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?"

too

into the distance where another group was slowly headed in their

may have been the youngest of the group, but his demeanour was unmatched as

"Aaron… so it's him."

rare of solemnity appeared on everyone's faces as their eyes paused on

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

group, and a surprised look flashed across his face. It wasn't long before a smirk followed after as he walked up

been a while since

Aaron's eyes soon stopped on Amanda. His brows knit for

your first year. It

replied with a short and indifferent acceptance of his

from Amanda, Aaron's smile froze for a very short second before he regained his

too keen on talking to me, so I will take my

Amanda, Aaron turned around

his back from behind, Emma turned to look in Amanda's

guild is pretty powerful.

"No."

her head as

type of background Aaron had. He was the heir of the most powerful guild in Lutwig city, one of the four great cities

power, his guild was not as great as hers, but in terms of influence, it was very powerful. They were not someone

Amanda softly said, "The reason I'm doing

"He is?"

Emma's eyes at this

they reach out for

"Because they are greedy."

coldly replied, her voice taking

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

was obviously enraged by this, but she was also helpless at the

coming all of

her thoughts was a crisp and

eyes paused on an elf

he addressed them, he

I will escort you

along a pathway that

he left, one by one, the other people present slowly

"Let's go."

out of the three girls was Emma who quickly lined up and followed the

across her

"Here, take this."

follow Emma, grabbing her shoulder, Melissa

displaying your talent to everyone, you might as well be

speaking, Melissa

at Melissa in confusion, lowering her head, Amanda stared at her hand where several

a couple of times, her lips tugged

***

Clank—!

throughout a small room as a broadsword crossed against

circular pressurized wind sprang out from the point of contact between the blades

individual holding onto the broadsword lowered it

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

none other

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

them were quite familiar with the way the other fought, hence why

had not sparred together ever since leaving the Lock, the both of them were still quite familiar

one thing that was different about the two, it was that Jin was now a rank lower than Kevin, at

due to a lack of training, however. Jin had been training harder than ever. The

on improving his dagger art, the time he spent on improving

because of this that he lagged behind Kevin,

accumulated on his

enough for today, the others

"Okay."