EPISODE 15 — CHOICES

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 15 — CHOICES

Nobody knew. That Galahad was the best student in the Mage Academy.

Teachers knew he was talented. Students knew about his 93% Orin Compatibility. They knew he was in the fourth year. They knew he was eleven years old. But... Nobody knew his true level. Because Galahad didn't show off. He fought in tournaments only as much as necessary. He answered in classes only as much as necessary. If the power required to beat someone was ten... He didn't use eleven. And that's why... Nobody had realized it yet.

Including Percy. To Percy, Galahad was simply... Big Brother Galahad. In the following weeks, Percy's life settled into a routine. Classes. Charlotte. William. Arena. Galahad. Home. Practice. Sleep. Sometimes more practice instead of sleep. Holar didn't like that.

One night, Percy returned home after hours of training. Holar was waiting at the door. Percy stopped.

"...Hello, Grandfather."

Holar looked at the clock. Percy looked at the clock too.

"That clock might be wrong."

"Bed."

"My homework—"

"Bed."

"Orin—"

"Percy."

"...Bed."

But Percy was improving. Slowly. Truly. William was still beating him. But no longer the same way every time. Percy sometimes surprised William. Sometimes forced him to back up. Sometimes read his first move. Sometimes the second. Once... Even the third.

William stopped his attack that day. So did Percy. The two looked at each other.

William:

"You saw that."

Percy smiled.

"All three."

William smiled too. Then brought Percy down with a fourth move.

BAM!

Percy on the ground:

"MAN."

William:

"You didn't see the fourth."

Percy reached out a hand.

"Again."

Charlotte was watching them with laughter. And Arthur... Was watching Charlotte laugh. Especially... When she laughed with Percy. Arthur didn't like this at all.

One day after class... Percy left the academy alone. Charlotte and William were a bit behind. Percy was walking slowly, assuming they would catch up. Then... He stepped into a side alley. Four people stepped out. Arthur. Oliver. Henry. Edward.

Percy stopped. He looked at the four of them. Then looked behind him. Empty. He turned back around. Arthur stepped forward a few paces. Percy sighed.

"Charlotte?"

Arthur's expression changed. Percy nodded.

"Got it."

Oliver:

"What did you get?"

Percy:

"You wouldn't understand."

Oliver's face fell.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Henry:

"I think he insulted you."

Oliver:

"I THINK SO TOO."

Arthur raised his hand. He began gathering Orin. The expression on Percy's face changed. Possibilities. Arthur could attack. Oliver could come from the right. Henry could stay back. Edward could build a shield. Or... All four could attack at once.

Percy set his feet.

"Alright then."

The Orin in Arthur's palm expanded. And right as the attack was about to release... A hand grabbed Arthur's wrist. Arthur's eyes widened. The Orin dispersed. Galahad was there.

Nobody had seen when he arrived. Galahad released Arthur's wrist. His voice was calm.

"One-on-one fights happen."

Arthur looked at him. Galahad looked at the other three.

"Kids fight."

"Students duel."

"You get mad."

"You attack each other."

Galahad tilted his head slightly.

"But four against one?"

Arthur's jaw clenched.

"This is none of your business."

Galahad smiled.

"Now it is."

At the entrance of the alley... Clara was standing there. She had seen everything. A bit further away... Charlotte and William had arrived too. The smile on Charlotte's face completely vanished. William watched silently. And on the academy overpass... There were two more people. Holar Jun. Eleanor Leyvar.

Eleanor looked down.

"Should we step in?"

Holar:

"No."

Eleanor looked at Galahad.

"Do you know the boy?"

Holar watched him for a moment.

"Galahad."

"Ninety-three percent."

"Yes."

Holar's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Interesting."

Down below, Percy looked at Galahad.

"Bro."

Silence.

Arthur looked at Percy. Oliver looked at Percy. Henry looked at Percy. Edward looked at Percy. Clara's eyes widened. Even Charlotte was surprised. William raised an eyebrow.

Eleanor:

"Bro?"

