On Tuesday morning, the ice rink at the Silver House slowly came to life. Students gathered in one corner of the rink, getting ready to start their daily training. Maya sat quietly beside Lucy and Sofia, a flicker of nervousness hiding behind her calm demeanor. Her practice outfit was simple, yet delicate embroidery stitched by her grandmother gave it a personal touch of warmth.
Around the rink, students chatted with their rivals. Friendly teasing and bursts of laughter filled the space, keeping the atmosphere from turning too tense or competitive. But suddenly, a murmur swept through the group, and everyone turned toward the entrance.
— "Guys... Lucas is here!"
— "Wow... he looks even more handsome than before!"
— "He's always stunning... I'm dying of jealousy!"
Almost involuntarily, Maya turned her gaze toward the door. Backlit by the golden morning sun, a young man walked in, his golden hair gleaming, eyes as blue as the Arctic sky. It was as if he had just stepped out of the icy mountains of Russia.
Tall, athletic, and radiating confidence even from afar, his full face came into view as he stepped into the light. He stopped directly in front of Maya and her friends.
Lucas looked at her and said,
— "Maya... is that you?"
Maya quickly stood and smiled, extending her hand in greeting.
— "Hi. Yes, it's me."
But Lucas brushed right past her outstretched hand and turned to Lucy.
— "Mind if I sit here?"
Caught off guard, Lucy shifted to the side.
— "Oh, sure... go ahead."
Without giving Maya another glance, Lucas sat down. Maya, feeling dismissed, lowered her eyes and sat back in silence.
Moments later, Lian Victor entered the rink, prompting all the students to line up—everyone except Lucas, who remained on the bench, tightening the strap on his leather wristband with calm focus.
Lian stepped forward.
— "Listen up. Starting today, your official training for the qualifying matches begins. You'll be practicing a synchronized routine with your assigned rival. You have one month. After that, each pair will perform head-to-head, and your individual performances will be judged."
One student raised a hand.
— "But coach, won't this just favor the more experienced skaters again?"
Lian responded firmly.
— "The vote is in your hands. You know better than anyone who's been working hard and who's coasting on past achievements. This is the fairest system."
Another student added,
— "Yeah… we can tell who's really trying."
Lian continued,
— "Your practice schedule and the music for your routine are on these sheets. Stick to the plan. No extra moves unless approved. Your ice time is also scheduled—since not everyone can train at once. Now get to it."
Students began checking their assignments. With a bit of hesitation, Maya approached Lucas.
— "Here's our schedule… Alexander."
Lucas smirked.
— "It's Lucas here. Alexander's just my stage name."
Maya looked down.
— "Sorry… Lucas. Here's the schedule."
Without even glancing at the paper, Lucas stood up.
— "Hold onto it. I want to look around a bit."
Maya hesitated.
— "Don't you want to know what we're supposed to practice?"
Lucas was already walking away.
— "I'll check it later. We've got a whole month, don't we?"
As Lucas walked off, Maya sat quietly, watching the others until it was her turn. Her personal coach came up to her.
— "Did you go over the routine?"
— "Yes. I've been practicing most of it."
— "Which part is hardest for you?"
— "The jump combinations. I keep losing my balance."
Her coach gave a reassuring smile.
— "That'll improve with practice. Come on, let's play the music."
Maya stepped onto the ice. Before she could begin, her coach glanced around.
— "Where's Lucas?"
— "I think he went outside."
— "Trying to get on Mr. Victor's nerves again… alright, let's begin."
Three days passed. Maya trained hard, adjusting each movement with her coach's help. But Lucas never showed.
During one of the sessions, Lian called the coach over from his office.
— "Still no Lucas?"
— "No. He'll probably show up two weeks before the match, as always."
Lian frowned.
— "That arrogance is going to bite him. I've warned him many times—being a pro means consistency, not just raw talent."
— "Honestly, maybe you should've paired him with someone at his level. Maya's a newcomer… Maybe Lucas isn't taking this seriously because he thinks beating her is a given."
Lian's voice lowered, thoughtful.
— "I had my reasons for that choice… you'll understand later."
Finally, a week later, Lucas returned. With his usual confidence, he walked up to Maya.
— "Hey. You got the practice schedule?"
— "Hi. Yeah, I have it in my pocket… here."
She handed him the paper. He gave it a quick glance, then flipped it over uninterested.
— "Coach isn't here yet. We can start once he arrives."
But before she could finish, Lucas stepped onto the ice and started skating without warning. Music played through the speakers as his movements unfolded—flawless, rhythmic, perfectly in sync. Continuous spins, clean triple jumps, and near-unshakable balance.
Maya watched, mouth slightly agape.
— "I can't believe it… he's untouchable…"
Up in his office, Lian watched too, until his aunt's voice broke the silence.
— "Lian? You here? Sorry if I'm interrupting… I can come back later—"
— "It's okay, Auntie. I was just leaving."
She followed his gaze and smiled as she reached the window.
— "As always… Lucas doesn't miss a beat. It's like his movements are the music."
Arms folded, Lian replied without taking his eyes off the rink.
— "True. But that perfection might be his biggest weakness. His pride could stop him from growing."
She looked at him, half-joking.
— "Not everyone's the same, Lian. Are you afraid what happened to you will happen to him? That match 15 years ago—that was just bad luck."
Lian glanced at her, lost in memory.
— "It wasn't luck. I was overconfident. That arrogance cost me the biggest opportunity of my life."
She sighed.
— "Lucas is stubborn. You can't force him to train more or prepare for every scenario."
— "He's our best student. But he needs to realize that even greatness doesn't guarantee victory. Without hard work, defeat can come from the last place you expect."
— "So, what are you planning to do?"
Lian gave a cryptic smile.
— "Don't worry. I've got a plan…"
A few minutes later, Lian entered the rink, scanning the students. His eyes settled on Maya standing near the bench.
— "Your coach isn't here yet?"
Surprised, Maya quickly replied,
— "No… I think he'll be here in five minutes. But Lucas already started on the ice."
Lian glanced at Lucas, still skating confidently.
— "That's fine. I actually wanted to talk to you."
Maya raised an eyebrow.
— "Me? About what?"
Looking her straight in the eye, he said,
— "Maybe you're still wondering why I gave you such a strong rival, right?"
Maya hesitated.
— "Honestly… yeah. It really shocked me. I didn't expect it."
— "What do you think the reason is?"
She thought for a moment, then answered cautiously:
— "Maybe you're still upset with me… and this is your way of pushing me to try harder."
Lian laughed—not mockingly, but appreciating her honesty.
— "Upset? No. If I don't believe in someone, I don't waste time making plans for them. But yes, I do want you to push yourself. Maya, I've placed my faith in you. And honestly… if you give it everything you've got, I believe you can beat Lucas."
Maya let out a surprised chuckle.
— "Me? Beat Lucas? That's impossible…"
Lian stepped closer. His voice was calm but firm.
— "Nothing is impossible, Maya. Remember that. Now go start your training. And one more thing—this conversation stays between us."
He turned and walked past her without another word. Maya stood still, watching him go, mouth slightly open in disbelief. A strange feeling stirred in her chest—a mix of fear, excitement, and new determination...