Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win

Akamir lowered himself into the chair beside her, the wood creaking under his weight.

"You want to talk about that now?" he asked, one brow lifting.

Inara rested her chin on her hand. "Yes. Because if we don't, it will just hang between us like smoke."

He rubbed a hand across his face, half-laughing.

"We just learned the Aure kingdom is a front for bloodline harvesters, and you want to discuss feelings?"

"That's exactly why," she said quietly. "If we can't stand steady together, how do we stand against something like the Zagroths?"

The question landed heavier than he expected. He leaned back, exhaling through his nose.

"You think I'm going to run," he said finally.

"I think," Inara replied, eyes steady on his, "keeping secrets between us will only make things worse."

Akamir looked into her eyes but he didn't find any anger as he had expected.

All he could see was that he had hurt her more than she was showing.

"….Well, I am sorry." He mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Things just happened and I couldn't help it."

Inara remained silent as she looked at him for a long while.

"…How many women are you planning to keep?" She asked softly. "Give me a number."

"I don't collect women like trophies, Inara," he said, staring back at her. "Sephrina came for her own reasons. I didn't invite the chaos."

"But you didn't push it away either," she said, not accusing, just stating.

Akamir didn't say anything but his silence was an answer in itself.

Inara rubbed her hands together as she had a lot to say.

"Have you slept with her?" She asked, though her voice remained soft.

Akamir shook his head. "No." He replied. "We never got that far."

Inara's shoulders eased a little at his answer, though she kept her eyes on him.

"That matters," she said quietly. "But who makes you feel good?"

"You." Akamir said without thinking. "I don't know her enough."

Inara reached across the small table, covering his hands with her own.

"You should trust me with everything, not just the parts that were convenient."

For a while they stayed like that.

Inara finally let out a slow breath. "If another woman walks through that door tomorrow, I want to hear it from you first, not through rumors."

"You will," he said, meeting her gaze. "From now on, you'll know everything I know."

Her fingers tightened slightly over his. "I forgive you this time but not again."

Akamir nodded his head as the woman stood up from her seat.

"Now that we are done talking." She said, her smile returning. "I should assert my dominance as your first love."

She stood and crossed the room in three long strides.

Before he could brace, she pinned him with a quick, firm kiss.

Then stepped back and moved out of the room.

But as she reached the door she looked back at him again. "Be prepared for meeting her tonight."

Akamir wanted to ask what she meant but Inara walked away without giving him a chance.

"That ended in a lukewarm way." A voice echoed, making him look to his side.

Nayomi floated in the air before she took her seat on the table.

Her blue eyes on him with the same look as ever.

"What now?" She asked. "Are you going to tell her about the ghost who is always following you?"

Akamir leaned back in his chair and let out a dry breath. "Nayomi," he said, rubbing the corner of his temple, "Just shut the fuck up."

She only grinned, swinging her legs idly above the floor. "Well? Are you going to tell her? Or keep letting me haunt you in secret?"

He gave her a sidelong look. "You make it sound like I have a choice."

"You do." She leaned forward, elbows on her knees, chin resting on her palms. "Anyway, good for you. King Akamir got another spouse to fuck."

Akamir clicked his tongue before he rubbed his temples.

"Do you remember anything about the goddess Alista?" He asked, hoping to get an answer. "Care to tell me why that woman showed up in the first place?"

Nayomi's grin faded into a thoughtful frown.

She tapped one finger against her chin, the sound oddly sharp in the quiet room.

"You shouldn't care about what she is." She replied gently. "Focus on yourself for now."

Akamir narrowed his eyes but he didn't refute.

He just sighed as he leaned back on the chair.

"Where have you been all this time anyway?" He asked. "I barely see you nowadays."

She didn't speak for a while as she looked past him.

"…There is something wrong going on." She mumbled softly. "I have a bad feeling but I can't pinpoint what it may be."

Akamir straightened slightly. "Something hunting you?"

"Maybe. Or hunting you." She hugged her knees to her chest, a rare flicker of unease softening her usual sarcasm. "I just don't feel good about all that is happening."

Akamir stayed quiet for a moment, weighing her words. "Does it have to do with Alista?"

"I can't be sure." Nayomi shook her head slowly. "But the timing fits. Since that goddess showed herself, I've felt this… pressure."

Akamir exhaled through his nose, fingers drumming once on the chair arm. "And you kept this from me why?"

"I didn't plan to tell you ever." She replied, looking at him. "….I don't know why I did it."

He gave her a flat look. "I'd rather deal with a half-assed information than none." He replied. "Just don't treat me like a stranger."

Nayomi tilted her head, considering him. "Fair point."

Silence settled for a heartbeat.

Finally she floated closer until they were eye to eye.

"Be ready for anything from now on," she said quietly. "Things are only looking worse now."

Akamir looked into her eyes before he spoke. "I want to travel to the other side of the World."

Nayomi blinked. "What?"

"You heard me." He replied. "Tell me what I need to keep in mind."

Nayomi's eyes widened a fraction. "The other side of the world?" she repeated, almost laughing. "That's not like a walk across a market street, Akamir."

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, gaze steady. "I know. Tell me anyway."

For a moment she simply hovered there, blonde hair drifting like smoke, as if measuring how serious he truly was.

Finally she let out a slow breath. "Don't you have things you need to look after here?" She asked. "Like you still haven't helped your friends—."

"I am not planning to go right now." He replied, "I will wait till I am ready."

He narrowed his eyes. "But why are you so paranoid with me going there?"

"Because you can safely grow in this place." She replied, glaring at him. "Why go there and put your life in danger?"

"So at what rank will my life not be in danger?" He asked, looking at her. "Tell me."

She bit her lips but replied anyway. "White rank or the rank above it."

Akamir nodded his head, rubbing his knees. "Alright." He said. "I will wait till I reach that ranking."

Nayomi floated a little closer, lowering until her bare feet almost touched the floor.

"You mean it?" she asked, voice softer than usual. "You'll actually wait?"

Akamir met her gaze. "I said I'll wait. I don't break my own word."

"Good," she murmured. "Because if you step onto those seas too soon, you won't just risk yourself. Everything tied to you will feel the pull."

He raised an eyebrow. "Everything tied to me?"

"You are not alone and you have a lot of beings dependent on you." She said sternly. "Remember that."

Akamir nodded as he stood up and walked out of the room.

Nayomi floated closely. "Where are you going?"

"Nowhere." He replied. "I am just having a weird feeling about the whole Inara and Sephrina thing."

"Don't get involved in their matters." Nayomi advised with a straight face. "You will only make things worse."

Akamir stopped to look at her again. "…You are right."

He let out a sigh before he turned away. "Guess, I will wait for night to come."

---

Night came far earlier than Akamir had expected.

Right now, he lay on his bed reading a book that he got about old times.

'It was a good book as they say.'

The world he currently resided in was much older than he had expected.

Much of the history was already gone but there was one thing that Akamir couldn't stop thinking about.

'…How did demons get extinct in this world?'

Demons were a part of the ecosystem long ago.

They were here at the time of the first elf ruling the world.

But one day the demons were massacred, leaving none behind.

The case was still unsolved even after thousands of years.

No one knows who did it and why.

Akamir let out a tired sigh as it was already past midnight.

'…Did Inara play a prank—?'

Just as he was thinking about it.

Knock!

A small knock echoed in the room.

A meak voice followed after that. "Akamir?"