CHAPTER 87 — THERE'S A WALL

Galahad opened the door all the way.

Percy stayed where he was for several seconds.

Then he looked at his bag on the floor.

Back at Galahad.

“Can I really come in?”

Galahad raised his eyebrows.

“Why do you think I opened the door?”

Percy shrugged.

“Politeness?”

“Am I that polite?”

Percy considered it.

“No.”

Galahad gave him a light smack on the head.

THWACK.

“YOU MOTHER—”

Percy spun around.

“Oh.”

“Was that you, big brother?”

Galahad stared at him for several seconds.

“Who else would it be?”

Percy rubbed his head.

“Reflex.”

“Fix your reflexes.”

“I'll work on it.”

Galahad picked up his bag.

Percy reached for it at once.

“I'll carry it.”

“I know.”

“Then give it here.”

“Don't want to.”

Percy narrowed his eyes.

“I'm thirteen.”

Galahad started walking.

“I know that too.”

Percy watched him go.

“Nobody in this family listens to me.”

Galahad pointed to the next room.

“Yours.”

Percy looked at the door.

Then at Galahad.

Then back at the door.

“That's it?”

“What were you expecting?”

“I don't know.”

Percy went inside.

The room really was empty.

A bed.

A desk.

A wardrobe.

A window.

And a wall.

Percy looked straight at the wall.

Galahad put the bag on the bed.

“What's wrong?”

Percy was still looking at the wall.

“There's a wall.”

Galahad looked at it too.

“Yes.”

“On my left.”

“Yes.”

Percy fell silent for several seconds.

Galahad finally understood.

He said nothing.

Percy sat on the bed.

His hand reached left without thinking.

It touched empty bedding.

He pulled it back at once.

Galahad opened the wardrobe.

“Put your clothes in here.”

Percy looked up.

“Big brother.”

“Hm?”

“Does your room have a wall too?”

Galahad looked at him.

“Percy.”

“I was curious.”

“Every room has walls.”

Percy nodded.

“Terrible architecture.”

Galahad laughed.

They spent the first hour unpacking.

Percy arranged his books on the desk.

Then rearranged them.

Galahad watched.

“Why did you change it?”

“They were in the wrong order.”

“According to what?”

Percy stopped.

“My mind.”

“Your mind picked the first order too.”

“That was my old mind.”

Galahad did not answer.

Percy rearranged them a third time.

“Now it's right.”

Blaze was laid on the edge of the desk.

Blaze stirred slightly.

Percy looked at it.

“Don't you start.”

Blaze moved again.

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

“Is it answering you?”

“It's being disrespectful.”

“It's your wand.”

“I'm not like that.”

Blaze rolled off the desk.

Percy caught it in midair.

Galahad burst out laughing.

“Cut it out, big brother.”

The second hour passed in questions.

Percy sat on the bed.

Galahad was across from the desk.

“What's circulation like at Awakened Five?”

Galahad closed his book.

NovelPhoenix is where the author publishes this chapter, and this copy was made without their consent.

“Percy.”

“Hm?”

“You moved in two hours ago.”

“I know.”

“You've been asking questions for two hours.”

Percy frowned.

“We spent the first hour unpacking.”

“You asked questions while we unpacked.”

“That's different.”

“How?”

Percy thought for several seconds.

“I was standing up.”

Galahad rubbed his forehead.

Percy moved a little closer.

“So, the answer?”

Galahad sighed.

Then explained.

Percy listened.

At one point, he interrupted.

“Wait.”

Galahad stopped.

Percy raised a finger.

“Say that part again.”

Galahad repeated it.

Percy's expression changed.

“Again.”

“Percy.”

“Last time.”

Galahad repeated it.

Percy stood.

He paced across the room.

He was calculating something.

Then he turned.

“Okay.”

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

“Do you understand?”

“No.”

Galahad smiled despite himself.

Percy sat back down.

