EPISODE 12 — FRIEND

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 12 — FRIEND

Percy was discharged from the hospital three days later. The wound on his leg had not completely healed. The doctor had forbidden him from running. Percy thought that was unnecessary. Holar thought it was necessary. Eleanor thought the doctor was right. And Clara thought Percy wouldn't listen anyway. The last one turned out to be correct.

On his first day back at the Academy, Percy was running down the corridor.

"Percy!"

The teacher's voice called out from behind him. Percy immediately switched to a walk.

"I'm not running."

"You were running just a second ago."

"I am no longer running."

The teacher stared at him for a few seconds. Percy continued walking with an expression of absolute innocence. Clara was in the classroom. When Percy walked in, she raised her head. Their eyes met for a moment. Clara offered a subtle smile.

"Good morning."

Percy set his bag down on his desk.

"Good morning."

Then he sat down. Clara waited. Percy said nothing else. The first class was history. The teacher projected a map of the old world onto the board.

"Before 2035, there were approximately two hundred independent nations on Earth."

Percy wrote in his notebook. At one point, Clara leaned toward him.

"Do you have a pencil?"

Percy handed her a second pencil from his desk.

"Here."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Percy turned back to the board. Clara frowned. Normally, something would have happened here. Percy, while handing her the pencil, would have said:

"Don't lose it."

Clara would have replied, "You lost two of them last week." Percy would have said, "Those got lost on their own." Clara would have asked, "How is that different?"

And then the teacher would have shushed the both of them. But nothing happened. During lunch break, Clara found Percy. Percy was sitting with Charlotte and William. Clara walked over to them.

"Percy."

Percy raised his head.

"Yes?"

"Can you come here for a minute?"

Percy set down the piece of bread in his hand.

"Why?"

Clara paused.

"We need to talk."

"Talk here."

Charlotte looked between the two of them. William decided to focus intently on his food. Clara went quiet for a few seconds.

"Never mind."

"Okay."

Percy went back to his food. Clara walked away. Charlotte looked at Percy.

"Did something happen?"

"No."

William raised an eyebrow.

"Something definitely happened."

Percy:

"It didn't."

Charlotte watched Clara walk away into the distance. Then she looked back at Percy. But she didn't pry.

One day passed.

Two days.

Three.

Percy spoke with Clara. But only when necessary.

"Can you pass your notebook?"

"Here."

"What did the teacher say?"

"Page forty-two."

"Are you coming to the training field today?"

"No."

There was no bickering. No shouting. No hair-pulling. No chasing each other down. No "I'm the better mage." No "For now."

On the fourth day, Clara couldn't take it anymore. As class ended and Percy was gathering his books, she stood right in front of his desk.

"Is it still because of that?"

Percy looked up at her.

"Because of what?"

Clara's face hardened.

"Because I said get well soon."

Percy slipped his book into his bag.

"Arthur was injured."

Clara was taken aback for a second.

"Yes."

"It's normal for you to say get well soon."

Clara was even more surprised.

"Then why are you acting like this?"

Percy closed his bag.

"Acting like how?"

"Percy."

"Clara."

"I'm serious."

"Me too."

Clara stared at him for a few seconds.

"I didn't do anything wrong."

Percy nodded.

"You didn't."

That answer... Annoyed Clara even more.

"Then talk to me!"

"I am talking."

"Not like this!"

Percy went quiet. Clara waited. Yet Percy picked up his bag.

"See you tomorrow."

He passed right by her. Clara looked after him. For the first time... She didn't get angry. She simply... Felt hurt. Over the following week, Percy's world shifted slightly. As the distance between him and Clara grew... He began spending more time with Charlotte.

Charlotte was skilled in magic theory. Percy was rapidly advancing in Orin control. Charlotte was better at history than Percy. Percy picked up the structures of defensive spells faster than Charlotte. They began filling in each other's gaps.

"You did this part wrong."

Charlotte pointed to Percy's notebook. Percy looked.

"No."

"It's wrong."

"It's not."

"The first defense line after 2035 wasn't established here."

Charlotte pointed to another line.

"It was established here."

Percy looked at the textbook. Then at what he had written. Then back at the textbook.

"...You're right."

Charlotte smiled.

"I know."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Did you learn that sentence from Clara?"

