A bright blush crept up her pale cheeks.

"You really are a true hero. I will never forget what you did for my family today."

"You did great out there, Gina," Kai praised her, offering a warm and genuine smile.

"We could not have beaten that giant snake without your ice magic keeping it pinned down."

They gathered their things and started the long climb back up the stone stairs toward the surface.

Kai walked into the quiet tavern and headed straight for the stairs.

The day’s exhaustion should have dragged his feet down, but the recent level-up kept his blood pumping with pure energy.

A rush of fresh mana filled his tired muscles and erased the lingering soreness from the boss fight.

He opened the door to their room and found Lora and Eliza resting in the large rented bed.

They were completely asleep before their heads even hit the pillows, worn out from the terrifying dungeon run.

He closed the door quietly because he needed some fresh air to clear his racing thoughts.

The stone streets of Salthollow were empty now that the sea cult was gone. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

He walked back out into the night and followed the rocky path up to the old lighthouse.

Gina had returned there to pack up her mother’s things and secure the loft for the night.

She wanted to grab a few more water magic scrolls and her spare clothes before leaving the fishing village for good.

’She is probably terrified to be up there alone after everything that happened today,’ Kai thought to himself, pushing the wooden door open.

’I should make sure the cultists did not leave any hidden traps behind.’

He climbed the winding stairs to the very top of the tall tower.

The small loft was incredibly warm and bathed in soft candlelight. The loud crashing of the ocean waves against the high cliffs outside provided a steady rhythm.

Gina stood near a small desk, holding her grimoire close to her chest.

She wore a simple white linen nightgown that caught the golden light of the candles perfectly.

She turned around when she heard his footsteps on the floorboards. A highly nervous smile spread across her beautiful face.

"You came to check on me," Gina said softly.

She placed the magic book down on the desk.

"Clara is sleeping safely at the village healer’s house. I just wanted to gather my mother’s notes before we leave Salthollow tomorrow morning."

"I wanted to make sure you were safe," Kai replied. He stepped into the cozy room and closed the trapdoor behind him.

"You went through a lot today. It is perfectly normal to feel a little shaken up after fighting a sea monster."

Gina looked down at her bare feet.

Her pale hands trembled slightly as she smoothed the soft fabric of her nightgown. She took a slow, deep breath to steady her nerves and closed the distance between them.

"I have been thinking about what happened in the caves," she whispered, looking up into his dark eyes.

"You risked your life for people you did not even know. You saved my sister from a terrible fate, and you gave me the courage, actually, to use my magic in a real fight. I owe you everything, Kai."

"You don’t owe me anything at all," Kai said gently. He reached out and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You fought bravely right beside us. You earned your place in this party without any question."

Gina leaned into his warm touch.

She closed her eyes and let out a shaky sigh.

"I want to thank you properly. But I am very nervous because I don’t know what to do."

She opened her eyes and met his gaze with a striking, beautiful vulnerability.

"I have never been with anyone before," Gina confessed.

A red blush crept up her pale cheeks.

"I spent my entire life reading dusty books and hiding my magic from the superstitious village. No man ever looked at me twice, and I never let anyone get close. But I want you to be my first."

’She is offering me a massive amount of trust right now,’ Kai thought, feeling a deep wave of protective warmth spread through his chest.

’I need to take this very slow and make sure she feels safe.’

"You are beautiful, Gina," Kai told her sincerely.

He placed his hands gently on her soft waist.

"And we can take this as slow as you need. If you want to stop at any point, you just tell me, and we stop."

She nodded quickly and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him down for a hesitant, sweet kiss.

Her lips were soft and tasted slightly of the salty ocean air.

Kai kissed her back with practiced care, keeping his movements slow and deliberate.

He did not push or demand anything.

The gentle kiss deepened as Gina grew slightly more confident.

She parted her lips and let out a tiny, breathless gasp when his tongue traced her bottom lip.

Kai scooped her up smoothly into his strong arms. He carried her over to the small, quilt-covered bed resting in the quiet corner of the loft.

He lay her down on the soft mattress and sat beside her. He reached out and untied the small ribbons at the collar of her nightgown.

She watched him with trusting eyes as he slowly slid the fabric off her shoulders.

The flickering candlelight painted warm shadows across her bare skin.

She possessed a delicate, natural beauty that made his heart beat much faster.

"You are perfect," Kai whispered, leaning down to kiss her collarbone.

He took his time exploring every single inch of her skin. He mapped the soft curves of her waist and the swell of her breasts with light touches.

Kai avoided the rough, aggressive passion from his earlier encounters in the tunnels.

This moment required patience.

He wanted to build her pleasure slowly so the fear would vanish and leave only desire behind.

His mouth trailed soft kisses down her stomach, making her shiver pleasantly under his warm breath.