Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win

"...."

Akamir slowly walked down the path of the capital city.

His hand was inside his pocket as a mask covered his face.

His eyes remained fixed on the street as his mind was occupied with something else.

Nayomi, who was floating along with him, noticed it but didn't say anything.

'What are those church guys thinking?'

He couldn't help but wonder as he remembered the last talk he had with Inara.

The Church was doing something absurd.

They were asking for a meeting between every leader of the continent.

It may be a good thing as it could increase the exposure of different cultures but….

'Why would they threaten to destroy their kingdom if they don't attend?'

That made Akamir uneasy as he could see it.

The tyranny of the church as they pushed their power over the others.

"You're unusually quiet," she finally said, tilting her head.

Akamir didn't answer right away. His eyes shifted across the busy road, then back down at the path ahead.

"The church has always been arrogant," he said at last. "But this isn't arrogance anymore. It's control. Forcing rulers to attend under threat of destruction?"

Nayomi shrugged her shoulders. "This has nothing to do with faith," she replied. "Churches are always like this."

"Then why are the other churches silent?" Akamir asked, glancing at her. "Why are they not saying anything?"

"Because they don't have enough influence," she replied simply. "Their influence is outside of this continent."

Akamir gave her a slow nod as he was more or less aware of this.

He let out a sigh as he mumbled. "I still don't like how things are going."

Nayomi didn't reply as she kept her thoughts to herself.

Nayomi remained silent for a long while before she whispered.

"They're planning something bigger," she said, her eyes gleaming with a mix of amusement and interest.

Akamir let out a sigh as he nodded his head in response.

Things were going much worse than he had expected.

'And it all is happening because of her.'

He thought as he looked at the building in front of him.

It was the academic building… dormitory to be more specific.

Akamir looked around as he noticed a few guards at the main door.

'Well, looks like I am going to be a thief again.'

He thought as he flexed his muscles and jumped up.

Akamir reached the edge of the second floor as he grabbed the window frame and pulled himself in.

'Let's see, her room was on the third floor… was it 32?'

Akamir thought as he tried to remember the room of Zaina.

Still, he kept on walking and making sure not to bump into other female students.

After a few minutes of walking he finally reached the room.

'Hmm?'

Just as he was about to knock Akamir noticed the door open.

After thinking for a while, he opened the door and walked in.

Just as he moved, he heard the sound of a shower and humming.

'Is she taking a bath?'

Akamir wondered as he looked at the door on the side of the room.

The next thing he noticed was the dress that was placed on the bed.

Akamir walked closer as he picked it up.

'...'

It was a bra and interestingly it was bigger than he had expected.

'Come to think of it, how did these things come into this world?'

With how backward the rest of technology is, Akamir found it really weird for them to have good clothing.

'…Oh, yeah.'

He suddenly remembered something as he glanced at Nayomi.

'They brought their culture here.'

He put the red bra down as he found a book on the table.

He picked it up as he noticed the title on it.

'…The ways of the goddess Morana.'

Akamir flipped the book open, skimming a few pages.

The handwriting inside was neat, underlined in parts where Zaina must have been studying.

"Morana, huh?" he muttered, raising a brow. "So she's taking this seriously."

Nayomi leaned over his shoulder, peeking at the open pages. "Looks like a devotional text. Boring. Full of rules, rituals, prayers… the kind of thing that makes people feel holy while doing nothing useful."

Akamir smirked faintly and closed the book with a soft thump. "Sounds like the church."

He set it back on the table and leaned against the chair, waiting.

The sound of running water still filled the room, Zaina humming softly behind the closed door.

"She's going to scream when she sees you here," Nayomi teased, floating lazily in the air. "Want me to cover your ears for when she does?"

"She won't scream," Akamir said calmly. "She'll be angry. There's a difference."

"Angry girls are fun," Nayomi said with a grin.

Akamir ignored her, his eyes drifting once more to the dress folded neatly on the bed.

Just then the gate of the bathroom swung open.

