Reborn as the Last van Ambrose-Chapter 132: Ao Lin

Morning in the North Sea realm. If it could be called morning without the sun’s rise. Began with a soft chiming that resonated through the ice walls of Grim’s chamber. The sound was not unpleasant, like delicate crystal bells being gently struck.

Grim rose from the bed, which had been surprisingly comfortable despite being formed entirely of ice covered with soft, silvery furs of some unknown sea creature. He had slept better than expected, though his dreams had been strange—fleeting visions of vast underwater cities and ancient battles that slipped away as he woke up.

A gentle knock at the door preceded the entrance of a servant unlike any Grim had seen before. This creature looked human, but clearly was not human—its skin was pale blue and translucent like the ice sentinels. It had no hair, and it looked delicate, almost childlike.

"Lord Ao Shun permits his guests to tour the palace," the servant announced. "I am to be your guide."

Grim dressed quickly in the clothes that had been provided—garments woven from some material that resembled silk but was cool to the touch. They fit perfectly, which was either impressive tailoring or some form of magic.

In the corridor, he found Bi’an and Suanni waiting, both looking refreshed despite their circumstances.

"Our uncle may be cold, but his hospitality is impeccable," Suanni commented. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well enough," Grim replied, not mentioning the strange dreams. "Though I’m not sure how long I slept—it’s difficult to tell time here."

"A common disorientation for humans," their guide interjected politely. "I will show you what guests are permitted to see of Lord Ao Shun’s palace."

Their first stop was a vast chamber filled with what appeared to be a forest of ice sculptures. As they entered, Grim realized these weren’t sculptures at all, but living creatures—plants that had evolved in this freezing cold. Crystal-like trees reached upward, some transparent, others tinted in subtle shades of blue and green. Delicate fronds swayed gently, as they moved.

"The Garden of Frost," their guide explained. "Lord Ao Shun maintains specimens from every region of his domain."

Small creatures moved among the ice plants—fish with bodies so transparent their organs were visible and crustaceans with shells that glittered like diamonds.

As they walked deeper into the garden, Grim noticed larger creatures moving in the distance. Serpents that coiled around the trees.

"Lesser dragons," Bi’an explained quietly, noticing Grim’s interest.

One of these lesser dragons approached, curiosity evident in its pale blue eyes. It was perhaps a quarter the size of Ao Shun’s dragon form, with scales that resembled frosted glass and delicate frills along its neck and spine. It regarded the visitors with open interest, particularly Grim.

"A human," it said, its voice higher and less resonant than Ao Shun’s. "How unusual."

"Lord Vaz," their guide acknowledged with a respectful bow. "These are guests of Lord Ao Shun."

The lesser dragon circled Grim slowly, studying him. "It has been decades since I’ve seen one of your kind. You have a strange warmth about you—water affinity, yes?"

"Yes," Grim confirmed.

"Fascinating. It’s quite strong." There was a hint of amusement in the dragon’s voice that Grim found unsettling.

"We are merely touring what we are allowed to see." Bi’an said.

"Of course, of course," Vaz said, sounding disappointed. "Well, should Lord Ao Shun extend your privileges, do not hesitate to seek me out. I would be most interested in this human."

The lesser dragon bowed slightly and glided away among the ice plants.

"We should continue," their guide said. "There is much to see, and Lord Ao Shun has set limits on where you may go."

They left the Garden of Frost and proceeded through more winding corridors, occasionally passing other denizens of the palace. Most were ice servants like their guide, but they also saw more lesser dragons and other creatures Grim couldn’t begin to identify.

Their next destination was a series of interconnected chambers filled with artifacts from what the guide described as "the surface realms." Grim recognized objects from various human cultures—weapons, tools, jewelry, clothing—all perfectly preserved in ice. Some appeared ancient, others relatively modern.

"Lord Ao Shun collects items of interest from shipwrecks and coastal settlements," the guide explained. "They provide insight into the changing ways of surface dwellers."

