The Fallen Light

THE FALLEN LIGHT — SEASON I

CHAPTER 49.5 — THE WAR QUEEN

Three days were left until the end of camp. The morning was quite peaceful. Suspiciously peaceful. Percy wasn’t in his bed today. But he hadn’t woken everyone up either. He was sitting in a chair in front of the tent. Galahad had carried him out this morning. Percy had been very annoyed by this.

”I could walk.”

Galahad had looked at him.

”You walked three meters.”

”Yes.”

”Then you held onto the wall.”

”Tactical break.”

”Then you sat down.”

”Second tactical break.”

Galahad had pointed to the chair.

”Sit.”

Percy:

”Understood, bro.”

Now he looked much better. The bandages were still on him. But his eyes were completely open. As for his hair... It was still a battlefield. Clara stopped as she walked past him. She looked at his hair. Percy spoke immediately.

”No.”

Clara:

”I didn’t do anything.”

”It’s obvious from your look.”

”It’s really bad.”

”I’m healing.”

”Your hair isn’t healing.”

Percy touched his hair. Made it worse. Clara closed her eyes.

”Don’t touch it.”

Percy:

”It’s my hair.”

Clara:

”Not right now.”

Percy looked at her.

”What’s that supposed to mean?”

Clara kept walking. Percy called out behind her.

”CLARA?”

No answer came. Percy muttered.

”I lost my hair too.”

After a while, the class gathered. Everyone was waiting.

Nathaniel:

”Who’s today?”

Arthur:

”Could be Elizabeth.”

Charlotte:

”Could be Galahad.”

William:

”Could be both of them together.”

Nathaniel’s face fell.

”Don’t say that.”

Marcus looked around.

”There’s nobody here.”

Right at that moment...

”Hello, children.”

Everyone turned around. Eleanor was coming. Nathaniel’s face lit up.

”Oh.”

Percy heard this from a distance. He raised his head. Nathaniel continued.

”Today it’s Aunt Eleanor.”

Eleanor stopped. She smiled.

”Good morning, Nathaniel.”

”Good morning!”

Arthur relaxed. Charlotte smiled. Marcus loosened his shoulders. Even William looked relieved. Clara, on the other hand... Looked at Percy. Percy sat up straight in his chair. There was a strange expression on his face. Clara caught it.

”What?”

Percy shook his head.

”Nothing.”

Clara:

”Percy.”

”Yes?”

”Why are you smirking?”

Percy played innocent.

”Am I smirking?”

Clara looked at him. Percy immediately picked up his drink.

”I’m staying out of this.”

Eleanor stepped in front of the students.

”Today, I will be conducting your training.”

Nathaniel raised his hand.

”Yes?”

”How long will it last?”

”Until evening.”

Nathaniel nodded.

”Okay.”

Eleanor:

”You seem pleased.”

Nathaniel:

”Well...”

Arthur cut in.

”Don’t get her wrong.”

Eleanor:

”I won’t.”

Arthur:

”You are a bit more...”

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He stopped. Eleanor smiled.

”A bit more what?”

Arthur looked at William. William turned his head. Arthur looked at Charlotte. Charlotte looked into the distance.

Arthur:

”Kind.”

Eleanor’s smile widened.

”Am I?”

Arthur:

”Yes.”

Percy coughed from afar. Arthur looked at him. Percy was shaking his head.

Arthur:

”What?”

Percy:

”Nothing.”

Arthur:

”You know something.”

Percy:

”I know a lot of things.”

Eleanor:

”Percy.”

Percy went silent instantly.

”Yes, Auntie.”

Eleanor:

”No spoilers.”

Percy:

”No spoilers, Auntie.”

Nathaniel whispered.

”Why did he get scared?”

Clara:

”I’m wondering the same thing.”

Eleanor joined her hands behind her back.

”First of all...”

”Today we will work on the basics.”

Nathaniel relaxed.

”Awesome.”

”You will fight me.”

Silence.

Arthur:

”All of us?”

”Yes.”

Charlotte:

”At the same time?”

”Yes.”

Nathaniel:

”Is that it?”

Percy closed his eyes. Eleanor looked at Nathaniel.

”That’s it.”

Nathaniel:

”Sounds easy.”

Percy opened his eyes. Looked at Nathaniel.

”You’re dead.”

Nathaniel:

”What?”

Eleanor:

”Percy.”

Percy:

”I’m sorry.”

Twelve people prepared themselves. Eleanor stood across from them. She didn’t draw a weapon. Didn’t unleash aura. Didn’t use magic. She just stood there.

Nathaniel:

”Are we starting?”

Eleanor:

”We already started.”

Nathaniel was surprised. Then he attacked. A second later... Nathaniel was on the ground.

Nobody saw what happened. Not even Nathaniel saw it. Lying on the ground, he looked up at the ceiling.

”What happened?”

Eleanor:

”You died.”