Zaina walked out of the bathroom in a towel that barely covered her body.

Her eyes fell on Akamir who sat on a chair.

She blinked, immediately recognizing the mask.

Zaina slowly walked back as she closed the door.

For a long moment, the sound of dripping water was the only thing in the room.

Behind the closed door, he heard a muffled voice. "What are you doing here?"

Akamir leaned back in the chair, his tone even. "I was waiting for you."

The door didn't open again. Instead, her voice came sharper, almost a whisper, as if speaking louder might make this worse. "You can't just walk into my room."

"I just did," Akamir replied simply. "And I didn't come here to watch you bathe. I came here to talk."

Zaina didn't say anything for a while.

A mosquito-sized voice echoed after a while. "Turn around."

Akamir tilted his head but did as she asked. "I did."

The sound of the door opening echoed as Zaina walked inside the room.

She moved towards her clothes placed on the bed.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice soft.

"I wanted to see you." he replied. "I just came back from the Elven kingdom."

"Am I the first person you came to meet?" she asked, her voice expecting a positive response.

"Nope." Akamir replied. "I met with people of my dukedom, then with my fiancée."

Zaina's hand froze over the clothes. Her shoulders stiffened, but she didn't turn to face him.

"…Your fiancée," she repeated, her tone flat.

"Yes," Akamir said without hesitation. "Queen Inara."

Zaina didn't say anything for a while.

She just kept on standing there and Akamir could feel it.

Finally, she drew in a deep breath before she rushed towards him.

Before Akamir could understand, his chair was turned around as he saw Zaina.

She wore nothing but a loosely tied shirt and red panties.

Zaina's face was completely red but she didn't back down this time.

She slowly sat on his lap, making sure to keep her body close.

Akamir felt her ragged breath on his face as she glared at him.

Akamir didn't move, his hands resting on the armrests as Zaina straddled him.

Her damp hair brushed against his mask, the faint scent of soap still clinging to her skin.

"You really have some nerve," she whispered, her voice trembling but sharp. "Walking in here, saying that so casually… like I'm nothing."

Akamir tilted his head slightly, his gaze steady. "If you were nothing, I wouldn't be here."

Her breath hitched, and for a moment her glare faltered.

But she quickly pressed forward, her palms gripping his shoulders. "Then why tell me about her?"

"I don't hide things," Akamir said simply. "You asked if you were the first. I answered."

Zaina bit her lip, her face burning.

She leaned closer, close enough that her lips brushed the edge of his mask. "You could've lied. Just once."

Akamir let out a low chuckle. "And you would've believed me?"

Zaina froze as she looked down at his chest.

She drew in a few deep breaths before she looked up at him again.

Zaina removed his mask so she could look at his face.

She leaned in as she kissed his lips softly. "Will you forget her if I do this?" She kissed him again. "Will you?"

Akamir didn't respond right away.

Her lips pressed against his again, desperate, searching for an answer he wouldn't give so easily.

His hands finally moved, gripping her waist to steady her.

That earned a moan from her but Zaina quickly covered her mouth.

"You don't have to do this." Akamir replied, squeezing her waist. "And no, it won't change my relationship with Inara."

Zaina froze, her breath caught in her throat.

The heat in her cheeks deepened, though her eyes burned with frustration. "That's not an answer I want."

Zaina's grip on his shoulders tightened, her lips trembling as though words failed her.

She wanted to scream, to cry, to demand more… but instead, her body sagged slightly against him.

"You're cruel," she whispered, burying her face in his chest.

"Maybe." Akamir let out a faint sigh, one hand lifting to stroke her damp hair.

Zaina slowly raised up as she stepped back. "Don't turn around this time."

She said, though her cheeks were completely red.

She took off her half-heartedly worn shirt as she mumbled. "Goddess help me, for a stupid man I have fallen for."

Akamir heard that but chose to ignore it.

"So…" he began softly. "What is happening with the church and you?"

Zaina slowly looked at him. "…It's complicated."