EPISODE 5 — ABSOLUTE CANCEL

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 5 — ABSOLUTE CANCEL

A lot had changed in a few months. Percy was no longer the old Percy who ran after Holar saying "Wooooow" to every spell he saw.

He didn't say it to most. He still said it to some. But now, he was learning not just the flashy side of magic... But its foundation as well.

"Again."

Percy closed his eyes. He held both hands in front of him. He felt Orin. First in his chest. Then in his arms. Then in his hands. A faint vibration formed between his palms. It was scattered. Percy slowed his breathing. The vibration stabilized. Five seconds. Ten. Fifteen. Twenty— Orin dispersed. Percy opened his eyes.

"Twenty."

Holar was sitting opposite him.

"Nineteen."

"It was twenty."

"Nineteen."

Percy frowned.

"You didn't count the last one."

"Because you weren't in control during the last one."

Percy was just about to reply. Eleanor's voice came from the other side of the garden.

"Thirty-one."

Percy turned his head. Clara lowered her hands. A small smile was on her face.

"Thirty-one."

Percy looked at her.

"Her last five were bad."

Clara raised an eyebrow.

"So you were watching?"

"No."

"How did you see then?"

Percy went silent. Clara's smile grew wider.

"Thirty-one."

Percy raised his hands again.

"Again."

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"Rest."

"I don't want to."

"Your Orin is scattering."

"One more time."

Clara sat on the ground.

"You can't do it."

Percy looked at her.

"Shut up."

"Thirty-one."

"Shut up."

"Thirty-one."

"CLARA."

Eleanor chuckled softly. Holar shook his head. Percy closed his eyes again. Clara was currently a bit ahead of him in magic fundamentals. Not by much. But for Percy... Even a single second was too much.

As the months passed, both of them improved. Clara was more orderly. She gathered Orin faster and dispersed less of it. Percy, on the other hand, was constantly trying different ways. Holar would show a method. Percy would do it three times. On the fourth, he would change it.

"Don't do it like that."

"Why?"

"Because that's not how I showed you."

"But it works."

"Inefficient."

"It works."

"Percy."

"Let me try one more time."

Holar sometimes thought arguing with him was more exhausting than the training itself. Clara, however, quite enjoyed it. Especially when Percy failed. As they approached six years old, Holar finally gave them the news they had been waiting for.

"You may each choose a wand."

Percy's eyes sparkled. Clara stood up immediately.

"Today?"

"Today."

Percy got up too.

"I choose first."

Clara turned to him.

"Why?"

"Because I was born first."

"You don't know that."

Percy paused. He really didn't know. A triumphant expression appeared on Clara's face.

"I choose first."

Percy frowned.

"We'll race there."

"Okay."

Eleanor intervened.

"No."

Both of them quieted down. Eleanor narrowed her eyes.

"I don't want any fighting in the market."

"We won't."

Percy said it. Clara nodded as well. Eleanor looked at Holar. Holar shrugged. Neither of them believed the children.

The mages' bazaar in Awakeners City was much larger than Percy remembered. Wands. Orin crystals. Training gear. Books. Protective equipment. Percy's attention was constantly drifting elsewhere. Clara, meanwhile, had stopped in front of a display window. A thin, light-colored wand was on display.

"Percy."

"Hm?"

"Look at this."

Percy looked.

"Nice."

Clara waited. Percy waited too.

"...What else?"

"Long."

Clara's face fell.

"Go away."

"Okay."

Percy actually walked away. Clara looked after him.

"Really?"

Percy had already headed towards the Orin training tools a few shops ahead. Clara grumbled. Then she turned back to the wand in the window.

"Clara?"

Clara turned around. Arthur Green. Beside him were Oliver, Henry, Edward, and another boy. The expression on Clara's face changed.

"Arthur."

Arthur looked around.

"Where's Percy?"

Clara shrugged.

"Looking at things."

Oliver laughed.

"Don't have your deadweight with you today?"

Clara's eyebrows furrowed.

"He's not my deadweight."

Henry smirked.

"Then what is he?"

Clara opened her mouth.

"Ar—"

She stopped. She looked in the direction Percy had gone.

"...Someone I spend time with."

A huge grin formed on Oliver's face.

"Aww."

Clara looked at him.

"What?"

"She's in love with Percy."

