.

"Percy."

Percy:

"Yes?"

Holar smiled.

"You are a very unusual child."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Is that an insult?"

Holar laughed.

"No."

"And you are a very polite child."

Percy grew even more suspicious.

"Definitely an insult."

Eleanor smiled involuntarily. Holar ruffled Percy's hair.

"I didn't want to burden you with these responsibilities."

Percy went silent. Holar continued.

"I didn't want to at all."

"You are seven years old."

"You don't have to think about the world."

"You shouldn't have to think about monster kings."

"You shouldn't have to think about Emperors."

"You shouldn't have to think about how many teams died."

Holar's voice softened.

"We are the ones who should think about those things."

Percy:

"But you showed me."

Holar nodded.

"Yes."

"Because you had to see it."

Percy looked intently.

Holar:

"You didn't need to understand it."

Percy's eyes widened. Holar continued.

"At least not yet."

"I only wanted you to see."

"That the world isn't made of walls."

"That our safety comes at a price."

"That people are fighting."

"That people are protecting us."

Holar held Percy's shoulder.

"But you..."

"...thought too much again."

Percy smiled faintly.

"I can't help it."

Holar:

"I know."

Then Holar stood up. He looked at the class. Arthur. Charlotte. William. Nathaniel. Clara. And the others.

"Know this as well."

Everyone looked at him.

"Percy is right."

"But on one matter..."

"...I am even more determined."

Percy looked on in surprise.

Holar:

"You will live your childhood."

Clara's eyes widened. Arthur looked at Holar. Holar's voice hardened.

"You will learn to fight."

"You will grow strong."

"You will protect one another."

"But you will not forget to be children."

Holar looked at Percy.

"Especially you."

Percy:

"What did I do?"

Eleanor:

"Where shall we begin?"

Percy shut his mouth.

Holar turned back to the class.

"If anyone among you..."

"...tries to steal their childhood..."

Holar's eyes changed. Eleanor noticed immediately.

"Holar."

But she was too late. The aura radiated out. In an instant... The world fell silent. Olsen's fire aura did not vanish. Yet it became meaningless. Galahad's eyes widened. William's breath was cut short. Arthur dropped to his knees. Charlotte fell immediately after. Nathaniel couldn't move. Clara's knees hit the sand. Daniel tried to breathe. Marcus couldn't raise his head. Theodore's hands trembled. Elias turned ghost-white. Lucas collapsed where he stood. Sophia closed her eyes. Noah clung to the sand with both hands. Adrian couldn't catch a breath. Ethan forgot how to speak. Olsen's eyes widened.

"This is..."

Even she was struggling. Galahad backed up a step. He was at Advanced Level 12. Yet even he felt the pressure. Eleanor... Dropped to her knees.

"Holar..."

Holar's aura expanded. Beyond Awakened 5. Far beyond it. Percy's breath was cut off. His knees hit the sand. He tried to raise his head. Holar looked down at all of them. His voice was calm.

"They will answer to me."

Nobody could answer. Holar pulled back his aura. In an instant, the air returned. Everyone gasped for breath. Arthur coughed. Charlotte clutched her chest. For the first time, William couldn't speak. Nathaniel looked at Holar.

"What is this man?"

Ethan answered.

"Monster family."

Percy was breathing on the ground. Then he raised his head. He looked at Holar. Suddenly, he smiled.

"I told you so."

Arthur:

"Told us what?"

Percy stood up.

"My grandpa is a monster."

Holar:

"Percy."

Percy immediately shut up. Then he turned to his friends.

"He teaches a lot without acting like it."

A smile formed on Holar's face. Percy saw this. And he understood. His grandfather had taken him to the battlefield. He hadn't given him the answer. He hadn't lectured him. He had simply shown him. He had waited for Percy to find it. Perhaps he hadn't wanted him to find it today. Perhaps he had expected him to understand years later. But Percy had understood. At least a portion of it.

Eleanor stood up. She looked at Holar.

"If you do that again, I'll kill you."

Holar:

"You can release your aura too."

Eleanor:

"I will beat you up in front of Percy."

Percy intervened immediately.

"I didn't see anything."

Eleanor:

"Good boy."

Olsen took a deep breath. She looked at Holar.

"I was using one hundred percent."

Holar:

"I know."

Olsen:

"I didn't even feel mine."

Holar:

"I'm sorry."

Olsen looked at him for a few seconds.

"No, you're not."

Holar:

"No, I'm not."

Galahad laughed involuntarily. Then he looked at Percy. Percy was looking at him too. Galahad's eyes were still moist. Percy came beside him. He said nothing. He simply hugged him. Galahad froze. Then he placed his hand on Percy's head.

"Thanks, little commander."

Percy pulled back.

"Don't call me little."

Galahad:

"But you are little."

Percy:

"Bro."

Galahad:

"Yes?"

Percy:

"Fuck off."

Galahad burst into laughter.

Percy turned back to the class. The potions had taken effect. The wounds were closed. The muscles had recovered. Breathing had normalized. Time was moving forward. Percy checked his watch. Then he looked at his friends.

"Are you healed?"

Arthur stood up.

"Healed."

Clara stood up too. Charlotte picked up her bag. William rotated his shoulders. Nathaniel straightened up. The others prepared one by one. Percy smiled.

"Awesome."

He waited a second. Then he shouted.

"DOUBLE TIME, MARCH!"

Everyone looked at Percy.

Arthur:

"AGAIN?!"

Clara:

"YOU RUINED THE EMOTIONAL MOMENT!"

Charlotte:

"YOU SAID TWENTY MINUTES!"

William checked his watch.

"Twenty minutes are up."

Everyone turned to William.

William:

"What?"

Nathaniel:

"Shut up for once."

Percy pointed to the track.

"Eleventh lap."

Arthur lifted his bag. Charlotte stepped beside him. Clara took Percy's hand. Percy looked at her.

Clara:

"What?"

Percy:

"Nothing."

William stepped out front. Nathaniel stood beside him. The others took their places. Olsen was watching them. What Percy had said earlier was in her mind. What Holar had said was there too. Eleanor quietly watched the children. Galahad was smiling.

Percy stepped out in front of his class. Yet this time, nobody waited for his order. Arthur took the first step. Charlotte right alongside him. William moved forward. Nathaniel followed. The others set into motion. Percy watched them for a few seconds. Then Clara pulled his hand.

"Come on."

Percy smiled. And they ran together. The time was 06:54 AM. Before them lay two laps. Before Percy lay his final lap. And none of them... Were asking whether they would make it anymore. Because they had made their decision. At 11:30 AM... They were going to finish it.

END OF EPISODE