EPISODE 10 — PERFECT HARMONY

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 10 — PERFECT HARMONY

A year passed.

In the center of Awakeners City, the massive plaza that was normally closed to the public was thrown wide open that morning. The banners of three academies fluttered side by side. The Mage Academy. The Sovereign Mage Academy. The Sovereign Noble Academy. Hundreds of seven-year-old children filled the square alongside their families. Some were excited. Some were afraid. And some were convinced of their superiority over everyone else even before the results were announced. Percy didn't much care for the third group. Clara was standing beside him.

"Stop staring."

Percy stopped staring at one of the kids in front of him.

"I'm not staring."

"You've been staring for three minutes."

"His hair is weird."

"Percy."

"What?"

Clara sighed. Percy's attention drifted to the center of the plaza. There... Stood a single stone. Nearly two meters tall. Dark gray. Hundreds of fine Orin lines connected across its surface, with faint lights pulsing inside the stone. Percy had never seen this stone before. But he knew who had created it. Holar Jun. The First Awakened. Founder of the Mage Academy. And... His grandfather. Though of course, nobody here was supposed to know that last part.

The Orin Stone was no ordinary measurement tool. It did not measure a child's current combat strength. Nor how powerful they were in a fight. What it measured... Was Orin Harmony. The depth of a human's natural connection to Orin. The capacity to learn it. To understand it. To cultivate it. And the potential for how far one could reach with it in the future. The first measurement was taken at age seven. However, this result was not final. Every person had two more chances. At age fourteen. And at age twenty. As a person grew and developed... Their Orin Harmony could evolve as well. Most people remained between thirty percent and seventy percent. Above seventy percent was rare. Above eighty percent... Was something else entirely.

Beside the stone stood a tall man. Emblazoned across the chest of his dark blue robe were the symbols of the six elements. His name was Professor Adrian Wycliffe. One of the element instructors at the Mage Academy. And he was no ordinary teacher. Advanced Core. Seventh Level. His mere presence was enough to cause many adults in the plaza to lower their voices. Wycliffe looked at the children.

"The value measured today..."

His voice reverberated throughout the entire plaza.

"...is not your strength."

The children quieted down.

"A child who receives a high score today is not necessarily stronger than a child who receives a lower score."

Percy looked at Clara. Clara looked back at him. Percy looked as if he was about to open his mouth. Clara raised her finger immediately.

"Don't you dare."

Percy went quiet.

Wycliffe continued:

"This result indicates your harmony with Orin."

"And the result you receive today does not have to remain static for the rest of your life."

Three numbers appeared on the stone. 7. 14. 20.

"Today is your first measurement."

"Your second measurement will take place at age fourteen."

"Your final measurement will be conducted at age twenty."

Wycliffe turned to the stone behind him.

"We shall now begin."

The first child stepped forward. He placed his hand on the stone. The stone glowed.

ORIN HARMONY: 43%

A faint wave of Orin surged around the child. CORE 1 — LEVEL 1

Wycliffe nodded.

"Congratulations."

The child ran back to his family. Then another. 51%. Core 1. Another. 38%. Core 1. 64%. 47%. 59%. 32%. 68%. Number after number followed. Some families cheered. Some felt a tinge of disappointment. Yet Wycliffe repeated the exact same phrase after every low score.

"Fourteen."

Or:

"Twenty."

Two more chances. Nothing was over yet. The line for the Sovereign Noble Academy began moving forward. Percy spotted a few familiar faces. Oliver. Oliver touched the stone. The light flared up.

ORIN HARMONY: 55%

A satisfied expression touched Oliver's face. CORE 1 — LEVEL 1 Henry came next.

ORIN HARMONY: 62%

A few cheers erupted from the crowd. Henry returned to his friends with a smile. Edward stepped up. He placed his hand on the stone.

ORIN HARMONY: 66%

The applause on the Sovereign Noble Academy's side grew a bit louder. As Edward walked back, he glanced at Arthur. Arthur was calm. When his turn arrived, he stepped forward without uttering a single word. Percy's gaze shifted to Arthur. Clara noticed. She said nothing. Arthur placed his hand on the stone. One second. Two. The Orin lines inside the stone suddenly flared with brilliant light.

ORIN HARMONY: 75%

Voices rose across the plaza.

"Seventy-five percent?"

"Are you serious?"

"At seven years old?"