Clara's face instantly turned red.

"WHAT?!"

Henry laughed too.

"Definitely."

"I am not!"

"You are."

"I AM NOT!"

Clara tried to push past them.

"Move out of the way."

Oliver blocked her path.

"Should we tell Percy?"

"Move."

"Clara's in love with Per—"

Clara pushed him. Oliver took two steps backward. The laughter stopped. Edward stepped forward.

"Why did you push him?"

"He didn't move."

Edward's hand suddenly swung.

**SLAP!**

Clara's head snapped to the side. There was a moment of silence. Clara slowly turned back to him. Arthur's brows furrowed.

"Edward."

Orin gathered in Clara's palm. Edward backed away. Orin gathered in Henry's hand as well. Arthur's voice hardened.

"Enough."

But no one was listening anymore. Clara pushed the raw Orin forward. Edward was blown back. Oliver immediately retaliated. Clara deflected the blow. Henry's spell came from her right. Clara raised her arms.

**BANG!**

The spell pushed her back. The sleeve of her clothes tore. Clara straightened up again. Edward attacked. Clara dodged. Oliver's spell struck her shoulder. The fabric shredded. There was blood at the corner of Clara's lip. A thin cut had opened on her arm. Arthur shouted once more.

"ENOUGH!"

But Clara was now right in the middle of the three of them.

Percy heard the sound of an explosion. He turned his head. Another one. Close. Something tightened inside him. He started running. He pushed through the crowd. He turned around the corner of a stall. And— He stopped. Clara. Her hair was messy. There was blood on her lip. The clothes on her arm were shredded. There was a tear on her shoulder. Four boys stood before her. Arthur was there too. All expression vanished from Percy's face. Clara saw him.

"Percy."

Percy didn't answer. He walked over to her side. He looked at Clara's lip. At the blood on her arm. At her torn clothes. Then he turned to the boys.

"Did you do this?"

Edward spoke up.

"She first—"

Percy reached him before his sentence was finished. Punch. Edward fell to the ground. Oliver prepared a spell. Percy swung his hand. Raw Orin slammed into Oliver's chest. The boy was thrown backward. Henry attacked. Percy stepped aside. Part of the blow hit his shoulder. His clothes tore. Without stopping for a moment, Percy charged at Henry. A punch. An Orin strike. Henry hit the ground. Arthur finally stepped in front of Percy.

"Enough."

Percy looked at him.

"Move."

"You move."

Percy's gaze shifted to the boys behind Arthur. Then to Clara.

"No."

Arthur gathered Orin. So did Percy. In the first clash, both slid back. Percy attacked again. Arthur met him. Edward got to his feet. So did Oliver. Henry wiped the blood from his nose. All three surged toward Percy at once. Clara's eyes widened.

"Percy!"

The first spell hit his back. Percy staggered. The second struck his side. His clothes shredded. Arthur's strike landed on his chest. Percy fell to the ground. But he immediately got back up. There was blood on his lip. And beside his nose. Arthur was in front of him. Percy wiped the blood with the back of his hand.

"Again."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. And the four boys charged at Percy once more. Market security finally arrived. Two men held Percy. Another held Arthur. Edward was on the ground. Henry's nose was bleeding. Oliver's lip was swollen. Percy's top was torn to shreds. Clara's state was no different. Clara walked up to Percy.

"Are you okay?"

Percy looked at her.

"Better than you."

Clara frowned.

"No."

"Yes."

"I'm better."

"Your face is bleeding."

"So is yours."

"Mine is less."

"Mine looks better."

Clara went silent for a few seconds.

"Blood doesn't look good."

"Mine does."

"You're an idiot."

Percy turned his head.

"I'm better at magic than you, too."

Clara's mouth dropped open.

"WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?!"

"It does."

"I'm still ahead of you!"

"Barely."

"I'm ahead."

"Barely."

Clara put her hands on her hips.

"I'm ahead!"

Percy turned his face away.

"For now."

Clara raised an eyebrow. This time, she didn't answer. When Eleanor saw them, the expression on her face changed. Holar stood beside her. Eleanor looked at Clara first. Torn clothes. Blood. Cuts. Then at Percy. The same sight.

"What happened here?"

Clara stayed silent. Percy spoke.

"Arthur's friends cornered Clara."

Eleanor's gaze hardened.

