Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win

[Two days later]

Serenya asked for some time to think Akamir's offer through.

She didn't want to be burdened by such authority nor did she have the will to do so.

Akamir didn't push her as he didn't want someone weak-willed to lead a kingdom.

'The balance between the three human kingdoms is really delicate, disturbing it would only give me more headaches.'

The Lythanis kingdom would not hesitate to sink their teeth as soon as Aure kingdom got weakened.

'…What a pain in the ass.'

Akamir let out a sigh as he adjusted his mask.

Right now, Akamir was walking through the roads of the capital city of Aure kingdom.

Contradictory to what he thought there was no effect of war in the place.

The people were living their life like they do daily without any pressure.

They either are idiots who don't care about war or have enough faith in their royals to keep them safe.

'Pretty sure it's the latter.'

Akamir glanced at the woman who was hiding her identity with a hood and mask.

Serenya was looking around with complexity in her eyes.

"I have to say." Akamir mumbled looking around. "This place is really beautiful."

The wide stone streets gleamed beneath the morning sun, lined with colorful stalls and chattering vendors.

Children ran barefoot past carriages, laughter spilling into the air.

The fragrance of fresh bread and roasted meat drifted from bakeries.

It was hard to believe that just beyond these walls, armies clashed and Aure was feeding entire villages into chains.

Serenya's gaze lingered on the smiling faces of merchants.

Her lips pressed into a thin line beneath the mask.

"They don't know," she whispered. "They think Aure protects them. That their safety, their peace, is because of the crown."

Akamir walked beside her, his stride calm and steady.

"That's the trick of power. Keep the capital shining and the people forget what happens beyond the borders."

Serenya's hands trembled slightly as she clasped them together under her cloak.

"If they knew what their beloved rulers were doing, if they saw the camps, the chains…"

"They'd look away," Akamir interrupted, his tone flat.

"Most people don't want truth. They want comfort. You can burn half the continent and they'll still cling to whoever feeds them bread in the morning."

She didn't say anything as she kept on looking at the ground.

Her eyes said a lot but Akamir chose to ignore that.

"…Why are you here?" She asked after a while. "What even—."

"The Aure have lost thousands of slaves." Akamir replied, glancing at her.

"I want to look around the place before they increase the security of the place."

The slaves that chose to take revenge have been successfully placed in a hideout.

With Imoyan's influence it wasn't hard to find a place for them.

Serenya seemed conflicted about something as she hesitated to ask.

Serenya's steps slowed as though the weight of her thoughts dragged her down. She finally lifted her gaze to him, her voice low, almost uncertain.

"…You speak like someone who isn't just passing through. What are you really after, Akamir?"

He didn't answer immediately. His masked face tilted toward a vendor.

His silence stretched long enough that Serenya thought he wouldn't respond at all.

At last, he muttered, "Control."

Her brows furrowed beneath the hood. "Control… of Aure?"

"Of everything," Akamir replied flatly. "I'm not here to beg Aure for change. I'm here to decide whether it should keep standing at all."

His words chilled her more than the winter wind brushing down the street. She clenched her fists beneath her cloak, voice shaking. "You talk about tearing kingdoms apart as if it's nothing."

"It is nothing," Akamir said simply. "Kingdoms fade girl, I decide when."

Serenya's lips parted, then closed.

There was no softness in his tone, no hidden warmth.

Her voice came out as a whisper. "…And me? What do you want with me?"

"That depends on what you decide," he said quietly.

"Stay broken, and you'll be a burden. Stand up, and you may be something useful."

The words stung, but they were honest.

She looked away, swallowing down the heat that rose in her chest.

"Anyway, Enough questions from you." Akamir said, resuming his walk. "Tell me, what God do Aure royals follow?"

She quickly followed him, her steps becoming steady.

"On the surface they follow goddess Morana to show the world." She said, her voice firm. "Though they are mostly atheist."

"What God are you Saint of?" Akamir asked, glancing at her.

