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

the group, but his demeanour was unmatched as it contained this rare

"Aaron… so it's him."

appeared on everyone's faces as their eyes

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

flashed across his face. It wasn't

while since I've

stopped on Amanda. His brows knit for a second before

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

with a short and indifferent acceptance of his

Amanda, Aaron's smile froze for a very

keen on

at Amanda, Aaron turned around and

from behind, Emma turned to look

are you sure you want to treat him like that? His guild is pretty powerful. You sure you won't regret this in the

"No."

shook her head as

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

terms of influence, it was very powerful. They were not someone that the current Amanda could deal with if they

reason I'm doing this is because he is

"He is?"

flashed in Emma's eyes at this

would they reach out for the other

"Because they are greedy."

replied, her voice taking

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

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

for coming all of the way here to

Amanda out of her thoughts was a crisp and melodious

an elf standing far ahead of

them, he seemed

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

to walked along a

one by one, the other people present slowly started

"Let's go."

the three girls was Emma who quickly lined up

flashed across her

"Here, take this."

to follow Emma, grabbing her shoulder, Melissa handed her a couple of

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

Melissa also lined

head, Amanda stared at her hand where several different cards of

times, her lips tugged

***

Clank—!

small room as a broadsword crossed against two sharp

out from the point of contact between the blades as the two individuals

from the distance, the individual holding onto the broadsword lowered it

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

individuals were none other than

and meeting up together, they decided to spend

they had been doing this for the past two years back at the Lock, both of them were

Lock, the both of them were still quite familiar with

two, it was that Jin was now a rank lower than Kevin, at

harder than ever. The reason for his current rank

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

he

on his

should be enough for today, the others

"Okay."