Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 86: Date a Live [4]

"And you’re slow," she said, intertwining their hands again. "Now stop being weird and come with me. There’s more to see."

"...More than Atlantis?"

She smiled. "Way more."

Akamir followed as Inara led him through the water with an ease he still couldn’t wrap his head around.

She didn’t rush, letting him adjust to each shift in pressure the place had.

They moved away from Atlantis, gliding downward until the world around them dimmed.

"Where are we going now?" he asked, holding onto her hand tightly.

She looked back at him with a calm smile. "Somewhere even fewer people have seen."

"How reassuring," he muttered, but didn’t slow down.

Though there were a few things that he couldn’t wrap his mind around.

’Why is she showing me this?’ Akamir wondered, staring at her beautiful back. ’Is she not afraid that I can use it against her?’

Akamir was sure she isn’t stupid but on the contrary she is quite smart.

’Does she wants anything form me? Is this a way for her to win my attention?’

Akamir was having a hard time figuring her out.

Eventually, the water grew darker, thicker, until he could barely see more than a few feet ahead.

Then, out of the darkness, something massive took shape.

A shape that made Akamir stop swimming entirely.

"...What the hell is that?"

Inara didn’t answer immediately.

She guided him forward until they were close enough for him to make out the giant creature resting at the bottom.

Its body was covered in stone-like scales, each one larger than a house.

The creature’s breaths were slow, its eyes closed, but Akamir could feel the weight of its presence like gravity.

"It’s sleeping," Inara said softly, her voice more careful now. "We shouldn’t wake him."

"You brought me next to a sea monster?"

"He’s not a monster. He’s the guardian."

Akamir raised an eyebrow. "Of what, exactly?"

Inara gave him a look. "Of the deep sea and of everything we don’t understand anymore."

"Comforting," he muttered, still staring at the thing. "How old is it?"

"No one knows. He’s older than Atlantis. Older than my people. Some say he was created by the ’Seraphic Tablet’."

Akamir gave her a curious look.

’Isn’t it the same thing that help Solomon empire summon the otherworlders?’

That thing really fascinated Akamir and how much it can do.

His gaze moved towards the monster once again.

"Does he... attack?"

She shook her head. "Only when he must. He’s a protector, not a predator."

Akamir frowned. "And he just sleeps at the bottom of the ocean?"

Inara smiled faintly. "Most of the time."

Before he could ask more, she tugged at his hand again. "Come on. There’s one more place I want to show you."

"Let me guess. A sunken volcano with sea ghosts?"

"Close," she said, grinning.

They swam through a narrow passage between jagged rocks, the space glowing faintly.

Then everything shifted again.

The water felt lighter and much more warmer.

Ahead of them was a hidden clearing beneath the sea, shielded by coral arches.

Flowers bloomed inside bubbles that looked like roses.

Crystals floated as it was suspended mid-water, casting soft pulses of colored light.

Akamir looked around the place. "Okay. This one’s beautiful. No giant creatures. No risk of drowning. I approve."

Inara laughed quietly. "It’s my favorite place. I used to come here when I wanted to disappear."

"I get why," he said. "I can live here without any problem."

They floated near a large shell-like structure in the center.

Inara leaned against it, her fingers brushing one of the floating crystals.

"So," Akamir said after a pause, "Atlantis has cities, guardians, magical places like this... what about a king? Who’s running the show down here?"

Inara’s smile didn’t fade. "His name is Eden."

Akamir blinked. "That’s... a normal name. I was expecting something dramatic like ’Thalrion the Third’ or ’Poseidon’s Wrath.’"

"He’s not dramatic," she replied. "He’s quiet. Old. Kind, in a way that scares you."

"How can kindness be scary?"

"Because it means he’s seen too much. Chose peace over revenge. That kind of person is the one you never want to fight."

Akamir nodded slowly. "Have you met him?"

"Once. When I was very young. He blessed me."

"...Blessed you with what? Mermaid powers?"

She chuckled. "Not exactly. Just... protection and my recognition."

Akamir tilted his head. "So, he knows about you being half-human?"

She looked at him. "He knows everything."

"Creepy."

"Wise," she corrected.

Akamir nodded and looked to his side.

’Goddamnit!’

He almost screamed as he saw Nayomi peeking her face over his shoulder.

She didn’t look at him instead she was staring at Inara. "....Eden?"

Akamir titled his head in confusion and so did Inara looking at him.

Nayomi finally looked at him. "Ask her if Eden is an otherworlder."

Akamir forwned. "What?"

"....What are you doing?"

He looked back at Inara with a sigh. "This Eden guy....Is he one of the summon students from 600 years ago?"

