The library, once a sanctuary of knowledge, now reeked of desperation and burnt hope. The air crackled with chaotic energy, a stark contrast to the serenity that had reigned just moments before. Serafina, her voice hoarse from the arduous chant, stumbled into the center of the ritual circle. The shard of celestial hope, the last bastion of their plan, pulsed weakly in her trembling hand.
Their meticulously drawn circle of protection, empowered by wolfsbane and shimmering with amethyst light, now sputtered erratically. The once comforting glow flickered like a dying ember, its protective hold dissolving under the growing pressure of the entity's resistance.
