A/N: Hey guys, how are you? Hopefully, you are not suffering from cabin fever (the coronavirus isolation is pretty hard). This chapter was very easy to write - I especially liked the part where Bob speaks about beauty. Also, I realized we barely know anything about Bob - where does he have all those mansions from, for example? Maybe I should write a few stories focused on him...
For the record, Eve adored winters. Every night he spent stuck to the glass, watching as the whole world put on a white mantle of diamond dust. The snow piled on heavy clusters that felt as soft as if made of fluff. The cold air pecked his face - the short, burning kisses of the north winds. When the sun broke through the gray towers of clouds, everything glistened as if made of light. Yes, Eve loved winter. It was the slippery, sneaky, creaky ice he had problems with. Why then, in spite of all the fears, he had woken up with the sunrise to go and train skating?
Master Bob had no rival at anything gracious. On the ice, he had the gentlest, most rehearsed and refined moves - long-drawn programs that always evoked feelings in the hearts of the watchers. For Eve, he had become a dream: a state of beauty he had to achieve. The performance ended; the only thing more powerful than the awe that had struck Eve's soul was the dread that crashed over him when Master Bob spoke.
"Now it is your turn, young Eve. Go and show the world your charm!"
Weakly - as if it would break down under him - Eve stepped on the ice. He tried to take another step when the master's voice stopped him.
"No, Eve! You should open your eyes when you skate!"
Eve clenched his eyes shut even tighter. "Master Bob, I don't think this is the thing for me. I thought it would be easy since I am a snow mage, but I will have to match your beauty in another manner -"
"Nonsense, Eve. Your beauty -" Master Bob skated next to Eve and leaned on the air - an ability only he had - "had long since surpassed mine. The youth always puts the old beauties to shame." He giggled - like bubbles in a fizzy drink - and put his hand on Eve's shoulder. "You should not strive to beat something long-defeated. No, you must aim to beat yourself - that is how you know you are getting better."
Master Bob had right; how long could a mage of the snow fear the ice? Yet Eve could not take another step - as if the cold winters had frozen even him still. Would it be today - the day he would finally beat his fear? His leg broke the stiff mold Eve had stuck himself in.
Eve took another step and let his leg glide for a bit.
"Brilliant! Just brilliant!" Master Bob applauded loudly. "Your first little step - the first part of every grand program! And you poured more emotion and beauty in it than I had put in while shows. Amazing!"
One more small step would not hurt, right?