The corner of Holar's mouth lifted slightly.

"It seems so."

Galahad turned to Percy.

"Yes, little commander?"

Percy's face instantly fell.

"Don't call me little."

Galahad:

"But you are little."

Percy:

"I am not."

"You're seven years old."

"That doesn't mean I'm little."

"I'm eleven."

Percy thought for a few seconds.

"...Okay, bro."

He was slightly embarrassed as he said it. Galahad saw this. He smiled.

"What were you going to say?"

Percy looked at the four boys. Then at Galahad.

"You think it's unfair, right?"

Galahad:

"Yes."

Percy shook his head.

"Wrong."

Galahad's eyebrow rose. Percy continued.

"Yes, it's unfair."

He took a step.

"But not to me."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. Percy looked at the four of them.

"It would be unfair to them."

Silence.

Percy looked at Galahad.

"You shouldn't have stopped it."

A second. The corner of Galahad's mouth twitched. Then... He burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Percy's face fell.

"Bro."

Galahad was laughing.

"Bro, don't laugh."

"I'm not laughing."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You were just laughing."

Galahad tried to fix his face into seriousness.

"I didn't laugh."

Percy looked at him for a few seconds. Then nodded.

"Okay."

Galahad:

"Okay?"

"You're not laughing."

Galahad started laughing again.

Percy:

"BRO!"

Even Charlotte laughed. William shook his head. As for Clara... She was staring at Percy.

Arthur stepped forward.

"Are you done?"

Galahad looked at him. His smile vanished. Instantly. The air in the alley shifted. Arthur felt it. So did Oliver. Henry's face went tense. Edward involuntarily took half a step back.

Galahad simply said:

"Yes."

"Now you're done."

Arthur looked at him for a few seconds. Then turned his back.

"Let's go."

Oliver, Henry, and Edward followed him. Arthur passed by Clara. Clara stayed in place for a few seconds. She looked at Percy. Percy didn't look at her. Then Clara followed after Arthur. Percy saw this. But... He said nothing.

That day, Percy didn't leave Galahad's side.

"Bro."

"Hm?"

"I'm gonna tell you something."

"Tell me."

"It's long."

"How long?"

"As long as Clara."

Galahad stopped.

"Is that a unit of measurement?"

"It is now."

They sat in the academy's back garden. Percy told the story. Age three. Clara calling Holar "Grandfather." Their fights. The bad stone. The game of not stepping on the lines. Clara cheating. Arthur. The marketplace. Clara getting injured. **[Absolute Cancel]**. The hospital.

"Get well soon Arthur."

Then... Arthur tripping him. The family comment. Slash. Reverse. Clara coming out and slapping him without asking anything. Her saying, "You are no longer my friend." And Clara starting to spend time with Arthur.

Galahad was silent the whole time. When Percy finished... The smile on Galahad's face was completely gone.

"She slapped you?"

Percy:

"Yes."

"Without asking why?"

"Yes."

"She didn't know what Arthur said?"

"No."

Galahad's eyebrow twitched. Percy looked at him.

"Did you get mad?"

"No."

"You did."

"No."

"Your face looks like it."

Galahad:

"Percy."

"Yes, bro?"

"Let me change the subject."

Percy was smirking.

"You got mad."

Galahad:

"Let's practice possibilities."

"You got mad."

"Percy."

"Okay, bro."

But Percy understood. Galahad was on his side. And for some reason... That meant a lot to Percy. In the following weeks, Percy spent even more time with Galahad. Finding him after class. Sitting beside him in the arena. Asking questions. Sometimes asking so many questions that Galahad would say:

"Be quiet for one minute."

Percy would say:

"Okay."

Ten seconds later:

"Bro, one more thing—"

Galahad:

"PERCY."

But Galahad liked him. And Percy... Genuinely listened to him. Not like he listened to Holar's advice. Not like he listened to Eleanor's lessons. Different. Like a younger brother... Listens to his older brother. And then... Arena day arrived. The class match-ups appeared on the screen. Arthur Green. Clara Leyvar.

