Ravatoris’ face was torn between arguing with the professor and leaving the classroom with dignity. Mahon saw the latter win just a second before the noble walked to the door with his head held high, and not without sending a heinous glance his way.

“The final is over.” Yordar continued, as if nothing had happened. “Mahon has won. Ravatoris is second place. Taenya and Jorik also have won their right to a weapon of their choice. I’ll be happy to discuss with anyone about all the strategies that happened there, but know that we’ll review them in class. Good luck with tomorrow’s tournament.”

The speech brought out the students from their torpor at the amazing final and its controversial ending. The classroom awakened, and everyone started to discuss their views of the battle, what they’d have done, and if the professor had gone easy on Mahon, as Ravatoris said.

Zac joined Mahon on stage, and the duo left the classroom shortly after.

“So?” Mahon asked once they were a bit away from the crowd, walking towards their residence.

“It’s your luck you’re so beneath Ravatoris that he got mad against Yordar and not you.” Zac stated. “It was a good show, but nothing I didn’t expect. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s duels more. I really need a new weapon.”

Mahon smiled before answering in a more serious tone. “There is also the Fada cult meeting tomorrow…”

The two men walked a bit in silence, lost in their own thoughts and considerations. The day had been tiring for both.

“Did you talk with Ash?” Mahon finally spoke, as they approached their house.

“About the music group?”

“Yeah.”

“A bit.” Zac answered as he pushed the door open. “She found the idea good, but she wants to discuss it with you as well. I said with the tournament and the cultists, you didn’t have much time on your hands, so…”

Mahon sighed. “True. If it was just up to me, I’d have skipped the whole tournament. I really need time to think about all that. Why do you even want a weapon for, by the way? You’d prefer to stay?”

Zac shook his head. “No. I like the music group’s idea better. But we spent six months here, sweating, training and even risking our life. We can’t really leave without a keepsake, right?”

Mahon chuckled. “Right. Let’s talk about it with Ash soon, anyway. We need her opinions on this.”

Zac acquiesced and collapsed on his bed with a sigh of contentment. He took his pill and sank into a dreamless sleep while Mahon walked to his usual spot in Nightmare. For the first time in ages, he didn’t train. He simply stayed there, juggling with his thoughts about his future, music and the Fada cult.

Strangely, the Fada cult was his easiest problem to solve. He could almost count the days before they get rid of them. The only question was how many lives it would cost. Alas, the question didn’t bother him as much as he thought it would. Did he become numb to it? Or did the constant schemes of the nobles already got the best of him?

Mahon inspired deeply and did something he had rarely done before. Something he had recently sworn to do with the cultists. He didn’t feel compelled to do it, but he knew it was the best way to take a difficult decision.

Blue. Order.

Mahon let go of everything and structured his thoughts. What was the real problem he needed to solve? What was the question he wanted to answer?

Do I still want to stop the war? Do I want to fight against the nobles? Do I want to play music for the rest of my life? No, that’s not it. These are solutions. What do I want to do in the future? It’s too vague… What do I want to accomplish? In which world do I want to leave?

Mahon directed his reflection towards the source of his turmoil. He flipped it over, tried different angles, asked for reasons and went further into more meaningful questions. He did so until he had a problem clear enough he could actually solve it.

What should I do in the coming century that will help me have the impact I want in the world? And I want to lead people to a better place. A safer place. A fairer place. A more transparent place.

Mahon felt satisfied with this step, and so he proceeded to the next.

Red. Feelings.

I hate the cultists. I hate nobles. I hate war. I love music. I hate schemes. I love the Flow. I love to fight. I love my friends.

It wasn’t about explaining anything. It was just about getting rid of built up emotions. It was also about knowing oneself. Six months before, after Margot’s death, Mahon wasn’t sure he’d have answered the same way. But Ratho was so different…

White. Facts.

I’m better than most at fighting. Ratho’s war doesn’t need me to push back Amentiae. We aren’t losing. I know how to play music, and I’m progressing fast. The nobles are hiding things. No, that’s not completely true. I’m not sure of that.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Immersed in White, Mahon corrected himself, realizing he was transposing his vision of the world through these words. It wasn’t what White was made for.

There are things we don’t know about our world. Noble families have pre-Nightmare books. They are in control of Ratho’s future. Zac and Ash are my friends. They are better at music than most. Music can transport people.

The list of facts was long, and Mahon spent time describing his actual situation. Where he was, what he knew of Ratho, what he had managed to do since he came back to it, what he learned.

As he finished the third step, the framework of his own reflection was much clearer to him. He knew what problem he wanted to solve. He knew what his feelings were. He had facts to back up his decisions.

