"Fighting them head-on right now is just stupid," Kai told them.

’I’m being too impulsive right now.’

He leaned his back against the closed door to emphasize his point.

"I saw their weapons clearly in the firelight. They are carrying whaling harpoons and rusted cutlasses coated in dark poison. They also have a giant sea monster backing them up. If we charge in there blind, we will end up on the menu."

Eliza frowned and let out a frustrated breath, "We cannot leave that poor girl chained to the floor."

"The tide is receding," Kai explained calmly.

"The cult leader said the sea beast requires high water to feed. We have a few hours before the water level rises again. We need to strike when they are vulnerable."

Lora dropped her shirt onto the floor and crawled onto the large mattress.

She stretched her long legs out and rested her head on the soft pillow.

"Kai is right," Lora yawned lazily.

"Monsters usually hate the sun, and human cultists need to sleep eventually. We wait until morning and catch them off guard."

’She is practical and very lazy,’ Kai thought to himself.

He watched her pull the thin sheet over her hips, leaving her bare shoulders exposed to the cool air.

Eliza sighed in defeat and set her weapon back on the table.

She walked over to the bed and sat down right next to Lora.

The tension of the night slowly faded away into quiet exhaustion.

’It’s not like I’m going to become a hero suddenly.’ Kai thought.

They all shared the single mattress, finding a comfortable space in the small room.

Kai lay in the middle, enjoying the warm presence of both women pressing against his sides until sleep finally claimed them.

The morning sun brought a cold wind blowing off the ocean. Kai led the two women up the rocky cliff path toward the tall lighthouse.

The imposing stone structure looked entirely abandoned in the bright daylight.

"They took the girl somewhere else," Eliza noted.

She looked around the empty dirt courtyard.

Kai pointed to a small stone cottage sitting near the edge of the high cliff.

"Let’s check the keeper’s house first. Maybe they left a clue behind."

He walked over and pushed the front door open with his boot.

The inside of the cottage was a total mess of broken furniture, shattered glass, and torn fishing nets. He took one step inside the ruined living room.

A sudden blast of freezing water hit Kai right in the chest.

The impact knocked him backward into the solid doorframe.

He gasped for air and wiped the salty water from his stinging eyes.

A young woman stepped out from behind a broken wooden bookcase.

She held a leather book tightly against her chest.

Her bright blue eyes were wide with genuine fear, and her dark hair was plastered to her wet cheeks.

She raised her free hand, and another orb of swirling water formed right above her pale palm.

"Stay back," she warned.

Her voice trembled slightly, but she stood her ground.

"I will drown you right here."

Kai held his hands up slowly to show he was not reaching for his dagger.

’A water mage,’ Kai thought, feeling the magic radiating from her small hands.

’That is a very rare class for a simple fishing village.’

"We are not with the cult," Kai said softly.

He kept his voice smooth and soothing to calm her down.

"My name is Kai. We actually came up here to kill the robed men."

The girl hesitated and let the water orb splash harmlessly onto the floor.

She looked past his broad shoulders at Eliza and Lora standing in the doorway.

"My name is Gina," she said quietly.

"My father is the lighthouse keeper. He joined them weeks ago."

Lora stepped into the room and offered a sympathetic smile.

"Did they take someone from you?"

Her face hardened.

Gina nodded, and fresh tears welled up in her blue eyes.

"They took my older sister, Clara, last night. They dragged her out of her bed while I hid under the floorboards with my mother’s old grimoire. It is full of water spells, but I don’t actually know how to fight."

"You just hit me with a very solid blast of water," Kai pointed out.

He rubbed his sore chest and offered her a grin. "I think you have plenty of raw talent waiting to be used."

Gina wiped her eyes and clutched the book tighter.

She wore a simple white linen dress that clung tightly to her soft curves, soaked with her own defensive magic.

She was undeniably pretty and possessed a soft and innocent charm that contrasted sharply with the hardened fighters standing next to him.

"I can help you get inside the hidden caves," Gina offered.

She took a brave step forward and looked right into Kai’s eyes.

"The cult sleeps in the caverns below the lighthouse during the day. I know the secret entrance. Just please help me save Clara."

Kai looked over his shoulder at Eliza.

The blonde caster gave him a firm nod of approval.

He turned his attention back to the cute water mage.

"We have a deal," Kai smiled warmly.

He reached out and gently squeezed her shoulder.

"But you have to follow my orders down there. The caves will be dangerous, and I need to know you will not panic when the fighting starts."

Gina looked at his handsome face and bit her bottom lip.

The fear in her eyes slowly shifted into a trusting admiration.

He was a strong protector, and she desperately needed someone to lean on.

"I will do exactly what you say, Kai," Gina promised in a breathless whisper.

"I will be a good girl."

[System Event: Party Formed]

[Member Added: Gina, Secret Water Mage]

[Role: Elemental Support]

Kai dismissed the blue text floating in his vision.

He turned around to lead the group back out into the bright sunlight.

Lora leaned close to Kai and whispered in his ear.

"Another beautiful girl joins the group. You are building quite the collection, handsome. Are you sure you have the stamina for all of us?"

"I have plenty of stamina," Kai whispered back.

He gave Lora a wicked smirk that made her purple eyes flash with desire.

"You will just have to wait your turn to find out."

Eliza rolled her eyes, but she was smiling broadly at their playful banter. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Less talking and more hunting. Gina, show us the way to the secret caves."