"Is there any quick magic to dry clothes? My wings are wrapped around me so I can't fly anymore..."

Cyra twisted her body, her face flushed red as she pleaded to Reed for help.

She only had two wings. With them wrapped around her body, there was nothing left to fly with. Nicola and I still had at least two extra pairs that we could use.

"The Light element doesn't have magic like that. You'll just have to wait for your clothes to air dry!"

Reed ruthlessly replied. Then she turned her head towards me.

"This is a good chance, Feliciana. Try using your water element control to dry her clothes."

"Dry the water from her clothes? Isn't that too difficult for a first try?"

I smiled wryly. She was asking too much.

Normally, I could only control the Light element within my own body. There was also Water element inside me. I could even make it flow around meaninglessly. I just didn't know the right way to cast water magic.

But it was different outside my body. Even as an angel, I couldn't control the Light element externally. The only way was to absorb it into my body through my wings and then use it.

So compared to that, directly controlling external Water elements was like a huge leap. Especially clothes with physical water on them, while Cyra had her whole body wrapped in wings!

"I'll try with other water first..."

I decided to start with something simpler like my hand. The air was filled with water vapour that could also be tried.

Ordinary people might think water vapour and Water elements were the same thing. But after experiencing the Light element, I knew they were two different states.

According to Reed's theory, the Water element itself was a form of energy. While water vapour and liquid water were materialized substances of Water element. Just like how angels were made of Light elements. I could sense the difference just like with Light element.

This was interesting. It meant all matter in this world was probably formed from various elements. But there was an exception - Qi, which was different from any known element according to Aetina and Elara. Could it be the unknown 7th element?

"Oh, it worked..."

I focused my mind to move the water moisture in the air like controlling my internal Light element. And it moved as I willed!

"Really?"

Cyra and Nicola couldn't help but confirm with me again. From their view, nothing had happened. The amount I controlled was tiny and macroscopically invisible.

"Why not try my clothes then, like Reed said?"

Cyra didn't unfold her wings to expose herself. She just pointed at the wet hem of her dress not covered by wings.

"So petty..."

I pouted.

"Don't blame me if your clothes get damaged."

"It's just a little bit. I'm not worried!"

She nonchalantly replied. But the hem of her dress instantly started dripping water at an abnormal speed. The fabric colour lightened, dried, and wrinkled.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"What's going on? This is more than just drying!"

Cyra looked down in surprise at her legs. In just seconds, the soft wet fabric had become dry and stiff folds that cracked when lightly touched.

"Probably because over-drying made the fabric too brittle," Reed tried to explain the phenomenon.

"Tsk tsk! This will be fun for months!"

Nicola squatted down to ogle the torn dress, nodding her head appreciatively.

However, nothing much was visible since higher areas were still wrapped.

"Feliciana, do the same to Nicola's clothes, full coverage!"

Cyra wasn't happy being teased. Blushing, she shouted and pointed at Nicola.

"No way..."

I couldn't take it anymore, covering my head and thudded to my knees. I'd intended to tease Cyra but went overboard.

The water content in liquid water was nothing like water vapour. I underestimated the mental strain of controlling so many Water elements at once. It felt like my head would explode from the sudden intense pain. I couldn't even stand steadily.

"Feliciana!"

Seeing that, Nicola hurriedly ran over to support me. The others were also shocked, unsure what happened.

"I'm fine, just need to rest a bit."

I waved my hand and buried my head between my thighs. After some rest, I finally felt a little better.

"Is it because you controlled too much Water element?"

Seeing I was recovering. Reed came over and asked.

"Probably..."

I tried controlling a little water vapour like before. This time it was fine. So I slowly described my earlier experience.

"If it's because you can't control too much Water element, why doesn't Nicola have this issue?"

Cyra asked, puzzled.

True. Not to mention the few dozen kg of gas in her spheres, just making the Condensation Sword needed controlling lots of Wind elements, and converting them into the physical sword. But Nicola had never complained of headaches from it.

"I don't know. To me, it's easy, no issues at any amount!"

Nicola shrugged.

"In any case, at least we confirmed Feliciana can control Water element, just not as strongly."

"I remember you all saying Feliciana once summoned a long sword similar to the Condensation Sword. And she thought it might be made of Water element?"

Reed suddenly brought up something from long ago, staring at me.

"That's right! I remember her telling us at dinner, it left a deep impression!"

Cyra also suddenly recalled and echoed in agreement.

"Feliciana had fallen into water then, right? She lost consciousness. But her body leapt out itself, went wild, and even grew an extra pair of wings..."

Speaking to there, she immediately became envious.

"See, must be because of the Water element! No way it's so easy to rank up otherwise!"

"Why not just stay in water yourself and see?"

After thinking about it, Reed suggested.

"Great idea!"

Nicola's eyes lit up and she immediately agreed.

"With my logic, I'm always soaking in Wind elements (gas, air), so I ranked up so fast!"

"Heh!"

I sneered. As if I didn't know her intentions!

"What if it's fire element abilities? Wouldn't you have to roast yourself over a fire to rank up?"

"Um..."

Nicola didn't react much, but Cyra's face suddenly froze.

"No more splashing!"

I sternly warned Nicola. Although reluctant, I had recovered and trying couldn't hurt. So mimicking Cyra, I gathered my dress and waded into the creek.

"Don't worry! Your wings are wrapped around you, I can't splash you anyway..."

Nicola stood disinterestedly on shore assuring me.

As for the remaining one...

"Oh almighty and all-knowing Creator, designer and maker of the universe! I'm filled with gratitude and praise for Your great power and wisdom. You created me and chose me. But I've considered carefully, fire is still the symbol of demons. So I'd rather not have fire element control. Please grant me wind element instead..."

"..."

"Ignore her. Hurry and test it."

Reed urged me.

"I'll try..."

I focused my mind on controlling the creek water at my feet.

Standing in the cool creek felt very comfortable. But it didn't seem to help me at all. After a long time, all I managed was raising marble-sized water droplets from the surface.

"This is the limit..."

The droplets fell back into the stream. I breathed heavily, enduring the headache as I staggered back to shore.

"No real use with such weak effects. And the side effects are too big." Nicola glanced at me still rubbing my temples and said.

"Should her whole body be submerged?" Having finished praying, Cyra saw the situation and offered her opinion. "Since Feliciana entirely fell into the water before."

"Why not demonstrate first yourself? I guarantee you'll be in ecstasy!"

I retorted, still upset. My headache hadn't even faded yet, and she was suggesting nonsense again. Should I also be held down in the water until passing out?

"Forget it, this is good enough! At least we confirmed Feliciana has some water element abilities, so the trip wasn't wasted."

Reed seemed disappointed. Clearly, partial submersion wasn't very effective for me. Then she turned and flew back towards the path we came from.

"Where did you go?"

Mia had returned to the cave. Hearing us enter, she immediately stood up to greet us.

"Just a small experiment at the nearby creek."

Reed took the newly borrowed books from her and suddenly turned to Cyra.

"Doesn't seem easy for you to rank up as promised. I'll still talk to Elara tomorrow. Nicola should come along too."

"Really?"

Cyra had been depressed the whole way back. But hearing that immediately cheered her up.