Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 89: Practice [3]

The one who was trying to talk to her even though she was ignoring him.

’... Arthur?’

Akamir narrowed his eyes.

From the distance, he could tell Zaina was clearly uncomfortable.

Her arms were crossed, and she was facing away from the boy.

Arthur, on the other hand, kept stepping into her space, trying to get her attention.

He started walking toward them.

’Let’s try to be civil.’

He wasn’t in the mood for another fight, but something about the way Arthur kept reaching out did bother him.

Zaina glanced up when she noticed him.

Her eyes lit up for a second—only for a second, though Akamir caught it.

Arthur followed her gaze and turned too, frowning when he saw who was coming.

He straightened, forcing a smile. "Oh. Didn’t see you there, Asher."

Akamir looked at him, then at Zaina.

"You alright?" he asked her directly.

Zaina nodded slowly. "Yeah."

Arthur glanced between them. "We were just talking."

"She wasn’t talking," Akamir said, voice flat. "You were."

"It’s not really your business, is it—?"

"I need to talk," Zaina said, grabbing Akamir’s hand. "Come with me."

Akamir looked at her for a second before letting her drag him away.

He could feel Arthur’s glare on his back but didn’t bother with it.

Instead, he looked at Zaina. "Why is he out already?"

"I don’t know," she replied softly. "He was supposed to be on bedrest, maybe someone helped him."

"...Hmm." Akamir stared at her. "And what was he talking about?"

She looked back at him.

"How I should break my engagement with you and whatnot," she grumbled. "He was pointing out all of your negative points."

"...I see."

Akamir raised an eyebrow, but he wasn’t surprised.

Arthur had never been subtle about his dislike.

"And what did you say to that?" he asked.

Zaina glanced at him, then looked away. "I ignored him."

Akamir let out a soft chuckle. "Not the best thing to do, but okay."

She glanced at him. "What did you expect me to do?"

"I don’t know," he shrugged. "Definitely not ignore someone who is badmouthing your fiancé."

Zaina stopped in her place as she looked dead into his eyes.

"He is like my brother, Akamir," she replied, her voice serious. "I can’t just fight him for you."

Akamir didn’t look away. freewebnσvel.cѳm

He met her stare with one of his own, calm but unreadable.

"...So if I was the one saying things like that about him, would you stay quiet too?" he asked.

Zaina blinked.

"That’s different."

"Is it?"

She folded her arms, frowning. "He’s been in my life longer than you. I’ve known him since we were kids."

"That doesn’t give him the right to disrespect me," Akamir said. "Especially not in front of you."

She looked at him again, her expression tight. "You want me to choose, don’t you?"

He didn’t answer.

But the silence was enough.

Zaina stepped back. "That’s not fair."

"Neither is being insulted by someone who hides behind ’childhood friendship,’" Akamir said quietly.

"If he really was like a brother, he’d respect your choices. Not try to undo them."

She gave him a hesitant nod.

"...I know that," she whispered. "It’s just... his mother is like my own mother."

Akamir sighed. "It’s fine, don’t worry too much."

She glanced at him, resuming her walk. "Are you mad?"

"Why would I be?"

"For not defending you."

Akamir shrugged. "I don’t care about that."

’And it’s not like those rumours were about me.’

The thing that Arthur must be talking about has nothing to do with him.

It was all about the previous Asher, and he couldn’t care less how people saw him.

Zaina sighed once again and looked at him.

"By the way, are you free this weekend?"

Akamir blinked. "Why do you ask?"

"Father wanted to meet you," she replied softly. "Can you visit our home?"

He stopped moving as he looked at her. "Why is he calling me now?"

Zaina shook her head in response. "I don’t know," she whispered. "He never said why."

Akamir nodded silently. "I will be there."

Zaina smiled sweetly. "Great, then I will pick you up from your estate."

"Alright."

She waved at him before she walked away.

Left alone in the entrance of the building, Akamir watched her till she wasn’t visible.

Nayomi floated closer to him. "Are you falling in love with the apostle?"

Akamir frowned. "What? No?"

She gave him a weird look. "...I hope you don’t."

"Why do you say so?"

"Because it will never end happily," she replied softly. "She is a Jinx, keep that in mind."

Akamir let out a sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck.

’Let’s not think about it for now.’

He turned around and began to walk to his room.

"Where are you going?"

Nayomi asked, floating close by.

Akamir looked at her. "Shouldn’t we check our spirit herbs now?"

---

[Far North, Old Court]

[Spirit World]

Akamir slowly walked out of a portal into the spaceless and timeless place of the spirit world.

’Hmm, everything looks the same.’

He thought as he walked towards the dome close to a broken tree.

He remained cautious as to not grab attention of the specters.

Nayomi hovered behind him, silent for once.

Akamir knelt near the dome and pressed his hand to the earth.

A pulse on the ground answered him.

’Looks good.’

He thought as he walked inside the dome.

Unlike all the other places, the dome doesn’t accept any type of corruption, so he was safe inside.

’I just hope I don’t see that headless woman.’

Akamir thought grimly as he looked around the dome.

Inside the dome, small herbs bloomed like tiny stars.

Each one was a spirit herb—rare, delicate, and dangerous if harvested incorrectly.

The broken tree nearby crackled softly as if watching him.

Akamir moved closer to inspect one of the blue-tinted sprouts.

"This one is ready," he said.

"Be careful," Nayomi warned. "Let them ripen before trying to harvest them."

"I remember that."

Nayomi floated lower, her glow dimming. "You’ll need the spirit thread to pull them up later. Their temper gets worse once they’re fully ripe."

Akamir nodded, noting the growth with a careful eye. "Another three days."

’Honestly, one month and I will have enough to talk with the elves on an equal ground.’

Akamir thought as he walked further inside the dome.

With the way things are, one month is enough for his company to gain a good reputation.

’The new branch of Krivos Kingdom will also open soon.’

Akamir thought as he looked at a floating object.

He squinted his eyes as the glowing thing moved around him.

Nayomi quickly began to rotate around the thing.

Akamir frowned. "What are those?"

A small and sweet smile formed on her lips. "Baby spirits."

Akamir blinked.

"Baby spirits?"

Nayomi nodded slowly, her glow softening like candlelight. "They’re born in places with strong energy."

He watched the floating specks like tiny orbs of mist, each one no bigger than a grape twirling gently in the air, playfully weaving through the herbs and around his fingers.

"They’re harmless," Nayomi added. "But don’t touch them too much. They get attached."

"Great," he muttered, stepping back. "The last thing I need is more things following me around."

One of the baby spirits floated up and brushed his shoulder before darting away.

Nayomi giggled.

"Looks like that one likes you," she said. "You can form a contract with one soon."

Akamir shook his head but didn’t say anything.

Instead, he focused on checking the rest of the dome.

’I should be able to rank up soon.’

Akamir thought, staring at the herbs blankly.

’Now that I have sufficient strength, I should start working on it.’

He thought, shifting his eyes on the broken sun.

’Time to take over the kingdom’s economy.’