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

the distance where another group was slowly headed in their

black hair and blue eyes. He may have been the youngest of the group, but his demeanour

"Aaron… so it's him."

of solemnity appeared on everyone's faces

heard of him when he had been a thorn on their side during their

in small strides, Aaron's eyes soon paused on their group, and a surprised look flashed across his face. It wasn't

been a while since

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

Miss Stern. I think we maybe briefly met during your first year. It was

replied with a short and

expecting such a reaction from Amanda, Aaron's smile froze for a

seems like Miss Stern isn't too keen on talking to

Aaron turned

from behind, Emma turned

treat him like that? His guild is pretty powerful. You sure

"No."

shook her head as she stared

of the most powerful guild in Lutwig city, one

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

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

"He is?"

in Emma's eyes at

reach out for the

"Because they are greedy."

replied, her voice taking

about her father's dissapearance had now spread wide, and not just the guilds in Ashton city, but even the other guilds

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

of the

crisp and melodious voice that came

paused on an

he addressed them, he

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

along a pathway that led to

left, one by one, the other people present

"Let's go."

three girls was Emma who

flashed across her

"Here, take this."

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

as well be useful and

Melissa

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

a couple of times, her lips tugged upwards

***

Clank—!

sounded throughout a small room as a broadsword crossed against two sharp

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

distance, the individual holding onto the

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

individuals were none other than Kevin and

meeting up together, they decided to

two years back at the Lock, both of them were quite familiar with the way the other fought, hence why they were able to fight against each other

of them were still quite familiar with each other's styles. Hence, they

the two, it was that Jin was

harder than ever. The reason for his current rank was that he had acquired a five-star

on improving his dagger art, the time

he lagged behind Kevin, in terms

accumulated on his forehead, Kevin

the others will be

"Okay."