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

already here." Melissa said from the side, gazing into the distance where

may have been the youngest of the group, but his demeanour was unmatched as it contained this rare elegance to it that made him

"Aaron… so it's him."

everyone's faces as their eyes paused

him when he had been a thorn

group, and a surprised look flashed across his face. It

been a while since I've seen you

Aaron's eyes soon stopped on Amanda. His brows

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

Amanda replied with a short and indifferent acceptance of

froze for a very short

like Miss Stern isn't too keen on

Aaron

back from behind, Emma turned

him like that? His guild is

"No."

head as she stared at

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

not as great as hers, but in terms of influence, it was very powerful. They were not someone that the current Amanda could deal with if they truly decided to

reason I'm doing this is because he

"He is?"

Emma's

they reach out for the other

"Because they are greedy."

voice taking a chilly

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

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

all of the way

crisp and

Amanda's eyes paused on an elf

addressed them, he seemed to

wait. Now that everyone has gathered, I will escort

along a pathway that

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

"Let's go."

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

across

"Here, take this."

Emma, grabbing her shoulder, Melissa handed her a couple

you might as well be useful and advertise this as

Melissa also lined

at her hand where

her lips

***

Clank—!

a small room as a broadsword crossed against two

wind sprang out from the point of contact between

at each other from the distance, the individual holding onto

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

none other than Kevin

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

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

the Lock, the both of them were still quite

was one thing that was different about the two, it was that Jin was now

lack of training, however. Jin had been training harder than ever. The reason for his current rank was that he had acquired a five-star dagger technique not long

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

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

had accumulated on

be enough for today, the others will be coming here

"Okay."