Amber found the place strangely comforting.
The clothes.
The cuisine.
The Blanks had already developed a cultural hub that focused heavily on fashion and food, turning the city into a pilgrimage site with far-reaching influence. Designers experimented with fabrics and styles, blending elegance with practicality. Tailors worked openly in shops, and customers discussed trends like scholars debating philosophy.
The food was no less impressive.
Stalls and restaurants served dishes from all regions, some familiar and some completely new. Spices were balanced, flavors layered, and presentation treated like an art form. Amber often found herself wandering aimlessly, tasting one dish after another until she realized hours had passed.
And if that was not enough, there were operas and stage dramas performed regularly in public halls.
Some were lighthearted.
Some were tragic.
Some were surprisingly deep.
