Gasps rippled through the stands.
Then the arena exploded.
Thunderous applause shook the air. Cheers rose like a tidal wave. Even seasoned judges exchanged stunned glances.
Because this wasn't just dressage.
It was dominance disguised as elegance.
And everyone in that arena knew they had just witnessed something unforgettable.
...
Back to the present—
Lara hadn't even blinked when the second memory crashed into her.
It wasn't soft. It wasn't distant.
It was vivid.
Sunlight. White rails. The sharp scent of grass and adrenaline.
She was astride a different horse this time.
Areion.
Powerful. Dark-coated. Muscles coiled beneath her like compressed lightning.
The announcer's voice echoed across a packed field, but she heard none of it. All she heard was the thundering rhythm beneath her.
"This is it, Areion," she whispered at first — then louder, fierce and alive. "Go for it!"
The first barrier rushed toward them.
Areion launched.
