The Clockmaker's Apprentice: Chapter 7

The forest was eerily quiet as Elara and Norwin ventured deeper, the towering trees blotting out the moonlight and casting long shadows that seemed to twist and shift with every step. Elara could feel the pull of time growing stronger, a subtle vibration in the air that guided their way through the dense underbrush. Each tick of the Heart of Time resonated within her, a steady rhythm that both comforted and unnerved her.

"Stay close," Norwin whispered, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "This place is known for its tricks. Time doesn’t flow naturally here—Aelor’s influence is already at work."

Elara nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. Every now and then, she caught glimpses of movement in the corner of her eye—a flash of light, a shadow darting between trees. The forest seemed alive, watching their every move.

As they pressed on, the air grew colder, and the trees began to thin out, revealing a clearing up ahead. In the center of the clearing stood the clocktower, its silhouette looming against the starless sky. The tower was ancient, its stone walls covered in ivy and its once-majestic clock face cracked and broken. Yet, even in its ruin, it radiated an aura of power that sent a shiver down Elara’s spine.

"There it is," Norwin murmured. "The source of the disruption."

Elara felt a deep unease as they approached the tower. The air around it was thick, as if time itself was heavy and distorted. She could sense the irregularities, the way time seemed to loop and stutter within the tower’s walls.

As they reached the entrance, Norwin placed a hand on her shoulder. "Be ready for anything, Elara. Aelor will not let us interfere without a fight."

They stepped inside the tower, the air immediately thickening with the scent of dust and decay. The interior was just as dilapidated as the outside, with broken gears and shattered glass littering the floor. But in the center of the room stood a clock, larger and more intricate than any Elara had ever seen. Its hands moved in a slow, deliberate circle, ticking in a rhythm that felt wrong, as if it were dragging time along with it.

And then she saw him.

Aelor stood at the base of the clock, his back to them. His hair was silver, his figure tall and imposing. He turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he took in Norwin and Elara. A sinister smile curled his lips.

"Norwin," Aelor said, his voice smooth and cold, "and the little apprentice. How fitting that you’ve come to witness the end."

Norwin stepped forward, his stance defiant. "This madness ends now, Aelor. We will not let you unravel time for your own gain."

Aelor’s smile widened. "You think you can stop me? You’ve already lost. Time bends to my will now, and soon, it will be mine to control entirely."

Elara felt a surge of fear, but she steeled herself, stepping beside Norwin. "We won’t let you do this," she said, her voice steady despite the terror gnawing at her. "We’ll fix what you’ve broken."

Aelor’s gaze flicked to her, a flash of curiosity in his eyes. "Bold words for an apprentice. But you have no idea what you’re dealing with."

He raised his hand, and the room began to warp, the air shimmering as time itself seemed to twist around them. Elara felt a sickening lurch as reality shifted, and she knew the battle had begun.

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#story #panosdada #clockapprentice #pob