Clear pride was written across the faces of the Sovereign Noble Academy instructors. Richard Green stood a few rows back. He looked at his son. He didn't bother hiding the faint smile on his face. Even Wycliffe looked at Arthur with heightened interest.

"Remarkably high."

Orin gathered around Arthur.

CORE 1 — LEVEL 1

"Congratulations, Arthur Green."

Arthur nodded. As he walked back, he looked at Percy. Percy was looking at him too. Neither said a word. Arthur rejoined his friends. Oliver spoke with excitement:

"Seventy-five!"

Henry laughed.

"I knew it."

Edward glanced toward the area where Percy stood.

"I wonder if anyone can beat that."

Arthur didn't answer. The children of the Sovereign Mage Academy began their turns.

The first notable result:

Charlotte Ashford. 69%.

Next:

Theodore Bell. 71%. Voices swelled through the crowd once more. Another child stepped forward. Nathaniel Reed. 73%. The instructors of the Sovereign Mage Academy were pleased. Yet Arthur still held the highest score of the day. 75%. Then, the Mage Academy's line began.

There were a few children ahead of Percy. But he was no longer interested in the stone. He was looking at Holar. Holar was seated in the instructors' section. Percy's eyes met his. And he recalled their conversation from a few days ago.

"At the academy, you will not mention that you know me."

Percy had frowned.

"Why?"

Holar sat across from him.

"Because when people look at you, I want them to see *you*."

Percy had tried to understand.

"They're going to see me anyway."

Holar had smiled faintly.

"People sometimes see the adult behind a child."

Percy remained quiet.

"If they know you live with me..."

Holar had continued:

"...they will assume everything you learned was taught by me."

Percy had glanced at Eleanor. Eleanor had her arms crossed.

"Then I'll say Aunt Eleanor taught me."

Eleanor had laughed. Holar had pressed his forehead.

"You won't mention her either."

Percy's face had fallen.

"Am I not supposed to mention anyone?"

"No."

"That's boring."

"Percy."

"Fine."

Holar had looked at him.

"No one should think you got in through favoritism."

Percy had made it clear he disliked that word.

"I don't have favoritism."

"I know."

"Clara is better than me."

From the side, Clara's voice had piped up:

"YES."

Percy had continued without looking at her:

"For now."

"HEY!"

Holar had smiled. Percy had turned back to him.

"Alright, Grandpa."

"Alright what?"

"I don't know you."

Holar's face had changed.

Percy had quickly added:

"While we're there."

Holar had relaxed.

"Good."

Now... Amidst hundreds of people, they were looking at each other. Holar said nothing. Neither did Percy. Yet both remembered.

"Clara Leyvar."

Percy whipped his head around. Clara stepped forward. Eleanor was a few rows back. A calm expression rested on her face. Yet her hands were tightly clasped together. Percy saw it. Clara walked toward the stone. The murmurs in the plaza quieted down. Clara placed her hand on the stone. One second. Nothing happened. Two seconds. The lines inside the stone began to glow. Three seconds. The light surged. The expression on Wycliffe's face shifted. A number manifested upon the stone.

ORIN HARMONY: 85%

Silence. Then— A voice echoed out as if originating from everywhere in the world at once. It was neither male. Nor female. Neither near. Nor far. It simply... Was.

VOICE OF THE UNIVERSE:

RARE ACHIEVEMENT ATTAINED.

ORIN HARMONY: 85%.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Everyone in the plaza froze. Percy's eyes widened. Arthur raised his head. The expression on Richard's face changed. Even Wycliffe had taken a step back.

"The **[Voice of the Universe]**..."

one teacher whispered.

"...for a seven-year-old child?"

The Orin surrounding Clara condensed. Then it entered her body. CORE 1 — LEVEL 1

UPGRADE SUCCESSFUL.

Clara pulled her hand back from the stone. She looked at her hands. Then at Percy. Percy was smiling. Clara walked over to him.

Percy whispered:

"Eighty-five."

A huge grin broke out across Clara's face.

"Eighty-five."

"Good."

"Good?"

"Very good."

Clara was even more surprised.

Percy continued:

"You're my rival, after all."

Clara rolled her eyes. Yet her smile didn't fade.

"Percy Grant."

The plaza fell silent once more. Percy stepped forward. Arthur's gaze snapped onto him instantly.

Oliver whispered:

"That's the kid."

Henry nodded.

"The one who fought Arthur."

