Around 10 o'clock in the morning, the sun had not risen completely, and the canal was full of small boats transporting stone and wood materials. Workers were reinforcing the dykes of the canal, while Jess casually strolled across a temporary workspace bridge.
Up ahead was the Mage District, this region located on the southwest side of Stormwind City, apart from the Dwarven District and the Old Town, is one of the best preserved areas. From a distance, one could already see the location of the portal in the game, the Stormwind City, which was at the Wizard's Sanctum.
The spires exuded above the treetops and eaves, reaching high into the sky, echoing with the apex of the Cathedral of Light, which was still under construction in the northern city, and the high towers of Stormwind Keep, the residence of the royal family, in the direction of the dock.
Residents speculated that the reason the Mage District was not destroyed was that the mages had left numerous terrifying curses and magical traps to prevent the orcs and ogres from rampage.
However, Jess believed that if those mages had such powerful magic to set up a barrier to prevent an Ogre Legion from entering, Stormwind City would not have fallen.
The Ogre Clan that captured Stormwind City was led by Kogal, he was not an ordinary barbaric ogre in people's impression. He had shown his intelligence and wisdom back in Draenor, mastering many spells and even having prophetic abilities.
An Ogre sage like this would not miss such a treasury full of historical knowledge and magical instruments. He must have ordered to preserve it as much as possible, thus largely saving the area from adversity.
Jess, familiar with the route, walked through the tree shades and lanes sheltered by eaves, bypassed a few quaint shops and houses, and then saw the lawn in front of the spiral staircase leading to the Wizard's Sanctum.
The smell of soil, the scent of paper was always lingering around, the damp and humid weather highlighted the campus-like atmosphere.
Along the way, occasionally some young people wearing light purple or blue robes, resembling mages, looked askance at him. Jess looked at his attire, a linen shirt paired with long pants rolled up at the legs, looking no different from the bridge workers outside, indeed it was out of place in such a place with a strong academic atmosphere.
But he didn't find it unnatural. Did everyone who first came here be dressed in silk clothes, carrying magic or rune books in their hands?
After asking a few apprentices reading by the roadside, he found out where Eiden Marin lived. However, when he arrived, there were already several young people of almost the same age standing at the door.
These guys were all decently dressed, looked scholarly, and seemed not to have done much work.
In comparison, because he has been working near the Trade District and Cathedral Square for a long time, or gone out to the Elwynn Forest, even in this relatively humid area, his skin has been sunburned, and his palm lines are obviously heavier.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Plus, he had a slender body, this kind of body that was more attractive in the 21st century seemed not to be quite seen here.
Generally speaking, those who can enter magic school are mostly from excellent families who don't have to worry about food and clothing.
Learning magic is not a way to see results in a short time, general families tend to let their children learn skills that can see gains more.
Not to mention that most of the magic institutions in the Alliance are affected by the relationships and investments of nobles and merchants, which also interferes with the opportunity for ordinary families to enter. Jess had deeply experienced this when he was in Lordaeron.
At a very young age, he planned to become an apprentice at the Royal Arcane Academy in Lordaeron's capital, supported by his parents. But this magic institution seemed to be not prepared for commoners like him from its name, and he was rejected several times.
As for the magical city of Dalaran far south across Lordamere Lake... Even though Dalaran was willing to accept all humans and elves interested in magic, by the time Jess reached school age, the Dark Portal had already opened.
There were rumors that the orcish warships had neared the Hillsbrad Foothills, and some of the vanguard had slipped into the vast forests south of Dalaran.
His father was recalled, his mother needed to manage the farm, and a boy just over 10 years old traveling long distances alone, from Tirisfal Glades crossed the entire Silverpine Forest to Tirisfal, was almost impossible.
By the time the war was over, he was almost 18 years old.
Approaching the doorstep of Mage Marin's house, he faintly heard voices from inside, he wanted to listen carefully to discuss some preparations in advance but he could not hear anything.
The wooden door was suddenly pushed open, startling Jess, a young man came out from inside, the look of disappointment on his face, it seemed the interview did not go very well.
"Next." A deep voice of a middle-aged man came from inside.
Jess looked back at the people next to him, other waiters were also looking at him, no one responded to Marin's call.
"Is there anyone?"
"Yes, Mr. Marin."
Jess stared at these timid onlookers who were watching him and responded, turned and walked into the house, closing the door firmly.
"Please call me Master Marin."
Edwin Marin said as he raised his head, he looked about forty or fifty years old, his brown-gray hair was showing signs of balding, a deliberately left beard stretched down to his chest, making him look a bit sloppy.
"Yes, Master Marin." Jess responded respectfully, then sat down on a bench next to him.
Marin glanced at him, twirled the griffon long feather pen in his hand, and asked, "What's your name?"
"Jess."
"I haven't heard of that surname."
"I'm a foreigner, from Lordaeron."
"But your accent doesn't seem to come from the capital of Menethil."
"My mother is from Brill, I mostly lived with her."
"What town?"
"Brill, it's a town to the north of Lordaeron."
"Ah... Brill, Brill, your pronunciation is not what I'm used to. I know of Brill, a beautiful place, its town center is built like a small chapel, quite impressive."
Jess could see that Eiden Marin really didn't care about the chapel-like town center or whether Brill was beautiful, he spoke these words expressionlessly, mostly out of habitual courtesy.