While Myriad Dreams and Touch Gold were at the training grounds wondering about Silver Charm's whereabouts, a secret training session was taking place on a secluded, steep training slope behind the Tracen Academy.
Silver Charm was there.
She hadn't gone missing, but rather, she had chosen a more rigorous and hidden location for some hellish special training.
Standing at the top of the slope, arms crossed while calmly observing every sprint, was a retired legend— a supreme existence who had once swept the Dirt Triple Crown: Citation, known for her calm analysis and precision training.
Citation hadn't come of her own accord.
It was only after Silver Charm's near self-destructive training session the other night that Citation appeared to offer guidance, driven by a complex affection for her junior and a sense of responsibility to prevent a genius from falling into ruin.
"Stop," Citation's voice rang out, devoid of emotion.
Silver Charm, who was sprinting up the slope, immediately decelerated at the sound.
Her chest heaved violently, and sweat dripped down her jawline. She looked up at her senior at the top of the slope, her eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge and longing.
"Confirm the sensation you described before once more."
Citation walked down the slope, her gaze piercing as she stared at Silver Charm.
"Myriad Dreams' 'Zone' only distorts your vision, making you 'see' curves that don't exist. But it doesn't directly affect your sense of balance, your hearing, or the tactile feel of the track beneath your feet, correct?"
"Yes, Senior!"
Silver Charm nodded vigorously, recalling that moment of despair.
"I could feel that the soil beneath me was straight, and the direction of the wind hadn't changed, but my eyes kept telling me there was a curve ahead. My body... my body subconsciously wanted to adjust."
"Good."
Citation nodded, as if she had expected this.
"Since the problem lies with your vision, the most direct— and most difficult— solution is to block it out."
"Block out... my vision?" Silver Charm was stunned.
"Exactly."
Citation pointed to the straight stretch of the slope.
"From now on, practice sprinting with your eyes closed. You don't need to do it for the whole race, only the final 150 meters. That is the critical section where you decide to start your full acceleration, and where you are most susceptible to interference from the Zone."
The proposal was bold to the point of madness.
Sprinting on a racetrack with closed eyes was no different from running along the edge of a cliff blindfolded.
It required absolute trust in one's own muscle memory, sense of rhythm, and the feel of the track.
The first few attempts were a disaster.
Without visual references, Silver Charm became hesitant. Her stride broke, her speed plummeted, and she nearly fell several times after losing her balance.
The internal fear and resistance to the unknown were harder to overcome than any physical exhaustion.
"What are you afraid of?"
Citation's voice remained calm, yet it possessed a strange, penetrating power.
"The track is beneath your feet, it has never changed. Your body remembers how to run. Trust it! Fear is your greatest enemy, not that Japanese Uma Musume's Zone!"
Citation's words hit Silver Charm's heart like a heavy hammer. Indeed, when had she, Silver Charm, become so timid?
"Again!" She wiped away her sweat and stood at the starting point once more.
Once, twice, ten times... dozens of times...
She stopped trying to "see" and began to "feel."
She felt the feedback of every contact between her soles and the dirt, the pressure of the wind rushing past her sides, the rhythm of her heart and breath, and the perfect stride and frequency stored in her muscle memory.
Standing by the side, Citation occasionally offered precise pointers.
"Rhythm! Watch your rhythm! Match your breathing to your steps!"
"Drive more with your left leg!"
"Trust your intuition!"
Gradually, Silver Charm adapted.
Her movements shifted from awkward and stiff back to fluid and powerful, her speed climbed step by step.
Although her eyes were closed, she could clearly outline the track in her mind. Her running form became increasingly stable and confident.
Finally, during another trial, she kept her eyes shut like a silver steed breaking its tether.
Relying on pure perception and muscle memory, she charged across the finish line at the top of the slope.
Her speed was almost identical to when she sprinted with her eyes wide open!
Looking at the stopwatch in her hand, a faint, almost imperceptible look of satisfaction finally appeared on Citation's face.
She signaled for Silver Charm to stop and rest.
"Doing it like this is enough," Citation said, her tone uncharacteristically softened.
"Remember this feeling. During the Preakness Stakes, the moment you feel your vision being interfered with, when you 'see' a curve that shouldn't be there, close your eyes decisively. Trust your body and run at the speed you just achieved."
She looked at the panting but bright-eyed Silver Charm and added, "As long as you can perfectly replicate the effect of this blind sprint, Myriad Dreams' Zone will no longer be an insurmountable obstacle."
Silver Charm clenched her fists tightly, the sweat-soaked palms conveying a sense of firm power.
She looked at Citation and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior! I will never forget this kindness!"
She raised her head, a blazing fire burning in her eyes. It was a reignited fighting spirit and a determination to win.
"This time, at the Preakness Stakes, I will definitely defeat Myriad Dreams and wash away my previous disgrace!"