"No."

"Dangerous."

On another day, Percy watched Charlotte's Orin sphere.

"You're compressing it too much."

Charlotte tried again.

"How so?"

"Let go a little."

"It'll disperse."

"Re-grip it right before it disperses."

Charlotte tried. The sphere quivered. It almost dispersed. Then... It stabilized. Charlotte's eyes widened.

"It worked."

Percy smiled.

"It worked."

They went to the library together. They strolled through the academy gardens. William joined them occasionally. Other times, Charlotte and Percy studied alone. Clara caught sight of them from a distance a few times. The first time, she ignored it. The second time, she looked. The third time... She looked for a little too long.

One afternoon, Charlotte asked Percy:

"Where are we studying today?"

Percy thought for a moment.

"We can study at my place."

Charlotte paused.

"At your house?"

"Yes."

"Sure."

When Percy arrived home, Holar was in the living room. Charlotte stepped through the front door.

"Hello."

Holar raised his head from his book. Charlotte saw him. And... Froze. One second. Two. Three.

Charlotte's mouth opened slightly.

"H-Holar Jun?"

Percy's face fell. Holar looked at Percy. Percy looked at Holar.

Holar said, with utter calm:

"Hello."

Charlotte turned to Percy.

"You..."

Percy spoke rapidly:

"Long story."

"BUT—"

"Very long."

Holar closed his book.

"Percy."

Percy closed his eyes.

"I know."

Charlotte was still in shock. Percy stepped closer to her.

"You can't tell anyone."

Charlotte looked at Holar. Then at Percy.

"Tell them what?"

Percy paused.

Charlotte continued:

"I didn't see anything."

Percy stared at her for a few seconds. Then... He smiled.

"Thank you."

Eleanor stepped out of the kitchen.

"Who arrived?"

Charlotte froze for a second time.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"E-Eleanor Leyvar?!"

Eleanor smiled.

"Hello."

Charlotte turned to Percy. Percy shrugged.

"An even longer story."

Clara was not at home that day. She had gone out with Eleanor earlier. Because of that, Percy and Charlotte began studying alone in the garden.

The task was simple. Form an Orin sphere. Guide it around three stones. Then return it to the starting point. Charlotte started. First stone. Second stone. The sphere dispersed at the third stone.

"Ah."

Percy was smirking.

"My turn."

Percy formed his sphere. First stone. Second. Third. The sphere returned to the starting point. Percy placed his hands on his hips.

"I did it first."

Charlotte nodded.

"You're right."

Percy's smirk vanished. Charlotte prepared to try again. Percy was staring at her. Charlotte noticed.

"What?"

Percy frowned.

"Aren't you going to object?"

Charlotte was surprised.

"To what?"

"I said I did it first."

"Yes."

"And?"

Charlotte didn't understand.

"And what?"

Percy spread both hands wide.

"Aren't you going to say 'But my sphere was smoother' or something?"

"No."

"'You must have practiced before'?"

"No."

"'It doesn't actually count'?"

Charlotte was laughing by now.

"Why would I say that?"

Percy looked at her with genuine seriousness.

"Because I did it first."

Charlotte nodded.

"Yes."

"And?"

"You did it first."

A look of genuine confusion washed over Percy's face.

Charlotte:

"Percy?"

Percy looked at the sky. Then at the house. Then at Charlotte. Then back at the sky.

And yelled:

"IS THIS WHAT FRIENDSHIP IS LIKE, BRO?!"

Charlotte jumped. Holar raised his head from inside. Eleanor stopped in the kitchen. Percy raised both hands to the heavens.

"WHAT THE HECK HAVE I BEEN ENDURING FOR YEARS?!"

Holar's lips trembled. Eleanor leaned against the wall. Charlotte burst into roaring laughter.

"What is wrong with you?"

Percy turned to her. Instantly, he became deadly serious.

"Charlotte."

"Yes?"

"Will you be my friend?"

Charlotte's laughter cut short. Percy waited. Charlotte frowned.

"Weren't we already?"

Percy froze. Charlotte smiled.

"But sure, I will."

Percy's eyes sparkled. He took a deep breath.

Holar from inside:

"No."

Eleanor:

"Here it comes."

