Gauss only realized she had never seen Aaliyah before.
"She is Aaliyah, we started teaming up since last autumn."
"This is Andri, a powerful mage."
Aaliyah called her ’senpai’ just like Gauss did.
Though Andri had already restrained her aura, she noticed Gauss’s respectful title and realized the small child-sized half-elf was not simple.
"I have another half-snake man teammate, I’ll introduce you when I have time."
"Alright."
Andri nodded.
Her gaze lingered on the three six-pointed stars in Gauss’s adventurer badge for a moment, her expression somewhat hazy, and she sincerely praised.
"I didn’t expect you to have already advanced to level 3, Gauss."
When she said this, her tone was rather emotional.
Her thoughts unconsciously drifted back to when she first met Gauss; back then, he was just a fledgling bottom adventurer with little understanding of the profession.
Even though he showed an extraordinary talent for magic, he seemed too immature to her at the time.
After all, having talent doesn’t mean it will successfully be realized.
The reason Gauss left a special impression on her was his unique magic power that perfectly matched her White Bone Staff, which she had collected for years, leading to continuous interaction since then.
Who would have thought it hasn’t been long?
The former greenhorn has now grown into a level 3 professional.
She even felt as if a lot of time had actually passed.
"It’s alright, this advancement speed is average." Gauss laughed heartily.
"..." Andri thought of her own advancement experience and couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him.
"I left Gray Rock Town to visit some old friends I hadn’t seen for years, just to stretch my muscles and travel a bit." Andri briefly explained her whereabouts, nothing was a secret after all. "It’s my habit; every now and then, I go out and get around, or else my magic might start to deteriorate."
Though she retired, she wasn’t old.
If not for the team disbanding due to an accident, even at fifty, she would still be in her prime.
Half-elves live longer than humans; normally they can live up to 150 years, and if they become professionals and take care of themselves, they might live even longer.
"By the way, Andri. I have good news for you."
Gauss suddenly remembered something and looked up.
"Hmm?" Andri chewed her food and looked at Gauss with gentle brown eyes.
"The White Bone Staff you gave me last year, I’ve already replaced the staff core."
"Cough, cough!" Andri initially did not pay much attention, but after hearing what Gauss said, she coughed repeatedly.
Her face showed an expression of disbelief.
"What did you say?"
Gauss repeated it again.
After confirming she hadn’t heard wrong, Andri’s expression turned complicated.
Why was the staff, which showed no progress while she studied it for decades, changing so quickly with Gauss?
Sigh...
Further convinced that she and the object were destined to be apart, Andri sighed secretly.
Could she not know this thing had significant origins?
But alas, that staff was simply incompatible with her.
"Take out... never mind, let’s eat first." Andri was about to suggest looking at it, but realizing they were in a bustling hall, she swallowed her words.
Nonetheless, she was indeed very curious about the change in the White Bone Staff.
The staff had become complete with Gauss, though it was not for her, in some way it still fulfilled a long-held wish.
The meal quickly ended.
After the meal, Andri dragged Gauss upstairs to the room swiftly.
At the entrance hall, Serdur, who had just returned from walking his pet, scratched his head watching Gauss being dragged upstairs.
...
At the outpost, the lights were bright.
But beyond the wilderness.
In the deep ink-like night, a faint glimmer was slowly flickering.
One shadow after another was moving quickly, like a tide flowing in.