Chapter 12: Voice of the Heavens
“Cough, cough, cough—”
“Janna, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Vivian. Just a slight discomfort in my throat.”
Her throat itched slightly.
At the moment the system issued the reward, Janna's throat structure was rapidly transformed by the system's extraordinary power.
Although the process was swift, the brief discomfort still caused her to cough uncontrollably.
This sudden cough drew concern from the doll-faced female apprentice seated beside her.
“You weren’t injured during the wizard duel just now, were you? But that can't be right—you’re a plant-affinity witch. A minor injury shouldn’t cause you to cough…”
“I’m really fine. Listen, I’ve stopped coughing now, haven’t I?”
“Hmm, as long as you’re okay. That damned shadow witch, couldn’t he have been a bit gentler… Hey? Janna, how come I never noticed before—your voice is so pleasant to hear!”
Vivian Rose, a wizard apprentice from the Rose family of Turin, possessed a B-level [Freezing] talent and was an elemental frost wizard apprentice.
“My voice has always been like this. Maybe you’ve been out on missions too long and forgot what I sound like?”
“It’s different now… Your voice is even more beautiful than the lead soprano of the Nightingale Opera Troupe…”
“Next group—who else wants to come up?”
“Professor, I’d like to go!”
Vivian, who had been chattering beside Janna just a moment ago, immediately raised her hand upon hearing Professor Grace's voice.
After being called up, she eagerly leaped onto the dueling platform, not forgetting to turn back and make a funny face at Janna.
At this moment, Janna, who was smiling in response to Vivian's antics, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief inwardly.
“It would be better if these special talent rewards could manifest gradually… Otherwise, it’s too easy for acquaintances to notice.”
“Perhaps I can find a sound-based spell to mask it.”
Sound-based magic belonged to a branch of the mystical illusion school, often using melodies to attack, thereby enchanting the mind and creating illusions.
Although Janna didn’t have A-level sound talents like [Soul Resonance] or [Voice of the Soul], she could still dabble in some low-tier sound spells that only required a [Melodious Voice].
Moreover, after mastering them, if anyone inquired about the change in her voice, she could attribute it to “recent vocal training in sound-based magic” and deflect suspicion.
“However, even the cheapest spells cost twenty academic credits… For now, I’ll have to wait for next month’s subsidy, or perhaps take on a few concentrated missions… If that doesn't work, I could borrow some Gold Surrel from a few friendly apprentices…”
Thinking of this, Janna still shook her head.
The academy’s monthly subsidy of ten Gold Surrel might be sufficient for ordinary apprentices, but for someone like Janna, who faced no bottlenecks in learning any spell, it was entirely inadequate.
As for borrowing money, while it could solve short-term problems, it would subtly lower her social standing, making it harder for Janna to integrate into the upper circle of apprentices.
“Sometimes, you can only ask for help once. Unless absolutely necessary, there’s no need to waste that opportunity on trivial matters…”
Having made up her mind, Janna silently opened the system interface and allocated all 200 points of talent experience from the mission reward to the [Soul Projection] talent.
After allocating the points, the upgrade progress of [Soul Projection] increased from 76% to 78%.
“Just 2,200 more talent experience points, and the [Soul Projection] talent can officially upgrade to A-level. I wonder what new abilities an A-level [Soul Projection] talent will bring…”
While Janna was deep in thought, Vivian, who had quickly finished her duel, returned to her seat with a cold expression.
“That bastard Andre! He actually dared to attack my face with a high-temperature fireball. Unforgivable!”
Vivian, shedding her usual cute and ladylike demeanor, barely sat down before grabbing Janna and furiously cursing her recent opponent.
Upon hearing this, Janna's gaze involuntarily shifted to Andre Green, who had also just returned to his seat diagonally in front of her—a "commoner" flame apprentice with a B-level [High Temperature] talent.
“Janna, are you listening to me?”
“I’m listening.”
“Don’t you think that apprentice is despicable?”
“He certainly shouldn’t have done something so disrespectful to a lovely lady… Truly despicable.”
Having mastered such interactions in her previous life, Janna naturally echoed Vivian's sentiments, speaking in a low voice audible only to the two of them.
After venting her anger to Janna, Vivian's fury subsided, and her previously cold expression gradually relaxed.
Before long, she began whispering gossip about Andre to Janna.
“Vivian, Professor Grace is about to start commenting on the duels.”
“Oh… Janna, would you like to go to Acorn House for desserts later? My treat.”
“Shh, if you keep talking, Professor Grace will get angry… Besides, you know I prefer spicy food over sweets.”
“Alright then.”
Remembering Janna's unique taste, Vivian could only pout and quietly rest her head on the desk, refocusing her attention on the class.
“As I mentioned earlier, these were the shortcomings observed in the duels of the previous groups… Alright, class dismissed.”
“Goodbye, Professor Grace—”
As Professor Grace left the classroom, the previously quiet class instantly became lively.
“You really don’t want to go to Acorn House? I heard they just launched a new spicy dish called Slug Sticky Cake the day before yesterday.”
Upon hearing this, a crack appeared in Janna's social façade.
“Dear Vivian, Slug Sticky Cake merely uses trace amounts of slug mucus to numb the taste buds. It’s not truly spicy… Perhaps you could try my cooking instead.”
“Haha, maybe not. I’ll be going now. See you later.”
Watching Vivian hop away hurriedly, Janna quietly pushed the chair beside her under the desk and began contemplating how to utilize Professor Grace's free question reward.
“The question shouldn’t be too basic, or it would waste the opportunity. But it also shouldn’t be too unrealistic. It’s best to address a current pressing issue…”
“Miss Janna, long time no see.”
While Janna was lost in thought, a deep male voice suddenly sounded above her.
Looking up, she saw a tall figure with dazzling red short hair, a face with sharp features exuding maturity, dressed in knightly attire.
The apprentice was staring intently at Janna, who was still seated.
“Long time no see, Senior Soro.”
“How have you considered my previous invitation to join the Flare Family?”