"nothing we can do if there is a time conflict... "
I was very disappointed that I couldn't watch Nicola's finals, but I was more concerned about the magic competition right now. There was less than half a day left and I was anxious.
"Aetina, can you help me with advanced magic again? After all, you were the one who encouraged me to sign up for the competition."
Although she had already said no demo was needed earlier, I kept asking.
"It's useless. With so little time left before the competition starts, it's too late to learn now."
Aetina shook her head, still refusing my request.
"I've heard from many friends earlier that my famous newborn angel student has been going around asking about advanced magic with a book... Even I would find it very difficult. After all, advanced magic spells take a long time to decipher."
"Then what should I do?"
I felt my heart sink when I heard that.
Angels are extremely talented. From the two-winged newborn state, they can easily cast advanced light magic spells, of course requiring they already learned how.
My opponents would know more than just one or two advanced spells. Just a few intermediate spells I learned from Cyra on-site definitely wouldn't be enough.
"I already said, learning magic from spells is a human approach. For angels, incantations can only play an assisting role at most, helping to understand elemental flows and new spell structures."
Aetina sighed and advised.
"So you reading this human-authored magic book over and over again is a waste of time. Since you have the talent, why not directly observe the elemental flows in others?"
"Isn't that what I'm trying to do?"
I was confused. After all that, she was suggesting the same thing I wanted to do!
"But no one is helping demonstrate, so how can I observe?"
"Or you could demonstrate another advanced spell you already know, so I can watch and learn without deciphering those incantations. That works too right?"
I immediately thought of a compromise. Any advanced spell would do, didn't have to be one I picked. I couldn't be picky anymore at this point.
"That's unnecessary..."
My teacher smiled wryly at my request. But as a mentor, she apparently couldn't resist my pestering and reluctantly agreed.
"Fine, let's go find an open space first then?"
"Great!"
I was overjoyed to finally get what I wanted after all that waiting. Just as I thought about flying up to find a good spot...
"Luckily you didn't leave yet..."
Suddenly an eight-winged angel flew over from the arena and said to Aetina.
"Yolanda had something urgent just now and needs to leave for a while. Can you help substitute as referee for a bit?"
"Huh? No way!"
I blurted out anxiously upon hearing that. I finally convinced Aetina to demonstrate magic for me, and now it's ruined again.
"She's your newborn angel student right?"
Hearing my reaction, the eight-winged angel glanced at me and jokingly said to Aetina.
"I heard she reached six wings in just a month. No wonder you're so stressed..."
"Oh stop that. Can't you see I'm conflicted here?"
Aetina snapped back irritably. Looks like she was close to the other angel. She looked at me again, then the arena. The competition had indeed paused. It seemed hard for her to decide right now.
She should be helping me, but without a referee, the whole competition schedule would be affected...
It was an extremely difficult choice.
"It's fine, you go first. Don't worry about Feliciana here!"
Unexpectedly at this moment, Nicola jumped in and waved Aetina away.
"Alright then!"
Since Nicola said so, Aetina didn't hesitate further. But before leaving, she still reminded me:
"Don't worry so much. Just perform at your normal level during the competition, using your elemental control."
"Oh... Okay."
I watched her leave helplessly, immediately turning to Nicola in dissatisfaction.
"What are you doing? Did you take the wrong medicine?"
Why was Nicola the one jumping in?
"It's my competition! What can I do without the teacher?"
"The competition needs referees for everything to go smoothly. And you're so dumb! Even I understood what to do..."
Seeing my reaction, Nicola looked exasperated.
"Forget about learning magic beforehand. Can't you just learn your opponents' magic during the competition? They will use them, it's countless live demonstrations!"
"Huh? Do you want me to learn on-site? Are you joking? Is there enough time?"
I was shocked. I had never even considered such an arrogant approach. She thought of it. Does Athena think the same?
"Of course! Don't you remember Selene's 'Light Puppet' magic in the Dark Continent? You learned it in one glance. So I believe you can do it."
Nicola seemed very confident in me. But in my view, she never took magic classes and didn't understand the actual situation.
While "Light Puppet" was advanced magic to humans, at most it was mid level in Edenmere and a simpler one at that.
I do agree I can quickly learn magic through observation, but that's limited to a mid-level at best. Most of what teachers taught in class were beginner spells anyway.
"No, you don't get it. This is too difficult!"
I truly lacked confidence. The long incantations of advanced magic showed how extremely complex they were. I couldn't even remember all of them, how could I possibly pull it off?
"Here we go again!"
Seeing my response, Nicola immediately sighed and shook her head.
"You were afraid to join yesterday, yet you secretly registered today. Don't you even know why you entered the competition?"
"... Of course, I know!"
I understood what she meant. Lack of confidence again, nothing new.
"But I have evidence this time! You'd know if you read that thick advanced magic book..."
"Uh, didn't bring it..."
I was about to show her the book before realizing I left it in my room this morning after all that frustration.
"...Cheer up, believe in yourself!"
Nicola patted my shoulder, not saying more, only encouraging me meaningfully.
"Cheer up! Believe in yourself!"
Cyra ran over to joke around and copy her actions, so I swiftly plucked one of his feathers in retaliation.
"Ow!"
The sudden pain made Cyra yelp in surprise and clutch his wing pitifully.
"Why! That hurts a lot okay. Feliciana, how could you learn to pluck feathers too..."
"That's for randomly patting my shoulder when it's none of your business! My competition has nothing to do with you!"
I happily examined the feather in my hand. Plucking Cyra's feathers was indeed stress relief...
Unfortunately, like blood, the feather quickly faded into white specks of light and disappeared soon after leaving his body.
"Too much! I can't touch Nicola, but I won't fear you!"
Not resigned to lose, Cyra shot back.
"A tiger doesn't show might, and you take me for a hello kitty?"
"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who!"
...
As the tournament continued into the evening, the martial arts competition finally entered the final stage.
At the same time, my magic competition also began.
"Magic competition contestants, please follow me to the other arena!"
An eight-winged angel called out loudly overhead.
Soon, several angels flew up into the sky and gathered around her. A couple even carried light elves who kindly helped transport them.
"I'm going then, good luck!"
I said to Nicola still here for the finals, waving as I took off.
"You too, good luck..."
Nicola also nodded, though she seemed to be holding back laughter as she watched me leave.
"I already realized my mistake, so stop that..."
Seeing her expression, I sighed helplessly and waved back before ascending into the sky.
"Look, it's that legendary newborn angel!"
Sure enough, as soon as I flew up with the others, it immediately attracted a lot of attention below. Everyone started chatting loudly.
"Just born for a month and daring to join the magic competition, incredible!"
"Most likely just to gain experience and learn right?
"Winning does seem too difficult, especially with tournament favourite Phoebe here..."
...