Arseniy Popov

The ice crunched under the force of the skates, creating a muffled sound of intense work. Figure skating is a demanding sport; not everyone can handle the long stretching sessions followed by four hours of work on the ice.

Arseny Popov, a stately thirty-year-old with a strong build, watched the students, meticulously searching for flaws. Tenderness and kindness weren't his style. He believed that only strictness and iron discipline could teach good skating and achieve high scores. His cold, cornflower-blue eyes settled on one of the students. The most annoying, the most energetic and loud, the brash and proud... and, damn, the best. No matter how Popov pushed him, no matter how he nagged, this guy never gave in. His will was unbreakable. Shastun seemed to float above the ice, demonstrating incredible flexibility and leaps.

When it came time for the competition, Popov chose Anton without hesitation. His performance was perfect. He had the gold in his pocket, not a single fall, crystal-clear jumps. But when the results appeared on the scoreboard, the life seemed to drain from Shastun's face. Pale as death itself, his eyes utterly empty, he silently left the locker room. Second place. Popov wanted to rush after him, but changed his mind, deciding that Anton needed some time alone, to let out his anger and tears. He understood Shastun's feelings about defeats, about that damned second place. First place—he was the best of the best, third—the best of the worst, but second… the worst of the best. Disgraceful. He was just a couple of points short of the coveted gold, and those points were most likely bought.

The journey back to his native St. Petersburg seemed wrong, too dreary and gray. Anton sat in the farthest corner of the bus, pulling up his hood and immersing himself in silence. A stony mask settled on his face, surprising even Arseny. Usually, even after losing, Shastun managed to feign indifference. But this silence was the most frightening thing of all.

• Anton... you know that first place was bought. You were the best.