[ROA]
Quinn glanced down both ends of the street. He turned towards the gates behind him and sighed in irritation. Helga was running late.
After leaving the mansion, Quinn went over to the hospital to inform Helga of his decision to join her in the army. She didn't show him much of a reaction, simply accepting his decision with a small smile. She was still embarrassed about crying in from of him and apologize for it, but Quinn simply waved away her apology.
"You never need to be embarrassed about things like that," he said "Come to me if you ever need a shoulder to cry on again"
Now, Quinn stood in front of the gate leading out of the city, waiting for Helga to show up.
'Where is she?' Quinn thought tiredly. He had been waiting there for a few hours.
"I'm sorry I'm late!!" a voice shouted from down the road to his left. He turned and saw Helga running towards him, with her bag in hand and a sword strapped to her waist.
"You took a lot of time," he said once she came close enough to hear him.
"Sorry about that," Helga said with a small blush on her face. She scratched her chin and looked away from Quinn "I ran into an old lady while coming and had to help her home" she muttered.
"You're joking, right?"
"N-No! It happened!"
Quinn rose an eyebrow at her outburst, she seemed to be embarrassed about this - at least that was what the light dusting of red on her green cheeks told him - so he decided to drop it.
"Okay fine. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes, let's go"
The two set out the gates and started the journey to the military base.
.....
They walked in silence for a while with only the sound of the animals in the forest around them to keep them company. Helga looked at Quinn from the corner of her eyes, she bit her bottom lips and then tried to say something, but shook her head and turned back to the path.
"You know this is the third time you're doing that. If you want to ask something, then just ask it"
Helga's eyes widened when he said this, before looking down with a blush. She couldn't believe he had caught her. "Uhmm, I just wanted to ask you something," She said
"Okay, what is it?"
"Well, I was just wondering why you suddenly decided to come with me." She rose her head and turned to him "I know I didn't ask before, but I still want to know"
"Well," Quinn grinned cheekily "It could be because it was you. Just like the beast hunt"
"Hey!" Helga pouted " I'm serious about this. So stop teasing me already!"
"Okay, okay" He laughed "I'm sorry. You're just so fun to tease"
Helga huffed.
"Well I guess I came because I didn't feel all too useful" he finally replied
Not useful? Why would you feel like that?"
"I just didn't feel like I was doing anything worthwhile in the city. I want to have actual experiences, go places where I've never seen before. I want to feel useful"
"Oh...." Helga didn't know what more to say to that. She never thought a Lord would feel like he was wasting his life, they seemed to have everything they would ever need.
"You're different from what I've heard about you"
Quinn hummed at her. "And what exactly did they describe me as?"
"A selfish coward who cared for no one but himself"
"...Ouch" Quinn cringed "That's kinda cruel"
"But you're different from that." She reassured him "You seem more human now that I've spoken to you"
"Ah, well thank you, I guess"
Helga answered with a nod.
.....
The two of them walked forward, till they reached a clearing in the forest. This was the transporter. Its job was to take people across large distances, including the military base. It looked like a stone hedge with runes carved into each of the pillars.
Helga and Quinn went and stood in the middle of the transporter. Helga brought out a magic stone from her pocket and crushed it in her hand.
And then they vanished.
....
The two arrived at another transporter, this time inside a large building. There were people all around them moving things about, and a check-in point at the side of the room with a long line in front of it.
"What the hell are you gawking at maggot!?"
The pair turned to the other side of the transporter and saw a man in a military uniform standing there. He had a bald head and a scar on his chin. His eyes were grey and narrowed in a permanent glare.
"I asked what you were gawking at!" The man snarled
"Nothing" Quinn replied with a shrug
The man narrowed his eyes even further, "Then get off the damn transporter maggot. You're not the only one coming through!"
The pair obliged and moved off the transporter. They walked towards the check-in point and joined the line.
"Sheesh, what's his problem?" Helga asked.
"Don't let him catch you saying that" A voice answered from further up the line "You'll be stuck on toilet duty for the rest of your stay here"
"Can he do that?" Quinn asked the boy. He turned back to the man and saw him yelling at another pair who had just come through the transporter - two boys this time.
"Absolutely" The person turned to face them. He had black hair and green eyes. His face was angular and his nose was pointed, all of this together with the scarf on his neck made him out to be quite handsome.
"That man already had a nickname among the fresh trainees. He's called the Crusher"
"Let me guess," Helga deadpanned "He tries to ruin people's dreams of joining the army"
she sighed, "That's so cliche"
The boy laughed out loud. Drawing some appreciative looks from the girls in the line. "I suppose you're right." He stretched his hand to her, "It's a pleasure to meet you..."
"Helga..." She took his hand and shook it with a small blush on her face.
"A-hem..." Quinn coughed, startling Helga out of her mild trance.
"Oh...Uhm, this is Quinn. We came to join the army"
"He already knows that Helga," Quinn said cheekily, which earned him an elbow to the ribs from her.
"Oof"
The boy laughed at their antics and extended his hand towards Quinn as well "Well it's a pleasure to meet you"
"My name is Hakeem"