I entered the shop almost without thinking, driven by curiosity as much as by the need to get away from Rhea. As I crossed the threshold, a scent of incense and ancient dust enveloped me immediately. It was a dark and esoteric place, filled with strange and seemingly mystical objects. There were ancient weapons, jars filled with herbs, and amulets. The shelves were overcrowded, and the dense air gave the place an almost eerie sensation. In the back, a bald, chubby old man with twinkling eyes was watching me with a smile that wavered between amused and shameless.
I looked around carefully until a large, shiny object at the back of the shop caught my attention. An antique mirror, with a wooden frame carved into shapes of snakes and branches. I approached almost without thinking, and when I
