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

said from the side, gazing into the distance where another group was

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

"Aaron… so it's him."

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

them to not have heard of him when he had been a

across his face. It wasn't long before a smirk followed after

been a while since I've seen

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

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

replied with a short and indifferent acceptance

froze for a very short second

like Miss Stern isn't too keen on talking to me, so I

Amanda, Aaron turned

Emma turned to look in

like that? His guild is pretty powerful. You sure you won't

"No."

her head as she stared

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

was very powerful. They were not someone that the current Amanda

reason I'm doing this is because he is already working with another diamond-graded guild in Ashton

"He is?"

flashed in Emma's eyes at this

they reach out

"Because they are greedy."

coldly replied, her voice taking a chilly

the guilds in Ashton city, but even the other guilds from

she was also helpless at the

for coming all of the way here to

Amanda out of her thoughts was a crisp and melodious

Amanda's eyes paused on an elf standing far ahead of the

them, he seemed to be

has gathered, I will escort you to the

along a pathway that led to

one, the other people

"Let's go."

the three girls was Emma who quickly lined up

flashed across her

"Here, take this."

grabbing her

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

speaking, Melissa also lined

Melissa in confusion, lowering her head, Amanda stared at her

couple of times, her lips

***

Clank—!

metallic ring sounded throughout a small room as a broadsword crossed against two

between the blades as the two individuals distanced themselves from each

the individual holding onto the broadsword lowered it and complimented

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

were none other than

the elven domain and meeting up together, they decided

been doing this for the past two years back at the Lock, both of them were quite familiar with the way the other fought,

leaving the Lock, the both of them were still quite familiar with each other's styles. Hence, they were able to make the most

the two, it was that Jin was now a rank lower than

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 long

improving his dagger art,

it was because of this that he lagged behind Kevin, in

had accumulated on

for today, the others will be

"Okay."