EPISODE 6 — FORGIVE ME, CLARA

# THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

## CHAPTER 6 — FORGIVE ME, CLARA

The next morning, Percy was out in the garden early. Earlier than usual. Holar stood by the window, watching him for a while. In front of Percy was a small stone. He raised his hand. Looked at the stone.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

Nothing happened. Percy scowled. He tried again.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

The stone remained in the exact same spot. Percy thought for a few seconds. Then he picked up the stone. Tossed it into the air. As the stone fell, he raised his hand.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

*Clack.* The stone fell to the ground. Percy picked up the stone. Tossed it up again.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

*Clack.* Once more.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

*Clack.* Holar didn't leave the window. Percy wasn't getting angry. Yesterday, he might have kicked the stone. Maybe he would have called it "broken." Today, he was simply picking up the stone again. Trying. Failing. Thinking about the reason why. Then trying again.

After a while, the door opened. Clara walked out into the garden. Percy didn't look at her. He tossed the stone into the air again.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

*Clack.* Clara stopped. She watched the stone for a moment. Then a small smile formed on her face.

"So you can't do it."

Percy picked the stone off the ground.

"Yes."

Clara's smile froze.

"...What?"

Percy tossed the stone up again.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

*Clack.*

"Yes, I can't do it."

Clara looked at him for a few seconds. Normally, what Percy was supposed to say was obvious: *I can.* *I just did it.* *Can you do it?* *Let me try again.* But he hadn't said any of those things. Clara folded her hands behind her back.

"I guess that means I'm the better mage."

Percy spun the stone in his hand.

"Yes."

Clara's eyes widened. Percy looked at her.

"You are."

He paused for a moment.

"For now."

Then he returned to his practice. Clara's eyebrow twitched. This... For some reason, was even more annoying than before. If Percy had argued, she could have fought with him. She could have teased him. She could have gotten him mad. But Percy had accepted it. And without caring in the slightest. Clara grumbled.

"You're annoying."

Percy didn't answer. He tossed the stone.

"**[Absolute Cancel]**."

*Clack.* Clara stepped a little closer. This time, Percy began gathering Orin. Slowly. Steady. Calmer than he had been before yesterday's fight. Clara noticed this. Percy's Orin wasn't as smooth as hers yet. But... It was different. Percy wasn't forcing it. He wasn't tugging at the flow. It was as if, for the first time, instead of fighting with it... He was listening to it. Clara sat down on the ground. She watched for a while. Then an idea popped into her mind. A mischievous smile formed on her face.

"I guess I should become friends with Arthur."

The Orin in Percy's hands stopped instantly. Clara bit her lip to keep from laughing. Percy slowly turned his head. Clara's smile vanished. Percy didn't say anything. He just stared.

"...It was a joke."

Percy's gaze didn't change.

"It really was a joke."

Percy lowered his hand.

"You want to be friends with someone who would attack a girl together with his buddies."

The last bit of Clara's smile disappeared completely. Percy continued.

"You're free to."

He turned back forward.

"Go ahead."

Clara didn't move for a few seconds.

"Percy, it was a joke."

"Okay."

"Really."

"I know."

But his voice... Didn't sound like he didn't know. It was worse. He knew. And yet, he wasn't taking back what he said. Clara stood up. Percy had started gathering Orin again. Clara watched him from behind for a few seconds. Then, without saying another word, she walked toward the house. The door closed. The Orin in Percy's hands scattered. But this time... He didn't start again.

On the other side of the garden, two people stood in silence. Eleanor had crossed her arms. Holar's gaze was fixed on Percy. Both had heard the entire conversation. Eleanor spoke quietly.

"That was very harsh."

Holar didn't answer. Percy picked up the stone from the ground. But he didn't throw it. He just held it in his hand. Eleanor looked at him.

"He realized it."

"Yes."

"He regrets it."

"Yes."

"Isn't he going after her?"

Holar watched Percy for a few seconds.

"He will."

"How do you know?"

Holar turned his head slightly.

"Because I raised him."

When evening came, Holar found Percy in the study. Percy was sitting by the window. He had a book in his hand. But he had been staring at the same page for a long time. Holar sat down across from him.

