<p><strong>The Clockmaker and the Time Traveler</strong></p><p>Zander Thorne's workshop was a sanctuary of steady rhythms. Each morning, as sunlight filtered through dust-laden air, he would trace his fingers along the brass gears and delicate springs that gave life to his creations. Like the timepieces he crafted, Zander believed in the natural progression of moments—each second clicking precisely into the next, an orderly dance of cause and effect.</p><p>His latest piece was different though. While adjusting its crystal face, he noticed how it caught the light in impossible ways, fracturing time itself in its reflections. That's when Violet Vale materialized beside his workbench, her silver-streaked hair shimmering like moonlight on water.</p><p>I've been watching you create this piece
