The morning after the night they dealt with the Fada cult was very silent for a school day. The events happened quickly one after the other, and it took some time for the dust to settle.

Mahon, Zac and Jorik found another student group led by Ravatoris on their way back to the city. The noble had heard about their action, and after being sure there hadn’t been more targets inside the city, and seeing how Jorik hadn’t gone back embarrassed, he quickly understood they had found something.

Ravatoris had wanted all the prestige of the Fada cult arrestation, alas he had only been used as bait, and all the glory had gone to Mahon, Zac and Jorik, who foiled the cultist secret plan. Ravatoris didn’t say much about it verbally, but the heinous look he threw at the trio was more than enough to get his mindset. Nonetheless, he dealt with the situation properly afterwards and sent people to deal with the aftermath of the no-dream mine battle.

The students had suffered no death during the two battles inside the city. They had been too numerous and too strong to die against the cultists. There were some injuries, but nothing dramatic. The battle on the mine, however, had been something else.

They had met all the stronger fighters of the cultists, and they had been only twenty students. From the initial group, only twelve survived their meeting with the cultists, from which five were injured.

When the students arrived back in the city, another team immediately came to take care of the injured. The city guards had been called to clean up the hundred of cultist bodies, and immense fires burned here and there.

Rym and the main professors had followed how the events unfolded, and after the students’ victory, they had announced a special banquet tonight and asked the students to attend it. After some rest, obviously.

The students didn’t need to be told twice, and they collapsed as soon as they were at bed’s reach. Most rested for the entire day.

Mahon exited Nightmare just before the start of the banquet night. He eyed the man standing in front of him and the weapon with which he intended to commit his crime.

“Put down the pillow, Zac. I’m already awake.”

His friend pouted, but he threw the pillow on his bed. “I swear you’ve got a sixth sense when you sleep. No fun.”

Mahon grinned back. “Didn’t I tell you already about my idiot detector?” He taunted.

“Shaddap.” Zac couldn’t stop himself from smiling, though. “Let’s get ready for the special banquet and whatever comes next.”

“If I didn’t know you better, I’d almost think you’re more eager than me to leave the school.”

“Yeah, perhaps. Now that we went into a real fight with real warriors, I admit I’m happy to go back to something I’m better at. Something safer too.”

Mahon smiled back at him, and the two friends dressed up for the banquet. They exited their First Green personal residence and joined the other students on the way to the administrative district. Most of them glanced in their direction as they walked.

News traveled fast, and they had all heard about how Mahon had infiltrated the cult, how they had found at the last minute the secret plan of the cultists, and how they had dealt with Oncith in an impressive way.

Truth been told, their most impressive prowess had been their victory over Belanor and Maïa, alas, no one had been there to witness it. The students had found the dead bodies, but they couldn’t really know how strong the cultists had been.

And Mahon had found something amazing in his fight against Belanor. A potential improvement of the 12 Steps of the Lance, as taught by the Fada. It felt weird, though, that an improvement in the method was really possible.

The Fada created it, and they were mythical creatures. Surely, they would have seen it if there was a potential improvement. I’d have to talk with Yordar about it. He knows people, and maybe he can help understand how it happened.

The memory of the frozen world through the lens of the Flow, and the way he almost teleported behind Belanor, were still vivid in his mind. He was eager to test it again. Alas, he felt how tired his body was from this single step. Even after such a long rest in Nightmare, he didn’t feel completely fresh.

Soon, Zac interrupted his thoughts, and they engaged in their preferred activity when they were together. Just like any normal day. Mahon immersed himself in the stupid debate and ignored the scrutinizing looks of the other students.

“I’d say fifty.”

“Fifty?! No, you’re overestimating this. There is no way to eat more than forty chouquettes. Remember how sugary these pastries are! You’ll be fed up even before that.” Zac said.

“You, maybe, but I have a high tolerance to sugar. And I could eat two meals right now. Fifty chouquettes was my lower bound.”

“You’re just bragging. You may know fighting stuff, but eating is my domain. Forty chouquettes wouldn’t even fit in your stomach!”

“You’re not dedicated enough. Imagine that you haven’t eaten for three days. Then you could probably find the strength to eat a dozen more, trust me.”

“But let’s say you have normally eaten before. Then it can’t be more than forty.”

The useless debate went back and forth as the two friends jumped at every opportunity to tease each other. To some, it may have looked completely stupid and a waste of time, but it was their way of being together and getting rid of the recent built up stress.

They arrived at the banquet plaza and sat at their First Green table. A few minutes was all that was needed for everyone to join. Six months at school had been enough to grow them into a disciplined troop. Here and there, they could see an empty chair, reminding everyone that a few hadn’t made it through. Not all were dead, as some were still too injured to attend. Others were present, but with bandages or canes.

Rym joined a few moments later, and she directly walked to the lectern to speak to the students.

