EPISODE 4 — MY ONLY FAMILY

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 4 — MY ONLY FAMILY

A few days had passed. Percy hadn't forgotten what Clara had done. He had been pushed over the line. He had lost. Holar hadn't acknowledged that it was cheating. To Percy, that was clearly unfair. So he added a new rule to his own game. If someone else pushes you over the line... You don't lose. Percy was quite pleased with the new rule. Clara didn't know yet. Nor did she need to know.

In the afternoon, the doorbell rang. Percy was sitting on the floor in the living room, trying to stack small wooden blocks on top of each other. There were six. He placed the seventh. The tower wobbled. Percy held his breath. He stopped. His eyes widened.

"Seven..."

The doorbell rang again. Percy flinched. The tower collapsed.

"..."

He looked at the door. His expression darkened.

"Grandpa!"

Holar's voice came from the kitchen.

"Open the door."

"They knocked down my tower."

"The person ringing the bell doesn't know that."

"They should."

"Percy."

Percy grumbled as he stood up. He walked to the door. He opened it. Standing before him was Eleanor. And next to her, Clara. Percy looked at the two of them for a few seconds. Then he looked at Clara.

"You."

Clara smiled.

"Me."

Percy started to close the door. Eleanor held it with her hand.

"Hello, Percy."

Percy stopped.

"Hello, Eleanor."

Clara peeked inside through the crack of the door.

"Where's Holar?"

Percy's eyes narrowed slightly. Clara noticed this. Then she remembered what she had done a few days ago. A mischievous smile formed on her face.

"Where's Grandpa?"

Percy didn't answer. Clara waited. Normally, Percy would have yelled by now.

"He's my grandpa!"

he would say. Or he would chase after Clara. But nothing happened. Percy merely looked at her. Then he turned around.

"Grandpa! Eleanor and Clara are here!"

Holar came out of the kitchen. He was drying his hands with a towel.

"Eleanor."

"Holar."

Clara immediately waved.

"Hello, Grandpa!"

Again, no response. Holar's gaze shifted to Percy. Percy had returned to where the wooden blocks were on the floor, crouching down. He picked up one. He placed it on top of another. Clara's smile slowly faded. Percy was ignoring her. This... Wasn't as much fun as she had expected.

After a while, Eleanor and Holar were sitting at the table. Clara was eating fruit across from them. A little further away, Percy was rebuilding his tower on the floor. Clara occasionally looked at him. Percy wasn't looking back. Finally, Clara couldn't take it anymore.

"Percy."

No response.

"Percy."

Percy placed another block. Clara frowned.

"Can't you hear me?"

"I hear you."

"Why aren't you answering?"

Percy shrugged. Clara looked at him. Then at Holar. Then back at Percy.

"Is it because I called him Grandpa?"

Percy's hand stopped. Holar noticed. So did Eleanor. Percy looked at the wooden block in his hand for a few seconds. Then he slowly put it back down.

"Don't say that."

Clara still didn't quite understand.

"Why?"

Percy didn't answer. Clara moved a little closer.

"What's the big deal? You say it."

Percy raised his head.

"Because he is MY Grandpa."

A small smile reappeared on Clara's face. She thought Percy was back to his old self.

"I can say it too."

This time, Percy didn't talk back. He simply lowered his eyes. Clara stopped. Something was different.

"Percy?"

Silence.

"You don't want to share?"

Percy turned the wooden block in his hand.

"Yes."

Clara immediately asked.

"Why?"

Percy went silent for a few seconds. Then he answered as if saying something completely ordinary.

"Because Grandpa is my only family."

The smile on Clara's face vanished completely. Eleanor remained still. The cup in Holar's hand stopped before reaching the table. Percy looked back at his tower. Clara's voice was smaller this time.

"Your mom?"

Percy shook his head.

"I don't know."

"Your dad?"

"I don't know."

Clara wasn't laughing anymore. Percy placed one wooden block on top of another.

"I have Grandpa."

He placed another one.

"That's enough."

