EPISODE 16 — LET YOURSELF GO

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 16 — LET YOURSELF GO

Percy had beaten William once. This... Had changed everything. At least, that was what Percy thought. William did not agree.

"One more."

William closed his book.

"That's three today."

"I won one."

"You lost two."

Percy stopped.

Charlotte from the side:

"True."

Percy looked at her.

"Whose side are you on?"

"Truth's side."

"A terrible side."

Galahad was sitting on the top row of the stands. Percy looked up at him.

"Bro?"

Galahad:

"Don't look at me."

"Why?"

"Two to one."

Percy's face fell.

"You too?"

Galahad smiled.

"Math."

Percy stood opposite William once more.

William:

"Ready?"

Percy:

"I'll win this time."

"You say that every time."

"It worked once."

The match started. William was no longer the old William. Because Percy had improved. And as Percy improved... William had to change too. Percy shifted right. William waited. Percy didn't attack. Neither did William. The two looked at each other.

Charlotte:

"...Are you going to fight?"

Percy and William at the exact same time:

"Be quiet."

Charlotte:

"Okay."

William's foot moved. Percy saw it. Three possibilities. Fake. Approach. Left attack. Percy waited. William gathered Orin. Two possibilities gone. Percy built a shield. William canceled his attack at the last second. Percy's eyes widened. William smiled.

"You're not the only one."

BAM!

Percy fell to the ground.

Galahad burst out laughing.

Percy from the ground:

"BRO."

"I'm not laughing."

"YOU ARE."

"I'm not."

Percy stood up.

"Okay, you're not laughing."

Galahad laughed again. But Percy was laughing too. Because... William could no longer beat him easily. And Percy could feel it. Weeks went on. Percy won one. William won one. Then William. Then Percy. Then a draw. Then William. Then Percy.

Charlotte had stopped keeping count.

"Why'd you stop?" Percy asked.

Charlotte:

"I lost count."

A surge of pride formed on Percy's face.

"Now that's progress."

William:

"That's not a measure of progress."

Percy:

"It is for me."

The academy arena rankings were changing too. Clara... Core 4. Arthur... Core 4. William... Core 5. Charlotte... Core 5. As for Percy... Still Core 2. This was getting on Percy's nerves. A lot.

One day he asked Galahad.

"Bro."

"Hm?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Me."

Galahad looked at him. Percy continued.

"I'm 100%."

"Yes."

"I practice."

"Extremely hard."

"William is Core 5."

"Yes."

"Charlotte is Core 5."

"Yes."

"Arthur is four."

"Yes."

"Clara is four."

Galahad waited. Percy threw his arms out.

"I'M TWO."

Galahad was silent for a few seconds.

Then:

"And?"

Percy's face fell.

"And?"

"Can you fight them?"

"Yes."

"Can you beat William?"

"I beat him once. I can do it again."

"A Core 5?"

Percy went silent.

"Yes."

Galahad shrugged.

"Then why do you care about the number?"

Percy couldn't answer.

Galahad stood up.

"Your Core level isn't the entirety of your strength."

"Nor is your Orin Compatibility."

"Nor your techniques."

"Nor your intellect."

"None of them are on their own."

Percy listened to him. Galahad pointed at Percy's chest.

"You are growing."

"Your growth just hasn't reflected here yet."

Percy understood he meant his Core.

"When will it reflect?"

Galahad smiled.

"How should I know?"

Percy's face fell.

"BRO."

A few days later... Class arena. Percy faced the second-ranked student in his class. Daniel Crawford. Core 4.

The stands were crowded than usual. Because Percy's progress in recent weeks had become a topic of conversation. 100% Orin Compatibility. Core 2. Yet he could fight Core 4 students. He had beaten William Hart once. People... Were curious.

Charlotte and William were in the front row. Clara was sitting a bit further away with Arthur. Oliver, Henry, and Edward were beside them. Galahad was on the top row. And much further away... Holar and Eleanor were watching too.

Eleanor looked at Holar.

"You didn't need to come here today."

Holar:

"I was passing by by chance."

Eleanor:

"Liar."

Holar:

"Prove it."

The arena. Wycliffe lowered his hand.

"Begin."

Daniel was fast. Percy realized it in the very first second. Right. Fake. Left. Approach. Percy backed away. Daniel pursued.

Two Orin orbs. Percy blocked the first. Dodged the second. Daniel prepared a third. Percy... Saw it. Shoulder. Elbow. Wrist. Foot. Four possibilities. Three. Two. One.

Percy shifted to the side. The spell passed through empty air. Galahad smiled slightly. Percy went on the counter-attack. Daniel built a shield. Percy canceled his attack. Daniel's eyes widened. Percy... Had learned from William.

He changed direction.

