Lila POV
Cherry blossom leaves flutter around me on the other side of the portal. I shield my gaze from the blindness of the setting sun on the horizon, and my breath hitches. Luscious green trees stretch for miles beneath the auburn sky, broken up by rivulets and creeks that run towards the cliff I’m standing on. Behind me, a vermillion temple stands proudly with Japanese Kanji written above the entrance.
“Japan?” I say, turning to Adrian. “Why Japan?”
He nods and hoists my backpack farther up his shoulder. “Figured you could do with some TLC.”
He makes towards the entrance, and I follow suit, only the sounds of birds chirping to punctuate the surprisingly comfortable silence.
“I tend to come here when I have too much on my mind. Helps me forget. There’s something sacred about this