Percy thrust his fist into the sky.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Charlotte dissolved into laughter. At that exact moment... In another training sector of the Academy, Arthur Green abruptly stopped. Oliver looked at him.

"What happened?"

Goosebumps had broken out all over Arthur's skin. Henry was surprised.

"Arthur?"

Arthur slowly looked around.

Edward:

"Did you feel something?"

Arthur narrowed his eyes.

"For some reason..."

Another shiver ran through him.

"...I feel like something terrible just happened."

The next day, he found out what that terrible thing was. Charlotte sat next to Percy. Arthur was sitting a few rows behind them. Charlotte looked at Percy's notebook.

"Did you do the homework?"

"Yes."

"The last question?"

Percy went quiet. Charlotte smiled.

"You couldn't do it."

"I was going to."

"You couldn't."

"I ran out of time."

"You had two days."

Percy looked at her.

"You spend too much time around Clara."

Charlotte laughed.

"I barely speak to Clara."

"Strange."

Arthur was watching them. Oliver noticed.

"Arthur."

No answer.

"Arthur."

"Hm?"

"Why are you staring at Percy?"

"I'm not staring at Percy."

Oliver looked at Charlotte next to Percy. Then at Arthur. Then back at Charlotte. A slow smirk formed on his face.

"Ooooooh."

Arthur turned to him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Oliver."

"I said nothing."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. Arthur Green... Liked Charlotte Ashford. Oliver knew. Henry knew. Edward knew. Charlotte didn't know. And... Percy definitely didn't know. During lunch break, Arthur saw them together again. Charlotte handed Percy a book. Percy took it. He said something. Charlotte laughed. Arthur's eyebrow twitched. Edward walked past him.

"Get well soon."

Arthur turned to him.

"Get well soon for what?"

Edward kept walking.

"Nothing."

Yet there was someone else who saw this too. Clara. Clara watched Percy and Charlotte from a distance. Charlotte was explaining something. Percy was listening. Then Percy laughed at something Charlotte said. Clara's steps slowed.

In the past... Percy would find her during every recess. Sometimes to argue. Sometimes to practice magic. Sometimes for no reason at all. Now, he didn't find her. Clara gripped her wand a little tighter. The inscription on the handle rested under her fingers. *Clara.* *Pain in my ass.*

That night, Clara set the wand beside her bed. She looked at it for a long time. Then she turned her face to the other side. Another day passed.

During Basic Orin class, the teacher announced they would be doing paired practice. Reflexively, Clara looked at Percy. Percy looked at her too. One second. Clara almost walked over to him. Yet Charlotte turned to Percy.

"Together?"

Percy nodded.

"Sure."

Clara's step halted. Someone else paired up with her. Clara performed the entire exercise flawlessly. The teacher praised her. Clara thanked him. Yet she was not happy. At the end of class, Percy passed by her. Clara couldn't hold it in.

"Percy."

Percy stopped. Clara looked at him. She wanted to say so many things. About the hospital. About Arthur. Why she had said get well soon. Why Percy was acting like this. About Charlotte. About the wand. About how things used to be. Yet all that came out of her mouth was:

"There's a history test tomorrow."

Percy nodded.

"I know."

"Did you study?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

"You?"

"Me too."

Percy nodded slightly.

"See you."

"See you."

Percy walked on. Clara looked after him. This time... It genuinely hurt. Percy, meanwhile, stopped a few meters away. Yet he didn't turn around. The hospital room flashed before his eyes. Arthur was injured.

Clara had simply said:

"Get well soon, Arthur."

Percy knew that was normal. He knew it wasn't wrong. He knew Clara hadn't done anything bad. He knew all of it. Yet for some reason... He was still pouting. Percy kept walking.

At the far end of the corridor, Arthur saw Charlotte. Charlotte caught up to Percy's side. The two began walking together. Arthur's face darkened.

One corridor. Four children. Percy was not looking at Clara. Clara was looking at Percy. Percy was walking with Charlotte. Arthur was looking at Charlotte. And Charlotte... Completely oblivious to everything, was explaining History Topic Three to Percy.

William watched the four of them from a distance. He thought for a moment. Then he nodded to himself.

"I'm going to lunch."

And on that day... William Hart made the single wisest decision in that entire corridor.