CHAPTER 88 — AN OLD SCORE

Percy left the dormitory early that morning.

Galahad was still getting ready.

Percy tied his shoes outside the door.

Then poked his head back in.

“Big brother.”

Galahad was fixing his hair.

“Hm?”

“I'm leaving.”

“We were going together.”

Percy stopped.

“Right.”

Galahad looked at him.

Percy waited for several seconds.

“How long will you be?”

“Five minutes.”

Percy leaned against the wall.

One minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

Percy looked at the door.

“Big brother.”

“What?”

“Five minutes is a long time.”

Galahad poked his head out.

“Missing Clara?”

Percy's expression did not change.

“No.”

Galahad raised an eyebrow.

Percy continued.

“I miss the academy.”

“Of course.”

“Scientifically possible.”

“Shut up, Percy.”

Percy laughed.

The Academy of Monster Knowledge and Defense…

Looked quiet in the morning sun.

Someone stood outside the gates.

Percy recognized her immediately, even from a distance.

Clara.

Alone.

Waiting right beside the entrance.

Percy slowed.

Galahad saw her too.

Percy approached Clara.

She looked up.

“Hello.”

“Hello.”

Percy looked at the gates.

Then at Clara.

“What are you doing out here?”

“Waiting.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“For what?”

Clara was silent for several seconds.

Then looked at the entrance.

“I've never gone through here without you.”

The expression disappeared from Percy's face.

Clara immediately looked away.

“Habit, I suppose.”

Percy did not answer.

He thought about the wall last night.

This morning, Clara had waited here.

Suddenly, he was angry with himself.

“Idiot.”

Clara turned toward him.

“What?”

Percy said nothing.

He ran to her side.

Caught her hand.

“Come on.”

Clara's eyes widened.

Percy was already heading for the gates.

Clara was pulled along behind him.

“Percy.”

“Hm?”

Clara looked at their hands.

Percy did not.

He seemed not to notice at all.

His fingers were threaded through hers.

Just like before.

Clara's face slowly reddened.

She said nothing.

Inside, she had so much to say.

Last night had been so quiet.

She could not hear Percy breathing beside her.

The left side of the bed was too wide.

The black pillow was too empty.

When she woke that morning, she had reached out again.

This time, there had not even been a note.

Percy really was somewhere else.

Clara had waited for him at the gates.

Perhaps because she wanted him to come.

Perhaps because she did not want to go in without him.

Perhaps simply because…

She missed him so much.

Clara squeezed his hand a little.

Percy still did not notice.

Galahad walked behind them.

He said nothing.

But he was smiling.

Nathaniel was eating when they first entered the classroom.

This surprised no one.

William was writing in his notebook.

Marcus stood beside the window.

Charlotte was examining Arthur's glove.

Arthur tried to pull his hand away.

Charlotte did not let go.

“It's split again.”

“It works.”

“You said that yesterday.”

“It's still true today.”

Charlotte looked at him.

“Stone Man.”

The NovelPhoenix site publishes the author's chapter; this page copied its text without approval.

Arthur's face fell.

“Don't start.”

“I didn't.”

“You said it.”

“Stone Man.”

Arthur closed his eyes.

Percy laughed.

Arthur turned toward him.

“Don't laugh, Grant.”

Percy raised his hands.

“I didn't say anything.”

Charlotte nodded.

“Smart boy.”

Arthur looked at her.

“You…”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow.

Arthur fell silent.

Nathaniel had been watching.

Then he turned toward Percy.

Looked for several seconds.

Percy noticed.

“What are you staring at?”

Nathaniel stopped chewing.

“Your hands.”

Percy did not understand.

“What about them?”

Clara looked at Nathaniel too.

He pointed.

“Back to how they used to be.”

Percy looked down.

So did Clara.

Their hands were still joined.

Both their eyes widened.

Percy immediately let go.

Clara pulled back at the same instant.

Both blushed.

Nathaniel shrugged.

“Anyway.”

He looked at his plate.

“Where was my food?”

