Seeing such a scene, Patience perked up slightly. Well, for her, such an action only entailed raising her brows.
Only she knew the real reason why she was sent to this place, but as she usually did, she could only make do. What she didn't expect was to actually run into a 2nd Circle Talent here.
According to the reports, Smoking Tower City had never produced even one 2nd Circle Talent in the past, but now one appeared amongst the commoners?
She couldn't help but smile internally. It seemed that luck hadn't entirely left her side just yet.
When it came to the likes of Giles and the other nobles, their faces went somewhat green. This was a talent that should have gone last, but now that he went, it was like their faces had become swollen.
How were they supposed to follow this up?!
Giles looked around, but there were no other commoners left, Emory was actually the last. It was clear he had subconsciously forgotten about Ryker because it was too rare for someone without status to be so close to two noble women.
What no one expected, though, was for Emory to not even give Giles a chance.
The moment Emory descended, he gave Giles a kick in the ass, sending him spiralling onto the platform.
A commoner wouldn't normally ever dare do this to the likes of Giles, but everyone was very clearly aware that Emory's status had completely changed from this day forth.
Giles panicked, wanting to step off the stage, but the glare of the old man above, not to mention his own father's death stare, poured a bucket of cold water over his head.
Without a choice, he pressed his hands down.
"Higher 1st Circle Talent! Lower Refreshing Soul! Pass!"
Giles stepped down with a twisted expression, but he didn't dare to look in Emory's direction.
The nobles went up one by one. With Giles having broken the ice, they had less to worry about.
Surprisingly, most of them fared far worse than Giles himself. If it wasn't for Giles insisting on shooting himself in the foot, he might have shone quite brightly.
Soon, there were only a few people remaining.
"Seems like I should go," Sofia said softly.
"Let's go together!" Rosemary responded too quickly.
Sofia laughed, but still brought Rosemary along, the two of them going up.
No one bothered to stop them, it didn't really matter how many went up so long as only one person placed their palms down.
Sofia took a deep breath and went first. Soon, a pillar of light began to rise.
"Peak 1st Circle Talent! Middle Refined Soul! Pass!"
The first claim was shocking enough, but the reveal of the first Refined Soul of the Quota Check was enough to make even the old man raise his eyebrows.
A Refined Soul stood beyond a Refreshing Soul and it could be considered the equivalent of a 2nd Circle Talent, but much rarer! In fact, having a Refined Soul placed you on par in rarity with some 3rd Circle Talents!
By this point, even Patience revealed a slight smile. It seemed she hadn't been forsaken just yet.
Sofia blinked, not having expected this result. Nobles of Smoking Tower City could afford to test Circle Talent, but Soul Talent was far trickier. Many of them had been in the dark about their own until this moment.
Rosemary clapped happily for Sofia, her eyes watering.
"What are you standing around clapping so much for?" Sofia snapped. "It's your turn!"
Sofia, feeling a bit embarrassed, quickly pressed Rosemary's clapping hands down.
She almost instantly regretted her decision. She had never been very good at taking the heartfelt praise of others, so she had acted without thinking.
What if Rosemary's talent was far weaker than her own? Wouldn't she look like she had pushed her best friend into a pit of fire, then?
Sofia didn't get to think much about it as a towering pillar of light rose up, causing the old man to pause.
"… Peak 2nd Circle Talent! Peak Refined Soul! Pass!"
Sofia blinked before she sighed a breath of relief. Then, she gave Rosemary the biggest bear hug she could muster, squeezing her until she almost suffocated.
In the stands, Mistress Joseph fanned herself and revealed a noble smile. She could sense the admiring gazes coming her way, and she took them all in stride.
Her daughter's talent was far beyond Desmond's, who had just been of the Peak 1st Circle back then. It seemed that the future of the Joseph family would be firmly in her palm.
As for Patience, she rose up, her back as straight as a javelin as she sat on her throne.
This… This was far beyond her expectations.
Soon, the two women walked off the stage together, radiant smiles on their faces.
"Not bad, not bad," Ryker said with a chuckle, ignoring the fact that Eli of the Buderwoerk family had made his move so that he could ogle the two women.
Sofia snapped again. "Not bad? Who do you think you are? You should be worried about passing first!"
"Oh, and what if I do pass, do I get some sort of reward?"
"Of course not! What kind of pitiful goal is passing for this young lady to ever think of giving you a reward for it?! In your dreams!"
"And what if I surpass you instead?"
At that moment, a pillar of light rose.
"Middle 2nd Circle Talent! Peak Refreshing Soul! Pass!"
A fourth 2nd Circle Talent had appeared in Smoking Tower City, setting the nobles and the envoy of the Federation ablaze.
Sofia was distracted for a moment before she turned back to Ryker.
"Humph, as if you'd ever surpass me."
"And what if I do?"
Sofia frowned. "Then, then I'll let you take my Rosemary out on a date!"
Rosemary, who hadn't been part of this at all, suddenly flushed.
"Sofia! What are you saying!"
"Pawning off your friend, that's not very noble of you," Ryker chuckled. "How about a kiss instead?"
"Don't you have a fiancée?! Why are you always saying such dirty stuff?!"
"Just tell me if you dare to or not, little duckling."
"Of course I dare! Why wouldn't I dare?!"
Sofia quickly covered her mouth after she spoke, but it was already too late.
Ryker laughed, his sapphire blue eyes shining brighter than even the sun above.
Everyone seemed to finally be aware only at this point that there was one more person who had yet to go. Ryker's casual laughter, his handsome features and his confident air seemed to easily make him the center of attention.
In the stands, Mistress Joseph's gaze narrowed. She wasn't the only one either, Desmond had noticed that Sofia was quite close to Ryker and even his little sister as well. The same went for Sofia's father and mother who were both always worrying about her marriage and future.
Ryker didn't seem pressured at all, despite the fact he was following up three 2nd Circle Talents in a row, he looked relaxed and unhurried.
When he made it to the platform, he looked down with a smile.
Then, he placed his hands down, calmly and gently.
For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. But, this was only the lull before a storm. Ryker needed to adjust himself to make sure that he didn't accidentally output too much.
And then, the rush came.
A pillar shot into the skies, outshining even the sun above. Right then, Ryker seemed like the center of the world.
"—… L-Lower 3rd Circle Talent. Peak Tranquil Soul. P-p…"
The old man couldn't even manage to squeeze the word pass out, it felt blasphemous just to say.
Ryker uncaringly removed his hands from the platform, strolling down and sweeping up Sofia's tender waist in a single arm.
"W-wai—You—!"
Ryker's lips closed over Sofia's soft and tender ones, his heart feeling as light as a feather.
The coliseum fell into silence.