Ella froze. Her eyes stared at Kazien's handsome face before her with a complex mixture of emotions, between overflowing admiration and a creeping fear crawling up her spine. The silver-white-haired man in front of her had just overturned the laws of nature, restoring the physical condition of dead creatures to flawless perfection.
However, Kazien's warm smile seemed to melt the cold tension enveloping Ella.
"So, Ella..." Kazien's voice sounded soft, snapping the receptionist out of her reverie. "Are you willing to purchase all these monsters?"
Ella flinched, her shoulders jumping slightly in surprise. She blinked several times, forcing her brain to return to her professional duties as a guild employee, pushing her shock to the corner of her mind.
"Y-Yes! Of course!" Ella answered with a slight stutter before steadying her voice back to a firm tone. "The guild will buy them! Their condition... it is perfect. This is the best transaction I have ever handled in my life."
With hands still trembling slightly from the lingering adrenaline, Ella began handling the administrative procedures. She moved quickly. Recording, verifying, and then storing all the Earth Dragon carcasses into the magic bag.
Once the lobby area was clear again, Ella immediately brought out the money to pay for the monsters.
"As I mentioned, because the condition is so excellent, one could even say they look as if they are merely sleeping, the guild dares to buy them at the highest price, which is 8,000 Saxth per head." Ella explained while placing stacks of coins on the table.
"The total is 160,000 Saxth, and after tax deductions, the final total is 152,000 Saxth." Ella presented the tray filled with coins with deep respect. "Please accept and recount them, Mr. Kazien."
Kazien smiled, only glancing briefly at the money on the table. "Thank you very much, Ella. I trust you."
With a casual motion, Kazien placed his hand over the tray and stored all the money into his dimensional storage space.
Just as the transaction concluded, Allen stepped forward. His cute face looked slightly anxious as he stared out the room's window.
"Let's return to Haslott immediately!" Allen urged as a reminder. He turned toward Hudeon, who was sitting quietly on a wooden chair while swinging his legs. "Hudeon's parent must be panicking looking for him. We cannot make them wait too long."
Kazien nodded in agreement. "You're right. We should head home now."
However, a new problem arose. Kazien scanned his surroundings. The guild lobby was still packed with adventurers discussing their heroic actions. If he used teleportation magic in the middle of a crowd, it would be an invitation for big trouble. He did not want to become the center of attention more than he already was.
Kazien leaned in, bringing his face close to Ella's ear. A soft, masculine scent made the dwarf receptionist hold her breath.
"Ella, one last request!" Kazien whispered quietly, his voice carrying a sense of secrecy. "Does this guild have a place that is a bit private? Perhaps a back warehouse or a quiet garden?"
Ella looked up, staring into Kazien's purple eyes with confusion. "What for, Mr. Kazien?"
"We want to return to the Azvel continent immediately." Kazien whispered again, this time more firmly. "We will be using teleportation magic. And as you know, it is quite impossible to show it in front of everyone in the lobby."
Gasp!
Ella's heart seemed to stop beating for a second. Her eyes widened to their limit. Her mouth hung slightly open without a sound.
Teleportation? Ella's mind screamed. Can Mr. Kazien use teleportation magic? That is an ancient magic which, according to history, is extinct and no one can use it anymore!
Ella swallowed hard, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. Her respect for Kazien now mingled with a sense of profound reverence.
"A-Alright." Ella answered with a trembling voice. "I understand your privacy. I will escort you all to the guild's backyard. It is surrounded by high walls and rarely visited by anyone."
Ella hurried to the reception desk. She approached a colleague, a female dwarf, and whispered something. Her colleague nodded while smiling warmly toward Kazien's group.
"Follow me, this way!" Ella invited.
She led them through narrow staff corridors, away from the crowded lobby, until they finally arrived at a thick oak door.
As the door opened, fresh air immediately greeted them. The guild's backyard was quite spacious, filled with crates of used goods and some dried medicinal plants. The atmosphere was silent, save for the soft rustle of the wind.
"It is safe here!" Ella said, spreading her arms to ensure no one else was present. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Please, use your teleportation magic. Honestly... I am very curious and wish to see it."
Kazien gave a thin smile. He actually wanted to keep it a secret, but since Ella already knew too much, especially after having to ask for her help, Kazien had no choice but to grant her wish.
"Thank you for your help, Ella. You are a great receptionist!" Kazien praised sincerely.
Kazien signaled to his three fiancés and Hudeon. The five of them stood in a small circle, holding hands.
Teleportation magic activated!
A giant magic circle appeared beneath their feet. Intricate, beautiful, and glowing with a blinding white light. Ancient symbols swirled around them, creating a magical gust of wind that blew through Ella's hair as she stood frozen in absolute awe.
"Well then, Ella, we shall take our leave." Kazien said while waving his free right hand.
"Yes... g-goodbye, Mr. Kazien..." Ella replied subconsciously.
Zap!
The sound was like a vacuum being suddenly filled. The white light shrank in the blink of an eye, taking the five figures along with it.
Now, the backyard was completely empty. Only Ella remained, standing alone in the silence, staring at the spot where Kazien had just been.
"They... they really disappeared..." Ella murmured, her legs so weak that she had to hold onto a pile of wooden crates. "So that magic is real. He truly can move bodies across space and time. Incredible... Mr. Kazien is truly incredible!"
Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away on a different continent, inside a damp cave filled with ancient ruins near the city of Haslott, Kazien's group had arrived.
Kazien, Alvin, Allen, Arken, and Hudeon stood upon the cold stone floor. The air was much cooler compared to the heat of the Gaterland desert. The scent of moss and wet earth greeted their senses.
Kazien opened his eyes and ensured everyone was safe. "We've arrived." he said calmly. "Let's head out of this cave quickly, toward the Haslott guild, and report the results of our investigation. Hudeon's parent must be waiting there."
The four of them nodded in unison. They walked along the cave passage toward the exit. Warm sunlight filtered through the gaps in the forest leaves outside.
As they stepped into the forest leading to the city of Haslott, there was a great change in Hudeon.
The boy, who had previously trembled in fear when first entering this forest due to the threat of wild monsters, now walked with a steady stride. His face beamed with joy. He no longer looked around warily at the bushes.
He felt so comfortable and safe being by Kazien's side. Moreover, his hand now gripped Kazien's hand tightly. The warmth from that hand flowed with an extraordinary courage.
"Come on, Brother Kazien!" Hudeon exclaimed enthusiastically, pulling Kazien's hand to make him walk faster. "I can't wait to tell my father about this adventure!"
Kazien chuckled softly at Hudeon's spirit. Meanwhile, his three fiancés followed behind with protective smiles, especially Arken, who kept staring at Hudeon's back with a very watchful gaze.