Inara blinked in suprise. "...I don’t think so." She whispered. "I haven’t heard of him being for otherworlder."

Akamir glanced at Nayomi who was floating in the water along with him.

"There was one classmate of mine." She whispered, notching his gaze. "Even though his real name was different...We used to call him Eden."

"....."

Akamir stared at her without any words.

’No way.’

The realisation came quickly.

’Are the otherworlders still alive in this world?’

"...No, no." Nayomi whispered again. "...This can’t be."

"...."

Akamir silently looked her way as her expression kept on changing.

"Inara," he said, slowly turning back to the girl leaning against the glowing shell, "how old do people live down here?"

She blinked at the question. "It depends. Some live for a hundred years. Some... much longer, if they’re blessed."

Akamir’s voice lowered. "Could someone survive for six hundred years?"

Inara paused on her tracks.

Her fingers stopped moving along the floating crystal.

"...Maybe," she said softly. "If someone was special enough or powerful enough. Or if the sea chose them."

Akamir looked back at Nayomi...only to feel a chil down his spine.

The Stoic and grumpy woman....

.....Was smiling like a crazy woman.

Akamir had seen that smile before.

It always have on those who are always dying to get their revenge.

’She hasn’t forgotten her classmate for betraying her....’

Slowly she floated back away from Akamir’s line of sight.

His gaze moved towards Inara who was looking at him with a serious expression.

He titled his head. "What?"

"Now that I think about it." She whispered softly. "Haven’t I told you too much."

Akamir smiled. "Are you regretting it now?"

She exhaled a soft laugh, but the tension didn’t fade from her shoulders.

"I’m not regretting it," she said at last. "I’m just... wondering what happens next."

"What do you mean?"

She began moving back up towards the surface along with him.

"It means, I am stuck with you." She replied smiling. "Now, either marry me or die by my hands."

Akamir coughed. "Wait, what?"

Inara just smiled sweetly and swam ahead, her long hair flowing behind her like a ribbon of light.

"I’m kidding," she said.

"...Are you?" he asked, unsure if she was joking at all.

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she kept swimming toward the surface until their upper body were out of the water.

Akamir took in a deep breath as he found himself back at the river bank.

Inara was infront of him, looking at him with a bright smile.

"How was it?" She asked. "The trip to the undersea?"

Akamir gave her a look. "I got one more question to ask."

She titled her head. "What is it?"

He drew in a deep breath before asking. "Can you talk to a fish?"

".... Seriously?"

"It’s an important question—."

She didn’t let him finish as she moved closer, letting her ample breast squeeze on his chest.

Inara pressed even closer, her wet skin cool against his.

"I can’t talk to all fish," she whispered, her voice a breath against his ear. "But the important ones? They understand me."

Akamir tried not to focus on the sensation of her body against his.

"Right. Makes sense. Definitely not a weird thing to say at all."

She just smiled and leaned closer.

Her lips brushed his teasing him before deepening the kiss.

Her mouth moved against his with a wet feeling, tongue slipping past the seam of his lips like she was claiming him.

His hands found her waist on instinct, fingers gripping tighter when she pushed up against him.

She gasped lightly into his mouth, like she’d been waiting for that.

Her body arched against his, every part of her pressing close.

Finally she leaned back, breaking the kiss.

"I hope I ruined your dating experience." She whispered. "I really don’t want to share you with anyone else."

Akamir smiled. "Possesive much?"

She smiled back. "Let me show you something interesting."

Saying so she let go of him and began to move towards the bank.

Akamir turned as her legs began to change back.

’...Damn.’

Inara wasn’t wearing anything downside so he could clearly see her plum milky ass.

As soon as she touched the surface, she sniffled.

Finally, the flirty personality of her mermaid self was supressed and her stoic princess one resurfaced.

Inara quickly sat down on the ground, hiding whatever she could.

She glared back at Akamir, her face red as tomoto. "TURN AROUND!?"

"Alright, jezz." Akamir said, slowly turning around.

"You know," he said casually, "for someone who just kissed me like she owned me, you’re awfully shy now."

"Shut up!" Inara snapped. "That was underwater. It doesn’t count the same way!"

"....Sure."

A moment passed before he heard her clear her throat. "You can turn around now."

She was back to her casual dress, sitting on the sand as he walked towards her.

He sat down beside her. "...You okay?"

"I’m fine," she replied quickly.

"Liar."

She sighed, hugging her knees. "....Do you like her?"

"Hm?"

"My other side."

"Well..." he began. "She is a better kisser for sure."

She elbowed him lightly in the ribs, a blush creeping on her face.

"But," Akamir continued. "I like the princess more."

Inara remained still for a while, before she smiled.

"....I see."

She whispered.

"Glad to hear that."