Green. Ideas

I could continue on my initial path and try to end the war. I could diverge and build upon friends and music. I could quit. Run and hide somewhere, away from problems.

Mahon stopped the influx of ideas there. There was much more he could envision, but he mainly wanted to compare these options and didn’t want to get lost in impossible possibilities.

Yellow. Benefits.

Ending the war is something I’m able to deal with. It will have the most impact in the world because it’s the main tool of the nobles to control Ratho. It’s something I’m good at.

Building a music group emphasizes on friends and music, two things I’m starting to believe I depend on. I’m away from most conflicts and there aren’t many deathly risks. It’s oriented toward building something rather than destroying something.

Running and hiding prevents me from asking too many questions. It simplifies everything, and I’m fine on my own.

Mahon didn’t try to question the legitimacy of some benefits. It wasn’t the point of Yellow. It should just list whatever felt good and interesting about an option.

Black. Risks.

Is the war really the only thing the nobles use to control Ratho? They could find something else even without a war. It might not solve anything. The war has been in a stalemate for years. Can I really end it that easily? The war will bring suffering, as I’ll lose people.

What if music has no impact? I wouldn’t be able to make the world a better place. What if Zac and Ash let me down?

If I hide, I’d have zero impact. I will not help anyone. I’ll die without having accomplished anything.

Mahon exhaled slowly. He had completed a circle. He had a clearer view of his potential options. He felt he didn’t need to pursue further and generate other ideas. He could conclude now. He should conclude now.

White.

There is no way to know if stopping the war would end the nobles’ control of Ratho, but it would change things. I would have an impact. I would leave behind something different. But would it be better? It’s out of my control.

There is no way to know if music will have an impact or change anything. But I’d be in full control. I’m already friends with Zac and Ash and it’s a safer option for all three.

I wouldn’t accomplish anything by hiding. Nothing will change.

Red.

War is the easiest way. A known territory. But the issue isn’t certain. Am I liking this option because it feels familiar? Comforting?

I’m liking my friends and music more than the nobles and their war. I feel both thrilled and afraid of a new adventure.

I don’t like hiding.

It was time for the last Color. The last step. Time for a decision.

Blue.

Sometimes, the Colors were just a religious or cultural symbol displayed at every occasion. Other times, their true roots shone, and it was easy to understand why they were still in use. They showed the way. A path forward.

Since when I’m afraid of trying new things? If both war and music have uncertain outcomes, I should at least have some fun in the way.

Mahon opened his eyes, a smile lingered on his lips. He felt at ease. He knew what he wanted to do.

----------------------------------------

“First round, are you ready?”

“Yes, instructor!” A chorus of voices answered Slander, echoing in the different rings set up for the occasion.

“Start!” The instructor yelled, and an instant after, the sound of clattering swords covered up everything else.

Mahon’s first opponent was a First White woman. Surprisingly, it wasn’t an unknown face. He had fought her before, in what seemed years ago, but had just been months. The woman who had stood with her brother against Zac and him, the first time they had dueled anyone. Laiex.

The woman wasn’t a low First White anymore. She had progressed and climbed the ranks, almost to the top of First White. She was still as agile and clever as before, and her style had improved a lot. It was more in control, benefiting from her speed and swiftness to disrupt any attempt to hit her.

Alas, her opponent was Mahon. And he had no time to lose. Today wasn’t the day to get too tired. He parried her sword, read her next move as if she was an open book, followed along her back roll dodge, and touched her neck before she got time to realize what had happened.

“Laiex, dead!” The professor responsible for their ring called. “Next duel, hop in.”

Laiex and Mahon cleared the space for the next duel, and another fight immediately started. There were almost thirty rings set up on the training grounds, and each hosted a professor with three or four couples, eager to fight.

The sword fights were much quicker than the strategy battles, and there wouldn’t be as much time between two rounds. They had been ordered to stay close to their rings, because the second rounds would begin as soon as the first ended, with the people from their previous ring. Two rounds with the same ring, and then they would take a break and switch rings for another two rounds. They would do it once more, and then they would have four people selected for the final.

Mahon barely paid any attention to the fights happening in his own ring. Most students were First White, and the few First Green that were with him were people he had trained a lot with. They were the most aware of their inability to win against him.

Contrary to the strategy duels, people fought between themselves all the time in the rings. It was in duo, but they roughly knew about each other's individual skills. Mahon wouldn’t have any problem until late First Yellow and First Black.

And even then, it would only become slightly harder. The fact that he couldn’t end the fights in less than three moves didn’t mean he would have trouble winning. Just that it’d be more tiring.

“Hagas, dead! Next duel, hop in.”