Earth Mage

Medivh had somehow already dispelled the arcane barrier.

The season had entered late spring, yet everyone could still see the breath Duke exhaled—a faint mist infused with arcane power.

It was precisely because Duke could not yet properly control his power that everyone could see arcane energy leaking from him.

Clearly, arcane power was transforming Duke's body. The exposed skin of his arms and feet shone with a distinctly blue-violet arcane radiance.

The somewhat abrupt advancement had briefly disrupted Duke's senses. He turned his head aside and narrowed his eyes, seemingly unaccustomed to the exceedingly bright magical lamps in the hall. But soon, he opened his eyes again and looked straight ahead.

They were still those deep black eyes, as calm as water in an ancient, undisturbed well. There was no wild joy over his advancement on Duke's face, nor any other particular emotion—no anger at the mages' earlier accusations, nor any retaliation against those who had looked down on him.

It was as though advancing was no more difficult for Duke than eating or drinking.

Everyone had the illusion that they were not looking at a newcomer to the arcane world who had just shed his miserable apprentice status and become a mage, but at another godlike mage no less extraordinary than Medivh, rising before them like the morning sun.

The pale blue glow around Duke was not particularly bright, yet for one instant, everyone felt that every magical lamp in the magnificent hall had been eclipsed.

Duke struggled to support himself with both hands and rise to his feet, moving as slowly as a rusted mechanical golem construct. But a few seconds later, he stood fully upright, proudly erect beneath the focus of every light.

Though he had long been the center of attention, everyone's pupils contracted even further at that moment.

Suddenly, Duke staggered and took a step forward. Though he immediately steadied himself, that simple movement still made the crowd instinctively retreat two steps, as if Duke were some great demon king from another world, or an ancient fiend that had regained its strength.

"Pfft!" Duke burst out laughing without the slightest dignity. "What? I accidentally advanced. Is there a problem?"

Accidentally advanced?

Compared to Duke, the magic apprentices throughout the hall were humiliated beyond measure. They were no random nobodies, but elites from every human kingdom. Many came from mage families or noble households; most of them could aptly be described as either wealthy or highborn.

Originally, they had been thinking about how to compete with Duke, the ninth-rank aptitude apprentice who had made such a splash in this year's apprentice trial. Who could have expected that the competition would already be over before it even began?

Duke had left these elite geniuses far behind.

The blow was simply too great.

Comparing goods made one throw them away!

Comparing people made one furious!

At that moment, aside from a very few who still had considerable confidence in themselves, everyone lowered their heads in shame and indignation.

Daniel and Itana, who had traveled with Duke not long ago, were both so stunned that they nearly forgot to breathe. Who could have imagined that Duke, who had been their equal only recently, would now have to be addressed as Mage Duke?

Even Khadgar, Medivh's personal disciple, widened his eyes and opened his mouth at that moment. He seemed to understand somewhat why his master had been so eager to personally step forward and take Duke as his disciple.

Khadgar felt as though his face were on fire. Just then, Medivh gently placed a hand on his disciple's shoulder and gave him a mild, encouraging smile.

Then Medivh stepped forward. With a turn of his wrist, a palm-sized lion insignia with golden trim, condensed from arcane energy, appeared in his hand.

Medivh's refined face was filled with humility and gentleness as his utterly clear eyes looked directly at Duke. "Duke Marcus, I, Medivh—acting as Guardian of the Earth and Court Archmage of the Stormwind Kingdom—sincerely invite you, on behalf of myself and my friend and liege, His Majesty King Llane, to join the Stormwind Royal Academy of Arcane Arts and the Stormwind Kingdom National Mage Corps. Would you be willing to accept?"

To Duke, this scene was incredibly strange, like a war-crazed demon presenting an award to a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

He knew full well that the Medivh standing before him was controlled by Sargeras, the incomparably cunning and sinister leader of the Burning Legion, yet Duke was still dancing with a wolf as if playing with fire.

Of course, that was also what made it so thrilling.

Because Duke knew very well that Sargeras's attention was not on him at all. At most, Duke was merely a promising youngster. The cautious Sargeras would at most deal with him when the opportunity arose, rather than devote special attention to him.

After all, at this moment, the Council of Tirisfal, dedicated to protecting the world, was still intact, and Medivh's mother, Aegwynn, was likewise alive and well. Before eliminating these powerful beings who could interfere with his grand plan to invade Azeroth, Sargeras would never foolishly reveal his true colors in advance.

Besides, Duke, who was familiar with the course of the game, knew that Sargeras had many weaknesses as well...

However, here and now, after the system sprite had carefully scanned the arcane insignia and confirmed that there was no problem with it, Duke answered proudly in a slightly excited tone, like a complete novice:

"I accept!"

And so, at that moment, the second-youngest full-fledged mage of the Stormwind Royal Academy of Arcane Arts was born. The youngest was that freak Medivh, who had become a full-fledged mage at the age of ten.

Medivh lightly pushed the arcane insignia forward, and it immediately branded itself onto the outer side of Duke's left forearm. After a slight burning pain, an arcane insignia bearing a golden-trimmed lion's head appeared on Duke's arm.

"Welcome, Earth Mage Marcus," Medivh said.

"Earth Mage?"

Khadgar stepped forward to explain. "Low-level mage is merely a broad designation for ordinary people to understand. In truth, mages have many further classifications. For example, the lowest rank of full-fledged mage is an Earth Mage, and each rank is likewise divided into nine grades, from one to nine. Above that are Sky Mages, Morningstar Mages, Brilliant Moon Mages, Dawn Sun Mages, and then my teacher's..."

Medivh smiled and added, "If you are fortunate enough to reach my level, you will know."

Duke blinked to show that he understood.

This was vastly different from the game. In the game, there had simply been levels one through one hundred, with no need for titles. Now that he had transmigrated into a complete world of Azeroth, there naturally could not be such a simple classification.

There was still some time before the Dark Portal incident. At the very least, he would have to work toward becoming a Dawn Sun Mage.