Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

Grim stood on the balcony of his guest quarters, marveling at how the city seemed to breathe with life.

"Impressive, isn’t it?" Ruxi’s voice came from behind him.

He turned to find her approaching with two steaming cups of something that smelled like jasmine mixed with starlight—if starlight could have a scent.

"It’s unlike anything in human lands," Grim admitted, accepting the offered cup. "The architecture alone challenges everything I thought I knew about engineering and construction."

"That’s because it’s not truly constructed in the way humans build," Ruxi explained, settling beside him at the balcony’s edge. "Our buildings are grown—shaped through generations of magical cultivation and guided evolution. They’re as much living entities as they are structures."

"Living entities?"

"In a sense," she confirmed. "They respond to the needs and emotions of their inhabitants, adapt to changing seasons and circumstances, even develop their own subtle personalities over time."

Grim studied the nearest building with new interest, noting that its walls seemed to pulse gently, like slow breathing. "Does that mean they can... think?"

"Not in the way you or I think," Ruxi replied. "But they possess a form of consciousness—awareness of their purpose and environment. It’s part of what makes our realm so harmonious. Everything here is interconnected, working together rather than simply coexisting."

The concept was fascinating and slightly unsettling. Grim was accustomed to environments where he could understand and predict the behavior of his surroundings. The idea of living buildings with their own agendas was a concept he never thought of before.

"Today," Ruxi continued, "I thought we might explore the different districts of Pearl City. You’ll need to understand how our society functions if you’re going to participate effectively in court life."