Flora Bloom, Hugh Warren, and the rest of their group followed Milton Adler around the plaza and armory. After several winding turns, they came to a small path by the sea.
At first, they passed some posts with soldiers standing guard, but the farther in they walked, the fewer people they saw, until finally there was no one in sight.
The sky had grown completely dark. All nine of them—their group and Milton Adler—walked along the seaside path, listening to the soft crash of waves against the rocks and hidden reefs below, creating a peculiar atmosphere.
Flora Bloom, however, was not afraid. In a place so rich with water, she held a natural advantage. What's more, Milton Adler was by himself, posing no threat to their group.
Moreover, the path was right by the ocean, and through her mental link, she could sense several giant horse mackerels leading a school of their followers. They had trailed her to a nearby reef and were now patrolling the area.
