Sometimes Mahon believed he had multiple lives, and he was switching between them every other day. In one of his life, he was a recruit at the Pine Hill Officer Institute, training hard to join Ratho’s military. In another, he was a Last Red without an army, meditating in a deserted Nightmare. Other times, he was a Fada cultist, scaring people by pretending to be a city guard. His most peaceful life was the one where he was a student, hanging out with his friends Zac and Ash, drinking, laughing and spending time without a care in the world.

Recently, though, a new life had been born as Mahon, the musician. It was close to his student life because he was having fun with Zac and Ash. But it was also different in that they were not just chilling. They were working.

“Feeling stressed?” Zac asked while moving chairs around for their group of three.

Mahon’s eyes left the beautifully decorated but still empty room and went to his friend. Zac’s smile was unwavering, and yet Mahon could see a slight tension in his eyes.

“A bit nervous.”

“Don’t worry, boys!” Ash exclaimed while hugging both men at the same time. “It’s gonna be awesome!”

Mahon couldn’t feel any tension coming for her, only sheer enthusiasm. Zac’s smile somehow got even wider, and he grabbed Mahon to his side so they made a circle, shoulders to shoulders.

“Yeah, it’ll be an unforgettable night! Everything is already set up and the first guests will only arrive in an hour or so. You want to grab a drink?”

“Hmm… Shouldn’t we practice a bit instead?”

“We’ll play the whole night, and the first hours will mainly be background noise. We’re ready. Don’t worry about that.” Ash answered. “I’m in for a soft drink. We should relax before the grand show.”

“Then it’s settled! Come, I’ll show you around in the meantime.”

With a clap of his hand on their back, Zac led his friends to the kitchen. They traveled across the immense ballroom, already set up for the night. Dozen meters long tables occupied one half of the room, filled with flowers and candlesticks. Multiple plates and cutlery were displayed in front of each chair, only waiting for a guest to seat at.

Near the walls, different kinds of tables were installed. Those were filled to the brim with drinks and food. Once upon a time, a cook would come and add yet another dish to the already crumbling tables.

The other half of the room was almost empty. Comfortable chairs laid near the walls while the whole center was cleared of anything that could prevent people from dancing. In one section near the walls, instead of chairs, a little platform had been set up for the musicians to play.

Not the musicians. We. We’ll be the one playing from up there tonight.

“Here are our musicians!”

Mahon stopped his tour of the room and turned to face Zac’s mother, still wearing casual clothes.

“Mom! Aren’t you supposed to get dressed? Everything is ready. Go take care of yourself now!”

“Hahahaha, yes, yes, my son, don’t worry. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright for you. Do you lack anything?”

“We’ve everything we need. Thank you very much, lady Cranelis.”

“Oh, Fada! Such a polite woman! Zac, you’ll have to introduce me to everyone after the party!”

“Mom, you know everyone! I told you already, I’m with Mahon that you’ve seen multiple times now. And this is Ash, the music owner where I go shopping.”

“Oh! It’s that Ash!” The woman exclaimed while winking at her son.

“Mom!!”

“What? I just say…”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Zac interrupted her. “Go dress yourself. We’re good here.” He pushed his mother towards her room and the woman finally went away, laughing.

Zac sighed and as he turned back to his friends, he saw how hard they were biting their tongue not to laugh out loud.

“Don’t you dare!” He threatened them before dragging them to the kitchen for the promised drink.

They found a calm place away from the rush of cooks and chefs, between an unused oven and a stack of cereal bags. In their little haven of peace, they drank and shared some jokes before the pressure to go on stage was too great to ignore. It had only been a ten minutes break, but they all needed it. It was their way of getting over stress, before they would have to be mistakeless for the whole night.

With focused looks, they went back to the ballroom, still mostly empty but somehow with even more food tables, and climbed to their platform. Ash had printed music sheets with the songs they intended to play along the night, and passed them out.

Mahon took his stack, and went standing in front of his chair, a bit behind the two star musicians. He checked his harmonica for the umpteenth time, to make sure it was alright.

“You can sit.” Ash recommended him. “We’ll stand when we get to our entailing songs, but no one expects us to stay standing while everyone is arriving… Pro tip.” She winked.

The trio sat and waited only a few minutes before Zac’s father and mother entered the ballroom. This time, Zac’s mother was exquisitely draped in a beautiful red evening dress. At her arm, her husband was wearing a simple white set, with a red flower in his chest pocket.

“Son!” The thunderous voice of Zac’s father echoed in the hall. “Let’s start the music, would you?”

