Picked Up a Marshal

No one knew what Duke had gotten from old Mage Norton, but before long, half the mages in the academy knew that the old man had acquired a [High Elf Mage Apprentice's Notebook] from Quel'Thalas's royal family, one once used by Kael'thas Sunstrider.

This gave everyone even more ideas about Duke's background.

Duke did not bother with any of that. He spent the night in the spell academy's guesthouse. Miraculously, that very night, he received a letter from Alleria.

It was a letter very much in the Windrunner style, delivered by a skylark. A note was tied to its tiny long leg, written in exquisitely graceful Human Common:

"Congratulations! Mage Duke Marcus."

Duke scratched his head. No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand why this skylark could do a carrier pigeon's job, or why it had come pecking at his window in the middle of the night to wake him up.

"Could this skylark have become a spirit?" Duke muttered to himself.

Who knew when or where Alleria had received news of him? In any case, that odd High Elf ranger knew, and she had sent her kind blessings.

Looking at that line of graceful handwriting, Duke felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart.

"Looks like I really have latched onto Alleria's golden thigh!" Though he said that, Duke was also happy to build a good relationship with Alleria, so with the system's help, he swiftly wrote a reply.

"Thank you for your congratulations. I believe we will still have a chance to meet within the next few years." After writing it, Duke read the note over three times to make sure there were no mistakes, then stuffed it into the little tube that had been tied to the skylark's leg. "Go on. Return to your master."

After that, Duke went to sleep contentedly. He had no idea that only a few hours later, Alleria would receive his reply—and that a small accident would occur.

In a vast, boundless forest, the first rays of dawn filtered through the dense leaves and fell upon the ground. Alleria, who had just awakened atop a great tree, looked at the skylark with a strange expression.

"Chirp chirp chirp..." The skylark reported to the Windrunner in a melodious voice.

"What? He said you became a spirit? Well... that boy has quite the eye."

"Chirp chirp chirp chirp—"

"What? That little pervert wants to hug my thigh?!" Alleria's eyes widened in disbelief. Then the skylark actually patted its own "beautiful legs" with its wings!

Alleria could not help glancing down at her own long, perfect legs, without a trace of excess flesh. The next moment, her pretty face inexplicably flushed. She had remembered how that little brat Duke had repeatedly let his gaze drift toward her twin peaks.

Gritting her teeth resentfully, she said, "That little lecher never hides what he is thinking! If I get the chance, I'll teach him properly how to respect his elders!"

At that exact moment, for no apparent reason, Duke sneezed.

"Ah-choo! What the hell? Did I catch a cold?" Duke still had no idea that his muttering had gotten him thoroughly set up by the skylark girl.

After washing up, Duke put on a blue-and-white mage robe trimmed in gold. It was a small gift from old Mage Norton. According to the old man, if Duke went out onto the streets of Stormwind wearing that coarse linen outfit with a mage's badge, he would be disgracing all mages.

Once he was fully dressed, Duke looked at himself in the large mirror in his room and suddenly felt that clothes truly made the man. He had already been a college student in his previous life, and although he found the mage robe cumbersome, the scholarly air it gave him made him look rather refined.

He had long since formed a plan and was just about to put it into action. But the moment he opened the door, Duke froze.

In the reception room outside, he saw three Stormwind soldiers standing as straight as spears.

The two at the back were fully armed guards. The middle-aged knight standing between them had a valiant bearing and wore ceremonial dress: white with blue patterns, with golden sword-tassel-like ornaments on his shoulders. His brown hair was combed so neatly that not even an ant could crawl across it.

The knight struck his left breast lightly with his right fist in salute. "Greetings, esteemed Earth Mage Duke Marcus. I am Garcia Rodi, commander of the Third Regiment of the Stormwind Garrison. I bring you greetings from Stormwind's commander, Anduin Lothar."

Lothar was looking for him?

Duke politely replied, "Hello, I am Duke. May I ask what Commander Lothar wants with me?"

"It is like this. His Majesty the great King Llane and Commander Lothar learned that you have become the second-youngest full-fledged mage in the history of the Stormwind Kingdom, and that you are willing to join the Kingdom's Mage Corps. Both His Majesty and the commander were most pleased, so they sent me to convey their greetings."

Duke nodded. "All right. Thank them for their concern on my behalf."

Garcia smiled and waved his hand. At once, a group of attendants filed in from outside the reception room.

"This is the appointment decree personally issued by His Majesty, appointing you as an official mage of the Mage Corps. Every autumn, His Majesty presides over a formal welcoming ceremony for new members of the Mage Corps."

"This is the royal stipend granted to you by His Majesty—one hundred Arathi gold coins."

"We heard that Lord Marcus came from a pioneer settlement beyond Elwynn Forest, so His Majesty has specially awarded you a house. Two servants have also been assigned to you. If you are dissatisfied with them, you may inform me. I have been authorized to meet your needs to the fullest extent possible."

King Llane truly was a wise ruler. He understood very clearly how precious talent was. For a genius young mage from a commoner background, he had unquestionably shown sufficient regard.

Seeing the undisguised envy in Garcia's eyes, Duke immediately understood that even for someone who had only just become a full-fledged mage, this was an above-average reward.

To Duke, who was desperately short of money, it was no different from timely rain.

It would serve as the first pot of gold for the plan he intended to carry out next.

"Thank His Majesty once again for his generosity." As Duke examined the list Garcia had handed him, he suddenly noticed a stack of names. "What is this...?"

Garcia hurriedly explained, "Full-fledged mages are all important talents of the Kingdom. Every mage should receive adequate protection when traveling outside. These are candidates personally selected by Lord Lothar as potential followers for you. Every one of them possesses absolute loyalty to the Kingdom and considerable combat skill. Based on your rank, Lord Marcus, you may select up to two knight candidates as your personal followers."

Duke could not help laughing.

As a PK fanatic in games, he had never imagined that a battle-mad mage like him would one day need guards.

But since he had transmigrated here, he might as well follow local customs.

As he flipped through the pages, one name made Duke's heart suddenly pound.

"Reginald Windsor!"