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

the side, gazing into the distance where another group was slowly headed in their

was a young man with black hair and blue eyes. He may have been the youngest of the

"Aaron… so it's him."

on everyone's

who he was. After all, it was hard for them to not have heard of him when he had been a thorn on their side during their first year.

and a surprised look flashed across his face. It

while since

on Amanda. His brows knit for a

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

replied with a short and indifferent

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

too keen on talking to me,

Amanda, Aaron turned around and

at his back from behind, Emma turned to

like that? His guild is pretty powerful. You

"No."

as she

He was the heir of the most powerful guild in Lutwig city, one of the four great cities

as great as hers, but in terms of influence, it was very powerful. They were

reason I'm doing this is because he is already working with

"He is?"

Emma's

would they reach out for

"Because they are greedy."

her voice taking a

now spread wide, and not just the guilds in Ashton city, but even the other guilds from outside wanted to

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

of the way here

was a crisp and

eyes paused on an elf standing far ahead of

addressed them, he seemed to be very

that everyone has gathered, I will escort you

along a

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

"Let's go."

the three girls was Emma who quickly lined up and followed the others

across her

"Here, take this."

grabbing her shoulder,

everyone, you might as well be useful and advertise this as well.

Melissa also lined

at

couple of times, her lips tugged

***

Clank—!

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

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

at each other from the distance, the individual holding onto the broadsword

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

were none other than Kevin and

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

two years back at the Lock, both of them were quite familiar with the way the other fought, hence why

they had not sparred together ever since leaving the Lock, the both of them were still quite familiar with each other's styles. Hence, they were able to make the most out of

thing that was different about the two, it

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

on improving his dagger art, the time

that he lagged behind Kevin,

sweat that had accumulated on his forehead, Kevin put away his

today, the

"Okay."