As the preparations for the journey to the elusive Shifting Isle wrapped up, the reality of what lay ahead began to sink in. Each item I packed was chosen for resilience and versatility, necessary for the unpredictable conditions of a possibly mythic destination. Kijin, always alert, seemed to understand the significance of our preparations, watching over our equipment with a protective eye, while Raijuu occasionally inspected items with a curious sniff.
The chat, ever a source of mixed sentiments, kept my spirits in check with their usual blend of humor and skepticism.
: Hope you packed some ghost repellent, Tsukasa. You might run into some Forgotten spirits!
: Are we betting on whether this island will actually be there? I've got $20 on it being just a fog bank.
: Just don't pull a Titanic on us. Make sure the captain isn't all talk.