“But I understand what I don't understand.”

Galahad looked at him for several seconds.

Then opened his book again.

“That's more dangerous.”

In the third hour, they ate.

Galahad put two plates on the table.

Percy looked at his plate.

Then at Galahad.

“What is this?”

“Food.”

“This isn't food.”

“I've been eating it for years.”

“That isn't an explanation.”

Galahad picked up his fork.

Percy examined the plate again.

“Big brother.”

“What?”

“Nathaniel would cry if he saw this.”

“Because he wanted some?”

“Because of what you've done to food.”

Galahad laughed.

Percy took a bite.

His expression did not change.

Galahad waited.

“How is it?”

Percy chewed.

Swallowed.

“I'm alive.”

“I'll take that as a compliment.”

“Don't.”

During the fourth hour, they did not speak.

Percy read his book.

Galahad attended to his own work.

The room was quiet.

Too quiet.

Percy turned a page.

Then another.

He did not turn the third.

He tilted his head slightly to the left.

A wall.

He returned to his book.

Five minutes passed.

He looked again.

A wall.

This time, he looked a little longer.

Galahad did not lift his head from his book.

Percy resumed reading.

After a while, he closed the book.

“Big brother.”

“Hm?”

Percy did not answer.

Galahad looked up.

Percy was staring at the edge of the bed.

“What's wrong?”

Percy gave a slight shrug.

“I feel lonely.”

Galahad watched him for several seconds.

Then stood.

Percy was still looking at the floor.

Galahad stepped behind him.

THWACK.

“YOU MOTHER—”

Percy spun around.

“Oh.”

“Was that you, big brother?”

Galahad folded his arms.

“I'm here, aren't I?”

Percy did not think.

“You're not Clara.”

Silence.

Percy's expression changed instantly.

“Big brother, I—”

“I know.”

Percy fell silent.

Galahad sat beside him.

“I didn't mean it like that.”

“You did.”

Percy lowered his head.

“…A little.”

“That's okay.”

Percy looked at him.

“You're not angry?”

“Why would I be?”

Galahad bumped his shoulder against Percy's.

“I'm not Clara.”

Percy pressed his lips together.

“No.”

Galahad looked ahead.

“But I'm not going anywhere either.”

Percy's eyes grew a little wet.

He immediately looked away.

Galahad noticed.

He said nothing.

Percy sniffed.

“Big brother.”

“Hm?”

“Don't tell anyone I said that.”

“Which part?”

“The part about you not being Clara.”

Galahad considered it.

“I could tell Clara.”

Percy turned at once.

“DON'T.”

Galahad laughed.

Percy reached to hit him on the head.

Galahad caught his wrist in midair.

“Awakened Five.”

Percy tried to pull free.

“Cheating.”

“Life.”

“You're old.”

“I'm not even twenty.”

“Old at heart.”

Galahad released him.

Percy rested his head on his shoulder.

Galahad made no comment.

They stayed that way for five minutes.

Then Percy spoke.

“Big brother.”

“Hm?”

“Can I go home early tomorrow morning?”

Galahad looked down.

“It's only your first day.”

“I'm aware.”

“You lasted five hours.”

Percy sat up.

“I didn't move out to see how long I could last.”

Galahad's smile vanished.

Percy continued.

“I moved out to give us space.”

“Not to stop seeing her.”

Galahad nodded.

“You're right.”

Percy thought for a moment.

“Actually, I could see her now.”

Galahad checked the time.

So did Percy.

Then they looked at each other.

Galahad stood.

“We need to buy food.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“We have food.”

Galahad pointed at the plate.

Percy grimaced.

“We need to buy food.”

The street was crowded.

Percy and Galahad walked side by side.

Percy had his hands in his pockets.

Galahad held a list.

Percy looked at it.

“Why so much?”

“There's nothing at home.”

“How were you surviving?”

“I ate out.”

Percy stopped.

Galahad stopped too.