BAM!

Daniel slid back.

In the stands, William smiled.

"My move."

Charlotte:

"Not anymore."

William thought.

"...True."

Daniel attacked again. Percy dodged. Again. Shield. Turn. Slash. Daniel blocked. The two kids sped up in the arena. Percy's breathing grew heavy. But... Something was strange.

His Orin wasn't running out. On the contrary... More of it was surging forth. Percy blocked an attack. Took a step back. And... Stopped.

Daniel stopped too.

"What happened?"

Percy didn't answer. Inside his chest... Something had moved. The smile on Galahad's face vanished.

Holar straightened up. Eleanor's eyes narrowed. Percy looked at his hand. Orin... Began overflowing from his hand.

Wycliffe stood up.

"Percy?"

The air surrounding Percy trembled.

Charlotte:

"What's happening?"

William didn't answer. Because he knew. Core. The Core inside Percy... Was changing.

A wave spread outward from the arena.

WHOOM!

Daniel stumbled back several steps. Percy's uniform fluttered in the Orin wind. And...

CORE 2.

Cracked. Percy's eyes widened.

CORE 3.

Silence.

Then the stands erupted.

"CORE 3?!"

"IN THE MIDDLE OF A MATCH?!"

"HE LEVELED UP!"

Charlotte stood up. William smiled. Arthur's face hardened. As for Clara... She couldn't take her eyes off Percy. Eleanor looked at Holar. On Holar's face... Was a huge smile.

"That's my grandson."

Eleanor immediately:

"Mine too."

Holar looked at her.

"He's not your grandson."

Eleanor:

"My nephew."

Holar:

"That counts."

A quiet voice came from behind them.

"What about me?"

The two turned. Clara had heard them from a few rows down. Eleanor looked at her daughter. Then smiled.

"You are too."

A tiny, involuntary smile formed on Clara's face. In the arena, Percy was looking at his hands. Core 3. Finally. Slowly... Very slowly... That look began to form on his face.

Charlotte saw it.

"No."

William:

"The match isn't over yet."

Percy began to take a breath.

"BOOOOO—"

"Percy."

The voice came from above. Percy fell silent. Everyone fell silent. Galahad had stood up.

Percy looked up at him.

"Bro?"

There was no smile on Galahad's face. He was looking at the Orin around Percy. Attentively. Very attentively.

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Then...

"Let yourself go already."

Percy knitted his brows.

"What?"

Everyone in the stands looked at Galahad. Arthur. Clara. Charlotte. William. Wycliffe. Eleanor. And... Holar.

Galahad said it again.

"Let yourself go."

Percy didn't understand.

"Bro, I already leveled up."

Galahad shook his head.

"No."

Silence.

Percy's eyes widened slightly.

Galahad looked down.

"You didn't level up."

"You..."

He paused for a moment.

"...stopped holding yourself back."

Holar's face changed.

Percy looked at Galahad.

"How?"

Galahad pointed at his chest.

"You're trying to control everything."

"The Orin."

"Your breathing."

"Your Core."

"Your movements."

"Everything."

Percy went quiet.

Galahad:

"For once, don't control it."

Percy's breathing slowed.

"Let yourself go."

Percy closed his eyes. He stopped holding the Orin. Didn't shape it. Didn't compress it. Didn't guide it.

He just... Let go.

One second.

Nothing happened.

Two.

Percy's hair floated upward slightly.

Three.

Galahad smiled.

"That's it."

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The Orin exploded. The entire arena shook. Wycliffe instantly built a shield. Students screamed. Daniel was blown back several meters. Holar's eyes widened. Eleanor stood up.

Percy's Core... Moved once more.

CORE 3.

Limit.

CRACK!

CORE 4.

Silence.

Arthur stood up. Clara's mouth opened slightly. Charlotte held her breath. William for the first time... Was truly shocked.

"CORE 4?!"

Wycliffe looked at Percy.

"Two in a row—"

He couldn't finish. Because... The Orin didn't stop.

Holar stood up.

"No..."

Eleanor looked at him.

"Holar?"

The Orin around Percy... Collapsed inward once more. Core 4. Compressed. Trembled. And...

CRACK!

CORE 5.

The world fell silent. Truly. Nobody spoke. Percy Grant. Just a few minutes ago... Was Core 2.

Now... Core 5. Charlotte's mouth was wide open. William said nothing. Arthur's fist was clenched. Clara had risen from her seat. Wycliffe... An Advanced Core 7 mage... Didn't know what to say. As for Holar... He was laughing.

Eleanor looked at him. Holar without hiding it at all:

"That's my grandson."

Eleanor slapped his shoulder.

"We just talked about this."

Holar:

"That's my grandson."

Eleanor:

"Mine too."