"My father maintains a similar collection," Suanni commented. "Though his is less... comprehensively organized."

The guide merely nodded, offering no opinion on the comparison between the Dragon Kings.

They continued their tour. Throughout it all, Grim had the distinct feeling they were being watched. Occasionally, he caught glimpses of movement at the edge of his vision, but whenever he turned to look, there was nothing there.

After what seemed like hours of walking through the labyrinthine palace, they came to a vast circular chamber with a domed ceiling with swirling patterns of frost that looked like night stars. The room was largely empty except for a central pool similar to the Deep Mirror Ao Shun had shown them, though this one glowed with a soft blue light rather than appearing black.

"The Reflecting Pool," their guide announced. "Guests are permitted to rest here and refresh themselves."

As if on cue, ice servants appeared bearing platters of food—strange fruits and what appeared to be fish, though like nothing Grim had seen before. The colors were vivid, ranging from deep purple to bright silver, and when he cautiously tasted a piece, he found it surprisingly delicious—sweet and tangy with a cool aftertaste.

As they ate, Grim noticed a small alcove on the far side of the chamber that seemed slightly darker than its surroundings. Curious, he walked in that direction while Bi’an and Suanni conversed with their guide about the palace’s architecture.

The alcove contained a wall carving different from those they’d seen elsewhere. While most depicted the glory of the North Sea, this one showed all four seas united under what appeared to be a single ruler—a dragon emperor larger and more magnificent than even Ao Shun.

Beneath the emperor’s image were four smaller dragons, each bearing symbols that Grim assumed represented the four current Dragon Kings. The carving seemed old, the edges worn smooth by time, yet the details remained clear.

"You shouldn’t be here," came a soft voice from behind him.

Grim turned to find himself facing a young woman. Her skin had the same pale blue translucence as the other North Sea residents, but there was a luminous quality to it that the servants lacked. Her eyes were not the solid white of the sentinels but a pale, silvery blue with distinct pupils. Her hair was a light blue color that made her face pop.

She wore a simple gown that had matched her hair.

"This section is not part of the approved tour," she continued, her voice like ice crystals chiming together. "Though I’m not surprised you found it. Humans have a knack for wandering where they shouldn’t."

"I apologize," Grim said, stepping away from the carving. "I didn’t realize."

She tilted her head slightly, studying him with open curiosity. "You’re not what I expected. The last human who came to my father’s realm was... less composed."

"Your father?" Grim repeated, suddenly understanding who she must be.

A small smile touched her lips. "I am Lin, daughter of Ao Shun. And you are Grim Van Ambrose, the human with water affinity who survived an encounter with my cousin Jiaolong."

"You know me."

"You’re the only thing being discussed right now," she replied. "And I make it my business to know who enters my father’s domain."

Before Grim could respond, Lin’s attention shifted to something over his shoulder. Her posture straightened, becoming more formal.

"Your companions are looking for you," she said. "It would be best if you rejoin them. My father does not appreciate guests who stray from their paths."

Grim glanced back toward the main chamber, where Bi’an was indeed scanning the room with a concerned expression. When he turned back, Lin was gone, as if she had never been there.

Only a few small ice crystals drifting to the floor gave any indication of her presence.

Disturbed but intrigued, Grim rejoined the others, choosing not to mention his encounter with Ao Shun’s daughter. Something told him that conversation was meant to remain private.

"There you are," Suanni said as Grim approached. "We thought perhaps you’d found another exit."

"Just exploring the chamber," Grim replied, avoiding Bi’an’s searching gaze.

Their guide, who had been speaking with another servant, returned to them. "Lord Ao Shun requires your presence tomorrow. Until then, you may continue to explore the permitted areas of the palace or return to your chambers to rest."

"I think I’ll rest," Grim said, suddenly feeling the strain of the day’s walking and the strange encounter with Lin. "The cold takes more out of me than I realized."

As they returned to their rooms, Grim wondered if his strange dream would continue tonight, revealing more why he has such a strange dream.