Percy looked at the screen. Charlotte looked at him. So did William. Galahad was at the upper section of the stands. Clara stepped into the arena. Arthur faced her.

Wycliffe raised his hand.

"Begin."

Clara started fast. Orin orb. Arthur dodged to the side. Second. Shield. Third. Arthur moved forward. Clara backed away. Arthur didn't stop.

BAM!

The first attack shook Clara's shield. The second... Cracked it. The third... Shattered it. Clara's eyes widened. Arthur was already right in front of her. Clara tried to dodge to the side. Arthur was waiting. Orin strike.

BAM!

Clara fell to the ground. Percy's eyes narrowed slightly. Clara stood up. Attacked again. Arthur dodged. Counter-attack. Clara blocked. Arthur changed direction. Second attack. Struck Clara's shoulder.

Clara stumbled. Arthur... Was crushing her. The power gap was clear. The experience gap was clear. Arthur's 75% Orin Compatibility was lower than Clara's 85%. But... Today's power was something else. Compatibility... Wasn't today's combat power. Clara was learning this harsh truth for the first time.

Arthur attacked. Clara built a shield. The shield shattered. Clara was blown back several meters. Fell to the ground.

Wycliffe raised his hand.

"Match over!"

Arthur stopped.

"Winner..."

"Arthur Green."

Applause erupted from the stands. Clara was on the ground. Struggling to breathe. Her shoulder hurt. There was blood at the corner of her lip. Arthur walked toward her. Extended his hand. Clara looked at it. Hesitated for a moment. Then took his hand. Arthur pulled her up.

Clara's knees trembled. Medical staff entered the arena. Percy had watched the entire match. Silently. Charlotte looked at Percy. So did William. Even Galahad... Looked at Percy.

Percy stood up. They were placing Clara onto a stretcher. Once... If Percy saw her on the ground like that... He would have run without a second thought. Now... He just watched.

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Percy tilted his head slightly.

"Karma."

Charlotte:

"What?"

Percy didn't take his eyes off Clara.

"What goes around comes around."

Charlotte went quiet. William's face didn't change. Galahad watched Percy. Clara slightly turned her head from the stretcher. She saw Percy. Their eyes met.

On Percy's face... There was nothing. No joy. No sadness. No worry. Percy turned his back. And walked away.

Clara's eyes widened a bit more. Then... Her vision went dark. Percy left the corridor.

When he reached the garden, he stopped. Sat down under a tree. Said nothing for a long time.

Finally, he spoke to himself.

"She chose everything herself."

He plucked some grass from the ground.

"It doesn't matter whether she knew or not."

He paused for a bit.

"She should have believed me."

He remembered the slap. Her standing next to Arthur. Spending time with him. Arthur bringing Clara down in the arena.

Percy sighed.

"But..."

He dropped a piece of grass from his hand.

"Against Arthur..."

He paused for a second.

"That son of a—"

Percy stopped. Knitted his brows.

"...Whatever."

He shook his head.

"What's his fault anyway?"

"He has a family too."

"What am I here for then?"

Percy froze. Turned around. Holar Jun was standing there. The hardness on Percy's face softened a bit.

"Grandfather."

Holar sat beside him. Without saying a word... He ruffled Percy's hair. Normally, Percy would object instantly. This time he didn't. When Holar was about to pull his hand back...

Percy:

"Only you can play with my hair."

Holar's hand paused. Then he ruffled Percy's hair again.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Noted."

"What about me?"

Percy raised his head. Eleanor was standing a few meters away. Hands on her hips.

"You call me Aunt."

Percy looked at her. Eleanor raised an eyebrow.

"Am I not one?"

A small smile formed on Percy's face.

"You are."

Eleanor walked up to him.

"Then?"

Percy thought for a moment.

"You too."

Eleanor immediately messed up Percy's hair.

Percy:

"AUNT!"

Eleanor:

"You gave permission."

"NOT THIS MUCH!"

