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

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 of

"Aaron… so it's him."

everyone's faces as their

of him when

a surprised look flashed across his face. It wasn't long before a smirk followed after

been a while since I've seen

stopped on Amanda. His brows knit for a second before

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

a short and indifferent

a reaction from Amanda, Aaron's smile froze for a very short

Miss Stern isn't too keen on talking to me, so

Amanda, Aaron turned around

at his back from behind, Emma turned

that? His guild is pretty powerful. You sure you won't regret this in the

"No."

as she stared

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

but in terms of influence, it was very powerful. They were not someone that the

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

"He is?"

flashed in Emma's

reach out for the

"Because they are greedy."

voice taking

now spread wide, and not just the guilds in Ashton

this, but she was also helpless

for coming all of

her thoughts was a crisp

her head, Amanda's eyes paused on an elf standing

addressed them, he seemed to be

long wait. Now that everyone has gathered, I will escort

the elf started to walked along a pathway

other people present slowly

"Let's go."

first one to move out of the three girls was Emma who quickly lined up

across

"Here, take this."

as Amanda was about to follow Emma, grabbing her

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

speaking, Melissa also

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

her lips tugged upwards

***

Clank—!

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

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

individual holding

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

individuals were none other than

elven domain and meeting up together, they decided

were quite familiar with the way the other fought, hence

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

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

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

on improving his dagger art, the

was because of this that he lagged behind Kevin, in terms

on his forehead, Kevin

should be enough for today, the others will be coming here

"Okay."