Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

Sitting at the octagonal wooden workstations that had been pre-assigned, these platforms resembled individual cubicles, equipped with various tools for the competition. Participants would mix dyes and pre-treat Cloud Silk here, and in two hours when the sun sets, these platforms would elevate participants for a direct view of the 'Fire-colored Flowing Cloud', then begin weaving the Dawn Cloth.

In the first phase, it's hard to discern any difference, so its spectator value isn't high. Many in the audience are merely curious as they glance at the busy contestants through the camera lens, discussing each participant's background and predicting the outcome of the competition.

"The second lady from 'Qingla Workshop' is here too; I saw her participating in a fashion design contest in the Cuiyue Star System recently."

"That's Pushkin from 'Grey Iron Alchemy'. Wasn't he always researching classical alchemy? Why is he participating in a contest like this?"

"Perhaps he thinks the focus of Dawn Cloth weaving is on the combination of special dyes and the permeation of magic power, and coincidentally, he's an expert in related fields."

"There he is, the one most likely to win this time, Morris, who advanced to Natural Sequence 7 at just 39 years old, the young master of the 'Moon Owl Forest' faction." Someone pointed at the projection screen at the man with short dark green hair, his hair slicked to one side, wearing nontraditional style checkered short sleeves — someone might think he's an obscure artist.

"Not only does Morris possess a remarkable talent himself, but he also has a quarter Elf Bloodline; his grandmother was one of the most famous Dawn Cloth weavers at Moonthorn Star Domain 40 years ago and supposedly Elena Master's student."

The audience chattered away, discussing the conditions of each contestant, with some casting glances at Tilan's group — perhaps simply because the two young ladies were quite beautiful.

Inside the workstation, Tilan carefully selected appropriate parts of the 'Madder Red Grass Stalk' and 'Orange Flame Chrysanthemum Petals' intended for dyes, then crushed them to extract juice, followed by filtering. Deloris could assist in this stage.

Next was letting the extracted juice stand still, while preparing other raw materials to ensure the dye color's fixation and stability.

Once let stand adequately, carefully remove the clear upper layer of juice, add the previously prepared ingredients, pour them in to mix; soon the liquid in the basin turned sticky, losing its transparency.

Continuously stir, and lightly heat to hasten reaction speed, not letting the temperature rise too high.

Next again letting it stand for a period, as the second phase arrives.

Gazing at the delicately rich orange and red hues in the basin, satisfied somewhat, Tilan thought of using her talent to purify the liquid once again, letting impurities separate and settle at the bottom. While the surface appears similar to other contestants' dyes, the true purity and quality within have elevated to a whole new level.

Waiting by the side during this period, the young girl pondered about if she didn't have the Songstress talent and relied solely on Crystal Purification and Healing talent, she'd likely walk further down a career path concerning Pharmacist and Healing.

Perhaps such a life would be peaceful and simple, without experiencing so many complex matters.

As Tilan's imagination extended continuously, the moment for the second phase arrived.

With a light prompt sound, each contestant's workstation rose slowly, gradually reaching above the Forest Sea of Trees, allowing an unobstructed view into the distant evening glow, where the sky filled with fiery flowing colors — the optimal time for weaving Dawn Cloth.

The beginning, thought the young girl, then picked up the long-soaked Cloud Silk, lightly shaking to filter excess water droplets, hanging it to then absorb into two distinct dye basins separately — one deep red and solemn, the other blazing like an orange flame.

Then the dye-soaked Cloud Silk was pulled out, reflecting in the evening glow, where the special dyes encountering the sunset started exhibiting unique radiance and reactions.

It shouldn't be woven before the reaction nor delayed until complete reaction, but continuously imprinting intricate patterns along the process, weaving the intersecting dyed strands to form new special textures, letting magic reactions fuse and solidify guided by the patterns. The woven threads creating vibrant undulations, resembling rippling waves on the ocean — exceptionally striking and beautiful.

This marked the most critical moment in the competition, with each contestant fully concentrated in their tasks. Tilan also sat steadfast at the spinning machine, akin to a goddess of fate in classical mythology, eyes seriously capturing every detail, hands controlling, continuously guiding the magic power in the threads, making it evenly and interconnected, with complex glowing strands illuminating the woven fabric.

Throughout the process, she almost lost perception of time, only waking up once an entire cloth was woven with no threads left in hand.

How long had it been? The young girl snapped out of her immersion, somewhat dazed gazing afar; the sunset had fully dipped below, skies near black, while a cloth resembling skyward clouds and glows laid in her lap — the process akin to capturing a piece of evening glow from the heavens.

Was it completed? She was slightly at a loss, almost as if the one wholeheartedly engaged in spinning just now wasn't her.