"One of them hit her."

Holar looked at Percy.

"Then they used magic."

Eleanor knelt beside Clara.

"How many were there?"

Clara answered quietly.

"Four."

Eleanor stood up.

"Richard."

Holar didn't utter a single word. Eleanor was already walking.

"Now."

No one was sitting in the headmaster's office at the Sovereign Noble Academy. Richard Green stood in front of his desk. Arthur and the other boys stood across from him. Percy and Clara were a bit further away. Holar and Eleanor stood behind them. Richard's gaze was on Clara. Then it shifted to Percy. His face hardened.

"Arthur."

Arthur didn't answer.

"What happened?"

"I didn't hit Clara."

Eleanor immediately turned.

"But you were there."

Arthur's jaw clenched.

"I stopped them."

Percy laughed. A single, short sound. Arthur looked at him.

"What?"

Percy answered.

"They did a great job stopping them."

Arthur took a step forward.

"You—"

"Arthur."

Richard's voice was stern. Arthur stopped. Eleanor turned to Richard.

"I can understand children arguing."

Richard nodded.

"But I cannot understand several people attacking a single child with magic."

"Neither can I."

"Look at Clara's condition."

Richard looked. Eleanor's voice grew even harder.

"With these children's families as well—"

"Aunt Eleanor."

Silence. Eleanor fell quiet. Clara's head snapped toward Percy instantly. Even Holar looked at him. Percy had never addressed Eleanor like that before. Percy continued calmly.

"Don't."

Eleanor's brows furrowed slightly. Percy looked at Arthur and his friends.

"They are weak, pathetic cowards who attack a girl in a crowd while thinking they're strong..."

He paused for a moment.

"...pathetic weaklings who think they are strong."

Arthur's face changed. Percy continued.

"Having someone like you involved in this argument is a gain for them."

Clara looked at Percy. For a long time. The boy who had just been arguing with her about magic in the market... Was now telling Eleanor Leyvar not to speak on her behalf. Something strange stirred inside Clara. She had known Percy for years. She knew he was annoying. She knew he was stubborn. She knew he hated losing. But... She didn't know this. Clara's gaze softened involuntarily. Then she noticed it and immediately frowned. *What am I doing?* Arthur stepped forward.

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"Pathetic?"

Richard turned his head.

"Arthur."

Arthur didn't take his eyes off Percy.

"Me?"

Percy's reply was immediate.

"Yes."

Arthur's hand clenched. Percy's voice didn't change.

"You are pathetic."

Orin erupted.

"ARTHUR!"

Richard's voice filled the room. But Arthur had already attacked. Raw magic shot straight toward Percy. Clara screamed.

"Percy!"

Percy raised his hand. And this time... A word was spoken. From Percy's mouth. Calm. Clear.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

The spell vanished. It didn't explode. It didn't disperse. It wasn't deflected. It wasn't absorbed. It simply... Ceased to exist. The room fell dead silent. Richard's eyes widened. Eleanor caught her breath. Holar Jun... Didn't move. For the first time, the world's most powerful mage could not comprehend what a six-year-old child had just done.

"What..."

Richard struggled to get the words out.

"What did you do?"

Eleanor was looking at Percy's hand.

"That wasn't a barrier."

Holar's gaze sharpened.

"No."

"Dispersal?"

"No."

Richard turned to him.

"Absorption?"

Holar didn't answer. Because it was none of those. Clara was looking at Percy. Percy, on the other hand, wasn't even looking at his own hand. He was looking at Arthur. The shock on Arthur's face lasted for a few seconds. Then it turned into rage.

"Again."

Percy's eyes narrowed.

"Come on."

Arthur raised both hands. This time, not a single spell. Three. One from the left. One from the right. One straight at Percy's center. Richard moved.

"ARTHUR, STOP!"

Percy's left hand rose.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

The spell on the left vanished. His right hand turned.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

The second vanished. Percy closed his fingers.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

The third as well... Faded into nothingness. Eleanor took a step forward.

"Impossible."

Holar looked at her for the first time. There was no anger left on Eleanor's face. Only pure astonishment.

"Three different angles."

Richard whispered.

"All three of them..."

"He canceled them."

Holar completed the sentence. **[Absolute Cancel]**. The name itself echoed in Holar's mind. Cancel. Not to block. Not to deflect. Not even to destroy. To reject... The very outcome of a spell. Arthur's face strained.

