Every evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the old clock tower in Willow’s
End began to chime — but not in the usual way. Instead of marking the hours, its
bells sang melodies that no one could quite remember hearing before. The tunes
carried hints of forgotten places, of whispered secrets and distant dreams.
Milo, the town’s quiet watchmaker, had lived beside the tower all his life, but
only recently noticed the change. Curious and restless, he climbed the spiral
stairs one twilight, guided by the echoing songs. At the top, nestled between gears
coated in dust and time, he found a small, glowing orb pulsating with soft light.
The orb whispered stories in colors — shades of sapphire and gold, swirling and
shifting faster than his eyes could follow. As Milo reached out, the orb flared
brightly, and suddenly, the world outside changed. Streets shimmered with unseen
paths, and familiar faces held secrets only he could see.
For the first time, Milo realized the clock tower was not just a keeper of hours,
but a guardian of moments — of memories waiting to be rediscovered, of futures yet
to be imagined. And with the orb in hand, he understood his life would never again
tick in the same way.