Edward's face hardened.

"Let's see what score he gets."

Percy walked forward. Passed by Wycliffe. Stood before the Orin Stone. He looked at Holar. Holar's face held zero expression. As if seeing the child named Percy Grant for the very first time in his life. Percy almost laughed. But he held it in. He raised his hand. Reached out toward the stone. His fingers were just centimeters away from the surface. Then... He stopped. Percy frowned. Something... Felt strange. He lowered his hand. Wycliffe looked at him.

"Percy?"

Percy didn't answer. He looked at the stone. Then...

"Somehow, this isn't necessary."

Wycliffe's brows knitted together.

"What do you mean—"

Percy turned around. And looked up at the sky.

The light arrived. It didn't descend from the heavens. Nor did it rise from the earth. All at once... It existed all around Percy. It wasn't pure white. Nor was it golden. Nor did it resemble the ordinary glow of Orin. It was soft. Warm. And strangely... Protective. As if it hadn't come to measure Percy. As if... It had found him. Holar stood up. Eleanor's eyes widened. Wycliffe backed away. For the first time, Arthur stared at Percy with overt astonishment. Clara, meanwhile... Was staring at the light. Percy looked at it too. The light drifted over his shoulder. Touched the side of his face. Percy's brows knitted slightly. Strange. Something... Felt familiar. Percy tilted his head slightly to the side. Then he looked at Clara. Clara was staring at him in utter shock. Percy looked back at the light.

"This..."

He paused for a moment.

"...looks so much like Clara."

Clara's eyes widened.

"What?"

Percy didn't answer. Because... It was as if he had heard something. Very faint. A smirk. No. It wasn't even a sound. It was as if he felt... Someone smiling in amusement at what he had just said. Percy frowned. Then he shrugged.

"Strange."

The light moved. It gathered toward Percy's chest. And... Entered inside him.

The Orin Stone flared. Percy hadn't even touched it. Yet the entire stone... Filled with light. The lines across it ignited one by one. One. Ten. A hundred. All of them. Wycliffe stared at the stone. The color drained from his face.

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"This..."

The number began to climb. 41%. 58%. 72%. Arthur clenched his fist tight. 76%. The smiles on the Sovereign Noble Academy's side evaporated. 81%. Clara held her breath. 85%. It matched Clara's score. Yet it didn't stop. 91%. Not a single sound echoed in the plaza. 95%. Wycliffe involuntarily took a step back. 98%. Holar's eyes were fixed on Percy. 99%. One second. The stone quivered. Then— 100%.

The world went silent. And the Universe spoke.

VOICE OF THE UNIVERSE:

IMPOSSIBLE ACHIEVEMENT ATTAINED.

ORIN HARMONY:

100%.

PERFECT HARMONY.

Percy's eyes widened. Clara forgot to breathe. Eleanor didn't move. Arthur's fist clenched even tighter. The **[Voice of the Universe]** continued:

CALCULATING REWARDS.

One second. Two. The Orin surrounding Percy condensed in an instant.

REWARD GRANTED.

CORE 1 — LEVEL 1. Orin surged once more. Passed through Percy's body.

And the voice echoed again:

CORE 1 — LEVEL 2. Someone in the crowd gasped sharply. Yet it was not over.

COMPREHENSION SPEED:

INCREASED BY 1%.

Silence.

Professor Adrian Wycliffe... Was an Advanced Core Level 7 mage. He had seen countless students in his lifetime. He had overseen hundreds of Orin Harmony measurements. He had operated the Orin Stone for years. Yet right now... He did not know what to say. Finally, he looked at Percy.

"One hundred percent..."

Percy looked at the stone. Then at his own hands.

"Is it good?"

Wycliffe stared at him. Several people in the plaza literally forgot to draw breath.

Percy asked again:

"It's good, right?"

Wycliffe opened his mouth. Shut it. Holar turned his face away in the distance. Eleanor realized he was doing it to keep from laughing out loud. Wycliffe was finally able to speak.

"Yes."

Percy waited.

"Extremely."

A slow grin began to form on Percy's face. Clara saw it.

"Don't."

Percy turned to her. Clara raised her finger.

"Percy."

Percy took a deep breath.

"Don't you dare."

Percy thrust his fist into the air.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW—"

"DON'T!"

"—YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The shout reverberated across the entire plaza. Hundreds of people stared at Percy. Wycliffe closed his eyes. Eleanor couldn't hold back her laughter. Holar rubbed his forehead. Clara buried her face in her hands.