With a nod, Zac began the first melody of the night, quickly followed by Ash’s mandolin and Mahon’s harmonica. The guests started to arrive when they were in the middle of their second song. At first, it was mostly Zac’s family, cousins, uncles and aunts, but soon they were joined by friends of the family and important people.

They paraded in front of Mahon’s eyes, dozens of new faces entering the room with each new song. Within an hour, the previously empty room was crowded with people happily chatting and greeting each other.

The songs they played were simple ones, calm melodies with a slow pace and not much volume. The songs had no clear ending and beginning, and it was easy to cycle through them without anyone noticing. At this time of the party, the guests were too focused on the conversations and new gossip. Who was at the party, who was not, who was in love and who hated his neighbor, who had the most beautiful clothes…

No one was really listening to the music. It was just a small background noise, barely rivaling the hubbub of the people speaking. Mahon had plenty of time to look around and discover what a dinner party looked like. Only a small part of his mind focused on his harmonica. And he was not the only one, since both Zac and Ash were also playing on autopilot and watching with interest the people gathered in front of them.

The people paraded just a few meters ahead, as if on a fashion show. From the most extravagant robes to the simplest one, with the whole spectrum in between. Crumbling under jewelry, indecent cleavage, improbable accessories, dizzy high heels, tight set on impressive musculatures, sculpted hair or waxed mustache, long train or capes, hats, diadems, pendants, cufflinks, make up, casual colored suits and much more…

Each group of people was another treasure to uncover, and Mahon spent most of his time looking with interest to this part of the noble world he knew nothing about besides what Zac told him.

Under Zac’s parents’ lead, the crowd slowly moved to the table until everyone was seated. At this point, Zac’s father gestured for the trio to stop the music and as they did, the crowd’s attention turned to him.

“Hello again, my friends!” He started with his thundering voice, ending the last whispered conversations at the same time. “I’m pleased to have you all there tonight. We’re accompanied by my son and his friends.” He gestured to the platform where the trio stood and people started clapping politely. “If you want to listen to one of your favorite songs, don’t hesitate to reach out to them, but otherwise don’t worry, we’re in good hands!” The crowd laughed in echo at his words and went into another round of applause.

Zac’s father smiled at them and indicated with a nod that they could take some rest while he continued his speech. As planned, the trio slipped away to the kitchen.

“See, it was easy!” Zac spoke once they were out of earshot of the guests, clapping his hand onto Mahon’s back.

“Yes, it was ok. Not very catchy either.”

“It’s always like that in the beginning. Boring music for a couple hours, break to eat, back to boring and then a slow grind to an amazing night!” Ash exclaimed.

“Yeah! I know almost everybody, and I can tell you right now that it’ll be amazing! A lot of dancers around.”

“I hope so. I’m already bored to death and exhausted from these two hours.”

“What? The impressive Mahon who first ran the Great twenty laps of Slander is tired from two hours of easy music?”

Mahon chuckled at his friend’s remark and the trio went to the kitchen to eat and take a well-earned break. Half an hour later and they were back at the platform to play. And as promised, the songs switched gradually to more active ones.

At one point, Zac signaled Mahon and Ash that he’d go for a dancing song next. At first Mahon was skeptical. Half of the people were still eating, and the dinner was a long shot from ending. Yet as soon as Zac started his song with zeal and volume, the people immediately cheered and started clapping.

Quickly, Mahon immersed himself in the new mood and played along with his friend with renewed enthusiasm. For the first time in his life, Mahon played a real song in front of hundreds of eager people, and his heart beat wildly. He was enjoying it.

The song lasted a few minutes and when it ended, Zac followed with a slower melody. At the exact same time, a second service was offered at the tables and the people were back to eating. With a smile, Zac moved closer to his friends and winked at them.

“Told you. I know these people by heart. Let me handle it and we’re gonna have fun!”

His voice was concealed to the guests by the music, but Mahon and Ash heard him well and they nodded back with smiles. The lively song they had just played had woken them up from their slumber, and they were ready for the next part of the night.

Zac was the conductor, and he continued to tease the crowd at every occasion. Soon he managed to link two catchy songs, and some people even danced in their seats.

Once the dessert was dispatched, Zac became even more active. He gestured for Ash, and the trio started one of the few songs they had with lyrics. The beautiful voice of Ash froze the people in place and for a few minutes, all eyes were stuck to the platform. It was a song of love and nostalgia and it transported everyone, as by magic. An eerie silence lasted for a few seconds as the song ended, only to be broken by thunderous applause and cheers.

