The hum of the plane still lingered in my ears as I step into the Tokyo morning. The air is alive with motion, crowds weaving in unison, trains singing their mechanical hymns, and advertisements glowing from every corner. A foreign land, yet one I had long admired from afar. I had been to many cities in my lifetime, yet this one held a weight of history that spoke to me. Ancient shrines nestled among towering glass skyscrapers, a dialogue between permanence and impermanence.

Waiting for me at the terminal is my guide, a young man with a bright smile and sharp eyes. He carries himself with a certain ease. Childe, he had introduced himself in the messages we exchanged before my departure. His reputation preceded him, efficient, adaptable, fluent in both language and culture.