Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win

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

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

"Complicated how?" Akamir asked, tilting his head. "Is something going on?"

Zaina didn't say anything for a while as she kept on dressing up.

"Well, for starters…" she mumbled softly. "…They want me to join them soon."

Akamir nodded as she had already told him before.

"And when is that?" he asked.

"This month." she replied. "Maybe next month if I stretched my stay."

Akamir leaned back as he looked at her figure while she changed.

'Is it just me or has she become even more beautiful?'

He couldn't help but wonder as he stared at her bare back.

'Well, if anything she has grown much bolder.'

He leaned, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"Where are you going?" Akamir asked, looking back at her. "Or is it a secret?"

"…Why would I keep secrets from my fiancé?" she said, glancing back at him. "I will visit their holy land… it's an island cut off from all other influence."

"Esmeland." Nayomi whispered softly, grabbing his attention.

She glanced at him when she noticed his gaze. "It's the place where Morana became a goddess."

Akamir nodded as he leaned back on the chair.

Zaina pulled her bra over her shoulders, buttoning it slowly.

Her voice was calm, but there was a faint weight behind it.

"They said it's a sacred trial. That once I set foot there, I won't return the same."

Akamir watched her carefully, his fingers tapping the armrest. "That sounds less like a blessing and more like a chain."

Her hands paused at the last button. "…Maybe. But refusing isn't an option. Not for me."

Akamir nodded as he was well aware of her situation.

She was in a much more complicated position than any other.

'Apostles are really just for show.'

The room grew quiet, broken only by the faint creak of the floor as she sat on the edge of the bed, her back still to him.

Nayomi twirled lazily in the air, her grin sly. "Sounds like they want to turn her into a doll. Dress her up, parade her around, call it divinity. How noble."

Akamir leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

His mask lay on the table beside him, leaving his expression bare.

"Things will be difficult for you." he said, his voice soft. "Do not hesitate to ask for help if needed."

Her breath caught at the bluntness of his tone.

She looked down at her hands, twisting the fabric of her skirt. "…I don't know."

Akamir didn't press further. He simply leaned back again, exhaling through his nose. "Then I'll decide for myself."

The door of the room opened as Helen stepped in.

The one guard that was assigned to Zaina by the church.

She looked at Zaina as she was now fully dressed before she turned to Akamir.

Helen immediately glared at him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Akamir raised his hand as he replied. "Nothing much." he said. "Just here to see my fiancée."

She wanted to say more but Zaina stood up. "You must be busy." she said, looking at him. "Helping Queen Inara."

"I am not actually—."

"We will talk later." she cut him off as she turned around. "You can go for now."

Akamir looked at her back for a second before he stood up.

He walked past Helen who kept on glaring at him.

Walking out of the room, he began to move outside of the place.

"Helen is spying on her." Nayomi mumbled, floating closely. "And I think Zaina is caught up with it."

Akamir didn't answer right away. His steps echoed softly through the empty dormitory corridor, his hands tucked back into his pockets.

Nayomi drifted beside him, her voice sharper this time.

"Did you see her eyes? She wanted to say more, but she didn't dare with that little hound in the room."

Akamir's jaw tightened beneath the mask. "Yeah. I noticed."

He let out a sigh as he stretched his back. "Looks like Elore has to work a little harder."

He thought as he remembered the priest whom he had placed as a spy.

Akamir reached a quiet place as he looked around to make sure no one was there.

A crown emerged on his head as he took in a deep breath.

Immediately a portal emerged in front of him, glowing softly.

Akamir walked inside the portal as the world shifted around him.

---

When Akamir opened his eyes again he found himself in the spirit world.

The dome that enclosed the ecosystem of the spirits was now even bigger.

With hundreds of small spirits moving around the place and spirit herbs roaming around.

Akamir stepped forward, the soft soil under his boots glowing faintly with traces of spirit energy.

Small spirits, some no larger than a candle flame, zipped past his shoulders in excitement.

Others hovered at a distance, curious but wary of his presence.

Nayomi floated just behind him, her gaze sweeping the expanse.

"It's grown again," she muttered, folding her arms. "Your control over this place keeps stretching. At this rate, you'll have your own realm before long."

Akamir exhaled, watching the spirits flock around glowing plants in the distance.

"A realm I can't afford to waste. Every time I return here, I see more… but growth without order is useless."

He began walking down a path paved by luminous moss. Spirits moved aside, bowing their tiny heads.

Akamir stared at the plants as they floated past him.

"We need to find another buyer." Akamir mumbled as he rubbed his temples. "The elves are having their own problems."

He let out a sigh as he looked around until he found her.

A shy spirit hiding behind a big plant.

"Come here, Saia." Akamir said, glancing at her. "Why do you hide from me anyway?"

The spirit queen didn't reply but she shyly rushed towards him.

She slowly sat on his shoulder as her head remained bowed.

"How are you living here?" Akamir asked, glancing at her. "Are you liking the place?"

She nodded her head gently. "I have been trying to teach the other spirits." she said. "They are eager to look into your world."

Akamir nodded as he was aware of it.

The spirits are curious beings so it wasn't a surprise they wanted to roam around.

"…I will see what I can do." Akamir mumbled as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Though it will be troublesome."

For the world, the spirits are long dead and are an extinct race.

If they come out of nowhere then it will create a lot of problems for him.

Saia fidgeted on his shoulder, her tiny hands curling into the fabric of his cloak.

"We don't want to cause you trouble," she whispered, her voice light as falling petals. "But… many of us feel restless. This dome is warm, safe, but it is also… a cage."

Akamir gave a faint smile, though his eyes remained sharp.

"A cage that keeps you alive. The world outside isn't kind to your kind anymore. If they knew spirits still lived, you'd be hunted."

Nayomi snorted, drifting lazily ahead of them.

"He's right. Mortals are predictable. The moment they see something unique, they either worship it to death or cut it into pieces for profit."

Saia lowered her head as she was much more aware of the world.

"I will see if I can help." Akamir mumbled. "The elves should have some idea about it."

Saia smiled as she had trust in him to keep his words.

"By the way, Lili contacted me." Saia said, looking at him. "…her condition isn't very good."

Akamir tilted his head. "What happened?"

"I visited her yesterday." she replied. "Because of the disappearance of the world tree she doesn't have much spirit energy."

Akamir nodded as he looked down. 'Why did I not think about it?'

"I provided her with a month of spirit energy." she continued. "But I don't think we should keep on doing it."

Akamir didn't say anything as he kept on staring at the spirit herbs. "What do you suggest?"

"Form a contract with her." she replied. "It will be easy for me to give her spirit energy without telling about this place."

Akamir nodded slowly. "I will think about it." he mumbled. "Did she tell you anything else?"

"She did tell me about Sephrina." she replied, making Akamir immediately curious. "The empress is going through some changes."

"Huh?" Akamir mumbled softly. "Is that so?"

Saia nodded as she looked at him for a while.

Akamir crouched down as he mumbled. "You have something to ask?"

"Do you like her?" she asked softly. "Empress Sephrina?"

Akamir froze for a second before he replied. "Well, I would be lying—."

"You like her?" she asked again.

Akamir sighed. "I like her."

"Well…." Saia hesitated for a second before she said. "I think I have a way to cure her curse."