Percy looked at him solemnly.

“Big brother.”

“What?”

“Turns out I moved in to save you.”

Galahad reached to smack his head.

This time, Percy ducked.

The hand missed.

Percy grinned.

“Master of Probability.”

Galahad stared at him.

“That's what you're using it for?”

“Survival.”

Galahad struck again.

Percy did not see the second one.

THWACK.

“YOU MOTHER—”

“It's me.”

Percy clutched his head.

“That's unfair.”

“Life.”

Percy was about to answer.

Then stopped.

He looked down the street.

Galahad saw his expression change.

He followed his gaze.

Clara was coming toward them.

Alone.

Percy's hands came out of his pockets.

Clara had seen them too.

Her steps slowed.

The three approached one another.

No one could find the first words.

Finally, Clara spoke.

“Hello.”

Percy answered immediately.

“Hello.”

Galahad looked at them both.

“Hello.”

They both turned to him.

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

“I'm here too.”

Percy snorted.

A small smile appeared on Clara's face.

Then she looked at Percy.

“How's your new room?”

Percy thought for a second.

“There's a wall.”

Clara blinked.

“What?”

Galahad sighed.

“He told me that too.”

Percy looked at him.

“Because there is.”

Clara watched Percy for several seconds.

Then understood.

“On your left?”

Percy fell silent.

Galahad looked at him.

Percy finally nodded.

“Yes.”

Clara's smile diminished.

“I turned left this morning too.”

Percy's expression changed.

Clara continued.

“Your black pillow was gone.”

There was a moment of silence.

Galahad looked at his list.

Then the sky.

Then the nearby shops.

“I'll have a look over there.”

Percy immediately caught his arm.

“Why?”

Galahad looked at him.

Percy thought for a moment.

Then let go.

“Okay.”

Galahad took two steps.

Clara called after him.

“Big brother.”

Galahad turned.

“You don't need to go.”

Galahad looked at both of them.

“Make up your minds.”

Percy looked at Clara.

Clara at Percy.

They spoke together.

“Stay.”

Galahad closed his eyes.

“Wonderful.”

The three began walking together.

For a while, they talked about ordinary things.

Clara described her training with her mother.

Percy described Galahad's cooking.

Clara's face filled with horror.

“You ate that?”

Percy nodded.

“I'm alive.”

Galahad spoke from ahead.

“You're both ungrateful.”

Clara moved closer to Percy.

“Come home for dinner.”

Percy stopped without answering.

Clara stopped too.

Galahad went a few steps farther.

Then turned back.

Percy was looking at Clara.

“I was coming anyway.”

Clara looked a little relieved.

“When?”

Percy shrugged.

“Today.”

“When today?”

Percy checked the time.

“It's been five hours.”

Clara pressed her lips together.

“I know.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

Clara looked away.

“I wasn't counting.”

Percy remained silent for several seconds.

“Clara.”

“A little.”

Percy laughed.

Clara smiled too.

Galahad resumed walking.

“You're seven again.”

Percy answered at once.

“We're thirteen.”

“You'd never know.”

Clara looked at Galahad.

“Percy's worse.”

“HEY.”

The crowd thickened at the end of the street.

As they walked, Clara's hand drifted closer to Percy's.

Both noticed.

Their fingers were a few centimeters apart.

Percy looked at her hand.

Then at Clara.

She was looking at his hand too.

Neither moved.

They walked several steps like that.

Clara spoke quietly.

“You're thinking.”

Percy looked at her.

“Yes.”

Clara nodded.

“So am I.”

Percy's fingers moved slightly.

Stopped again.

Clara did not reach for his hand.

Instead, she raised her little finger.

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“What's this?”

“This much for today.”

Percy looked at it for several seconds.

Then held out his own little finger.

The two curled around each other.

Galahad saw from behind.

He immediately turned his face forward.

Percy noticed.

“Big brother.”

“Hm?”

