Its pitch darkness was enough for the people to call it the dead's land, it was associated with the Styx river that was said to be the boundary between the earth and the underworld.

But before that name came the Stygian City was opposite of its name. It was a beautiful place said in history books with its lush fields and abundant mana suitable for every mana user. That every monster that was said to have resided are friendly and can be tamed. It was because of the pure mana inside the city walls.

​​

And because of this, the dark users and the other affinity users tried to covet it a thousand of years ago from the elves, who were the one protecting the City. It's the reason, elves become much more secluded as time goes on.

They hated the humans who tried to covet what they're protecting.

The war lasted for a very long time as the dark mana users and the other affiliates tried to annihilate the black magician while the elves managed to escape amidst the war and in the process the place was destroyed and the black magician known as witches today lost in the war.

What the other magicians didn't know is that witches who have died in the battlefield have a strong resentment that their mana became a curse and poisoned the land that was once full of vibrant.

In the end, no one was able to obtain that land and it became a fruitless war. Only the cries, smoke, and ruins are what they got from their greed.

The place was near a river that contains poison, and the monster there has mutated to accommodate the surroundings area.

"The client will immediately talk about the details if the two of you agreed in this mission." Erick said, making Adelyn leave her thoughts.

"If Adam is fine with having an A-rank as his company then I wouldn't mind." Adelyn said.

"If it's Miss Adelyn, then I'm confident we can do this." Adam stated with his unfazed face.

'Why is this guy saying this all of a sudden? Where's the trust coming from?' she thought as she glanced at Adam.

"Then it's settled. Meet me tomorrow after the sun has settled down. The client will be here to talk about the details." Erick said.

And Adam was the first to walk out of the room while Adelyn stared at Erick as she stood at the door.

"One week" she sternly said.

Erick chuckled as he heard the door closed. He will be busy for a while because their princess has ordered her to do the task within a week. He remembers the piercing eyes of Adelyn and laughs.

"What a scary princess."

***

Adelyn and Adam are in their casual clothes and their sword was left beside the door, while they leisurely sit on each other's side while waiting for the client that made that dangerous commission.

Erick is also with them while he signs a couple of documents, he takes them to the meeting room that was opposite of his office.

*tap *tap

Adelyn tapped the armrest as her lazy ass was bored waiting for the clients. Her supposed mealtime with Gil and Cassandra was postponed because of this.

"Princess, stop that!" Erick said as he was getting distracted to the sound of Adelyn's nails touching the wooden arm rest of the sofa.

"Stop calling me princess, Old man. And I'm bored!" she said.

Erick frowned with how she called him just now.

"I'm not old!"

"You're older than me, so you're old."

"What kind of logic…?!" Erick was stupefied at Adelyn's cheeky response.

'This princess really knows how to annoy people' he thought.

"Does that mean that Miss Adelyn will also call me old man?" The two were dumbfounded at Adam cutting their bickering and his innocent question left them thinking how this guy can be called a silent reaper.

"You're not old, Adam. You're just 5 years older than me. Not old to be called an old man." She nonchalantly said and sigh.

She can't seem to even annoy people because someone doesn't know how to distinguish a joke. Like the one in his left, sitting like a trained dog, it was Adam.

'I think this trip will be exhausting!' she thought.

Erick was just silently smiling while he saw Adelyn's already tired face. 'She's weak to people who seem to be innocent and look like a dog. Even though the dog looks like it can tear people when it bites…' he thought as he observed Adam's face that looked like it was ready to kill.

"Hey Adam, I told you, you should smile and relax your face." Adelyn said,

"…? I'm relaxed though…"

A knock came in as Adelyn sighs.

"Come in…" Erick was the one to welcome the guest.

There's only two people who stepped inside and their faces were covered by their capes. And after they lowered it, Adelyn's eyes were shocked and wide open.

'Silvester? What's he doing here?' She thought.

One of the two was her cousin and the Crown Prince of this Kingdom.

But her mind never kept the question for long, because she knew Silvester will eventually tell himself about what he needs from them and the reason why he's here in this small town of Corora.

She observed Silvester, he wears a commoner's clothes, but his noble prestige can be seen in how he acts. His tone was different, his stature became more manly, his black hair that was now on his shoulder length that makes him more handsome and the cold blue eyes that she's not familiar with.

It really was different, four years sure is long that the mischievous and full of mysteries but kind cousin to her now looks like a stern prince that will dominate the Kingdom once he becomes a King.

His aura also was different, one of the few things that Adelyn unlocked was she can see the color of mana surrounding the person. It was blue, he has an affinity for water and ice. It was cold but calm at the same time domineering.

'It suits him' Adelyn thought.

Silvester saw the lady who was standing alongside the fierce looking man, she looked like she was not suitable to be in this group, with her flower like shell. But he knew that she was stronger than she looked.

This lady whose presence was big enough despite having so many powerful individuals with her in this room and surprisingly it seems natural that she's here with the rest and that he can't help but notice her among this group.

Her chestnut eyes were looking through his blue eyes. Her cat-like eyes that were underneath a black mask seemed familiar but at the same time not.

His heart was beating loud.

*thump! *thump! *thump!

Her chestnut locks that go to her bottom and her brown eyes that feel like she holds the abyss inside. It was beautiful and too familiar to him.

Unconsciously, he thought about his cousin, Evelyn. Though he still can't believe it, it was four years, and no one still knows what happened that day.

He still blames himself that he didn't even get to help her cousin to have the freedom that she yearned for and love that she needed.

And if ever she was alive, he will do anything for her cousin who accompanied him during the hard times that he had when he was in the Academy.

But right now, the thought that this lady resembles Evelyn shocked her, though her features are different, her stance, her manner and how she stares at him, surprisingly it looks like she was looking at the matured Evelyn.

But it couldn't be. His attendant who investigated the two said that this lady is a commoner and came from a village who was attacked by a monster and got a scar to her face. That's the reason behind her black mask.

And also, she became the princess of this guild not because of her gender but because of her contribution, presence and authority as an adventurer alone can shut the mouths of the troublemaker adventurers.

Even the S-rank adventurers in the guild obeyed her like she's the queen. And her title as the dead rose of the battlefield was enough description on how strong she is.

This young lady unexpectedly holds one of the highest positions in this guild, Monterio Guild.

He pushed the thought down when Erick pointed to the chair and snapped him back to reality and also to begin the purpose that he came for.

"Greetings, I'm Sil. And this is my attendant." Silvester said.

'So, he's using his pet name as an alias. Hmm…' Adelyn thought.

"These are the two adventurer that will accompany you to the Stygian ruins." Erick points to Adelyn and Adam who were sitting together.

"I'm Adelyn, an A-rank adventurer and this is Adam, our S-rank. Both of us will be the one to explore the Stygian Ruins."

She reaches her hand for Silvester and smiles at him. She never thought that this is how they'll meet.