Serenya shook her head as she replied. "I have no idea….My goddess never contacted me."

"I see…" Akamir nodded softly. "Do you know anything about goddess Alista?"

She shook her head again. "I don't know."

Akamir hummed faintly, his hands slipping into his cloak pockets as they walked.

"No goddess, no guidance, yet they call you Saint," he said, his tone carrying a trace of irony. "Sounds like Aure loves their titles more than their faith."

Serenya's jaw tightened beneath the hood. "I never asked for it. The priests declared it when I was a child—because of the light in my blood. They paraded me like a symbol, a pretty doll for people to pray to."

"And when you stopped being useful?" Akamir asked, his eyes narrowing behind the mask.

"They locked me away," she replied bitterly. "Because I never awakened a bloodline."

The crowd thickened as they entered a busier square.

Street performers played flutes, jugglers tossed painted stones, and banners of Aure's crest rippled in the wind. None of the joy reached Serenya's eyes.

She spoke again, her voice low so only Akamir could hear.

"If you're asking me about gods, then you already suspect something."

Akamir didn't slow his pace.

"I suspect everything." His masked face turned toward her.

"And I don't trust coincidences. Sylari, you, the slave trade, it all ties together somehow."

She didn't reply as she lowered her head.

Akamir looked around as he found all this celebration odd. "Why are they doing this anyway?"

"Oh, the crown prince's birthday is soon." She replied softly. "They are doing all this for that."

"…Oh, that fucker." Akamir mumbled, nodding his head.

He remembered the man who was supposed to marry Inara.

Well, had she not pulled the stunt on the engagement day it would have happened.

'....'

Akamir felt a sudden sourness in his mood as he clicked his tongue.

'I should kill him, just to be sure.'

He thought walking away from the main streets.

Though Akamir didn't forget to send a mimicker to survey the place thoroughly.

Serenya looked at his back with a complex look in her eyes. "You never told me who you are."

Akamir didn't look back at her. "I never will." He replied. "Unless you have proven your worth."

She didn't say anything after that as she just kept on following behind him.

Akamir ignored her as he kept on staring at the castle on the far end.

'Should I look around in the royal palace?'

He wondered as he couldn't help but be tempted to do so.

---

In the end Akamir chose against visiting the palace.

There were too many variables that he didn't want to tackle right now.

But that didn't stop him from sending two of his mimickers.

One to look and note down the map of the palace and the other infiltrating the ranks of soldiers.

Akamir chose to send Serenya back to where the rest of the slaves were.

And for him, he chose to visit the spirit world on the call of Saia.

---

The dome of his was growing bigger as always.

Akamir walked as the fairies zipped past him while giggling softly.

Saia was standing in the centre of the dome as a golden light enveloped her.

Above her was a beautiful golden flower that glowed with an otherworldly light.

When Akamir walked closer she opened her eyes and smiled.

"Are you alright?" Akamir asked, as the fairy moved towards him.

"Um-hm." She nodded as she landed on his shoulder softly.

Akamir glanced up at the flower floating in the sky. "Is that—?"

"Yes." She replied gently. "The flower that cures all type of curse."

Akamir drew in a deep breath as he gently moved his hand.

With a touch of telekinesis he brought it closer to his hand.

It moved until it hovered gently on his palm.

The fragrance was sweet yet sharp, like fresh rain cutting through old dust.

Even through the mask, he could feel its warmth seeping into his skin—calm, steady, but commanding, as though the flower itself refused to be ignored.

"This… cures all curses?" Akamir asked again, his voice flat but carrying an edge of suspicion.

Saia nodded, her tiny hands clasped before her chest. "It's called Eirath's Bloom. I made it by my essence."

"Thank you." Akamir replied as he was really grateful for her work.

She smiled before she asked. "Can I request something in exchange?"

Akamir nodded. "Sure, ask anything."

She smiled gently. "Can I be with you more?"

Akamir smiled back. "Sure."