Clara from behind:

"Me?"

Eleanor without turning around:

"YOU TOO."

Clara:

"Okay."

In the arena... Percy opened his eyes. Core 5. He looked at his own hands. Then at Galahad.

Galahad smiled. On Percy's face... Slowly... Very slowly... That look formed.

Galahad's eyes widened.

"No."

Percy took a deep breath. Galahad leaped down from the stands.

Percy:

"BOOOOOOOOO—"

Galahad was in front of him in an instant. HE COVERED PERCY'S MOUTH WITH HIS HAND.

"MMMMMMMMMM!"

The entire arena froze.

Galahad:

"No."

Percy:

"MMMMMMM YEAAAAAAAH!"

Galahad:

"HOW ARE YOU STILL CONTINUING WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED?!"

Charlotte burst into laughter. William covered his face. Eleanor couldn't even sit. Holar laughed out loud for the first time. Even Arthur... Unintentionally laughed. Even the corners of Clara's lips... Rose for a moment.

Percy pulled Galahad's hand away.

"BRO!"

Galahad:

"No."

"I BECAME CORE 5!"

"I know."

"THREE LEVELS!"

"I know."

"THIS DESERVES A BOOOO YEAAAH!"

Galahad thought seriously.

"...You're right."

Percy took a deep breath. Galahad covered his mouth again.

"BUT NOT HERE."

Percy glared at him in annoyance. Galahad was laughing. Wycliffe finally came to his senses.

"The match..."

Everyone looked at him. Wycliffe looked at Daniel. Daniel was still standing on the edge of the arena in shock. Then he looked at Percy.

"Can you continue?"

Daniel immediately:

"No."

The arena erupted into laughter. Even Percy laughed. The match was postponed.

A short while later... Percy and Galahad were on the academy roof. Alone. Percy was dangling his legs over the edge.

"Bro."

"Hm?"

"How did you know?"

Galahad fell silent.

Percy looked at him.

"That it didn't end at Core 3."

Galahad looked at the sky.

"Your Orin didn't calm down."

"The teacher didn't notice."

"I know."

"My grandfather didn't notice right away either."

Galahad looked at Percy.

"I noticed."

Percy's eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

Galahad smiled.

"Because I was watching."

Percy:

"That's not an answer."

"It's enough for now."

Percy studied him for a while. Then...

"Bro."

"Hm?"

"How strong are you?"

Galahad's smile shifted slightly.

"Percy."

"Yes?"

"Do you remember the possibilities?"

"Yes."

"How many possibilities are there right now?"

Percy thought.

"You can tell the truth."

"Yes."

"You can lie."

"Yes."

"You can change the subject."

"Yes."

"You can run away."

Galahad laughed.

"Go on."

Percy narrowed his eyes.

"Or..."

He paused for a second.

"...you can choose not to answer."

Galahad nodded.

"Which one did I pick?"

Percy waited. Galahad said nothing. Percy looked at him for a few seconds. Then laughed.

"Okay, bro."

Galahad ruffled Percy's hair.

Percy immediately:

"HEY."

Galahad:

"What?"

"Only my Grandfather and Aunt Eleanor can touch my hair."

Galahad pulled his hand back.

"Alright."

Percy thought for a few seconds.

Then:

"...You can touch it too."

Galahad paused. Percy was looking at the sky. As if he hadn't just said something important. A small smile formed on Galahad's face. He ruffled Percy's hair again.

"Thanks, little commander."

Percy:

"DON'T CALL ME LITTLE."

Galahad burst out laughing. Percy laughed too. Then... He suddenly went quiet. Galahad looked at him. There was a devilish smirk on Percy's face.

"What?"

Percy stood up. Took a deep breath. Galahad's eyes widened.

"Percy."

Percy opened both arms wide.

"There's nobody here."

Galahad leaped to his feet.

"DON'T YOU DARE."

Percy started running. Galahad chased after him.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWW—"

"PERCY!"

"—YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The sound echoed over the entire academy. In the classroom below, Charlotte raised her head. William closed his eyes. Arthur banged his forehead against his desk. Clara looked out the window. Wycliffe snapped the chalk in his hand. Holar smiled from afar. Eleanor sighed. Galahad finally caught Percy on the roof.

"One day I'm going to throw you off."

Percy, laughing hysterically:

"You won't, bro."

Galahad:

"How do you know?"

Percy smirked and pointed to the sky.

"Possibilities."

Galahad looked at him for a few seconds. Then...

"Good answer."

Percy Grant... Had reached Core 5. William Hart was now at the same Core level as him. So was Charlotte Ashford. Arthur and Clara... Were one level behind. For six months... Percy had been trying to catch up. Now... He had finally caught up. Percy is back.