Chapter 461 - 228: Another Promotion, New Skill: Meteor Sting
Chapter 461: Chapter 228: Another Promotion, New Skill: Meteor Sting
After a short rest following dinner, it was time to address a necessary task—keeping watch.
This was one of the biggest challenges for a small Adventurer Squad.
Fortunately, everyone’s Level was quite high now, so they had plenty of energy. Losing a little sleep wouldn’t affect them much, though it would inevitably make the journey a bit less comfortable.
After setting the watch schedule, the group sat around the campfire and chatted for a while before Lin Mo urged everyone to get some rest.
He was the first on watch.
Ali and Feney obediently went to sleep, but Shefilya was being difficult. However, Lin Mo now had a way of dealing with her. Trying to reason with her or show concern was useless in these situations. The little Maid was simply stubborn; once she set her mind on something, it was nearly impossible to change.
But as long as he asserted his authority as her master and gave her a direct command, she would obey without complaint.
The night was tranquil. Lin Mo leaned back near the campfire, lost in thought for a moment.
It was only in the dead of night, when all was quiet, that a person had time to truly think.
Having spent so much time in Silver Stream City, he had to admit he wasn’t quite used to this new place yet.
If he felt this way after just a month, he couldn’t imagine how Feney felt, having never left home before.
Although she hadn’t said anything, Feney must have been terribly homesick these past couple of days, and she must have missed Miss Beixila dearly.
’I should be more considerate and take better care of Feney...’
...
"Lin Mo, it’s your turn to rest."
Ali rubbed her sleepy eyes and stretched, then quite naturally, she snuggled into Lin Mo’s arms.
She greedily inhaled his scent, nuzzling his neck with her fluffy ears.
"What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?"
Ali might have seemed carefree, but she was actually very perceptive when it came to people’s emotions.
"It’s nothing..."
Lin Mo shook his head instinctively, but Ali cupped his face in her hands.
"Is Lin Mo going to keep secrets from Ali?"
Lin Mo froze for a second. Seeing her looking a little down, he couldn’t help but smile.
’She’s right. What is there to hide from Ali?’
And so, he candidly told her what was on his mind.
"Hmm..."
After hearing him out, Ali rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"So, you’re worried that Feney feels lonely and isn’t adjusting well to being away from home?"
Lin Mo nodded, and Ali immediately rolled her eyes at him. "Then why don’t you just make her feel the warmth of home and fill her emptiness for her?"
The moment the words were out, the Little Wolf Girl realized what she’d said and clapped a hand over her mouth.
’Oh no, am I helping my own rival?’
Lin Mo was taken aback by her brazen words, momentarily speechless.
But thinking it over, and setting aside her suggestive phrasing, what Ali said actually made a lot of sense.
If Feney could feel a stronger sense of "companionship," perhaps she wouldn’t be so lonely.
In any relationship, someone has to take the first step. Ali and Shefilya had more direct personalities, so they were the ones to approach him first. But with shy, reserved girls like Feney and Lena, it seemed it was up to him to take the initiative and close the distance.
"I get it now. Thank you, Ali."
The Little Wolf Girl wanted to slap herself.
’I was still half-asleep. How could I have just blurted that out?’
’I’m sorry, Lena... I think I’m holding you back.’
Lin Mo went to sleep, leaving Ali to stew in her own conflicted thoughts.
She was still lost in thought when Shefilya woke up to relieve her.
「The night passed quickly.」
When Lin Mo opened his eyes, the first rays of dawn were already coloring the horizon.
He got up and stepped out of the tent. As it happened, Feney was the last one on watch.
She was sitting by the campfire hugging her knees, staring blankly into the flames. Her silhouette looked incredibly lonely.
Lin Mo slowly walked over and sat down beside her.
"Ah..."
Feney jumped. When she saw it was Lin Mo, she let out a sigh of relief. Her eyes met his for a second before she slowly looked down.
A reaction like that clearly meant something was troubling her.
"Are you getting used to things here in Fajade City?" Lin Mo asked.
"It’s... it’s fine..."
Feney replied with a smile, not wanting to make him worry.
"Then... do you miss Silver Stream City?"
"..."
Feney fell silent, her eyes welling up.
Lin Mo gently pulled her into his arms. As Feney leaned against his shoulder, the warmth she felt finally caused her tightly-wound emotions to unravel.
"I do... I miss it so much..."
"I miss my mom, everyone at the Church, Auntie Melissa, the street food in the city, the maids and the Guards back home, and... and Auntie Chacher..."
’Wow, she even misses Chacher. She must be really homesick.’
’So Chacher actually ranks lower than the maids and Guards at the City Lord’s Mansion?’
’I almost feel sorry for her...’