"I don't know him."

Percy turned to her.

"You do know me."

"No."

"You know me very well."

"Not anymore."

Arthur was silent. Oliver was still staring at the stone.

"One hundred percent..."

Henry whispered:

"Is that even possible?"

Edward didn't reply. Arthur's fist remained clenched. 75%. A few minutes ago, everyone had been looking at him. Now... Nobody was looking. All eyes were locked onto Percy. Arthur's eyes narrowed. Percy noticed. The two looked at each other. Percy didn't smile. Neither did Arthur. They simply... Stared. Then Arthur turned around.

"We're leaving."

Oliver was surprised.

"Where to?"

"To train."

"Today?"

Arthur kept walking.

"Now."

Clara was still staring at Percy. 100%. **[Perfect Harmony]**. Core 1 — Level 2. Percy was now one Core level ahead of her. A phrase echoed inside Clara's mind. *I'm the better mage than you.* Percy's reply. *Yes.* *You are.* *For now.* *For now.* *For now.* *For now.* Clara's eyebrow twitched.

"Hmm."

Eleanor looked at her.

"Hm?"

"Nothing."

Clara looked at Percy. Percy was still examining his hands. A small fire ignited in Clara's eyes. *For now, huh?*

That evening, Clara didn't go home. She went to the training grounds. She extracted Orin. It dispersed. Again. It dispersed. Again. Hours passed. Eleanor didn't call for her. Neither did Holar. Clara was out of breath. Yet she didn't stop. She remembered Percy's voice. *For now.*

"Annoying."

Again. Orin gathered. Clara held it. Compressed it. Stabilized it. She felt the Orin outside. For a moment, nothing happened. Then... The Core inside her body quivered. Clara snapped her eyes open. Orin surged all at once. CORE 1 — LEVEL 2. Clara remained motionless for a few seconds. Then... She smiled.

"For now."

By the time she returned home, night had fallen. Clara opened the door.

"Mom?"

No answer. She took off her shoes.

"Uncle Holar?"

Silence. Clara frowned.

"Percy?"

Still no answer. The living room was dark. Clara stepped inside.

"Mom?"

One step. Two. Then—

SNAP!

The lights came on.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CLARA!"

Clara jumped. Holar had just snapped his fingers. Eleanor was behind the table. Percy stood beside her. On the table rested a small cake. Seven candles. Clara said nothing for a few seconds.

"I..."

Eleanor smiled.

"You forgot."

Clara thought about it. She really had forgotten. She had spent the entire day with the Orin measurement. Then Percy. Then 100%. Then Core 2. Then training. She had forgotten her own birthday. Percy looked at her.

"Dummy."

Clara narrowed her eyes.

"Shut up."

"You forgot your own birthday."

"A lot happened today."

"It's your birthday."

"Percy."

Eleanor stepped in.

"Candles first."

Clara walked to the table. She looked down at the seven small flames. She closed her eyes. Made a wish. And blew. The candles went out.

The presents arrived. Eleanor gave her a small necklace. Holar gave her a special copy of an ancient magic book compiled for children. Clara hugged both of them. Percy, however... Gave her nothing. Clara noticed. Yet she said nothing. She hadn't expected a present from Percy anyway. Percy was eating his second slice of cake. Clara looked at him. Percy noticed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Why are you looking?"

"I'm not looking."

"You're totally looking."

Clara looked away. Percy went back to eating his cake. Eleanor didn't say a word either. Holar glanced at Percy once. Percy ignored it. After a while, Percy stood up.

"I'm going."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

"Where?"

"To my room."

"Okay."

Percy walked to the door. Then he stopped.

"Clara."

Clara looked at him.

"What?"

Percy spoke without turning around.

"Look at the table."

Clara frowned. She looked at the table. There was nothing there. The cake. The plates. The book. The necklace.

"What is it?"

Percy didn't answer. Clara looked again. Then she noticed a box under the table. It hadn't been there a moment ago. Or rather... She hadn't noticed it. Long. Slender. Clara's heart thudded for a second. She picked up the box.

"What is this?"

Percy was still standing by the door.

"I don't know."

Eleanor spoke up immediately:

"Liar."

Percy looked at her.

"Auntie."

Eleanor smiled. Clara opened the box. And... Froze.

