You can always accept the quest when your level is appropriate.

Arriving at an Aetherite will give you a minor chance for a linkpearl to light up, but it will not always happen even if you meet the level requirement for the quest.

I believe the linkpearl is working as intended, since it's merely used as a reminder and isn't something required in order to begin the quest. A bit of a bummer if you wanted to read the flavor text I suppose, but not a bug.