next story: Like Clockwork AT 03:00 - The Sands of Time P1“I can hardly believe it,” Bridget cheered.“Tomorrow, it’ll finally open,” Akita chimed in.“There is only one more thing left to do now: get a good night’s rest” Lavini said pointedly.Indeed, it was almost time for their new church of time to finally open to the public. The construction of this new building had taken several months, a lot of hard work, and more money than she wanted to think about. Now that it was finally finished, it was time for the grand opening! The church looked almost like a twelve-sided pyramid made of glass with golden numerals on each side. There were massive clock hands above the church, indicating the current time. Since it was evening, the hands were lit up as well. If one were to look at it from the top, the church would look like a beautiful clock.“Now, where is Cassie? It’s getting late,” Akita asked.“I believe she is still waiting,” Lavini proposed.“I can’t believe that they’re still working this late,” Bridget said, placing a hand on her chin.“Sorry I’m late!” Cassie cried out as she came running at the three girls.“Hey, there she is! No problem, Gigabyte,” Akita chuckled.“We were waiting for you,” Bridget nodded.“The… tailor… wanted to… make it… just right,” Cassie said between her panting. She leaned her hands on her knees, trying to stabilize herself again. She carried with her a rather large bag.“Ah, yes, of course. Do we finally get to see it then?” Lavini asked.Cassie wiped the sweat from her forehead and stood up straight again. “Yes… inside,” she said.“Well, let’s not waste any time then! Let’s go, girls,” Bridget cheered.The four women proceeded to walk up to the grand front doors and opened them. For the past week, all of them had begun moving all of their belongings from their old homes to the church. After all, from this moment on, they were all going to be living here instead and tonight was going to be the first night they’d actually sleep here. Lavini, Bridget, and Cassie were very excited for this, though Akita lamented having to move out of their old apartment due to the amount of memories tied to that place. At the very least, the drawing that Akita and Bridget had carved into a support beam had been preserved, even if they had to have a carpenter replace the beam wholesale just to take it with them.As Akita and Bridget entered the church, Cassie gave Lavini a nervous poke. “Uhm… can I talk to you for a moment?” she said, fidgeting slightly.“Yes, of course,” Lavini said.“W-well… ahm… I wanna tell you something. Something that… well, I wanted to tell you… hmmm,” Cassie stammered.Lavini tilted her head. “Take your time, dear,” she chuckled.“R-right. Well, you see… the thing is…” Cassie continued.“Come on, you two! Get yourselves inside. We wanna close the doors again,” Bridget called out, interrupting the conversation.“Ah… y-yes, of course,” Cassie said, coming to attention. She then hurried inside, away from Lavini.“Huh… I wonder what could be troubling her…” Lavini pondered to herself before entering the church as well., The inside was every bit as extravagant as the exterior suggested. There was a small entrance hall where a large pendulum swung overhead, high enough so as not to hit even the tallest of guests. The walls, the doors, and even the furniture here were all made up of intricate clockwork, ticking gently along with the passage of time.Behind this was the main church hall. There were large benches all surrounding the center with twelve pathways between them. In the center, there was the Shrine of Percent Marvels. It stood on a large, gear-shaped stage and consisted of countless gears all working together to make one large grandfather clock. Hanging over that was the old silver bell that they had found in the old temple, having crashed down from its original place.Of course, upon closer inspection, one would find that the grand chapel was filled with all sorts of clockwork machinations and magitechnological contraptions working together. Bridget and Akita had spent many weeks designing and constructing this while the church was being built. An example of this were the guardians lining the walls. Based on the giant that had transformed Bridget, the bodies of the guardians were made up of clockwork with a core of magitech that gave them a set of orders to follow. They stood ready to spring to life should an intruder try to enter.The sound of ticking clocks filled their ears as it permeated through the air here. The grand machinations of the church had already been activated 2 weeks, 5 days, 6 hours, 31 minutes, and 58 seconds ago. Of course, ever since Bridget’s transformation, all of them had already long gotten used to the constant sound of ticking clocks. Standing in this great chapel though, the ticking was on a whole new level.And all of that was only the main floor. There was still an entire section below ground, though most of it was for private use.