When they finally turned back toward the inn, Lina seemed reluctant for their outing to end. The streets were emptier now, with only the occasional patrol of city guards or late-night revelers passing by.
Lina suddenly stopped. "Wait," she said, her voice playful. "I want to show you something."
She led him to a small courtyard tucked between buildings, where a fountain splashed quietly in the moonlight. The space was deserted and intimate in its seclusion the way Keane saw it.
"It's my favorite spot," she explained, her voice softer now. "Peaceful, even during festival days."
Keane could see the hope in her eyes, the silent invitation in the way she stood just a little too close.
He noticed the invitation in her body language immediately, but he hesitated. Despite her legal adulthood in this world, he was still fresh off earth with his normal values, it wouldn't change so easily. She was young, legally an adult in this world, but still innocent in many ways.
Lina misinterpreted his hesitation as shyness and decided to be bold, grabbing him firmly by the collars of his shirt while pushing off her toes to reach his lips.
The kiss caught Keane off guard, Lina's soft lips pressing against his with surprising determination. Her inexperience was evident in the tentative way she moved, but her enthusiasm more than compensated for technique. The sweet taste of honey from the glazed fruit they'd shared lingered on her mouth.
For a moment, Keane found himself responding, the intimate setting creating an undeniably charged atmosphere. Lina's small hands gripped his shirt tighter, pulling herself up on her toes to maintain the contact, her heart hammering against her ribs with nervous excitement.
But as quickly as it had begun, Keane gently pulled back, his hands coming up to rest on her shoulders.
The disappointment that flashed across Lina's face was immediate and heartbreaking, realization hitting her.
"Lina," he said softly, his voice carrying genuine warmth despite the rejection. "You're wonderful, but I don't want to take advantage."
Her hazel eyes searched his face, confusion and hurt warring in their depths. "Take advantage? But I'm the one who kissed you." Her voice carried a tremor of uncertainty. "Don't you... don't…"
Keane stopped her before she could continue. To tell the truth, he wasn't ready to listen to her sub while talking.
After a moment of silence, Lina pulled on his shirt. "May I?" she asked gently, gesturing to his back, "Piggyback," she clarified with a small laugh, her momentary vulnerability masked behind a bright smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I want a piggyback ride back to the inn."
Keane hesitated only briefly before turning and crouching slightly. "Hop on then."
Relief washed over Lina's face, if only a bit, as she climbed onto his back, her slender arms wrapping around his neck, careful not to choke him. Her weight was nothing to his enhanced strength, and he stood easily, securing her legs with his hands.
"You're strong," she whispered, bringing herself even closer to him.
"I am." He answered. "Don't overthink what happened earlier, ok?" He said.
As they made their way back through the emptying streets, Lina's arms remained wrapped around Keane's neck, her breath warm against his ear. She had accepted his words with the resilience of youth, though the sting of rejection still lingered beneath her cheerful facade.
Once they were in front of the Inn, Lina dropped from his back, and after a quick talk, they went their separate ways.
Keane retired to his room, the bundle of new clothes tucked under his arm. The evening had been unexpectedly pleasant, though he couldn't shake the memory of Lina's disappointed expression when he'd pulled away from her kiss. As he changed into his new garments, he reflected on the strange moral compass he still carried from earth, one that seemed increasingly out of place in this medieval society.
The cream shirt felt comfortable against his skin, the loose fit allowing for easy movement. The leather vest added a practical touch without restricting his enhanced physique. He had to admit, Lina had chosen well.
Meanwhile, below in the inn's kitchen, Lina mechanically cleaned some leftovr evening's dishes, her mind replaying every moment of their outing. She had been so certain he felt the same attraction she did, the way his eyes lingered on her face, the gentle warmth in his voice. Yet when she'd finally gathered the courage to kiss him, he'd pulled away as if she were still a child.
'Perhaps I'm not woman enough for someone like him,' she thought with a sigh, trying not to think about it.
Just then, as Keane took off the jacket to proceed with the rest of the clothes, he felt a presence behind him, turning instinctively to see who it was.
To his surprise, Sylvi stood there, her gray eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lamp like polished steel. She had entered through the window, silent as a ghost, her lithe form framed against the night sky.
"You," Keane breathed, momentarily startled by her sudden appearance. His enhanced senses should have detected her approach, yet somehow she had slipped past his awareness completely.
'She's not an assassin type, is she?' He thought to himself.
Sylvi said nothing, but her intent was more tense than usual. Before Keane could question her or say anything, she appeared before him, her eyes boring into his before planting a firm kiss on his lips aggressively, their teeth momentarily brushing.
It was like a fight rather than affection, and Keane was genuinely confused as to what could have brought about such a reaction.
'What's going on here?'