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

already here." Melissa said from the side, gazing into the distance where another group was slowly headed in their

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

"Aaron… so it's him."

solemnity appeared on everyone's faces as

for them to not have heard of him when he had been a thorn on their side during their first year. Second and third year for

group, and a surprised look flashed across his face. It wasn't

been a while since I've seen you

eyes soon stopped on Amanda. His brows knit for a second before

think we maybe briefly met during your first year. It was unfortunate that you left after and we were

short and indifferent acceptance of his

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

too keen on talking to me, so I

Aaron turned

back from behind, Emma

guild is pretty powerful.

"No."

head as she stared at

knew very well what type of background Aaron had. He was the heir of the most powerful guild

not as great as hers, but in terms of influence, it was very powerful. They were not someone that the current Amanda could deal with if they truly decided

"The reason I'm doing this is because he is already

"He is?"

Emma's

out for the

"Because they are greedy."

replied, her voice taking

about her father's dissapearance had now spread wide, and not just the guilds in Ashton city, but even the other guilds from outside wanted to have a

this, but she was also

you for coming all of the way here to

Amanda out of her thoughts was a crisp and melodious

on an elf standing far

he

wait. Now that everyone has gathered, I will escort you to the main city.

to walked along

by one, the other people

"Let's go."

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

across

"Here, take this."

grabbing her shoulder, Melissa handed her

you will be displaying your talent to everyone, you might as well be useful and advertise this as

speaking, Melissa

lowering her head, Amanda stared at her hand

of times, her lips

***

Clank—!

a small room as

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

the individual holding onto the broadsword lowered it and

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

none other

elven domain and meeting up together, they

back at the Lock, both of them were quite familiar with the way the other fought,

of them were still quite familiar with each other's styles. Hence, they were

was one thing that was different about the two, it was that Jin

a lack of training, however. Jin had been training harder than ever. The reason for his current rank was that he had acquired a five-star dagger technique not

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

he lagged behind Kevin, in terms

sweat that had accumulated on his forehead, Kevin

today, the others will be coming

"Okay."