A Shard of Time
In a bustling marketplace of 17th-century Istanbul, a Time Keeper named Eliza strolled through the vibrant bazaar, blending seamlessly with the crowd. Her mission was simple: recover a misplaced trinket—a pocket watch left behind by a rookie Keeper during a chaotic escape.
As she scanned the stalls, her eyes caught on a young boy selling spices. He was holding the watch, turning it over curiously. When their eyes met, he grinned mischievously and darted into the labyrinth of alleyways.
Eliza gave chase, weaving through the narrow streets. She finally cornered him near a fountain. The boy didn’t look scared—if anything, he seemed impressed.
“Lady, your toy is strange. It ticks, but not like the others. What is it worth?”
Eliza crouched to his level, pulling a small, sparkling crystal from her pocket. It caught the sunlight, casting rainbows on the wall. The boy’s eyes widened.
“It’s a shard of time,” she said softly. “It can show you a single moment you’ll never want to forget.”
The boy hesitated, then placed the watch in her hand. “A fair trade,” he declared, taking the crystal reverently.
As Eliza walked away, she glanced back. The boy was gazing at the shard, a soft smile spreading across his face. She wondered what moment he was seeing—perhaps a parent’s warm embrace or a sibling’s laughter.
Later, back in the hidden workshop just beyond the bazaar, Eliza handed the watch to the rookie Keeper. He looked sheepish but relieved.
“I—I thought I’d never see it again,” he admitted, taking the watch and strapping it on.
Eliza smirked. “Let this be a lesson. A Time Keeper’s watch is their lifeline. Lose it, and you’re lucky if someone like me gets it back for you.”
The rookie flushed but nodded earnestly. As he activated the watch to return home, Eliza felt a strange satisfaction. She had secured the watch and left behind a shard of wonder in a world that could always use a little more magic.
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