Recovering from a recent storm that had nearly been his undoing, his body moved with a renewed vigor, free from the lethargy of exhaustion and the sting of bruised muscles. His keen brown eyes meticulously surveyed the forest, absorbing every detail of the enigmatic landscape that both invited and baffled him. Though he was certain he had never traversed this chain of islands before, a profound sense of belonging tugged at him, a persistent whisper in his mind that this place was ingrained in his essence. Venturing deeper, Tōga deftly parted the thick vegetation blocking his path. The smell of soot and ash intensified with each step, challenging his heightened senses. The pungent odor was almost overpowering, threatening to overwhelm his sanity as it dug deep into his psyche.
Unfazed, Tōga continued, drawn by the increasing smell and an indefinable pull towards its source. The lush green of the forest slowly melted into an ominous, fiery glow. The distant crackling of flames seemed to whisper sinisterly with the breeze, urging him onward.