The wand. That wand. The one she had seen in the market months ago. The one she had stared at for minutes in front of the display window. Slender. Light-colored wood. Delicate Orin veins ran around the handle. Clara recognized it the moment she laid eyes on it.

"This..."

Percy turned his face away. Clara pulled the wand from the box.

"Percy."

"Hm?"

"This was really expensive."

Percy shrugged. Clara looked at Eleanor. Eleanor was smiling. Then at Holar. Holar looked at Percy.

"I didn't give him the money."

Percy narrowed his eyes.

"Nobody asked."

Holar continued:

"He asked me."

Clara turned to Percy. Percy's face fell.

"Grandpa."

Holar continued calmly:

"I didn't help him."

Eleanor took over:

"Then he came to me."

Percy looked at both of them as if he had been utterly betrayed.

"Auntie."

"He asked for a loan."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy held his head.

"Aunt Eleanor."

"He promised he'd pay it back."

Clara stared at Percy. Percy finally gave up.

"What?"

"Did you buy this for me?"

Percy rolled his eyes.

"No, I bought it for myself."

Clara raised the wand.

"This is the wand I wanted."

"Coincidence."

"My name is on it."

Percy went silent. Clara stopped. She looked at the handle of the wand. There really was a small inscription. Carved in fine letters.

Clara began to read:

"Clara..."

She smiled. Then she read the rest. The smile on her face froze.

"...Pain in my ass."

Silence. Eleanor covered her mouth. Holar turned his head away. A massive grin broke out on Percy's face. Clara slowly looked at him.

"Percy."

Percy took a step back.

"What?"

"WHAT DID YOU HAVE ENGRAVED ON THE WAND?!"

Percy started laughing.

"An accurate statement."

"YOU ARE A—"

Clara marched toward him with the wand. Percy backed away.

"HEY! THAT'S EXPENSIVE!"

"YOU DIDN'T PAY FOR IT!"

"I TOOK A LOAN!"

"EVEN BETTER!"

Percy bolted toward the door. Clara was about to chase after him. Then she stopped. She looked at the wand. She ran her fingers over the fine lines along the handle. It really... Was so beautiful. Just as beautiful as the day she had seen it in the window months ago. Maybe even more beautiful. Percy had remembered. He hadn't told anyone. Even Clara had never explicitly told him she wanted that wand. She had simply... Looked at it. And Percy had seen. Clara looked at Percy by the door. Percy was standing ready to run. The anger on Clara's face softened a bit.

"Percy."

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

Percy's grin vanished. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Well..."

Clara pulled the wand close to her chest.

"Really."

Percy scratched his head.

"Okay."

Clara smiled. Percy did too. Quietly. One second. Two. Then Clara looked back down at the inscription on the wand. Her smile vanished.

"Why did you have *this* written on it, though?"

Percy's grin returned instantly.

"Because you are."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy took off running.

"PERCYYYY!"

"BOOOOOOOOOWWW YEAAAAAAH!"

"GET BACK HERE!"

Eleanor burst into roaring laughter. Holar shook his head back and forth. Clara raised her new wand into the air for the first time.

"IF I CATCH YOU, I'M TESTING THIS ON YOU!"

Percy shouted from down the hall:

"THEN I'M TAKING THE PRESENT BACK!"

"YOU CAN'T TAKE IT BACK!"

"I BOUGHT IT!"

"IT HAS MY NAME ON IT!"

"IT HAS SOMETHING ELSE WRITTEN UNDER IT TOO!"

"PERCYYYY!"

As the night wore on... The house finally grew quiet. In her room, Clara had left her new wand beside her bed. Her fingers touched the inscription on it one last time. *Clara.* *Pain in my ass.* Clara rolled her eyes.

"Idiot."

Yet she was smiling.

In another room, Percy lay in his bed. He was seven years old. Today, without even touching the Orin Stone... He had achieved 100% **[Perfect Harmony]**. He had reached Level 2 of Core 1. The **[Voice of the Universe]** had spoken for him. Hundreds of people had learned his name. Yet Percy was thinking of none of those things. He was staring at the ceiling. He was getting sleepy. He closed his eyes. And just as he was about to drift off to sleep... He heard a voice. Percy snapped his eyes open. He looked around the room. No one was there. Then the voice came again. This time, not from the outside. From within. Soft. Distant. Yet somehow... Familiar. A woman's voice. Percy held his breath. And the voice... Spoke once more.