William adjusted his glasses.

“In your hand.”

Nathaniel looked at the plate.

“Right.”

Percy stared at him.

“How have you survived this long?”

Nathaniel took a bite.

“By eating.”

Arthur looked at their hands.

Then at Percy.

“What are these two doing?”

Charlotte answered.

“Stone Man.”

Arthur turned at once.

“THAT ISN'T AN ANSWER.”

Charlotte remained calm.

“But it solved the problem.”

William nodded.

“No.”

Nathaniel spoke through a mouthful.

“I think it did.”

Arthur put his head on the desk.

The door opened.

Galahad came in.

The classroom chatter quieted.

Percy looked up.

“Big brother?”

Galahad went to the front.

Wycliffe was not with him.

Neither was Holar.

Galahad stood in front of his desk.

“I'll be looking after you for a little while.”

Nathaniel raised his hand.

“Why?”

“Because I'm teaching defense today.”

Nathaniel lowered his hand.

“Valid reason.”

Galahad activated the viewing sphere.

Its interior darkened.

Then a street appeared.

Percy's smile vanished.

Arthur immediately grew serious too.

A wall.

A narrow street.

Rubble.

Then the creature appeared.

Long arms.

A slender body.

Green-gray skin.

Orin gathering between its hands.

Percy looked at Arthur.

Arthur looked at Percy.

They both laughed.

Clara noticed.

So did William.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you laughing?”

Arthur did not answer.

Percy looked at the sphere.

“An old friend.”

Galahad's mouth curved.

“Today, we'll be studying Nevrs.”

Percy raised his hand.

Galahad looked at him.

“What?”

“Congratulations, big brother.”

He paused for a second.

“Sorry.”

Smiled.

“Professor.”

Galahad narrowed his eyes.

“Go on.”

Percy indicated the sphere.

“With your permission…”

“Could two of us go in?”

The class's eyes shifted.

Straight to Clara.

Even Clara straightened a little.

Galahad noticed.

“Who are you taking?”

Percy turned toward Arthur.

“Arthur.”

Clara's face fell slightly.

Arthur raised his eyebrows.

Percy smiled.

“We have an old score to settle.”

Arthur looked at Percy for several seconds.

Then stood.

Came over.

Held out his fist.

“Let's crush the bastard.”

Percy bumped his fist against Arthur's.

“Hell yeah, man.”

Nathaniel's mouth fell open.

William lowered his glasses.

Charlotte looked at Arthur.

“Stone Man's excited.”

Arthur turned toward her.

“Can't I be happy for one minute?”

Charlotte smiled.

“You can.”

Arthur turned back to Percy.

Clara was still watching them.

It had hurt a little at first.

Then she looked at the image again.

Remembered the old street.

Percy's injured leg.

Arthur's ruined shoulder.

Their hospital beds.

The first thing they had said to each other.

You look terrible.

Clara's expression softened.

This was not her match.

This was their score to settle.

Galahad gestured toward the field.

“Begin.”

The image expanded.

Percy and Arthur walked in.

The Nevr turned its head.

Orin gathered between its hands.

Arthur raised his shield.

Percy drew Blaze.

The Nevr attacked.

The first Orin strike came from a distance.

Arthur shifted aside.

Percy moved the other way.

The blast scattered behind them.

Nathaniel looked up.

“Pretty annoying at range.”

William answered immediately.

“It always was.”

Percy heard.

So did Arthur.

Both laughed again.

The Nevr prepared a second attack.

Percy lowered Blaze.

Dark red fire spread.

Traveled across the stone floor.

But not straight toward the Nevr.

It spread around it.

The Nevr turned toward Percy.

Arthur saw.

He put down his shield.

Earth gathered in his palm.

Became a long spear.

Arthur hurled it with all his strength.

The Nevr leaped aside.

The earthen spear flew past.

Arthur grinned.

“It dodged.”

Percy answered.

“We wanted it to.”

The Nevr twisted in midair.

Turned its hands toward Percy.

Orin suddenly flared.

Clara straightened.

