Page 131 of Chasing Gold, Catching Her

They gained speed again, building into parallel jumps, and then both took off at the same time into a side-by-side triple toe loop.

They landed perfectly in sync.

The entire arena screamed in support now.

The program started perfectly, just perfectly, and it went perfectly. They glided flawlessly across the ice, forming various shapes with their hands, and then began to accelerate again through a beautiful, graceful, synchronized step sequence, preparing for another jump. This time it was a cascade of two jumps, two triple jumps in sequence, and the audience erupted in excitement.

They came so close they almost collided, but instead Tora clung into Loke’s embrace, and they spun together as if he had captured a bird in his arms. She turned to face him, and with both hands clasped, they flowed into a supported position, first on two arms, and then she shifted onto one arm in a half-split, lifting one leg into the air and rotating several times before landing cleanly out of a controlled front-flip-like exit over Loke.

Tora and Loke jumped together into a butterfly position and immediately took each other’s hands again. Tora lifted one leg high and skated for a couple of seconds with Loke’s support around her waist, and then they entered a death spiral. Tora spun low and wild, parallel to the ice, supported on Loke’s arm, and Alisa felt a rush of emotion watching them.

It was as if they were telling a love story on the ice, though Alisa wasn’t sure if there was any hidden meaning at all. Perhaps there wasn’t. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from imagining deeper, anxious narratives. But on the ice, they truly looked like a single harmonious unit, like a true couple.

They successfully landed and flowed into a lasso lift level 5, that went clean and powerful in the end. Then they continued into a throw triple Salchow, gaining maximum control and score potential.

They laughed softly as they exited the element, and Loke took Tora’s hands, placing her slightly ahead of him, letting her “fly” like a bird under his guidance and control. They returned to a two-arm supported position in an eagle-like extension, and Tora performed a half-split on one arm while her other leg bent elegantly behind her.

They finished the sequence cleanly, returning into synchronized movement across the ice.

They returned to the throw jump, and Loke spun Tora around before launching her into the air. She rotated cleanly, landed successfully, and the judges awarded them a perfect throw triple loop. They skated closely past the judges together, smiling at them, while the crowd erupted in pure excitement. Such a charming couple.

Then they transitioned into another supported element, but this time Tora was lifted into the air again, holding onto Loke’s two arms. She then shifted into a laid-out position across his arms, literally flying through the air with her arms stretched wide like wings. It was breathtaking. Loke then caught her securely and set her back onto the ice, completing the support element cleanly. Only the step sequence remained.

But Loke lifted Tora again with a smile, placing her onto his shoulder, causing her to arch her back into a controlled curve, one arm extended while she held onto him for balance. It was something unusual, almost acrobatic, and then she transitioned into a controlled backflip-like dismount from his shoulder as they continued into the final step sequence.

The last sequence.

They dropped to their knees on the ice together, arms extended, spinning in perfect sync around each other. After completing synchronized butterfly movements side by side, they rotated back toward each other and, taking each other by the waist, began a seated spin.

Then they rose slowly into a parallel spin in a layback position, and the audience screamed with delight. Loke lifted Tora again under her thigh, and she extended into another half-split position as they rotated across the ice. He then effortlessly threw her into the air once more, catching her securely and continuing the spin with her in his arms.

Then he leaned his forehead against hers, and together they dropped to their knees in perfect unison, Tora arching her back into a final frozen position.

The program ended.

The arena exploded into applause, and Alisa realized she had just witnessed one of the most powerful performances she had ever seen. Judging by the cleanliness, artistry, and confidence of their execution, they were going to be champions or at least earn the highest score of the group.

Alisa’s mouth fell open in genuine disbelief at what she had just seen.

And then she received another message from Lev.

Lev: Did you see that? Damn…

Alisa: Yes… I think they’re going to take the gold.

Lev: 100%.

Lev: But you know, we could do better!

Alisa: I doubt it…

Lev didn’t say anything else, and Alisa watched as Tora and Loke bowed to the audience on all sides and then, still holding hands, skated off the ice into the Kiss & Cry area to await their scores.

And finally, after all the judges had finished their evaluations…

Their names and scores were announced.

“Tora and Loke are in first place in Group B — 198.78!”