Nathaniel:

”How?”

Eleanor:

”You were talking too much.”

Arthur attacked. Eleanor stepped to the side. Arthur passed by. Eleanor touched his back. Arthur slammed into the ground. Charlotte came from the left. Eleanor didn’t even turn. She caught her wrist. Used Charlotte’s own momentum. Charlotte found herself on the ground. Marcus formed a spear. Eleanor looked at him for the first time. The wind shifted. The spear redirected.

Marcus:

”What—”

He was forced to dodge his own spear. William’s face changed.

”Scatter!”

Percy, in his chair... Was now completely awake. He adjusted his blanket. Leaned forward a bit. Clara noticed this. Percy was genuinely watching.

William:

”Formation!”

Everyone scattered. Eleanor smiled.

”Much better.”

Arthur stepped forward. Deployed his shield. Eleanor began to walk.

Arthur:

”Here she comes!”

Eleanor didn’t vanish. Didn’t even speed up. She walked. She stood right in front of Arthur. She raised her hand. Placed a single finger on the shield.

Arthur:

”...What?”

Eleanor pushed gently.

BOOM!

Arthur was blown back fifty meters.

Percy:

”Ah.”

Nathaniel yelled from the ground.

”WHAT DO YOU MEAN ’AH’?!”

Percy:

”I warned you.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

”The second strongest in the world...”

William:

”I know.”

Nathaniel:

”WE ALREADY KNEW!”

Marcus:

”Knowing is different.”

Percy nodded.

”There you go.”

Eleanor unleashed her aura for the first time. Just a tiny bit. Just... A fraction.

BOOOOM!

Twelve students collapsed at the same time. Percy’s blanket flew into the air. Percy grabbed it immediately.

”Bro.”

Eleanor looked at him.

”Are you okay?”

Percy:

”My blanket was flying away.”

Eleanor:

”Percy.”

”I’m fine, Auntie.”

William was struggling to breathe.

”This...”

Eleanor was walking.

”...how much is this?”

Eleanor:

”Very little.”

Nathaniel:

”WHAT PERCENTAGE?!”

Eleanor thought about it.

”Better if I don’t tell you.”

Nathaniel:

”WHY?”

Eleanor:

”So your morale doesn’t drop.”

Nathaniel faceplanted into the dirt.

”It’s already ruined.”

Percy burst out laughing. Clara looked at him from a distance. To Percy’s face... A bit of color had returned. He was doing better than yesterday. He still couldn’t move. But his eyes were the old Percy. Clara smiled.

Eleanor suddenly attacked. This time... She wasn’t gentle.

The wind exploded. William was launched into the air. Charlotte was slammed to the ground. Marcus was spun around. Arthur raised a shield. The shield shattered. Nathaniel tried to run. Eleanor appeared behind him.

”Hello.”

Nathaniel:

”YOUR MOTHER—”

BOOM!

Nathaniel was slammed into the ground again.

Percy burst into hysterical laughter.

”PUHAHAHAHA!”

Nathaniel raised his head.

”WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?!”

Percy:

”I’m sorry.”

Nathaniel:

”YOUR TURN WILL COME TOO!”

Percy pointed to his bandages.

”I’ve filled my quota.”

Nathaniel:

”YOU SON OF A BITCH.”

Percy:

”Get well soon.”

Eleanor was controlling the entire field. But it wasn’t a matter of her power. Her battle knowledge... Was far more terrifying. Where would Arthur go? She knew. What would William plan? She knew. From where would Clara attack? She knew. Whom would Charlotte protect? She knew. Before every single movement... Eleanor was already there.

Elizabeth had arrived from afar. Galahad was beside her too.

Elizabeth:

”Did they start?”

Galahad looked at the field. Nathaniel was flying through the air.

”I think so.”

Elizabeth walked over to Percy.

”How’s it going?”

Percy:

”I’m having a blast.”

Galahad:

”I’m not surprised.”

Percy:

”Bro.”

”Yes?”

”The training you did yesterday was bad.”

Galahad looked at him. Percy pointed at Eleanor.

”This is worse.”

Galahad:

”I agree.”

Nathaniel hit the ground again. Raised his head. Saw Galahad.

”BRO!”

Galahad:

”Yes?”

Nathaniel pointed at Eleanor.

”THIS WOMAN IS CRAZY!”

Silence. Percy’s eyes widened. Galahad turned his head away. Elizabeth covered her mouth. Arthur closed his eyes. William whispered.

”Rest in peace.”

Nathaniel:

”What?”

Eleanor had stopped. She slowly turned to Nathaniel.

”Nathaniel.”

Nathaniel’s face fell.

”Yes?”

Eleanor smiled.

”Who is the woman?”

Nathaniel:

”...The War Queen?”

Eleanor:

”Good boy.”

Nathaniel relaxed.

”Thank—”

Eleanor:

”Here I come again.”

