ShukaHo Conduits

The world you know is only half the story. Reality is split into a delicate, circular hierarchy: the Human Realm, where logic and science rule, and the Yokai Realm, a chaotic expanse of spirits and predators. These two worlds overlap, separated by a thin veil that most people never see. But for those caught in the middle, life is a constant, invisible war. They are called Conduits. Sitting at the border of the seven worlds, Conduits are the only ones capable of interacting with both sides. To a normal human, a Yokai is a sudden chill or a bout of sickness; to a Conduit, they are seven-foot-tall faceless monstrosities with rows of human teeth. Ishika Shuka was a normal girl until the day her "cycle" began, tearing the veil and turning her into a beacon for every hungry spirit in the city. Suddenly, her school, her home, and her very shadow are no longer safe. She has been thrust into a world where: Visibility is a Curse: To see a Yokai is to be seen by them. Survival is a Bargain: Power comes from "Merging" with spirits, a dangerous process with a high failure rate. The Price is Sanity: The "Madness Dance" looms over every Conduit—a state where the internal Yokai takes control, triggered by the very emotions that make us human. With the help of Shuho, a veteran Conduit who has survived a decade in the shadows, Shuka must learn to navigate this new life. In a world where the monsters are real and the protectors are just as "creepy" as the threats, Shuka must adapt quickly.