The Uroboros Unleashed

As we walked away from the antique shop, the humid Manila air clinging to us, a sense of exhaustion settled deep in my bones. The adrenaline of the ritual had faded, leaving behind a profound weariness and a disquieting awareness of the unseen world that brushed against our own.

Caspian hailed a taxi, the chaotic energy of the city a stark contrast to the silent battle we had just waged. As we sat huddled in the back seat, the sounds of jeepneys and chattering crowds washing over us, the weight of Caspian's words about my inherent sensitivity pressed down on me. It was a strange, unsettling truth to confront – that I possessed something that could attract such a terrifying entity.

Gail, ever vigilant, kept glancing at me, her brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you're alright, Antonella? You're still so pale."