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 sure

the side, gazing into the distance where another group

been the youngest of the group, but his demeanour was unmatched as it contained this rare elegance to it

"Aaron… so it's him."

solemnity appeared on everyone's

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.

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

been a while since I've

eyes soon stopped on Amanda. His brows knit for

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

replied with a short

from Amanda, Aaron's smile froze

too keen on talking to me, so I

at Amanda, Aaron turned around

back from behind, Emma turned to look

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

"No."

head as she stared

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

very powerful. They were not someone that the

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

"He is?"

in Emma's

they reach out for the

"Because they are greedy."

replied, her voice taking a

guilds in Ashton city, but even the other guilds

obviously enraged by this, but she

of the way here

out of her thoughts was a crisp and

head, Amanda's eyes paused on an elf standing

he seemed

everyone has gathered, I will escort you to the main city.

around, the elf started to walked along a pathway that led

the other people present slowly

"Let's go."

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

across

"Here, take this."

Amanda was about to follow Emma, grabbing

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

speaking, Melissa also lined

at Melissa in confusion, lowering her head, Amanda stared at her hand

of times, her lips tugged upwards ever so

***

Clank—!

room as a broadsword crossed against two

of contact between

individual holding onto the broadsword lowered it and complimented his sparring

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

two individuals were none other

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

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

not sparred together ever since leaving the Lock, the both of them were still quite familiar with each other's

two, it was that Jin

due to a lack of training, however. Jin had been training harder than ever. The reason for his current rank was that he had

dagger art, the time he spent

this that he lagged behind Kevin, in terms

that had accumulated on his forehead, Kevin

enough for today, the

"Okay."