Sunday morning arrived with a familiar routine for Felix.
By the time he stepped into Eldlyria Arena Ice Hall, the building was already alive with activity. Skaters moved across the ice, coaches called out instructions, and the sharp sound of blades cutting through the surface echoed around the rink.
Felix adjusted the strap of his black Edea Cube skate bag and made his way towards the changing area.
He had enjoyed Saturday more than he had expected.
Yesterday, he'd spent an afternoon shaping clay badly with Aurora, and somehow, that had been enough to make the entire week feel lighter.
He smiled to himself as he sat down to change his shoes.
Then he caught himself smiling and shook his head.
It was just a date...A good date, admittedly, but still, just a date.
He had no reason to keep thinking about it.
"You're smiling at your skates now?"
Felix looked up.
Liam stood near the entrance to the changing area, watching him with an amused expression.
"I'm not smiling at my skates."
"Of course not."
Felix gave him a look. "Do you need something?"
"Coach Vance said he wants you on the ice in five minutes."
"Then why are you standing here talking to me?"
Liam grinned. "I was checking whether you were still on this planet."
Felix picked up his skate bag. "I'm perfectly fine."
"Good. Keep it that way. The competition isn't going to wait for you."
With that, Liam left before Felix could respond.
Felix sighed, finished getting ready, and headed towards the rink.
Coach Vance was already waiting near the boards, a clipboard in one hand and his usual serious expression on his face.
"You're late."
Felix glanced at the clock. "I'm two minutes early."
"Then you're two minutes away from being late. Get on the ice."
Felix held back a smile. "Yes, Coach."
He stepped onto the ice, allowing the familiar cold air to settle around him. The moment his blades touched the surface, his attention began shifting away from everything else.
This was where he belonged.
The ice demanded his focus, his balance, and every bit of discipline he had. There was no room for distraction, especially with the competition approaching.
Coach Vance watched as he began his warm-up.
"Let's start with your footwork sequence. I want cleaner transitions today."
Felix nodded and pushed off.
The first few minutes passed smoothly. He moved through the sequence, building speed before transitioning into a series of turns. When he finished, Coach Vance raised his clipboard.
"Again."
Felix returned to his starting position.
He repeated the sequence, concentrating on his edges and the timing of each movement.
"Better," Coach Vance called. "But you're anticipating the next transition. Stop rushing it."
Felix nodded and tried again.
By the fourth attempt, his movements were more controlled.
Coach Vance lowered the clipboard slightly.
"That's closer. Now let's work on your jumps."
Felix moved towards the opposite end of the rink.
The session became more demanding as the morning progressed. He repeated his combinations, corrected his landings, and worked through the elements that still needed improvement. Whenever he made a mistake, Coach Vance made him repeat the movement until he was satisfied.
By the time they reached the final section of the session, Felix's legs were beginning to ache.
He completed another combination, landed the final jump, and glided towards the boards.
Coach Vance studied his notes. "Your consistency has improved."
Felix took a drink of water. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"Don't get used to it."
Felix laughed quietly.
"But you still have work to do," Coach Vance continued. "The competition is getting closer, and I won't accept careless mistakes just because you're tired."
"I know."
"Good. Then show me."
Felix pushed away from the boards.
For the next twenty minutes, he focused on his transitions and landings, determined to finish the session properly. When Coach Vance finally called time, Felix glided towards the exit with a tired but satisfied smile.
He had worked hard and that was what mattered.
As he sat down to remove his skates, his phone vibrated inside his bag.
He reached for it, expecting a message from his father or a reminder about the business documents he had agreed to review.
Instead, Aurora's name appeared on the screen.
Aurora: How's training going?
Felix stared at the message for a moment before smiling.
Felix: Brutal as usual, I think Coach Vance has decided I need to suffer before breakfast.
Aurora: It's almost lunchtime, Felix.
Aurora: Have you survived at least?
Felix: Barely. What about you? Have you recovered from yesterday's artistic disaster?
Aurora: My bowl was perfectly respectable.
Felix: You made a bowl that looked like it had been in an argument with gravity.
Aurora: And yours looked like it had lost the argument.
Felix laughed, earning a curious glance from a skater sitting nearby. He ignored it and continued typing.
Felix: Mine was abstract.
Aurora: That's a very convenient excuse.
Felix: I'm glad you understand art.
Aurora: Clearly, I'm the only one of us who does.
Felix shook his head, grinning at the screen.
Aurora: Anyway, good luck with the rest of your training. Don't let Coach Vance work you too hard.
Felix: I'll tell him you said that.
Aurora: Please don't. I have a reputation to protect.
Felix: Too late, Rora. I'll make sure he knows you're concerned about me.
Aurora: I regret asking.
Felix smiled before sending one final message.
Felix: Have a good Sunday, Rora.
Aurora: You too, Felix. And get some rest.
He put his phone away, still smiling faintly.
"Something funny?"
Felix looked up to find Coach Vance standing nearby.
"No, Coach."
"Then why are you smiling?"
"I'm allowed to be happy, aren't I?"
Coach Vance regarded him suspiciously. "As long as it doesn't affect your performance."
"It won't."
"We'll see about that tomorrow."
Felix stood, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Have a good day, Coach."
"Recover properly. We'll be working on your full routine next session."
Felix nodded and headed towards the changing area.
He knew the coming weeks wouldn't be easy. Training would become more intense, his father would continue expecting him to make progress with the family business, and the competition would demand more of him than ever.
But for the first time in a while, the thought of everything waiting ahead didn't feel quite so overwhelming.
Maybe it was because he was finally learning to take things one step at a time.
Or maybe it was because, somewhere in the middle of all those responsibilities, there was Aurora.
Someone who could make him laugh about a terrible pottery class and remind him that he didn't have to spend every waking moment thinking about what came next.
Whatever the reason, Felix wasn't going to question it.
He had enough things to figure out already.
And as he left the arena that afternoon, he found himself looking forward to the next time he would see her.
Not because he had a plan, not because he had something important to say. He simply wanted to spend more time with her.