The Author's POV

"Woahhh."

Taking a step out of the portal, Emma looked at the scene presented before her with amazement.

Wearing a white baseball hat along with a simple shirt and shorts, Emma's curiosity piqued as she looked around the place with an excited gaze.

"Curb your excitement."

Exiting the portal after her was Melissa. Squinting her eyes and taking out her glasses, she glared in the direction of the sun.

"If only that damned bastard didn't force me to come here…"

She muttered out loud, obviously not hiding the displeasure in her voice.

Overhearing Melissa's comments, Emma turned around and asked, "What's wrong about coming here?"

"I would've much rather spent my time finishing my project.

"And what's fun about that? You never go out. Just look at you, you remind me of a vampire."

Pausing, Emma pointed at the sun.

"The first thing you did as soon as you got out was glare at the sun!"

"Shut up."

Rolling her eyes, Melissa put her glasses back on.

As the two of them were bickering, not far from them, the other group members were slowly coming out of the portal.

It wasn't long before eight more people exited the portal. Once the last person came out, an elf came to greet them and led them to an area outside of the portal where there were others waiting.

As they were headed towards the larger group, Emma was instantly able to spot Amanda.

"Amanda, you're already here."

This part wasn't hard since she stood out quite a bit.

The fact that most of the males' gazes were directed at her also didn't help since it only made it easier for Emma to spot her.

Walking up to her, Emma tried to hug her, but Amanda swiftly dodged, prompting Emma to pout.

"Hey!"

"Save that stuff for Kevin."

"Hey!"

Emma shouted even louder as her cheeks turned rosy.

"How long have you been waiting here?" Emma asked, in hopes of trying to switch the topic.

Fortunately for her, Amanda had tact. Pretending to have not seen anything, she casually answered, "It's been about three hours since we arrived."

Lifting her head and staring into the distance, toward the direction of where Emma came from, Amanda continued.

"Besides you, we should be waiting for one more group before they will bring us to the city."

"Another group?"

Emma turned her head and stared in the same direction as Amanda.

"Any idea who it is?"

"They are from another city."

"Oh? Which one?"

not too sure

into the distance where another group was slowly headed in their

of the group was a young man with black hair and blue eyes. He may have been the youngest of the group, but his demeanour was unmatched as it contained this rare elegance to it that made him the focal point of the

"Aaron… so it's him."

of solemnity appeared on everyone's

knew who he was. After all, it was hard for them to not have heard of him when he had been

look flashed across his face. It wasn't long before a smirk

been a while since I've seen

eyes soon stopped on Amanda. His brows knit for

first year. It was unfortunate that you left after

short and indifferent acceptance

a reaction from Amanda, Aaron's smile froze for a very short second

isn't too keen on

Amanda, Aaron turned

his back from behind, Emma turned to look

are you sure you want to treat him like that? His guild is pretty powerful.

"No."

as she stared at

heir of the most powerful guild in

was very powerful. They were not someone that the current Amanda could deal with if they truly decided to

softly said, "The reason I'm doing this is because he is already working with another diamond-graded guild

"He is?"

flashed in Emma's

out

"Because they are greedy."

replied, her voice taking a

guilds in Ashton city, but even the other guilds from outside wanted to have a slice of her

enraged by this, but she was also helpless at

all of the way here

thoughts was a crisp and melodious voice that came from

eyes paused on an

them, he seemed to be very

gathered, I will escort you to the main city. So, if you

along a pathway

other people

"Let's go."

three girls was Emma who quickly lined up and

flashed across

"Here, take this."

was about to follow Emma, grabbing her shoulder, Melissa

your talent to everyone, you might as well be useful and advertise this as well. The

speaking, Melissa also

her head, Amanda stared at her hand where several different cards of various

a couple of times, her lips tugged upwards ever

***

Clank—!

metallic ring sounded throughout a small room as

wind sprang out from the point of contact between the blades as the two individuals distanced

the individual holding onto the broadsword lowered it and complimented his sparring

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

individuals were none

to the elven domain and meeting up together, they decided to spend most of their time

for the past two years back at the Lock, both of them were quite familiar with

ever since leaving the Lock, the both of them were still quite familiar with each other's

one thing that was different about the two, it was that Jin was now a rank

Jin had been training harder than ever. The reason for his current rank was that he had acquired

improving his dagger art, the

he lagged behind Kevin, in

accumulated on his forehead,

today, the

"Okay."