Holar laughed. Percy tried to fix his hair. Eleanor sat beside him. For a while, all three were silent.

Eleanor finally said:

"About Clara—"

Percy immediately:

"I'm not mad at her."

Eleanor went silent. Percy looked at the grass.

"Really."

"I'm not mad anymore."

Holar was listening to him. Percy continued.

"But I don't want to be friends either."

Eleanor's expression shifted slightly.

Percy said calmly:

"Everyone is free to make their own choices."

"They have free will."

"Clara made hers."

"And I'm making mine."

A faint trace of pride appeared in Holar's eyes. Eleanor was a little sad. But... There was no anger in Percy's words. That was what mattered more.

Percy suddenly turned to Eleanor.

"By the way, Aunt."

"Hm?"

Percy reached into his pocket. Pulled out a small pouch. Handed it to Eleanor.

"Here's my debt."

Eleanor looked at the pouch. Then at Percy.

"What?"

"The wand."

Eleanor didn't understand for a few seconds. Then... Clara's birthday. The expensive wand. The debt Percy took from her.

Eleanor didn't take the pouch.

"Percy."

"What?"

"Where did you get this?"

"The arena."

Holar's eyebrow went up. Percy continued.

"Class arena matches pay prize money."

"I know."

"I've been saving for six months."

Eleanor's face changed.

"Six months?"

"Yes."

"You didn't spend any of it?"

"No."

Holar looked at Percy.

"Food?"

"I ate what the academy provided."

Eleanor:

"When you went to the market with Charlotte?"

"Window shopping is free."

Holar:

"Books?"

"The library."

Eleanor:

"Sweets?"

Percy fell silent.

Eleanor narrowed her eyes.

"Sweets, Percy."

Percy turned his face away.

"...I didn't eat any."

Even Holar was surprised. Percy Grant. Six months. Hadn't bought a single sweet. Eleanor looked at the pouch. Then at Percy.

"You really saved this for six months."

"Yes."

"To pay back Clara's wand debt."

Percy nodded.

"I promised."

A knot formed in Eleanor's throat. Percy held out the pouch again.

"Take it."

Eleanor:

"I don't want to."

Percy knitted his brows.

"But it's my debt."

"Not anymore."

"How is it not?"

"I'm wiping it."

Percy didn't pull the pouch back.

"You can't."

"Why?"

"I promised."

Holar smiled silently. Eleanor looked at Percy. Finally... She took the pouch.

"Fine."

Percy's face relaxed. Eleanor weighed the pouch in her hand.

"Debt settled."

Percy nodded.

"Good."

Eleanor fell silent for a few seconds. Then handed the pouch to Holar. Holar took it. Percy looked suspiciously.

"What are you doing?"

Eleanor:

"Nothing."

Percy narrowed his eyes.

"Aunt."

"You paid the debt."

"Yes."

"The money is mine now."

"Yes."

"I can do whatever I want with it."

Percy thought for a moment.

"...Yes."

Eleanor smiled.

"Wonderful."

Percy didn't like this one bit. When he returned to his room that evening... There was a small box on the desk. Percy knitted his brows. Opened it. Inside... Was a small package filled with the sweets he hadn't bought for six months.

A note attached to it.

DEBT SETTLED.

— YOUR AUNT

Percy looked at the note for a few seconds. Then... He smiled. Eleanor's voice came from the doorway.

"Do you like it?"

Percy spun around quickly.

"AUNT!"

Eleanor started running. Percy chased after her.

"YOU GAVE ME MY MONEY BACK?!"

"IT WASN'T YOUR MONEY!"

"SAME THING!"

"IT IS NOT!"

"AUNTTTT!"

Holar was reading his book in the living room. Eleanor ran past him. Percy right behind her. Holar didn't even raise his head from his book.

"No magic in the house."

Percy:

"SHE GAVE ME MY MONEY BACK!"

Eleanor:

"YOU PAID YOUR DEBT!"

"BUT—"

"IT WAS MINE TO SPEND!"

Percy stopped.

