Aurora
Professor Thorne turned away, his coat fluttering as he stepped toward the shelf where the sand time rested—a curious hourglass carved in dark wood, with pale, glittering sand cascading silently downward.
His eyes narrowed at it, and then they widened.
“Oh no,” he muttered, spinning around to face her again. “There’s not enough time.”
“Time for what?” she asked, rising slowly to her feet.
“To get you dressed!” he exclaimed, eyes darting toward the hallway that led to her inner room. “We’ve got less than thirty minutes until the next portal shift and if you miss that window—”
“I’m on it!” Aurelia interrupted, already rushing past him, her bare feet padding quickly across the wooden floor.
Professor Thorne watched her disappear into the other room. His hand moved to his chest,
