The Divine Academy sat at the upper tier of the realm's central district, its spires visible from most of the surrounding territory on a clear day, which it always was because the academy maintained its own atmospheric conditions and had done so for longer than most current gods had been alive.
I landed at the main gate with four minutes to spare.
The courtyard inside was busy.
Students moving between buildings, clusters of conversation near the announcement boards, the general organized chaos of an institution preparing for something large.
The competition announcement had drawn more foot traffic than a normal academy day, which meant the walkways were full and the noise level was something I had to consciously decide not to have opinions about.
I had made it approximately thirty meters past the gate when...
"AESTREA!!!"
I didn't stop walking.
The footsteps behind me became faster as the person in question suddenly started running.
Twaack!