Charlotte's hand rose involuntarily.

William narrowed his eyes.

Nathaniel stopped chewing.

Galahad did not move.

The Nevr released its attack.

Percy stayed where he was.

Did nothing.

Arthur was too far away.

Clara's fingers tightened.

“Percy?”

Percy watched the attack.

Did not move.

Arthur saw him.

For a moment, his eyes widened.

Then Percy spoke.

“He won't let it.”

A smile appeared on Arthur's face.

He stamped his foot.

Earth erupted behind him.

He propelled himself forward.

The Nevr's attack was reaching Percy.

Arthur landed in front of him.

Thrust both hands toward the ground.

“IMPENETRABLE SHIELD OF EARTH!”

A massive earthen wall rose.

The Nevr's spell struck it.

BOOM!

The entire field shook.

Arthur slid back half a step.

But held.

Percy burst out laughing behind him.

Arthur was laughing too.

Percy looked at him.

“Ambitious name.”

Arthur shouted from behind his shield.

“SHUT UP!”

Charlotte called from outside.

“STONE MAN!”

Arthur's face fell.

“NOW, CHARLOTTE?!”

Charlotte was laughing.

“Perfect timing.”

The Nevr moved again.

It did not attack over the wall.

It moved to the side.

Then circled farther.

Reached Arthur's back.

William noticed first.

“Behind you!”

Arthur began to turn.

He would be too late.

The Nevr gathered Orin.

Percy turned Blaze.

Small fire spheres formed.

They revolved around one another.

Percy extended his wand.

“Revolving spheres.”

The flames accelerated.

“Merge with fire.”

The spheres turned dark red.

Percy looked at the Nevr's arms.

“Target both arms.”

Arthur laughed when he heard.

“Now we're talking.”

The spheres advanced from both sides.

The Nevr had to abandon its attack.

It drew one arm back.

Raised the other.

Arthur turned at once.

Earth rose from the ground.

Blocked the Nevr's sight.

Percy moved from the opposite side.

They attacked together.

Arthur kept reshaping the earth.

A wall.

A projection.

A spear.

A mound.

None was lethal.

None gave it a moment's peace.

The Nevr dodged one.

Percy appeared on the other side.

The Nevr turned toward Percy.

Arthur changed the ground beneath it.

The Nevr jumped.

Percy placed fire in its path.

Nathaniel had stood up.

“Damn.”

William looked at him.

Nathaniel pointed to the field.

“They understand each other.”

William nodded.

“They always did.”

Nathaniel narrowed his eyes.

“Not like this.”

William did not answer.

Because he was right.

Clara watched too.

Percy was not giving orders.

Arthur was not waiting for them.

One created an opening.

The other used it.

When one made a mistake…

The other covered it.

Once, they had fled down a street.

Now the Nevr was fleeing.

The Nevr raised both arms.

More Orin gathered this time.

Galahad's gaze sharpened.

“The old attack.”

Percy heard.

So did Arthur.

The street from when they were seven came back.

The Nevr's attack.

Percy's first Cancel.

Then the second attempt.

Nothing.

“Why?!”

Arthur's voice from back then.

“WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING, DO IT!”

Percy's old answer.

“I CAN'T!”

Now Percy smiled.

Arthur looked at him.

“Can you do it this time?”

Percy raised Blaze.

“This time, I'm doing something else.”

Arthur laughed.

“Finally.”

Percy's fire flowed over the ground.

Dark red flames spread.

The Nevr was preparing its attack.

Percy did not send the flames outward.

He drew them back around himself.

One circuit.

Then a second.

Heat was drawn toward the center.

Elizabeth Olsen was not there.

But Percy remembered the way she had looked at him before.

This was not a ring of fire.

Arthur withdrew.

But not too far.

He set up his shield beside Percy.

The Nevr released its attack.

Orin tore through the sky.

Percy looked up.

“Fire Element…”

The ground erupted.

Dark red fire rose.

At first, it was formless.

Then it spread to either side.

Wings formed.

