On Thin Ice

~Chapter three~

A few days later, Toto found himself in a situation he never would have imagined. He stood at the edge of an ice rink, the cold air biting at his face, the surface gleaming under the rink lights. Elsa was beside him, lacing up her skates with practiced ease, her blonde hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She looked up at him with a grin.

“Ready for this?” she asked, her tone light but with a hint of challenge.

Toto, dressed in a warm jacket and rented skates that felt foreign on his feet, took a deep breath. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he replied, though there was a trace of nervousness in his voice. He was used to speed, precision, and control, but this was a different kind of challenge entirely.

Elsa finished tying her skates and stood up, moving onto the ice with the grace of someone who had spent a lifetime perfecting her craft. She glided effortlessly, her movements fluid and confident. Toto watched, a part of him still in disbelief that he was actually about to step onto the ice.

Elsa skated back to him, stopping with a soft scrape of her blades. “You’ll be fine, Toto. Just take it slow at first. I’ll be right here.”

Toto nodded, a determined look in his eyes as he stepped onto the ice. The first thing he noticed was the instability. Unlike the firm ground he was used to, the ice seemed to move beneath him, every slight shift in balance sending him wobbling. Elsa reached out, steadying him with a gentle hand on his arm.

“Easy,” she said, smiling encouragingly. “The trick is to keep your knees slightly bent and lean into the movement. It’s all about finding your center of balance.”

Toto adjusted his stance, following her advice. He took a cautious step forward, then another. Slowly, he started to get a feel for the ice, though it was far from graceful. Elsa stayed close, guiding him with patience and offering tips along the way.

After a few laps around the rink—some more successful than others—Toto began to find a rhythm. He wasn’t anywhere near the level of skill he was used to, but he wasn’t falling over either. There was a strange sense of satisfaction in this small progress.

“This isn’t as easy as it looks,” Toto admitted, a slight smile on his face as they took a brief break at the edge of the rink.

Elsa laughed softly. “Neither is driving a Formula One car. Everything takes practice. But you’re doing great for a first-timer.”

Toto looked out across the ice, watching a few other skaters gliding by effortlessly. “It’s humbling,” he said, more to himself than to Elsa. “To be a beginner again, to have to learn from scratch.”

“That’s one of the things I love about it,” Elsa said, leaning against the barrier beside him. “No matter how much you think you know, there’s always more to learn. You’re always pushing yourself, always striving for that next level.”

Toto nodded, understanding exactly what she meant. It was the same drive that had propelled him to the top of the motorsport world—the constant pursuit of improvement, the relentless quest for perfection.

After their break, Elsa led him back onto the ice, this time showing him a few basic techniques—how to stop, how to turn more smoothly. Toto absorbed everything she taught him, his focus intense, as if he were studying telemetry data for a race. He stumbled a few times, but each time, he got back up, more determined than before.

By the end of the session, Toto was tired, his legs aching from the unfamiliar exertion, but there was a sense of accomplishment in him. He wasn’t an expert, far from it, but he had taken the first steps—both literally and figuratively—into a new world.

As they sat down to remove their skates, Elsa looked at him with a smile. “So, what did you think?”

Toto chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “It was... challenging. But in a good way. I can see why you’re so passionate about it.”

Elsa’s smile widened. “You did really well, Toto. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks,” Toto said, genuinely appreciating the compliment. “I have to admit, this was more enjoyable than I expected. It’s refreshing to step out of my comfort zone.”

Elsa nodded, her expression thoughtful. “That’s the beauty of trying something new. You never know what you’ll discover about yourself.”

They walked out of the rink together, the cold evening air a stark contrast to the warmth inside. As they reached the parking lot, Toto turned to Elsa with a sincere look.

“Thank you for this, Elsa. It was... eye-opening. And humbling.”

She smiled, sensing the weight of his words. “You’re welcome, Toto. I’m glad you enjoyed it. And remember, the offer still stands—if you ever want to come back, I’m happy to help.”

Toto nodded, his mind already racing with thoughts of the next time he might return to the rink. “I might just take you up on that.”

As they parted ways, Toto felt a sense of satisfaction that was different from the usual thrill of victory. It was quieter, more introspective, but no less significant. This experience had reminded him of something important—the value of stepping out of his world, of embracing the unfamiliar, and of finding joy in the process of learning and discovery.

And in Elsa Eriksson, he had found not just a guide to this new world, but a kindred spirit—someone who understood the pursuit of excellence and the relentless drive that came with it. As Toto drove away from the rink, he knew this was only the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one that promised to be as challenging and rewarding as the one he had mastered so well.

●○Sorry about the delay. My only excuse, i forgot I started this book 😐😑😐. Anyways i hope you enjoyed this chapter, please vote, comment, and of course remind me to update 😘○●