"Enough!"

This time, without using magic, he charged at Percy. Percy charged at him as well. Holar moved.

"Percy."

Just as he was about to grab Percy's shoulder— Clara's eyes widened. Percy's eyes— Turned white. Not completely. Just for a split second. A pale, white layer covered his pupils. Clara forgot to breathe.

"Percy...?"

No one heard. Holar's hand was coming toward Percy's shoulder. Percy wasn't looking at him. But his footwork shifted. Just a small movement. His left foot turned half a step. His body shifted to the right. Holar's hand... Grabbed empty air. Holar's eyes widened. Percy reached Arthur from the right.

**PUNCH!**

Arthur's head snapped to the side. But Arthur wasn't done either. At the same time, an uppercut punch struck Percy's chin. Percy's head snapped back. The two were about to throw themselves at each other again. This time, they were caught. Holar grabbed Percy around the waist. Richard held Arthur with both arms.

"LET GO!"

"PUT ME DOWN!"

"ARTHUR!"

"GRANDPA!"

Percy struggled to break free. Arthur did too.

"Come on!"

"I'm coming!"

"PUT ME DOWN!"

"ME FIRST!"

Eleanor, however, was not moving. She was looking at the two children. She replayed what had just happened over and over in her mind. The spells. **[Absolute Cancel]**. Percy dodging Holar's hand. Arthur responding at the exact same moment. The way they read each other's attacks. Their lack of hesitation. This... Was no ordinary children's fight. The expression on Eleanor's face grew heavy. These two children hated each other. But each other... They were reading each other. Neither even knew how they were doing it yet. Clara was looking at something else. At Percy's eyes. The whiteness had disappeared. But Clara had seen it. *Am I sure?* It had happened for a split second. *Maybe the light—* *No.* *It wasn't the light.* Percy's eyes had genuinely changed. *Why isn't anyone saying anything?* Clara looked at Holar. Holar didn't know. Eleanor hadn't noticed either. Nor had Richard. *Is it just...* *Did only I see it?*

Percy suddenly stopped moving. Holar noticed immediately. Arthur was still struggling in Richard's arms. Percy, however, was calm now. He looked at Arthur. For a long time. Then he spoke.

"One day, you will be all alone."

Arthur stopped. Everyone in the room looked at Percy. Percy's voice remained a child's voice. But what he said was not.

"Your friends won't be by your side."

Arthur's face hardened. Percy continued.

"My Grandpa won't be there either."

Holar's expression shifted. Percy didn't take his eyes off Arthur.

"When that time comes..."

A short silence.

"...it will just be you and me."

Arthur was no longer trying to break free. Nor was Percy. The two boys simply stared at each other. The last trace of whiteness in Percy's eyes vanished completely. They returned to normal. Then he turned his head slightly.

"Grandpa."

Holar looked down.

"Put me down."

Holar hesitated for a few seconds. Then he loosened his grip. Percy's feet touched the ground. Holar didn't pull his hand away completely. He kept it ready. Percy kept staring at Arthur. But he didn't attack. Holar noticed this. He really wasn't going to attack. The child who had just dodged his hand to get to Arthur... Was now completely calm. Holar slowly pulled his hand back. Percy turned. He looked at Clara.

"Come on, Clara."

He extended his hand. Clara froze. She looked at Percy's hand. Then at his face. Normally... She would never take it.

"Why?"

she would ask.

"I can walk by myself,"

she would say. Maybe she would swat his hand away. But now... Clara's hand rose involuntarily. She held Percy's hand. Holar's eyebrow raised. Eleanor's mouth parted slightly. Both of them looked at the children at the same time. Percy walked toward the door as if nothing had happened. Clara walked with him. Two steps. Three. Four. Clara looked down. At their hands. She stopped. Percy stopped too. Clara raised her head. Percy looked at her. Both realized at the same time what they were doing.

"..."

"..."

Clara pulled her hand away.

"Hmph."

Percy turned his face away too.

"Hmph."

They kept walking. Eleanor slowly looked at Holar. Holar looked back at her. The corner of Eleanor's lip curled slightly. Holar warned her with a tiny nod of his head. Eleanor said nothing. But both of them had the same expression on their faces. Richard, meanwhile, wasn't watching them. He was looking at his son. Arthur was still staring at the door. Where Percy had walked out. The mark of Percy's punch was on his cheek. He clenched his fists. Richard touched his son's shoulder. Arthur pushed his hand away.

