While he was still talking with Jack, Daniel suddenly noticed his system screen lighting up like it was about to explode.
Messages flooded in one after another.
Daniel winced.
'…I forgot to message Evy.'
This was the communication channel the system had unlocked—one that allowed Evelyn to send him messages directly, no matter where he traveled.
As for why this function suddenly existed… well, he'd asked his uncle about it once, and the man had casually added it like it was nothing.
And judging by the barrage, she'd been worrying herself sick.
There was a reason he hadn't brought her along to explore the new world.
Who knew what kind of place he might have landed in? You didn't take someone you loved into a dangerous world without the strength to protect them. Until he had that power, bringing her along would have been reckless.
Leaving her behind hadn't been easy—but it had been the safer choice.
Daniel quickly typed a response.
The reply came almost instantly.
Daniel let out a small breath, the corner of his lips lifting slightly.
He closed the system window and looked back at Jack, who was still watching him with open curiosity—and far too much interest in his coat.
A sudden shout rose from the direction of Fort Charles.
Before either of them could react, a figure toppled over the stone railing high above the harbor—arms flailing, skirts billowing uselessly as she plunged straight down.
Splash.
The sound carried across the water.
Both Jack and Daniel turned their heads at the same time.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
That should be Elizabeth, he realized instantly.
"She's wearing a corset," Jack muttered beside him, already moving. "That's not good."
Daniel didn't wait.
Before Jack could finish his sentence, Daniel kicked off the dock and dove straight into the sea.
Cold water swallowed Daniel as he broke through the surface and sank. Below him, Elizabeth was already being dragged down, the weight of her dress and corset pulling her deeper with each passing second.
For a brief moment, the medallion hanging around her neck floated free of her body. It pulsed once, releasing a small shockwave through the water—like a signal sent outward.
Daniel reached her seconds later.
He caught her around the waist, tightened his grip, and kicked upward. The resistance of the water slowed them, but not enough to stop him. He pushed harder, hauling her toward the surface.
They emerged from the sea together.
Daniel adjusted his grip, holding Elizabeth securely as she remained unconscious in his arms.
"Wow… I really wonder why women in this era wear dresses like this," he muttered. "It feels like it weighs half her body."
A thin veil of black energy spread around him, calm and controlled. The water beneath his feet rippled, then steadied as the force lifted him upward until he was standing on the surface of the sea.
"Much better," Daniel said quietly.
He shifted Elizabeth into a proper carry, holding her easily. Then he looked toward the port.
In the next moment, his form blurred—like a shadow slipping through space—and he reappeared at the dock.
Jack, who had been watching closely, froze.
Then he stumbled back a step, eyes wide.
"…Right," Jack said slowly. "That's new."
Water dripped from Daniel's coat as he laid Elizabeth gently on a wooden block. He knelt and slid a hand to her side. A thin line of dark energy sliced cleanly through the fabric of her dress, loosening the tight corset without harming her skin.
Her chest rose more freely.
A second later, Elizabeth gasped.
She coughed sharply, turning her head as water spilled from her mouth. Another cough followed, rough but stronger.
"Easy," Daniel said, stepping back. "Breathe slowly."
She drew in air—shaky at first, then steadier. Her breathing evened. Her eyes fluttered open.
Elizabeth stared up at the sky.
Then at the unfamiliar face above her.
"W-where…?" she rasped.
"You fell," Daniel said. "Into the sea."
She winced as she pushed herself onto one elbow, pressing a hand to her chest.
"I… couldn't breathe…"
She inhaled again, deeper this time.
Then her gaze sharpened.
"…You."
Daniel barely had time to react.
"You scoundrel!"
Smack.
Her palm struck his cheek, the sound sharp enough to turn heads.
Daniel blinked. "…Ow."
"You!" Elizabeth snapped. "From my bath—!"
"I fell through the roof an accident," Daniel said quickly. "Very different situation. Not intentional."
"That is not an excuse!"
Elizabeth tried to stand, wobbling. Daniel reached out instinctively to steady her—
—and immediately had his hand slapped away.
"Don't touch me!"
"Fair," Daniel said, lifting both hands. "For the record, I also pulled you out of the sea. You were drowning."
She froze.
Elizabeth knew he was telling the truth.
Whatever else he was—however improper his first appearance had been—he had saved her life.
That fact couldn't be denied.
Still… the image of him crashing into her bath refused to fade.
In her mind, he remained a scoundrel.
"…Thank you," she said at last, the words reluctant—but sincere.