Unending: Mage's Academy III

hung over everything like a heavy curtain. I almost felt as though I was being slowed down by the weight of it. Nox and I walked for a long time, before seeing anything. The whole area was empty, with not even a tree or shrub. I watched carefully at my feet to be sure I didn't trip on anything. I had to squint because I could hardly see through the mist down to my feet. As I walked I began to grow paranoid. It felt as though I was being watched, but it wasn't a definite feeling. It could easily have been my mind playing tricks on me. So I kept calm and walked on. The ground under my feet became loose and sandy the farther I walked. My feet sunk in a bit with each step. Leaning down, I grabbed a handful of loose soil. It was a sandy mixture of dirt and fine white crystals. The air smelled of salt and sea. It seemed that I was approaching a beach. With the realization, I began to notice a faint sound. It was a gentle rushing of water. I approached the sound but still could not see past the mist. Suddenly I felt the lapping of water at my ankles. I had walked right into the water.

The water spilling over my feet was dark black. I took a quick step back. I had never seen such dark water. I felt a tingle of fear shoot up my spine, but I was also relieved that there was something out here. Anything was better than the emptiness from before. I began to trail just along the water's edge. Close enough to hear the sound, but not so close that it could touch me. The subtle uneasiness from before stayed with me, but the farther I walked the more things came into view. The mist started to clear somewhat, though the sky remained dark and grey. I saw wild grasses and small rolling dunes appearing. The sea also came into view. It was vast and nearly infinite looking and the surface was a glassy black. A shiver wracked my body and I had to turn my thoughts away from it to stay calm. Something about the sight of the vast ocean was unnerving in the extreme. It almost felt as though the sea itself was watching me.

Just then, I felt something whizz by my ear. Nox flew off my shoulder like a spark and I heard scrambling behind me. In a moment of panic, I ran into a clump of tall grasses. A group of figures began to move towards where I'd been standing. They wore dark cloaks that I recognized off the man from back at the inn.

"Not such a good shot are you, Edge?" The first voice laughed cruelly.

"I must have been mistaken," He said, his tone more serious. "But I could have sworn I saw something."

The cruel voice interjected, "That Innkeeper could have been lying to us about the girl after all."

My ears perked up. That was impossible. Did this have something to do with me?

The second voice said more sternly, "She said the girl was approaching the Shrine of the Guardian. She wouldn't dare lie to representatives of Lord Morningstar."

My blood ran cold. They were talking about me. Anais had sold me out. All that concern I saw in her face. It wasn't concern for me, but for her self. She had sent them after me whoever they are. I tried to control my breathing so they wouldn't hear me.

"This bloody Infinite Sea is giving me the creeps," the cruel one said.

"Quiet Ember, I think I hear something." The one named Edge hissed. I froze, willing every limb in my body to go still. I didn't have any idea who Lord Morningstar was, but apparently, he had sent these guys after me. What was going on?

After a few tense moments, a clump of grass on the other side of the beach exploded in a burst of feathers as Nox flew out. Bless that bird. He had created a distraction.

"Must've just been a bird," laughed Ember. The two cloaked figures moved away down the beach. They thought I was at the Shrine of the Guardian already, which meant that they might lead me to it. I hoped that I could follow them without drawing attention to myself. They made their way up the beach, stopping only a few times to eat and drink. I thought about the food and drink that Anais had packed for me. Was it tainted somehow? I couldn't believe that she had betrayed me, but I should have known not to trust the first person who showed me kindness in the Liminal World. I trailed Ember and Edge along the coast without significant difficulty until the mist grew thick again. Without clear sight of them, I had to get closer to be able to hear them. And yet, it was my back I was worried about. I sensed a presence behind me. For a brief moment, I thought I could see something in my peripheral vision. I craned my neck behind me and it was gone. I heard the footsteps of the mercenaries in front of me and their voices consulting in hushed tones.

"Do you think the rumors are true about the sea?" Ember asked, an unseemly vein of fear running through his question.

"Want to stick around and find out?" His partner asked slyly.

"Not saying that I'm scared, but I do think we should get on. You know so that we don't miss the girl." He responded.

Edge chuckled grimly, "Thought so."

Again I felt a chill behind me. What were they talking about the sea? Did it have some kind of dark power? The dull thud of footfall behind me startled me. I crept back into the bushes. Had they heard it too? It didn't seem that way. I peered back towards where I had been coming from. Another figure emerged. It couldn't be... It looked