The Fallen Light

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

CHAPTER 46 — TWELVE

The three-way match had come to an end. William was still thinking about Percy’s very first move. Arthur was pondering his five shattered shields. Clara was reflecting on the wall lying beyond her own Core. Percy observed the three of them. Then he turned to the others. Nathaniel raised both hands immediately.

”I didn’t do anything.”

”I know.”

”Then why are you looking at me?”

”I’m not looking at you. I’m looking at the class.”

Nathaniel turned around to look behind him. Then back to Percy.

”That’s even worse.”

Percy smiled. But it didn’t last long.

”Just now, I fought three of you.”

Clara raised an eyebrow.

”We noticed.”

”You covered each other’s openings. You found mine. Then I shifted the tempo and beat all three of you.”

Arthur crossed his arms.

”You don’t need to repeat that.”

”I do. Because I’m going to show you what you’re missing.”

William perked his attention. Percy looked toward the center of the arena.

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”The formation you built with three people works as long as you are fighting with three people. What will you do when it takes twelve people to cover a single opening from the enemy side?”

A silence fell over the crowd. Nathaniel raised a finger.

”Twelve people?”

Percy looked at him.

”Yes.”

”Who is the enemy?”

Percy didn’t answer. The smile faded from Nathaniel’s face.

”No way.”

A short while later, the class assembled once again in front of the arena. Percy drew a line in the dirt. He stepped to one side.

”On this side is me. On the other side are twelve people.”

Charlotte looked at Arthur. Arthur looked at William. William narrowed his eyes.

”And what about the remaining three people?”

”Observers.”

Percy pointed to three students waiting on the sidelines.

”You three will not attack. You will observe who sees what, who loses track of whom, and where the formation opens up. When the match ends, you will explain it to us.”

Nathaniel let out a sigh of relief. Percy turned to him.

”You are not an observer.”

”I didn’t even say anything!”

”Your face did.”

Galahad chuckled from the sidelines. Elizabeth watched Percy closely.

”My student.”

Percy turned to her.

”Yes, Teacher?”

”Is this a sparring match?”

Percy paused for a moment. Then he looked at his class.

”Not yet.”

The expression on Elizabeth’s face shifted.

”What does that mean?”

”First, I need to ask for something.”

Percy’s gaze shifted to Holar Jun. Holar saw the expression on his grandson’s face. He didn’t smile.

”Percy.”

”Grandpa.”

The laugh vanished from Galahad’s face as well. Clara approached Percy.

”What are you going to do?”

Percy looked at her. This time, he didn’t tease her.

”Today, I showed three people what they could do.”

”Yes.”

”Now, I want to see what twelve of them can do to me.”

Clara’s gaze sharpened.

”Are you going to hold back?”

Percy shook his head.

”Don’t hold back either.”

Clara didn’t reply. Arthur opened his shield once more. William began calculating something. Nathaniel sighed.

”Why do we always have to learn this through you?”

Percy looked over his shoulder as he walked toward Holar.

”Because the monster out there won’t be like me.”

Then he stopped.

”And for what I am going to ask of you, I first need my grandfather’s permission.”

Holar was waiting for him. There were five days left of camp.