"Percy."

Percy raised his head.

"What?"

"Why were you so harsh with Clara?"

Percy's expression didn't change.

"I wasn't."

"You were."

"I told the truth."

Holar stayed silent. Percy closed the book.

"If Clara is going to be friends with someone like him, I told the truth, Grandpa."

"You knew she was joking."

Percy didn't answer.

"You knew."

"...Yes."

"Then why?"

Percy was silent for a few seconds.

"I didn't like it."

"Didn't like what?"

"Her saying Arthur's name like that."

Holar waited. Percy continued.

"I saw what they did to her yesterday."

His voice hardened slightly.

"She had blood on her lip."

Holar didn't say anything.

"Her clothes were torn."

Percy's grip tightened on the edge of the book.

"Then today she said she was going to be friends with Arthur."

"As a joke."

"I know."

"Then why did you act like Clara was responsible for what Arthur did?"

Percy went silent. This time, no answer came. Holar leaned forward slightly.

"You don't always have to state the truth."

Percy's brow furrowed.

"But lying is bad."

"I didn't tell you to lie."

"Then what?"

"Sometimes, choosing not to say something that is true is also a choice."

Percy tried to understand. Holar continued.

"A statement can be true."

"And?"

"It can still hurt someone unnecessarily."

Percy lowered his eyes. Holar's voice was calm.

"Clara didn't try to hurt you."

Percy didn't answer.

"You, on the other hand, spoke knowing that you would hurt her."

Percy's grip loosened. Holar stood up. Percy raised his head.

"Grandpa."

Holar paused. Percy searched for what to say for a few seconds.

"I..."

Holar waited. Percy couldn't find the words. There was no anger on Holar's face. That was worse.

"I'm disappointed, Percy."

The expression on Percy's face completely shifted. Holar turned around. Walked to the door.

Taken from NovelPhoenix, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Grandpa."

Holar didn't stop. Opened the door. Stepped out. Percy was left alone in the room. The night progressed. Holar passed by Percy's room. The door was open. He looked inside. The bed was empty. Holar stopped.

"...Percy?"

No answer. He went downstairs. The living room was empty. The garden was empty. Holar's brow furrowed. Then he noticed something. Percy's shoes were gone.

At Eleanor's house, Clara was lying in her bed. She wasn't sleeping. She had pulled the blanket up to her chin. Percy's words were still echoing in her mind. *You're free to.* *Go ahead.* Clara turned her face into the pillow.

"Stupid."

She closed his eyes. After a while, she opened them. Closed them again. She couldn't sleep. Finally, she got out of bed. Walked over to the window. Drew the curtain aside. And... Froze. Beside the small path outside the garden, someone was sitting. Clara narrowed her eyes.

"...Percy?"

She opened the window. The cold air rushed in. She looked down. It really was him. Percy was leaning against the stone step in front of the door. He was sleeping. Clara's eyes widened.

"Idiot..."

She immediately left the room.

When she opened the door, the cold struck her face. Clara walked outside. Percy didn't move. He was wearing a thin jacket. He had crossed his arms over his chest. His head was rested against the wall. He had fallen asleep. Clara took a few steps closer. Then she saw the writing on the ground. It had been scratched into the dirt with a finger.

FORGIVE ME CLARA

Clara stopped. She stood silent for a long time. Looked at the writing. Looked at Percy. Looked back at the writing. The hurt inside her... Was still there. But beside it, there was something else. This idiot... Had he been waiting out here all night? Clara squatted down. Touched Percy's shoulder.

"Percy."

Percy didn't move.

"Percy."

She pushed a little harder. Percy's eyes fluttered open. For the first few seconds, he didn't understand where he was. Then he saw Clara. He immediately sat up straight.

"Clara."

Clara crossed her arms.

"What are you doing?"

Percy looked at the ground. Saw the writing. Then looked back at Clara.

"I'm apologizing."

"You could have knocked on the door."

"I did."

"When?"

"In the evening."

"I didn't hear you."

"I knocked again."

"And then?"

"I waited."

Clara's brow furrowed.

"For how many hours?"

Percy shrugged.

