Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 43: Pandora Academy [1]

[Four days later.]

[8 May 1568 W.R.]

The morning air in the capital city was crisp, despite chilly cold a few days ago.

Dew clung to the leaves outside Akamir’s window.

Four days had passed since the dome, the fairies, and the Bride of the Forsaken Tree.

’And I still hate every second of it.’

Akamir groaned as he fixed his shirt.

He stood in front of the mirror, his shirt half-buttoned, crimson eyes narrowed at his own reflection.

The scars from the skull-vines had faded into faint marks.

Akamir traced it idly.

Nayomi floated behind him, arms folded and silent.

"You’re stalling," she finally said, her tone flat.

Akamir raised a brow. "I’m dressing."

"You’ve been dressing for fifteen minutes."

He scoffed. "So what?"

"Even I don’t take this much time."

"Of course you don’t." He groaned, turning around. "Why would a ghost even need to get ready?"

"....."

Her lips twitched as he picked up his school bag.

He rubbed his temples. "I don’t want to go."

"I know," she replied with a pause. "But what choice do you have?"

Akamir didn’t argue.

He picked up the academy-issued cloak from his desk and flung it around his shoulders, fastening the clasp with a click.

Pendora Academy’s silver insignia—a sword piercing through an open eye—was embedded on it.

He exhaled sharply and turned toward her. "You’ll be invisible to everyone, right?"

Nayomi nodded. "Unless you make me a body."

Akamir turned around. "....Right."

He walked over to his bedside, where the egg was placed.

Akamir smiled slightly as he touched it. "See you soon, buddy."

A knock echoed from the door, making him turn.

"Young master?" came Zia’s soft voice from the other side. "The carriage is ready."

Akamir gave a soft sigh. "Let’s go."

He opened the door and was immediately greeted by her smile.

"Good luck," she said, giving him a thumbs up.

Akamir nodded as he walked past her.

The palace was owned by his family and it was close to the academy.

So, instead of living in dormitory he decided to stay here.

’That way I can have Zia on my side.’

A maid wasn’t allowed in the academy and he wasn’t going to live without one.

Akamir walked out of the palace where a carriage awaited—sleek, dark, and pulled by two horned shadow-deer.

The insignia of House Darvin was carved onto the door.

Darvin was the one who chose this.

’Such a show off.’

Akamir scoffed as he sat down inside the carriage. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Nayomi hovered just above him, unseen to the others.

The door closed behind him.

As the carriage began to move, Nayomi settled across from him.

"Do I need to go through everything about the novel again?" she asked, folding her hands.

"You don’t have to," Akamir replied. "I have a good memory."

He leaned back against the cushioned seat and closed his eyes.

Nayomi didn’t disturb him.

.....

The carriage jolted as it left the main road and rolled into the arched entrance of Pendora Academy.

A high stone wall, covered with flowering mana-vines, surrounded the campus.

Towers of white marble and pale green crystal shimmered under the morning sun.

Dozens of students cloaked in the same silver uniforms moved around.

Akamir adjusted his collar.

"I’m already annoyed," he said flatly.

"You haven’t even stepped out yet."

"I can feel it."

The carriage came to a halt and a servant opened the door, bowing slightly. "Welcome to Pendora, young lord."

’Well, looks like nobles are their priority.’

He walked out of the carriage as he began to the academy’s main plaza with a fountain shaped like a winged lion at the centre.

At the far end stood the entrance to the Great Hall.

’I think the entrance ceremony would be there.’

Akamir began to walk towards it.

As he walked, people began to talk around him, whispering about his engagement.

Even though annoyed, Akamir kept on walking.

A group of students parted to make way—but not before one of them, a tall boy with silver hair and a thin smile, stopped and gave him a mocking once-over.

"You’re the duke’s precious runt, aren’t you?"

Akamir paused. He glanced at the boy without expression.

"And you are?" he asked dryly.

The boy grinned. "Calix Roan. Top of the second-year class. And the guy who’s going to make your life miserable if you keep looking at me like that."

Akamir blinked. "And why would you do that?"

"Because you deserve it!?" he snapped, glaring at him. "Princess Inara wasn’t supposed to—"

Akamir walked past him without any words.

’I can’t be bothered by these fuckers.’

There are thousands who are dissatisfied with what happened, Akamir wasn’t in any mood to face any of them.

The whispers behind him grew louder as more students recognized him.

Some stepped aside. Others didn’t bother hiding their scorn.

"Is that him? The one engaged to Princess Inara?"

"Can’t believe he is boy..."

"He doesn’t look like much."

Akamir rubbed his temples in frustration.

’I already hate this place.’

The doors of the hall opened up as soon as he moved closer.

The inside of the hall was vast, with arched ceilings and beautiful decorations.

Long rows of seats formed a semi-circle around a central stage.

The faculty were seated in the upper balconies, watching.

The moment Akamir stepped in, dozens of students turned.

Some stared in open curiosity.

Others in cold disdain.

Nayomi, still invisible, floated just behind his shoulder.

"Just sit in the back," she murmured.

’Gladly.’

He moved quickly, sliding into a seat near the edge.

Eventually, a tall woman with skin like polished bronze and sharp golden eyes walked onto the stage.

Her robes were embroidered with symbols of both flame and sun.

"That’s Headmistress Zavan," Nayomi whispered. "She belongs to one of the high human race living in the Nasara desert."

"High humans?"

Nayomi glanced at him. "Think of them as evolved humans with a lot more potential."

Akamir nodded softly.

Professor Zavan’s voice cut through the air like a blade. "Welcome to Pendora Academy."

Silence fell.

"You are the best this continent has to offer—or so your sponsors believe. Whether that’s true remains to be seen."

Her eyes swept the hall, resting briefly on Akamir.

"This school is not kind. It will not hold your hand. It will not care about your family name, your titles, or your lovers."

A few people glanced at Akamir.

He exhaled quietly.

’Well, I can’t beat the allegations.’

Because Inara was the vice headmistress of Pendora Academy.

And Akamir planned to exploit her position in any way possible.

"You are here to become more than just children who can read. You are here to become weapons, diplomats, commanders... monsters, if need be."

She stepped down.

Another professor took her place, followed by two more, explaining rules, schedules, expectations.

Akamir tuned most of it out.

He wasn’t interested in any of them.

’I only need to stay here till the exploration of Core Dungeon.’

The midterm exam that was an event in the novel had that as its base.

But like any novel there was a twist.

The students were teleported to the deeper floor during the exam.

’...And inside the dungeon, they found it.’

One of the main ingredient that he is going to use to make a new body for Nayomi.

Akamir could try and take it on his own but it will take months to reach that level.

’I only need to be here for three months.’

He can then leave this place without any problem.

But then—

"We will now have the first-year entrance topper to give a speech," the professor said.

Even though most nobles didn’t give the exam, the orphans raised by church and commoners did take them.

"Please welcome Lady Zaina Edevane."

A round of applause rang within the hall as a girl walked towards the stage.

’It’s happening.’

Akamir thought, leaning back on the table.

’The start of her hellish life.’

Zaina moved to stand up in front of all the students.

The nervous look on her face was clear as day.

She opened her mouth to speak.

But...

No words came out of it.