Nathaniel:

”DAMN IT!”

Toward noon... The twelve were completely exhausted. Eleanor, on the other hand... Hadn’t even broken a sweat.

Arthur was lying on the ground.

”Percy.”

Percy:

”Yes?”

Arthur:

”You grew up with this.”

Percy:

”Yes.”

Arthur:

”How are you alive?”

Percy thought about it.

”She’s actually very sweet.”

Twelve heads turned toward Eleanor. Eleanor smiled.

”Thank you, Percy.”

Percy:

”You’re welcome, Auntie.”

Nathaniel:

”SHE’S SWEET TO YOU!”

Percy:

”Skill issue.”

Eleanor looked at him.

”Percy.”

Percy shut up. Nathaniel smiled.

”Skill issue.”

Percy:

”Shut your mouth.”

In the afternoon... Eleanor shifted the training. She was no longer beating them up. She was fixing their mistakes. She adjusted Arthur’s posture in defense. She improved the timing of William’s commands. She corrected Charlotte’s positioning. She drilled Marcus on spear control. To Nathaniel... She taught how to stay quiet. That was the hardest lesson.

Percy was watching intently. Sometimes he made comments. But no longer like a chairman. Like a teammate.

”Arthur.”

Arthur turned.

”Your left foot.”

Arthur looked down. Corrected it.

”Thanks.”

”William.”

William looked at him.

”Send Charlotte two seconds earlier.”

William thought about it. Then tried it. The formation clicked. William looked at Percy. Percy gave a thumbs up.

It was Clara’s turn. Eleanor attacked. Clara dodged. Second attack. Clara dodged again. Third. Clara calculated. Just as she was about to move. Percy called out.

”Wait.”

Clara waited. Eleanor’s attack... Changed its trajectory in mid-air. Clara’s eyes widened. She dodged at the last second. Eleanor looked at Percy. Percy smiled.

Eleanor:

”You’re healing.”

Percy:

”A little.”

Eleanor:

”Good.”

Clara looked at Percy.

”Thank you.”

Percy:

”You owe me.”

Clara:

”What do you want?”

Percy pointed to his hair.

”Fix this.”

Clara smiled.

”Even God can’t fix that.”

Percy:

”HEY.”

Late afternoon... Training came to an end. Eleanor clapped her hands.

”That’s enough for today.”

Twelve people collapsed to the ground.

Nathaniel:

”Who’s tomorrow?”

Nobody answered. Nathaniel sat up.

”No, I’m asking seriously.”

Galahad:

”Why?”

Nathaniel:

”I need to prepare myself psychologically.”

Elizabeth:

”Maybe Holar.”

The color drained from Nathaniel’s face.

”You’re joking.”

Elizabeth smiled.

”Maybe.”

Nathaniel looked at Percy.

”Chairman.”

Percy:

”Yes?”

”Heal up by tomorrow.”

Percy:

”Why?”

Nathaniel:

”You lead.”

Arthur raised his head.

”I agree.”

Charlotte:

”Definitely.”

Marcus:

”I want Percy.”

William:

”Me too.”

Clara:

”Me too.”

Percy’s eyebrows shot up.

”Well, holy shit.”

Galahad:

”What happened?”

Percy:

”In twenty-seven days...”

”You found people who make you miss me.”

Elizabeth:

”You’re welcome.”

Eleanor:

”Don’t mention it.”

Percy tried to stand up. Clara looked at him immediately. This time... Percy managed to get up from his chair. He slowly straightened up. One step. Then a second. Everyone had noticed. But nobody spoke. Percy took a third step. Staggered a bit. Clara didn’t take his arm. She just walked beside him. Percy looked at her.

Clara:

”You can do it.”

Percy smiled.

”Better than yesterday.”

Clara:

”Much better.”

Nathaniel yelled from behind them.

”TOMORROW I WANT A ’BOW YEAH’!”

Percy stopped. Looked back.

”Really?”

Nathaniel thought about it.

”No.”

Arthur:

”Too late.”

On Percy’s face... A devilish smile formed.

Nathaniel:

”No.”

Percy:

”What?”

Nathaniel:

”I know that smile.”

Percy:

”I didn’t do anything.”

William:

”Something’s wrong.”

Charlotte:

”Definitely.”

Clara looked at Percy.

”What are you planning?”

Percy smiled innocently.

”Nothing.”

Everyone spoke at the same time.

”LIAR.”

Eleanor watched them. Galahad came beside her.

”You look good.”

Eleanor:

”I beat up children.”

Galahad:

”I noticed.”

Eleanor looked at Percy.

”It was nice seeing him laugh.”

Galahad’s face softened.

”Yes.”

In front of them, Percy was walking. Slowly. In bandages. Clara right beside him. And behind him... The twelve people who had torn him apart yesterday. Today, they were laughing together once again.

DAYS UNTIL END OF CAMP:

3 DAYS