Chapter 58: Another Sugar Mama? |
"Jaina, this is Allen Prestor, our Royal Magic Advisor of Stormwind." Varian introduced him warmly. "With him accompanying you along the way, you can rest assured about your safety. Also, if you have any questions about magic, you can consult him."
The carriage curtain was lifted a crack, and a pair of light blue eyes swept out through the gap.
Jaina didn't say a single word. She simply nodded at Varian.
Then—
The curtain fell shut.
Varian's smile froze on his face.
"Uh..." He cleared his throat. "She wasn't like this before. Allen, don't mind her. She's still a child, raised in luxury her whole life, and not quite mature yet."
Allen raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Varian quickly explained:
"Jaina has shown extraordinary talent as a mage since she was young, but Kul Tiras's magical standards... well, as you know, it's a maritime kingdom, so its capabilities in that area are indeed average. That's why Admiral Daelin sent his precious daughter to Stormwind's Arcane Sanctum to study."
"After Master Andormas met her, he kept lamenting—saying it was a shame for her talent to be wasted in Stormwind, and that she should go somewhere better. So after discussing it with Jaina's father, we plan to send her to study in Dalaran."
Varian patted Allen on the shoulder.
"It just so happens you're heading to Dalaran. What a perfect coincidence. Having you travel with her puts my mind at ease."
Allen nodded.
Jai... Jaina, huh.
An old acquaintance.
A bit impolite and in need of discipline, but since this was Varian's request, he reluctantly agreed. For the sake of that mansion in the Garden District.
Varian thanked him repeatedly.
What they didn't know was—
Inside the carriage, Jaina was gripping the curtain tightly, her delicate little face blushing so red it looked like it might drip water.
Wh-what's happening?
So...
So handsome!
That face, those eyes, that elegant white robe, the way he stood there so casually.
In all her years, whether in Kul Tiras or Stormwind, she had never seen such a good-looking young man.
And Brother Varian said he was Stormwind's Royal Magic Advisor.
He didn't look much older than her, yet he was already a great mage at such a young age?
Jaina looked down at herself and suddenly felt a pang of inferiority. She was still just an apprentice mage about to become a full-fledged one.
She cupped her burning cheeks with both hands, her mind in utter chaos.
What's wrong with me?
Why am I like this?
Outside the curtain, Allen was staring blankly at the gryphon outpost.
He had originally wanted to take everyone to Dalaran by gryphon. How fast would that be? How majestic? What a display befitting a great mage!
But riding a gryphon was way too expensive.
Where could you find a cheaper carriage?
However, Wen Laisa had just given him 50 gold coins.
50 gold coins.
With such deep pockets, why not splurge a little?
Alright, let's splurge!
Today, we're taking the gryphon to Dalaran! This would be the great Allen Prestor's first real gryphon ride in Azeroth!
He turned and asked Varian:
"If the three of us rent gryphons to Dalaran, how much would it cost roughly?"
Varian thought for a moment, counting on his fingers:
"Three people... including the gryphons' feed, the gryphon riders' wages, tolls along the way..." He looked up. "Probably three or four gold coins per person."
......
"Where can I rent a carriage?"
Don't misunderstand.
It's not that Allen was being cheap or stingy.
He just felt that taking a carriage was better—stable, safe, and a good way to enjoy the scenery along the way.
Besides, if Wen Laisa caught up by gryphon later, they might even arrive in Dalaran at the same time!
Yes, that's exactly it.
It's definitely not about a few gold coins.
Also, he was afraid of heights.
Just then, the carriage curtain was pulled open again.
Jaina poked her head out.
Her expression had already been composed, her icy little face resembling a child trying to act serious like an adult.
"Why rent a carriage?"
Allen was taken aback: "Otherwise, how do we get to Dalaran?"
Jaina gave him a strange look.
It was the kind of look that suggested she had encountered something utterly incomprehensible.
"What are you talking about?" Her tone was calm but carried a hint of matter-of-fact confusion. "I brought an entire fleet. We're obviously going by ship."
-----------------
Stormwind Harbor.
Allen, Morgan, and Stella stood on the dock, craning their necks up at the fleet anchored in the harbor.
Three massive ships that blotted out the sky floated silently on the water.
Their hulls towered higher than Stormwind's towers, their masts pierced the clouds, and their sails were neatly furled.
Surrounding each giant vessel were seven or eight smaller escort ships, densely packed and covering the entire harbor.
The sunlight glinted off the hulls, off the gleaming bronze cannons, and off the Kul Tiras flags fluttering in the wind.
Allen was silent.
Morgan was silent.
Stella was silent.
After a long moment, Allen turned his head with difficulty to look at Varian:
"Varian, are you sure... I'm supposed to protect her?"
Varian burst out laughing.
There was envy in that laughter, helplessness, and a hint of bitterness.
"Hahaha, you'll still have to travel by land to get to Dalaran. No matter how many ships there are, they can't sail onto the shore." He patted Allen on the shoulder. "And Daelin can't keep the entire fleet at his personal service forever. After they drop off Jaina, they'll have to return to Kul Tiras for their missions."
Allen stared at the fleet and murmured:
"That's way too powerful."
Indeed.
Right now, Jaina hadn't yet caused her father's death. She was the princess of Kul Tiras, the daughter of the sea, the overlord of the oceans—her family's navy was practically Azeroth's invincible fleet.
"Hey, don't even get me started." Varian let out a melancholic sigh. "I'm jealous too. I've always wanted to get a few of those big beasts for Stormwind."
He gazed at the massive ships, his eyes filled with longing.
Stormwind had just been rebuilt, and money was needed everywhere. Military pay, wall repairs, official salaries, refugee resettlement... every single item was an astronomical sum.
After finally confiscating a few nobles' estates, the spoils were quickly squandered again.
Seriously...
Weren't there any nobles plotting rebellion?
If you want to rebel, take action! Don't just think about it!
He cast a resentful glance at Allen.
This kid, being kept by a high elf sugar mama, had no idea of the hardships of running a kingdom.
But—
He glanced at the carriage not far away, its curtain tightly shut, with a faint silhouette visible inside.
At least Jaina didn't seem interested in him.
That slightly balanced Varian's peace of mind.
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