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

side, gazing into the distance where another group was

forefront of the group 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

"Aaron… so it's him."

everyone's faces as their eyes

of him when he had been

in small strides, Aaron's eyes soon paused on their group, and a surprised look flashed across

since

stopped on Amanda. His brows knit for a second before

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

with a short and indifferent acceptance of his

smile froze for a very short second before he

on talking to me, so I will

Amanda, Aaron

his back 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."

as she stared

type of background Aaron had. He was the heir of the most powerful guild

great as hers, but in terms of influence, it was very powerful. They were not someone

staring at Emma, Amanda softly said, "The reason I'm doing this is because he is already working with

"He is?"

flashed in Emma's eyes at this

would they reach out for the other

"Because they are greedy."

voice taking a

spread wide, and not just the guilds in Ashton city, but even

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

all of the way here

her thoughts was a crisp and

eyes paused on an elf standing far ahead of the

addressed them, he seemed to

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

the elf started to walked along a pathway that led

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

"Let's go."

girls was Emma who quickly

across

"Here, take this."

was about to follow Emma, grabbing her shoulder, Melissa handed her a

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

speaking, Melissa also lined

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

of times, her lips tugged upwards

***

Clank—!

throughout a small room as

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

the distance, the individual holding onto

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

were none other than Kevin

early to the elven domain and meeting up together, they decided to spend

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

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

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

ever. The reason for his current rank was that

he was now more focused on improving his dagger art, the time

because of this that he lagged behind

accumulated on his

enough for today, the others will

"Okay."