A long neck rose.

A giant firebird appeared.

But this was not the old fire.

The Flame of the Chaos Fire Dragon…

Flowed through the entire form.

Galahad's eyes widened.

Clara held her breath.

William stood.

Nathaniel forgot the food in his mouth.

Charlotte was looking at Arthur.

Arthur looked at Percy.

Percy lowered his hand.

“Rise of Fire.”

The firebird screamed.

Collided with the Nevr's attack.

Orin split to either side.

The Nevr leaped backward.

Right where it meant to escape…

Arthur's earth rose.

The Nevr's foot was trapped.

Arthur clenched his fist.

“Now, Grant!”

Percy brought his hand down.

The firebird plunged.

The Nevr's projected form shattered.

The field fell silent at once.

The simulation went dark.

Percy stood still for several seconds.

So did Arthur.

Then Arthur raised his fist.

“THAT'S IT!”

Percy looked at him.

His expression slowly changed.

Clara noticed.

So did Galahad.

William closed his eyes.

“No.”

Percy drew a deep breath.

Galahad held his head.

“Percy.”

Percy's chest swelled.

Nathaniel shielded his plate.

Charlotte began to laugh.

Percy spread both arms.

“BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!”

William sighed.

“Here we go.”

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!”

Percy's voice filled the field.

Arthur dissolved into laughter.

Clara covered her face.

Nathaniel cheered.

Even Marcus smiled.

Galahad buried his head in his hands.

William looked at Percy.

“Hadn't we moved past this?”

A second of silence.

Then everyone spoke.

“NO.”

William looked around.

“I see.”

Percy turned toward Arthur.

Arthur held out his fist.

Percy bumped it.

This time, no one separated them.

Galahad came to the middle of the field.

Percy and Arthur stood before him.

Galahad looked at Arthur first.

“Your first good decision wasn't the spear.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

“What was it?”

“Putting down your shield.”

Arthur was silent for a second.

Galahad continued.

“You put it down to attack.”

“Then returned to it when you needed it.”

Arthur nodded.

Galahad looked at Percy.

“And you didn't dodge the attack.”

Percy shrugged.

“Arthur was there.”

Arthur looked at him.

Galahad's expression shifted slightly.

“That's what I liked.”

Percy raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“That you knew.”

Galahad indicated Arthur.

“You knew he would protect you.”

Then he pointed to Percy.

“And you covered his back.”

Arthur said nothing.

Neither did Percy.

Galahad looked at the viewing sphere.

The old recording of the Nevr appeared again.

Two seven-year-old boys…

One with an injured leg.

The other clutching his shoulder.

Percy and Arthur looked at the screen.

Galahad spoke calmly.

“That day, you had to run.”

Arthur's expression changed.

Percy grew quiet too.

Galahad continued.

“Today, you didn't.”

He turned off the sphere.

“Good work.”

Arthur looked at Percy.

Percy looked back.

Arthur grinned slightly.

“Again sometime?”

Percy answered at once.

“Anytime.”

Clara watched them from a distance.

Charlotte joined her.

For a while, they watched together.

Charlotte finally spoke.

“Were you upset?”

Clara thought briefly.

Then shook her head.

“At first.”

Charlotte looked at Percy and Arthur.

So did Clara.

“Then I remembered.”

“What?”

Clara smiled.

“This score goes back further than me.”

Charlotte's mouth curved.

Arthur called from across the field.

“CHARLOTTE!”

Charlotte turned.

“What?”

Arthur held up his glove.

“It's split again.”

Charlotte put her hands on her hips.

“Stone Man.”

Arthur closed his eyes.

Percy burst out laughing.

So did Clara.

Galahad looked at the class.

Then shook his head.

“Third year.”

Nathaniel took a bite.

“It's going to be a long one.”

William looked at him.

“Why?”

Nathaniel pointed at Percy.

“BOOW is back.”

Percy shouted from across the field.

“THAT'S MINE, DAMN IT!”

Galahad burst out laughing.

And the lesson…

Was only just beginning.