Chapter 3: Through the Portal
The light spilling from the back of the clock wasn't harsh or blinding—it shimmered like moonlight on water, rippling gently. Mara hesitated at the edge, heart racing.
Elias placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Remember, trust your instincts. Time isn't just a straight line—it's a living thing. You'll feel it."
She nodded slowly. Then, with one deep breath, she stepped through.
The world shifted.
Mara stumbled forward onto a floor of smooth, glowing glass. Around her, an entire realm stretched out, bathed in hues of silver and gold. Floating gears the size of carriages turned in midair, moving silently. Paths of ticking light wove between massive clock towers suspended in the sky. Time literally flowed here—visible streams of sparkling energy moving between everything like rivers.
"Whoa…" Mara whispered. "Where… am I?"
A voice echoed behind her—it was Elias, but distorted, as if through water. "You're in the Inner Mechanism. This is the heart of time itself."
Mara turned in a slow circle. "It's… beautiful."
A small flicker of movement caught her eye. A creature—no taller than her knee—watched from behind a turning cog. It had glowing blue eyes, metallic wings, and a body shaped like a pocket watch.
It blinked, then zipped toward her.
"Wait! What are you?" Mara asked, backing up.
The creature chirped—a sound like wind chimes—and hovered in front of her before turning midair and darting away.
"I think it wants me to follow."
She chased it through the glowing pathways, winding around floating staircases and hanging pendulums. The deeper she went, the colder the air became. The light grew dimmer. The smooth glass under her feet now had tiny cracks.
"Something's wrong here…"
They stopped at a huge broken tower. Black vines, pulsing with shadow, wrapped around it. The air buzzed with tension.
The little creature flew in front of her again and made a soft, sad hum.
"What happened to this place?" Mara asked, barely above a whisper.
Suddenly, a voice—not Elias's—cut through the silence.
"She's here. The Time-Touched girl."
Mara turned sharply.
From the shadows emerged a tall figure in a cloak of midnight blue, a mask hiding their face. Their presence made the very air bend and warp.
"You don't belong here, Mara. And you're already too late."