Zac seized the opportunity to speak as soon as the clapping faded, a good half minute later.

“Are there people ready to dance?!”

A fervent clamor answered him, and Mahon felt the platform trembling under the crowd’s enthusiasm.

“Then, let’s get started.”

The trio immediately followed with an entertaining song and at least a third of the crowd moved to the dancefloor. This time, Mahon didn’t pay much attention to them. He was focused on his music.

The songs never stopped and required Mahon’s full concentration. As the crowd below them echoed their music, however, he found it easier and easier to know what to do. Music intentions he had struggled with during hours appeared obvious when it was expressed so blatantly by the crowd.

He instinctively knew how to play it. He was not practicing with Ash and Zac anymore. Instead, he was lost in his own world. Song after the song, the night went on, and Mahon was carried further and further away by the music.

A lively crowd danced in front of him. At his side, a sitar and a mandolin held the strings moving the crowd. He knew where he belonged with his harmonica. He found his place.

Fully immersed in the songs, he discarded the partitions they had learned and moved according to his instinct. Song by song, he assimilated the melodies and grew in confidence. From a simple accompanist, he made his way to a full protagonist. He was equal to Zac and Ash, and the trio’s music felt even stronger.

But he knew he could do more. He closed his eyes and let the rhythm rock him. He dived deep inside and, without even triggering it, the Flow was here. It cocooned him with his warm embrace, changing Mahon’s breath. The notes came out smoother. It was as if the reeds inside the harmonica got a life on their own, and Mahon’s music reached the next level.

Ash was surprised by the sudden change, but Zac didn’t falter. He had spent too much time with his friend not to recognize when his friend was Flowing.

In fact, he had expected it. The crowd continued its dance, unaware of the subtle change happening on the platform, whereas Zac stopped playing suddenly. Mahon frowned, eyes still closed.

The sitar has gone missing.

It was just a simple observation, and Mahon acted in accordance. The Flow helped him gently seize the missing piece and build it back to life. He was still only playing the harmonica, but his melody matured. He was in charge of more, and the song morphed into something else. Something he was more in control of.

He expanded his range of notes, building his intention such that it could fill the gap of the missing sitar. A second after his disappearance, Mahon had already replaced it, playing with his harmonica in a way he had never done before.

Ash was a talented musician, and she instinctively played along with the changes. From a leader, she switched to a follower as she threw a worried look at Zac. But the noble simply smiled back at her. He grabbed her hands, interrupting her music.

The mandolin is gone too.

Again, just a simple fact that Mahon acknowledged. He developed his melody to encompass the other missing instrument and, suddenly, he was in full control. There was just his harmonica and the crowd. He could feel them moving through the Flow. Their hearts beating wildly. Their feet stomping on the ground. Their hands clapping with the music.

Each individual created his own rhythm. Each dancing couple married their own pace with their partner. The whole assembly twirled without jostling into others in a different kind of rhythm. Zac dragged the still stunned Ash onto the dancefloor where they joined the other couples whirling around. Yet another rhythm to consider.

There were many rhythms entwined within each other, and yet Mahon saw them all. Felt them all. He was Flowing. But it was not the same kind of Flow he was used to when fighting. He was not using the Flow to see the basic rhythm and exploit it. He was Flowing to show that rhythm. Whatever ruled every beat, stomp, clap, and roll, he could feel it. And he could share it.

Through his harmonica came a melody so perfect that it encompassed every single dancer. It was a song made for them. Each of them. It transported them to do more. It led them to express themselves even further. It unified them in a single whole.

For long minutes, the people got lost in the dance. In the song. They lived the moment. They experienced what it was to be at the right time in the right place. It was almost as if they Flowed.

They bathed in the feelings of slow and fast. Slow, because lost in the eyes of their partner, the time could have as well stopped. Fast, because the swift melody urged for more steps, more moves, more energy.

When the final note echoed throughout the room, the magic took some time to disappear.

Mahon lowered his harmonica and opened his eyes. A silence welcomed him and, one by one, as the people woke up from their daydream, they turned their heads to look at the person who had ignited such feelings.

Hundreds of faces looked straight at him in a mix of surprise and gratitude. The first clap came from Zac, quickly followed by Ash, at his side. A second later and it was picked up by the whole crowd in a thunderous applause.

Mahon was surprised at the sight, as he too went out of his own daydream. He quickly composed himself though and slightly bowed at the crowd in thanks. In the meantime, Zac and Ash joined him, and the trio started yet another song under the cheers of the crowd. The night was far from over.