Serafina led the Duke through the water, and in just moments, the sea began to shallow.
Sunlight poured from the surface, casting countless golden beams underwater, and the seabed transformed from pitch-black basalt to soft, white sand.
In the distance, the silhouette of the continental shelf and the green vegetation along the shore could be faintly seen.
Serafina's pace gradually slowed, finally stopping near a shallow coral reef a few hundred meters from the shore.
She released the Duke's hand, gently exhaled a stream of fine bubbles, then lifted her hand to tuck a strand of azure hair behind her ear.
"I'll take you this far."
Serafina's voice carried clearly through the water, though it was just ordinary speech, it had a unique, gentle resonance.
Morning light descended from the surface, passing through the water to land on her azure curls, refracting a faint golden halo.