“You're laughing.”

“No.”

“Your shoulders are shaking.”

“Keep walking, Percy.”

Clara giggled.

Percy looked at her.

“Don't you laugh either.”

“I'm not.”

“You are.”

Clara tightened her little finger around his.

“You can't prove it.”

A smile appeared on Percy's face.

It was a familiar phrase.

It felt good.

They stopped outside a shop.

Galahad went in.

Percy was about to follow.

Clara lightly caught his arm.

Percy stopped.

Clara let go at once.

“I'm sorry.”

Percy looked at her.

“Why?”

“I grabbed you all of a sudden.”

Percy was silent for several seconds.

Then shook his head.

“I don't want to think about that.”

Clara's expression changed.

Percy quickly added,

“Not right now.”

Clara waited.

Percy searched for words.

Could not find them.

At last, he raised his hand.

Touched Clara's arm.

“When you do something…”

“I don't need an explanation every time.”

Clara listened carefully.

“But sometimes I might stop.”

Clara nodded.

“Okay.”

Percy looked at her.

“That's it?”

“That's it.”

“Why aren't you asking questions?”

Clara shrugged.

“You asked for space.”

Percy's expression shifted slightly.

Clara continued.

“I'm learning.”

Percy said nothing for a while.

Then smiled.

“Thank you.”

Clara smiled too.

“For what?”

Percy thought.

“For what you didn't ask today.”

Clara's eyes softened.

“You're welcome.”

Galahad came out of the shop.

He was carrying two large bags.

He looked at them.

“Help?”

Percy immediately reached for a bag.

Clara took the other.

Galahad's hands were left empty.

He looked at the two for several seconds.

“I'm Awakened Five.”

Percy started walking.

“We know.”

Clara walked beside him.

“Take a break, big brother.”

Galahad stared after them.

“Why am I suddenly old?”

Percy turned back.

“Old at heart.”

Galahad quickened his pace.

Percy ran.

Clara burst out laughing.

The door opened as they reached Holar's house.

No one had knocked.

Holar stood on the threshold.

Percy looked at him.

“Grandpa.”

Holar checked the time.

“Five hours.”

Percy raised his eyebrows.

“What?”

“You're late.”

“I said three hours.”

“Five have passed.”

Percy thought for several seconds.

“I said four hours.”

Holar narrowed his eyes.

“Three.”

“You said five.”

“That was my offer.”

“I didn't accept.”

Holar opened the door a little wider.

“Get inside, you little rascal.”

Percy grinned.

Clara passed him.

Galahad indicated the bags.

“I'll drop these off and go.”

Percy turned to him at once.

“Tonight?”

Galahad looked at Percy.

“I'll be here.”

Percy fell silent for several seconds.

Then nodded.

“Okay, big brother.”

Galahad ruffled his hair.

This time, Percy did not swat his hand away.

That night, Percy returned to the dormitory.

Galahad had left his door open.

Percy went into his own room.

Blaze was on the desk.

The books were where they belonged.

The bed was still the same bed.

Percy lay down.

Rested his head on the pillow.

Turned left.

A wall.

He looked at it for five seconds.

Then turned the other way.

Ten seconds passed.

He turned left again.

Galahad's voice came through the wall.

“Percy.”

“Hm?”

“Beating up the bed won't make Clara appear.”

Percy looked at the ceiling.

“I'm trying to sleep.”

“You've turned over twenty-three times.”

Percy fell silent.

After a while, he spoke.

“She always slept on my left.”

No answer came from the next room.

Percy looked at the wall.

“There's a wall here.”

Galahad finally spoke.

“Don't knock it down.”

Percy thought for several seconds.

“It crossed my mind.”

“Percy.”

Percy closed his eyes.

“Good night, big brother.”

A brief silence.

Then Galahad's voice came.

“Good night, little brother.”

Percy smiled.

The wall was still there.

He did not knock it down that night.