The silence in the room changed. Holar turned his head slightly. He looked out the window. There was nothing on his face. But Eleanor had known him for a long time. She shifted her gaze from Holar to Percy. Clara sat quietly on the floor. For the first time, she didn't want to make Percy mad. After a while, she got down from her chair. She walked over to Percy. She sat on the floor. Percy didn't look at her. Clara picked up one of the wooden blocks on the floor. Percy immediately snatched it from her hand.

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"I'm building it."

"I want to build it too."

"You'll ruin it."

"I won't."

"You cheated on the line."

"That's different."

"You're a cheater."

"No I'm not."

Percy finally looked at her. Clara looked back at him. They stayed like that for a few seconds. Then Clara handed him another piece she was holding.

"Here."

Percy took it. He placed it on the tower. Clara took another piece. This time, Percy didn't stop her. Clara carefully placed the piece on top of the tower. The tower wobbled. Both held their breath at the same time. It stopped. Clara's face lit up.

"It worked!"

Percy looked at the tower.

"Not bad."

Clara frowned.

"Very good."

"Not bad."

"Very good!"

"Not—"

Clara raised her hand as if to hit him. Percy immediately pulled back. Clara stopped. Then both of them laughed. Eleanor's voice came from the table.

"Clara, finish your fruit."

Clara turned around.

"Okay, Mom."

Then she looked at Holar. She paused for a moment. Percy also involuntarily looked at him. Clara noticed this. This time, there was no mischievous expression on her face.

"Uncle Holar?"

Holar's gaze turned to her. Clara pointed to her fruit plate.

"Can I give some of this to Percy too?"

Percy blinked. Holar looked at Clara for a few seconds. Then he smiled faintly.

"Of course."

Clara stood up. Percy watched her from behind. He didn't say anything. But the expression on his face had softened a little. From that day on... Clara never called Holar "Grandpa" to annoy Percy again.

A few more years passed. Percy grew older. So did Clara. Their little fights from when they were three didn't disappear. They just changed shape. They started running faster. They climbed higher. They came up with more creative tricks. And both of them still hated losing.

By the time Percy passed five and a half years old, he hadn't stopped following Holar around. Quite the opposite... His questions had increased.

"What is Orin?"

"Energy."

"Where is it?"

"Everywhere."

"Is it inside me too?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"I don't know."

"How much is yours?"

"A lot."

"Mine?"

"Percy."

"Is it more than yours?"

Holar kept walking. Percy followed behind.

"Grandpa."

Silence.

"Grandpa."

Silence.

"Grandpaaaaa."

Holar stopped. Percy almost bumped into him.

"What?"

"Teach me magic."

"No."

Percy's face fell.

"I'll be six soon."

"I know."

"You said we'd talk when I was four."

"We are talking."

Percy looked at Holar for a few seconds. He had just realized he had been tricked.

"You..."

Holar raised an eyebrow. Percy reconsidered what he was about to say.

"...are very smart."

"Good choice."

Percy grumbled. Holar took a few steps. Then he stopped. He looked behind him. Percy was still standing in the same spot.

"Come."

Percy crossed his arms.

"Where?"

"Don't you want to learn the basics?"

Percy's arms uncrossed instantly.

"I DO!"

He ran up to Holar. Holar started walking again. The anger on Percy's face had completely vanished.

"Where are we going?"

"To the garden."

"What are we going to do?"

"First, you will learn to feel Orin."

"Then fire?"

"No."

"Flying?"

"No."

"Lifting rocks?"

"No."

"Explosion?"

"Definitely no."

Percy's face fell.

"What kind of magic is this?"

Holar opened the door.

"It's not magic yet."

Percy stepped outside. Holar followed behind him. They stood in the middle of the garden. Percy turned to him. Holar raised two fingers. A few leaves on the ground suddenly rose into the air. Percy's eyes widened. The leaves slowly began to swirl around the two of them. Then they suddenly stopped. They remained suspended in mid-air. Percy held his breath. Holar lowered his hand. The leaves fell to the ground. Percy remained silent for a few seconds. Then...

"Wooooow."

Holar smiled.

"Let's begin."