Grim sat across from Húwáng in his private study.
His body still ached from the previous day's battle, the wounds from Xùyán's claws having been treated but not fully healed.
The fox companion laod curled at his feet, having remained smaller since the fight ended.
"You look troubled," Húwáng observed as he poured tea. "Beyond the obvious physical damage."
"It's been a month," Grim said quietly, accepting the offered cup. "A full month since I left the Celestis Empire."
The Fox King was amused as he laughed and cracked a smile. "Time is a more flexible concept than most humans realize, Lord Ambrose."
"What do you mean?"
"Our connection to the spiritual planes creates distortions in how time passes relative to the mortal world."
Grim leaned forward with obvious interest. "You're saying time moves differently here?"
"Precisely," the king confirmed. "What feels like a month to you here is actually one week in the human realm."
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked.
