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

the side, gazing into the distance

man with black hair and blue eyes. He may have been the youngest of the group, but his demeanour was unmatched as it contained this rare elegance to

"Aaron… so it's him."

everyone's faces as their eyes

them to not have heard of him when he had been a thorn on their side during their first year. Second and third year for

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

while since I've

Amanda. His brows knit for a

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

replied with a short and indifferent acceptance of

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

on talking to me, so I will

Amanda, Aaron

behind, Emma turned

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

"No."

shook her head as she stared at

what type of background Aaron had. He was the heir of the most

it was very powerful. They were not someone that the current Amanda could deal with

softly said, "The reason I'm doing this is because he

"He is?"

flashed in Emma's eyes

would they reach out for

"Because they are greedy."

voice taking a

dissapearance had now spread wide, and not just the guilds in Ashton city,

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

coming all of the way here

crisp and melodious voice

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

addressed them, he

escort

elf started to walked along

one, the other people

"Let's go."

was Emma who quickly lined

flashed across

"Here, take this."

was about to follow Emma, grabbing her

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

Melissa

Melissa in confusion, lowering her head, Amanda stared at her hand where several different cards of various colours

times, her lips tugged upwards ever

***

Clank—!

room as a

of contact between the blades as the two individuals distanced themselves from

holding onto

"You've improved a lot."

"You too."

none

the elven domain and meeting up together, they decided to spend most of their time sparring against each

past 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

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

thing that was different about the two, it was that Jin was now a rank lower

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

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

it was because of this that he lagged

accumulated on his

today, the others will

"Okay."