"I don't know."

Clara's anger turned into something else this time.

"Are you stupid?"

Percy thought.

"A little."

Clara hadn't expected that. Her lips twitched involuntarily. But she didn't laugh. Percy stood up.

"Clara."

Clara looked at him.

"I knew you were joking."

Silence.

"I was still mad."

Percy put his hands in his pockets.

"I shouldn't have been mad at you."

Clara didn't say anything.

"I was mad at Arthur."

He paused for a moment.

"And his friends."

Clara's gaze softened.

"Then I took it out on you."

Percy didn't avert his eyes.

"It was wrong."

Clara remained silent. Percy swallowed.

"I'm sorry."

This time, there were no excuses. No *buts*. No *becauses*. No *you did it too*. None of that came. Just...

"I'm sorry."

Clara looked at the dirt.

FORGIVE ME CLARA.

Then back at Percy.

"Okay."

Percy blinked.

"Okay?"

"I forgive you."

Percy's shoulders visibly relaxed. Clara saw it. And for the first time, she realized Percy had really been waiting all night for just that. Just three words. I forgive you.

"So you wrote 'forgive me.'"

Both turned around. Eleanor was standing at the door. Holar was beside her. Percy's face fell.

"Grandpa?"

Holar crossed his arms.

"So you were sleeping out here."

Percy stayed silent. Eleanor looked at the writing on the ground. Then at Percy. A smile played at the corner of her lips.

"Quite nice."

Percy grunted.

"I'll erase it."

Clara instantly stepped in front of the writing.

"No."

Percy looked at her.

"Why?"

A familiar look appeared on Clara's face. The moment Percy saw it, he knew something bad was coming. Clara pointed to the dirt.

"You know reversal magic."

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

"Use it on the writing."

Percy looked suspiciously.

"Why?"

"I'll show you something."

Percy hesitated for a few seconds. Then he squatted down. Held his hand over the writing. It was a simple reverse-shaping spell. The dirt shifted slightly. The letters distorted. Clara raised her hand too. Met her Orin with Percy's. The dirt reshaped once more. Percy stood up. Looked at the writing.

FORGIVE ME CLARA

was gone. In its place... I AM THE BETTER MAGE was written. Percy froze. Clara managed to stay serious for two seconds. Then she burst into laughter. Percy slowly turned to her.

"...Clara."

Clara started walking backward.

"What?"

"Come here."

"No."

"Come."

Clara turned around. Began running. Percy sprinted after her.

"CLARA!"

Clara was laughing out loud.

"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!"

"DON'T RUN!"

"I AM THE BETTER MAGE!"

"YOU ARE NOT!"

"YOU ADMITTED IT YESTERDAY!"

"I CHANGED MY MIND NOW!"

"IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT!"

"YES IT DOES!"

The two began running around the garden. Eleanor watched them with a laugh. Holar stood near the door. He looked at Percy for a while. Remembered the words he had said to him yesterday. *I'm disappointed.* He thought of Percy waiting out in the cold all night. Eleanor spoke quietly.

"Wasn't that a bit too harsh?"

Holar kept watching the children.

"It was."

"You were hurt."

"Yes."

"When you saw him?"

Holar didn't answer. That was answer enough. Just as Percy was about to catch Clara, Clara changed directions. Percy slipped. Nearly fell to the ground. Clara laughed.

"YOU'RE SLOW!"

Percy recovered his balance.

"YOU'RE A CHEATER!"

Eleanor leaned her head slightly toward Holar's shoulder. Holar noticed it. Eleanor noticed it too. Both subtly moved a little further apart at the same time.

"..."

"..."

Eleanor cleared her throat. Holar looked away. Percy's voice echoed across the garden.

"CAUGHT YOU!"

"LET GO OF MY HAIR!"

"SAY I'M THE BETTER MAGE!"

"NEVER!"

"SAY IT!"

"LET GO OF MY HAIR FIRST!"

Eleanor looked at the children. Then at Holar.

"They're better than us."

Holar raised an eyebrow.

"At what?"

Eleanor was silent for a few seconds.

"Never mind."

Holar didn't understand. Which only made Eleanor laugh a little more.