Thought for a second.

"...Makes sense."

Eleanor stopped too.

"What?"

Percy:

"You're right."

Eleanor was surprised. Percy looked at the package of sweets.

"Thank you, Aunt."

Eleanor smiled.

"You're welcome."

Percy took one from the package. Then handed one to Holar.

"Grandfather?"

Holar took it. He gave one to Eleanor too. The three sat together. After a while, someone knocked on the door. Percy got up. Opened the door.

Galahad. Holding books in his hands.

"Are we studying, little commander?"

Percy's face fell.

"Don't call me little."

"You're seven years old."

"Bro."

"Yes?"

Percy sighed.

"Come in."

Galahad walked inside. Saw Holar Jun. Stopped. Saw Eleanor Leyvar. Stopped once more. Then looked at Percy.

"Your home is a bit weird."

Percy shrugged.

"You get used to it."

Holar looked at Galahad. This time... A bit more attentively. Because he was thinking about what he had seen in the alley. Before Arthur's spell even formed... Galahad had moved. It was impossible for the boy to have merely seen the attack. He... Had seen the possibility of the attack.

Holar's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Galahad."

Galahad turned to him.

"Yes, sir?"

Holar smiled.

"Percy talks about you a lot."

Percy:

"GRANDFATHER."

Galahad looked at Percy.

"Is that so, little commander?"

"BOTH OF YOU BE QUIET."

Eleanor burst into laughter. But Holar was still studying Galahad. 93%. Fourth year. Eleven years old. Calm. Unpretentious. And teaching Percy possibilities. Holar Jun... For the first time wondered just how strong Galahad truly was.

The next day, Galahad came to Percy's class arena. Percy was going to face William.

William:

"Which number match is this?"

Percy:

"I stopped counting."

Charlotte:

"Twenty-one."

Percy turned to her.

"WHY ARE YOU STILL COUNTING?"

Charlotte:

"Science."

The match started. William moved. Percy waited. Right. Left. Fake attack. Pull back. Shield. Possibilities.

William twitched his right shoulder. Percy didn't move. Fake. William's eyes widened slightly. Left foot. Real. Percy shifted right. William had anticipated this. Second attack. Percy didn't build a shield. He ducked. Third. Percy backed away. Fourth. Percy... Smiled.

William's expression changed. Because Percy was no longer running from his attacks. He was... Guiding him somewhere. One step. Two. Three. William stopped. He was too late. Percy's Orin orb... Stopped right in front of William's chest.

Silence.

Wycliffe raised his hand.

"Match over."

Percy was breathing. William stood opposite him.

"The winner..."

"Percy Grant."

Percy's eyes widened. Charlotte stood up. Galahad smiled. William looked at Percy for a few seconds. Then held out his hand.

"Congratulations."

Percy looked at his hand. Then at William. Shook his hand.

"Thank you."

One second. Two. That look formed on Percy's face.

William:

"No."

Charlotte:

"Percy."

Galahad covered his ears.

"Here it comes."

Percy raised both arms into the air.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWW YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

In another corridor of the academy... Arthur stopped. So did Clara.

Arthur closed his eyes.

"One day I'm going to strangle him."

Clara didn't answer. Because the moment she heard that voice... Something else came to her mind. Percy's first Orin orb. His first shield. His first victory screech. The garden where she ran with him. The bad stone. The lines. The fruit plate. The wand. Pain in my ass.

Clara's hand involuntarily reached for the handle of her wand. Arthur kept walking. As for Clara... She stayed in place for one more second. Then she heard Percy's distant laugh. Charlotte's laugh joined his. William's voice. And...

Galahad shouting:

"LITTLE COMMANDER, FINALLY AFTER TWENTY-ONE MATCHES!"

Percy:

"BRO, DON'T SAY THE NUMBER!"

Clara closed his eyes. Percy was improving. He had new friends. He had a big brother. And... His life was moving on without her. For the first time... Clara started thinking not about what losing Percy did to Percy... But what it did to herself.