"Don't touch me."

"Arthur."

Arthur raised his head.

"I am not pathetic."

Richard went silent for a few seconds.

"Then show it with your actions."

Arthur didn't answer. His gaze drifted back to the door. Percy's final words were still echoing in his ears. *One day, you will be all alone.* *Your friends won't be by your side.* *My Grandpa won't be there either.* *When that time comes...* *It will just be you and me.* Arthur's fist clenched a little tighter.

"Fine."

Richard frowned.

"What?"

Arthur kept looking at the door.

"One day."

Silence.

"Let that day come."

In the corridor, Percy and Clara were walking side by side. They didn't speak for a while. Finally, Clara looked at Percy.

"Percy."

"Hm?"

Clara looked into his eyes. Normal. Dark. There was nothing. Clara examined them for a few more seconds. Percy felt uncomfortable.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Why are you staring?"

"I'm not staring."

"You're staring a lot."

"I'm not."

Percy narrowed his eyes. Clara turned her face away. Percy looked at her for a few more seconds. Then he looked ahead again. Clara thought back while walking. *It was white.* *I'm sure of it.* But she didn't say it. Not yet. After a few steps, Percy spoke.

"By the way."

Clara looked at him.

"What?"

"I'm better at magic than you."

Clara stopped.

"..."

Percy kept walking. Clara's face flushed red.

"ABSOLUTE CANCEL DOESN'T COUNT!"

Percy turned around.

"Why?"

"BECAUSE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT YOURSELF!"

"I did it though."

"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID!"

"I still did it."

"YOUR ORIN CONTROL IS WORSE THAN MINE!"

"Can you cancel Arthur's spell?"

Clara's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

"THAT'S DIFFERENT!"

Percy smiled.

"So I'm better."

Clara ran toward him.

"PERCY!"

Percy ran away.

"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!"

"IF I CATCH YOU I'LL KILL YOU!"

"PASS THIRTY-NINE SECONDS FIRST!"

"IT'S FORTY-ONE RIGHT NOW!"

"LIAR!"

At the other end of the corridor, Holar and Eleanor came out of the room. Eleanor looked after the children. Then she turned to Holar.

"Holar."

The smile on Holar's face had disappeared.

"I know."

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

Holar stayed silent. Eleanor continued.

"I have never seen a spell like that in my entire life."

"Neither have I."

That answer... Silenced Eleanor. Because the person saying it was Holar Jun. The First Awakened. A mage who had lived for over two thousand years. A man who had surpassed the boundaries of the World. And he... Did not recognize the spell his six-year-old grandson had used. Eleanor looked at Percy running ahead.

"You didn't teach him."

It wasn't a question. Holar's response was short.

"No."

"Has Percy used it before?"

"No."

"Where did he know the name from?"

Holar went silent. That was the real question. **[Absolute Cancel]**. Percy had used the spell for the first time. But its name... He had spoken it as if he had known it for years. Holar's eyes narrowed. Percy's voice came from a distance.

"CLARA, YOU'RE CHEATING!"

"I AM NOT!"

Eleanor looked at the children. Then at Holar.

"And there's one more thing."

Holar turned to her.

"His fight with Arthur."

"Yes."

"Did you notice?"

Holar stayed silent. Eleanor's gaze heavy.

"They weren't just attacking each other."

"They were responding to each other's movements."

Holar finished the sentence. Eleanor nodded.

"They are six years old."

"I know."

"This isn't normal."

Holar looked at Percy ahead. Percy was running away from Clara. Clara was trying to catch him. Two six-year-old children. That was exactly what they looked like. But a few minutes ago... Holar Jun's hand had failed to catch Percy for the first time. Holar looked at his own hand. Percy hadn't seen him. He was sure of it. Even so... He had dodged. Holar slowly closed his hand. **[Absolute Cancel]**. Arthur Green. And Percy's single, tiny step. Three questions. None had an answer. Holar raised his head. Percy was shouting at Clara from afar.

"YOU'RE SLOW!"

"JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!"

A faint smile formed on Holar's face. The answers could wait. For now... Percy was still a child.