**Centuries Ago...**
The city was a mere village, and at its heart stood a magnificent tree, said to be as old as time itself. This tree was believed to be the protector of the village, its leaves shimmering in ethereal hues, and its roots running deep, touching the very core of the earth.
A humble clockmaker, ELDRED, resided in the village. He was gifted, known far and wide for creating clocks that did more than just tell time. They held stories, emotions, and captured moments. ELDRED had a vision of crafting a monumental clock, one that could chronicle the history of the village and its people.
Using the wood from the ancient tree (which he took with the village's hesitant blessing), ELDRED began his work. As he carved and constructed, the spirits of the tree whispered secrets of the universe to him. They spoke of realms beyond comprehension, of shadows and lights, trials and tribulations. These tales became gears and hands, numbers and chimes.
Once completed, the clock tower stood tall and grand, its every tick echoing the heartbeat of the village and its chimes singing the songs of ages past.
**Back to the Present...**
The city grew around the tower, but the tales of its origin faded into legends. Yet, the clock's magic remained.
CLARA, waking up to her alarm, feels an inexplicable connection to the tower. The same scar on her wrist from the previous version now resembles one of the clock's hands.
DAMIEN's room, filled with moon motifs, also has miniature replicas of the clock tower. He wakes up, startled, feeling time slipping away, yet can't pinpoint why.
ARION, at his clinic, notices that the young girl with the moon-shaped birthmark also has a tiny clock tattoo, ticking in real-time.
SERAPHINA, while practicing for her concert, feels compelled to incorporate the chimes of the ancient clock in her song, the tune carrying a melancholic weight of lost time.
As the day unfolds, all roads lead them to the clock tower. The city residents, unaware of its true origins, simply admire its grandeur. Yet, for our main group, the tower calls out, reminding them of promises made and battles fought.
Night descends, and the clock's chimes grow louder, more insistent. CLARA, DAMIEN, ARION, and SERAPHINA, each drawn by its allure, arrive at the city square. As they converge, the tower's hands spin rapidly, and a cosmic rupture occurs, throwing the city into chaos.
From the base of the tower emerge ghostly apparitions of fragmented mirrors, hinting at the multiple realities the tree once spoke of.