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

here." Melissa said from the side, gazing into the distance

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

"Aaron… so it's him."

appeared on everyone's faces as their eyes paused

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. Second

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

a while since

His brows

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

replied with a short and indifferent acceptance of his

from Amanda, Aaron's smile froze for a very

on talking to me,

at Amanda, Aaron

his back from behind, Emma turned to look in

are you sure you want to treat him like that? His guild

"No."

shook her head as

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

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

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

"He is?"

Emma's eyes at

out for the other

"Because they are greedy."

her voice taking a chilly

wide, and not just the guilds in Ashton city,

she was also helpless at the

for coming all of the way here

a crisp and melodious voice that came from the

Amanda's eyes paused on an elf standing

he addressed them, he seemed

Now that everyone has gathered, I will escort you

along a pathway that led to

the other people present slowly started to follow

"Let's go."

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

flashed across her

"Here, take this."

to follow Emma, grabbing her shoulder,

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

speaking, Melissa also lined

head, Amanda stared at

her lips tugged

***

Clank—!

room

the point of contact between the blades

distance, the individual holding onto the broadsword lowered it

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

were none other than Kevin and

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

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

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

about the two, it was that Jin was now

had been training harder than ever. The reason for

on improving his dagger art, the time

that he lagged

had accumulated on his forehead, Kevin

be enough for today, the others will

"Okay."