A few days later, Lin Qin accepted a D-rank quest at the Mercenary Guild: clearing out a nest of Burrowing Badgers in the mountains north of Black Stone City. These second-rank magical beasts were skilled diggers and often damaged farmland. Their claws and pelts were useful materials. The quest recommended forming a team of at least two.
Just as Lin Qin was about to look for a teammate, a familiar voice sounded behind him.
"Lin Qin?"
He turned and saw Aileen standing a short distance away. She wore a fitted set of light blue leather armor, with a short staff at her waist. She looked a little nervous, but her eyes were determined.
"Are you here to take a quest too?" Lin Qin asked, somewhat surprised.
"Mm." Aileen nodded and came over to him. "I... I've reached the third level as a mage. I wanted to take a quest to get some practice." She noticed the quest scroll in Lin Qin's hand. "Burrowing Badgers? Could I... go with you? I'm a Water Element mage, so I should be able to help."
Lin Qin looked at her. He knew Aileen's abilities: a third-level Water Element mage with good control. Burrowing Badgers were troublesome, but not especially dangerous, making them suitable for beginners to gain experience. After a brief pause, he nodded. "All right."
Aileen let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face.
The two of them teamed up and accepted the quest. After gathering a few necessities, they set out for the mountains north of Black Stone City.
On the way, Lin Qin didn't say much, spending most of his time observing their surroundings. Aileen walked beside him and occasionally asked about mercenary quests and things to watch out for in the wild. Lin Qin answered each question briefly.
It wasn't hard to find the Burrowing Badgers' den. Lin Qin came up with a simple plan: he would enter the main tunnel and draw the badgers' attention, while Aileen stayed outside to seal the other exits with magic and attack when she had the chance.
The plan went smoothly. Lin Qin charged into the den, swinging his greatsword to easily fend off and kill the Burrowing Badgers that rushed out. Outside, Aileen accurately cast Water Bind on the badgers trying to escape through the side tunnels, then attacked with Water Arrow. Her magic control was indeed precise, effectively restricting the badgers' movements.
The battle was over quickly. The two worked well together and cleared out the entire nest.
As they cleaned up the battlefield, Aileen watched Lin Qin expertly handle the badgers' claws and pelts and couldn't help asking, "Lin Qin, will you... keep working as a mercenary?"
"No." Lin Qin didn't even look up. "Mercenary quests are for training. My goal is to become stronger."
"And after you become stronger?" Aileen pressed.
Lin Qin stopped working and thought for a moment. "To see more of the world and understand the nature of power."
The answer was very much in keeping with Lin Qin's character. Aileen fell silent for a moment, then said softly, "That's an amazing goal."
She hesitated, then gathered her courage. "Then... if I work hard to become stronger too, could I... go see it with you someday?"
Lin Qin looked up at her. Aileen's cheeks were flushed, but she didn't avert her gaze. There was hope in her eyes, along with a hint of nervousness.
Lin Qin wasn't oblivious. He understood what she meant. He looked at Aileen—the diligent, earnest girl who became a little shy around him. He thought of their discussion in the library and of the concentration on her face when she cast spells.
He didn't dislike spending time with her. In fact, having someone by his side as they moved forward didn't seem so bad.
"Yes." He gave her a definite answer, his tone as calm as ever, but earnest.
Aileen's eyes lit up at once, and her smile bloomed like a flower. "Mm!" She nodded emphatically.
The mood was much lighter on the way back. They chatted now and then about cultivation, the academy, and vague ideas about the future.
They turned in the quest and split the reward. When they parted at the academy gates, Aileen said, "Next time... if there's another suitable quest, could you ask me to join you?"
"All right," Lin Qin agreed.
Watching Aileen walk away with a spring in her step, Lin Qin stood still and thought for a moment. Love was a new subject for him, and he wasn't sure yet how to handle it, but the feeling was exciting.
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