"Jaina, this is Allen Prestor, the Royal Arcane Advisor of Stormwind," Varian introduced warmly. "With him looking after you along the way, there's nothing to worry about in terms of safety. And if you have any questions about magic, you can also ask him."
The carriage curtain lifted slightly, and a pair of pale blue eyes glanced out through the gap.
Jaina didn't say a word—she simply nodded to Varian.
Then—
The curtain dropped again.
Varian's smile froze on his face.
"Uh…" he cleared his throat. "She wasn't like this before. Allen, don't take it to heart—she's still a child. She's been pampered since she was little and doesn't quite know how to behave yet."
Allen raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Varian quickly explained: "Her father, Daelin Proudmoore, is the Grand Admiral of Kul Tiras and one of Stormwind's staunchest allies."
"Jaina has shown extraordinary talent in magic since childhood, but Kul Tiras's arcane standards… well, you know—it's a maritime kingdom, so that area is somewhat lacking. That's why Admiral Daelin sent his precious daughter to Stormwind's Wizard Sanctum to study."
"After Master Andromath saw her, he kept lamenting—said it would be a waste for her to stay in Stormwind and that she should go somewhere better. So after discussing it with her father, we've decided to send her to Dalaran."
Varian patted Allen on the shoulder.
"It just so happens you're heading to Dalaran as well. What a coincidence. With you accompanying her, I'll feel much more at ease."
Allen nodded.
Jaina, huh.
An old acquaintance.
A bit rude and poorly disciplined, but since it 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 clutching the curtain tightly, her delicate face flushed a deep, vivid red.
Wh-what is going on?
So…
So handsome!
That face, those eyes, that elegant white robe, that casual way he stood there.
In all her life—whether in Kul Tiras or Stormwind—she had never seen such a handsome boy.
And Varian had said he was Stormwind's Royal Arcane Advisor.
He didn't even look much older than her—was he already a great mage at such a young age?
Jaina lowered her head to look at herself, suddenly feeling a trace of inferiority.
She was still just an apprentice mage, not even fully qualified yet.
She cupped her burning cheeks with both hands, her thoughts in complete disarray.
What is wrong with me?
Why am I like this?
Outside the carriage, Allen was staring absentmindedly at the gryphon roost.
Originally, he had wanted to take everyone to Dalaran by gryphon.
So fast. So impressive. So befitting a great mage's prestige.
But riding gryphons was just too expensive.
How could it compare to a carriage?
But Vereesa had just given him 50 gold coins.
Fifty gold.
With that much on hand… maybe he could splurge a little?
Fine, let's splurge!
Today, they would ride gryphons to Dalaran—this would be the great Allen Prestor's first real gryphon ride in Azeroth!
He turned his head and asked Varian: "If the three of us were to hire gryphons to Dalaran, roughly how much would it cost?"
Varian thought for a moment, counting on his fingers.
"Three people… factoring in the gryphons' feed, the riders' wages, and various travel expenses…" He looked up. "About three to four gold per person."
"Where can I rent a carriage?"
Don't get the wrong idea.
This wasn't Allen being stingy.
He just thought that traveling by carriage was quite nice—steady, safe, and you could enjoy the scenery along the way.
And besides, Vereesa would be flying over on a gryphon later—they might even arrive in Dalaran at the same time!
Yes, that's right.
It definitely wasn't about a few gold coins.
Also, he was afraid of heights.
At that moment, the carriage curtain was pulled open again.
Jaina poked her head out.
Her expression was now composed—a cold, frosty little face, like a child imitating an adult's seriousness.
"Why rent a carriage?"
Allen blinked. "Then how are we supposed to get to Dalaran?"
Jaina looked at him strangely.
That look… as if she had encountered something utterly incomprehensible.
"What are you talking about?" Her tone was calm, yet carried a trace of matter-of-fact confusion. "I brought an entire fleet. Of course we're going by ship."
...
Stormwind Harbor.
Allen, Morgan, and Stella stood on the docks, heads tilted up, staring at the fleet moored in the harbor.
Three colossal warships loomed over everything, quietly floating on the water.
Their hulls were taller than Stormwind's towers, their masts piercing into the clouds, sails neatly furled.
Around each great ship clustered seven or eight smaller escort vessels, densely packed across the entire bay.
Sunlight gleamed off the hulls, off the shining bronze cannons, off the Kul Tiras banners fluttering in the wind.
Allen fell silent.
Morgan fell silent.
Stella fell silent.
After a long while, Allen turned stiffly to Varian: "Varian… are you sure… I'm supposed to be the one protecting her?"
Varian burst into laughter.
There was envy in that laughter, along with helplessness—and just a hint of bitterness.
"Hahaha! You're heading to Dalaran—you'll still have to travel overland eventually. No matter how many ships you have, they can't sail onto land." He patted Allen on the shoulder. "And Daelin wouldn't keep an entire fleet tied up for personal matters. Once they deliver Jaina, they'll have to return to Kul Tiras to carry out their duties."
Allen stared at the fleet and muttered: "That's… some serious backing."
Indeed.
Right now, Jaina hadn't yet caused her father's downfall.
At this point, she was practically Kul Tiras's princess—the daughter of the sea, the ruler of the waves. Her family's navy was arguably the strongest fleet in all of Azeroth.
"Don't even get me started," Varian sighed wistfully. "I'm jealous too. I've always wanted to get Stormwind a few ships like those."
He gazed at the massive vessels, eyes full of longing.
Stormwind had just been rebuilt—money was needed everywhere. Soldiers' wages, wall repairs, officials' salaries, refugee resettlement… every expense was astronomical.
They had only just confiscated the wealth of a few nobles, and it was already nearly gone.
Honestly…
Couldn't some new nobles try to rebel or something?
If you're going to revolt, then just do it! Don't just think about it!
He cast Allen a resentful glance.
This brat, being kept by a rich high elf, had no idea what it was like to run a household.
But—
He glanced at the carriage in the distance, its curtain tightly shut, a small figure faintly visible inside.
At least Jaina didn't seem interested in him.
That, at least, made Varian feel a little better.
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