Chapter 94: Signs of an Upgrade
After allocating all the Talent EXP to [Soul Projection], Janna’s expression revealed a trace of anticipation.
After several weeks of effort, Janna’s upgrade progress for the [Soul Projection] talent had reached 96%, and her Spirit Power had also climbed to 18.9.
It would take only about another week for the [Soul Projection] talent to be the first to advance to A-rank, even before her overall wizard level.
An apprentice with an A-rank wizard talent, broadly speaking, belonged to what the public would regard as a “top-tier genius.” Of course, there were also wizards with lower talents who had still achieved great accomplishments, but they were relatively rare.
After gathering up her long hair behind her and putting on her wizard robe’s hood, Janna passed through the inner hall and walked to the back door.
“Janna, you’re really too much!”
The moment she opened the door, Vivian, looking “furious,” pouted and marched quickly up to Janna.
“You actually kept this from me for so long!”
Though her words were angry, Vivian hadn’t forgotten to stop by the flower shop next to the theater to pick out the most expensive and flamboyant bouquet, which she “fiercely” shoved into Janna’s arms.
“Here, this is for you. Even though I’m really mad you hid this from me, I still want to congratulate you. Your performance was actually quite good.”
Seeing Vivian puff out her cheeks like a pufferfish, Janna laughed and cradled the flowers with her left hand, while her right hand pulled Vivian in for a comforting hug.
“I didn’t really mean to hide it from you. I just thought it wasn’t that important—nothing worth mentioning. But today, yes, that was my bad. I deliberately didn’t tell you when I gave you the ticket. I just wanted to give you a little scare. So? Were you surprised?”
“As if I’d be that easily scared. You’re seriously underestimating me—but I was really shocked! Now spill it, when did you join the Nightingale Opera Troupe? I didn’t even know you could perform opera! And how is Anna in person? Did the old actors give you a hard time?”
It was rare to see Janna acting so “meek,” and Vivian, who wasn’t actually all that mad, couldn’t keep up her act any longer. Clinging to Janna’s arm, she maintained her lady-like image while trying to suppress her excitement, whispering all sorts of gossip into Janna’s ear.
“Janna, why are you so slow? I’ve been waiting forever—”
Still outside and waiting, Liji Silks shouted with her loud voice while striding toward Janna.
“Hm? Those flowers in your hand—”
“Liji, let me introduce you. This is my friend Vivian. She came especially to support me. Vivian, this is Liji, a friend from the troupe and a fellow apprentice at White Coral Academy. She takes great care of me.”
“Oh, she takes care of you, huh—”
Hearing Janna’s introduction, Vivian quickly put away her gossipy attitude and resumed the dignified air of a Rose family heiress. With a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she introduced herself to Liji Silks.
“Thank you for looking after Janna. I’m her best friend, Vivian Rose. Nice to meet you, and thank you for taking care of her.”
Vivian Rose?
Hearing the surname and seeing the other girl’s haughty demeanor masked with politeness, Liji Silks couldn’t help but internally scoff.
Outwardly, though, she remained warm and friendly.
“I’m Liji Silks. Funny, I don’t recall Janna mentioning you before... But taking care of her is my duty. After all, I was the one who personally brought her into the opera world, so of course I’m responsible for her.”
You brought me into the opera world? Since when?
Hearing Liji Silks’ cheerful words, Janna almost thought she was hallucinating.
“Who gave you those flowers? They’re really pretty. Though, they’re a bit too large. If they were smaller, they’d be better. You’ve worked hard today—this thing is heavy, let me hold it for you.”
“You really do take good care of Janna.”
Seeing Liji Silks fussing over Janna with such concern, the smile on Vivian’s face stiffened.
“It’s my pleasure.”
“Miss Janna—”
Before Liji Silks could finish her sentence, a loud voice rang out not far from them.
“Congratulations! Your performance today was wonderful. Richard and I both loved it. Here, this is a bouquet we picked out just for you.”
As Soro Flare and Richard Eva approached, a bouquet even larger—but with highly questionable aesthetic choices—was handed to Janna.
“Oh? Someone’s already given you flowers? But I bet mine looks better. Richard and I spent a long time choosing it.”
“Ahem, it was all Soro’s doing. I just helped pick a few ribbons.”
Hearing Soro try to rope him into his bad taste, Richard Eva quickly distanced himself.
“Hmm—Senior Soro, you have quite the eye. This... colorful arrangement, not everyone could appreciate something like this.”
“Haha, I think so too!”
Totally missing the sarcasm in Vivian’s tone, Soro Flare happily stuffed the half-body-sized bouquet into Janna’s arms.
Seeing this, even though her arms were already full, Janna still sincerely expressed her thanks.
“The troupe’s planning a dinner at Feathered String Tavern later. If you’re free, why don’t you come along...”
“Sure!”
“That might not be appropriate.”
Hearing their opposing responses, Vivian and Liji Silks locked eyes.
“Haha, I mean... this is an internal troupe dinner. If we bring guests, the director might get upset.”
“No worries, Liji. Just charge it to me. I wouldn’t make the director pay for my guests.”
“That’s not what I meant—how could I let you treat us? Richard and I will cover the bill—”
“No need, Senior. I was planning to treat Janna today anyway. Since it’s a dinner, I’ll pay. It’s getting late—Janna, let’s go.”
After taking Soro’s bouquet from Janna’s arms, Vivian, whose smile was starting to freeze, gave no one else a chance to speak.
She pulled Janna along, bypassing Soro and Richard, and walked straight toward the Feathered String Tavern.
“Janna, wait for me—”
Seeing Vivian take Janna first, Liji Silks stomped her foot and hurried after them.
“What about us?”
Watching Janna and the two other apprentices—whose names he couldn’t even recall—walk off, Richard Eva wasn’t sure whether they should follow.
“Let’s go!”
Unlike the hesitant Richard Eva, Soro Flare, who had been completely left out, grabbed him and marched after them without hesitation.