One day, a girl named Lira climbed the tower stairs. She was small and serious, with dirt on her knees and a question in her eyes.
Sparx finally raised his gaze. He saw the faint, frayed end of a silvery thread trailing from the gear—a thought-path, cold and curled. He nodded. sparx matys
Down in the town, Lira’s brother, sitting by a cold hearth, suddenly snorted. Then giggled. Then laughed so hard he fell off his chair. One day, a girl named Lira climbed the tower stairs