“Hello everyone.” She started with a charming smile. “First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on finally taking down the Fada cult.” She stopped talking and started applauding alone before the other professors joined her, and finally the students.

She let the applause last for almost a minute and then continued her speech. “We hesitated for a long time before giving you such a dangerous and difficult mission, but given who is in our ranks, we felt it was possible. And, today, you showed us you were indeed worthy of our trust.”

“It was the most difficult mission ever assessed to students, and it took you long months to finish it, but you succeeded! Whatever you do in the future, the city will always be grateful for what you did last night. With that being said, there are specific rewards we would like to give you, now that you have made your first step among the real warriors.”

“First, I’d like to congratulate Ravatoris. He had full control of the operation, and whatever had been done could only have been done because he made it possible. Alone, he wouldn’t have done anything. Without him, you wouldn’t have been able to decide easily. Together, you made this possible.”

“In a similar fashion, Jorik was the commander in charge of the infiltration operation executed by First Green Zac and his duo Mahon. It’s because of him and his astute decisions that obtaining crucial information on the Fada was possible. At the heart of the battle, Jorik was also capable of taking difficult decisions that paid off. It’s because of his wise judgment that the Fada cult was brought to an end.”

“Ravatoris and Jorik are already at the top, and they proved they were worthy of their ranks. For the next year, they can’t be demoted even if they lose a duel.”

“Commanders are important persons, but so are the little hands that do the work. Zac and Mahon saved the situation in the most critical moment, and they showed what bravery is. Both of them are promoted to First Yellow, starting right now.”

A round of applause followed her little congratulating speech, and a few servants went to switch Mahon and Zac’s badges. They led them to two nearby empty seats at a First Yellow table.

“Everybody participated at his own level in this operation, and everyone should be praised. We want to give everyone a reward…” She paused a few seconds to increase the suspense before continuing. “We taught you about them, but you’ve never seen them face to face. You studied it, but you never went to a real battlefield. You proved your value today, and we’ll bring you to the frontline in two days.”

This time, the cheer and applause were more genuine. Every student dreamed of going to the battlefield. After all, that’s why they engaged in the first time. Even Mahon and Zac weren’t numb to the announcement. They were curious about what it was like there.

“On the frontline, you’ll be able to see what we’re fighting against for real. You’ll even be assigned some simple missions. Use the next two days as rest, for you’ll spend a whole week at the frontline.”

The students started to talk between themselves about the implication, but Rym didn’t let them get loose long. She raised her hand to ask for silence, and she got it within seconds.

“I have one last thing to say. Students died today. They were brave people who fought for the right cause. And still, they died. Life is brutal and given a different situation, we would be able to leave in peace. Alas, our time demands a sacrifice for the greater good. Let’s have a minute of silence to honor their sacrifice. Remember what they did for you. They died so you could continue forward. Now you have to live up to their expectations.”

The mood instantly switched from light to heavy, and the students lowered their heads to honor the dead.

The minute stretched for long and was only broken once the meals arrived. The mood quickly came back, and enthusiasm discussions started a few minutes later as everyone discussed the frontline and what they would do there. The banquet lasted long into the night, and people were happy and cheerful.

Yet, Mahon didn’t share the feelings. He hadn’t felt any weight on his shoulders disappear. He had no more infiltration to do, and they had protected Ratho from a dangerous future, but the backer was still out there alive. The noble hypothesis didn’t make any more sense, and Jorik knew it.

Then why didn't Rym even mention it? The mission wasn’t complete. Somewhere, the Fada cult still lived. A threat lurked around, and they still wanted to leave for a full week?

Obviously, the backer wouldn’t be able to do anything in the meantime since all the cultists were dead, but it was more than enough to hide such that the students would never find him again.

Mahon glanced at Jorik, who was sitting at the first table, but he was too far to see anything interesting. Thus, he waited patiently until Jorik stood up and left the banquet. He elbowed Zac, and together they left as well and followed Jorik.

The noble waited for them at the next intersection.

“Mahon, Zac.” He greeted them.

“What about the backer?” Mahon directly asked.

“Right. That’s the question.” He sighed and gestured for them to walk together to the lodging district. “I talked with Ravatoris about it. He doesn’t care. Rym said the mission is over, and he’ll not do anything about it.”

“Seriously? It’s not an official mission, so he’s not interested?” Mahon asked in disbelief.

“Something like that, yes.” Jorik sighed.

“Then we should…” Mahon started, but Jorik interrupted him by raising his hand.

“I went to talk to Rym about it. If there is an incentive, Ravatoris will do it. But she said it’s not our problem. The head of the cult is dead. The inner cultists are dead. The other cultists are also dead. The Fada cult has collapsed. We’re not to investigate how the cult was born in the first place. It’s not our job.”

Jorik’s fists were white at the knuckles for how tight he was clenching them. Anyone could see he wasn’t happy with this decision.

“Still, I insisted.” He continued. “And now we’re strictly forbidden to do anything about it.”