“I have seen it all already but it is still a marvel to behold,” Lavini mused.“Could you have imagined this when you found that gear, Bridge?” Akita asked.“Not at all,” Bridget said. She had been smiling non-stop ever since the church was actually starting to look like something. Well, Lavini and Akita were very much the same of course.“I certainly would not have imagined that my journey to New Stepolis would lead to this,” Lavini agreed.“Yeah, or my parents moving here from Nipshon!” Akita cheered.“I only wish my mother could be here to see this…” Lavini said solemnly.“Lavini…” Bridget said, giving her friend a hug. It was as tight a hug as she dared give, considering her metal body’s strength.“We’re here,” Akita said as she joined this developing group hug.“And I am thankful to you both… It may seem a bit quaint but with my mother gone, you girls are all I have left,” Lavini said softly.“Lavini, come on. Don’t make me cry!” Akita whined.“Ah… hmm…” Cassie stammered next to them, still as nervous as she was outside. It appeared that she wasn’t entirely sure on what to do with herself.“Come on, Cassie! You’re a part of this too!” Bridget said, pulling her into the hug as well.“Wha-!” Cassie cried out but she soon just resigned herself to being included.“We did all of this together. We were able to build this church because of all of our hard work,” Bridget said.“Yeah… and, of course, the money from Edwin Thamos,” Akita said as the group broke free again. They then approached the center where there would be a set of stairs leading down. “Speaking of which, are we ready for our deal with him?” Bridget asked.“Yep! I’ve been running so many simulations and I’ll continue to do so until the time comes in two weeks. It’ll work. I’m sure of it,” Akita answered.“And are you ready for your part in the deal?” Bridget asked, turning to Cassie.“I… will do my very best of course,” she replied, sounding quite uncertain.“We will of course help,” Lavini said reassuringly.“I know… but I know that you will all have your own tasks to worry about. I still cannot believe they let us make a church with so few of us,” Cassie said.“Well, we have two High Priestesses, a Bishop, and a nun. That was the minimum requirement, so we’re good,” Akita said, chuckling as they began their descent into the lower levels.“True enough, yes,” Lavini nodded. Since she had not been blessed with a transformation into a time elemental, she had felt very much uncomfortable accepting the role of Bishop. However, her friends had all insisted that she would make a great Bishop since she had always been somewhat of a leader., The lower floors may not have been as extravagant as the public chapel but it still sent sparks of joy in all four women. After all, this was their new home. Most of the rooms here were unoccupied still in preparation for those chosen by the remaining divine trinkets they still had as well as the original six keepers of time. Of course, they did not know yet exactly what to expect from them so they had left the rooms mostly empty.The rooms that were occupied were of course their own living quarters. Bridget and Akita's shared room was indicated by a monument made from the support beam of their former home that sat next to the door. There was also a room that Lavini shared with Cassie. It had actually taken quite a bit of convincing for Cassie to agree to this since she didn’t know whether she was ‘deserving of such an honour’. However, Lavini had grown so fond of Cassie and her insistence prevailed in the end. There was a large chamber that Akita had claimed as her own lab that she was gradually filling with magitech equipment. It was already surprisingly full as she had accumulated quite the collection since her transformation. Furthermore, there was a general living room, a kitchen, a bathroom, and other facilities. Of course, clockwork, magitech, and the ever present ticking was seen even here.“Well then, Cassie dear. Are you going to finally delight us with your new outfit?” Lavini asked.“Ah! Y-yes, of course,” Cassie replied. She seemed especially nervous and fidgety, even more so than before. Lavini figured she must just be nervous for the big day tomorrow. She herself certainly was.As Cassie vanished into her shared room, Lavini turned to the others. “You know, I am certain, that we will have better luck finding the other chosen ones through this church,” she said.“Yeah, I think so too!” Bridget cheered. “I wonder what they’ll be like…”“I have some ideas about the hourglass but the others? No clue,” Akita shrugged.“And what of the originals? Will we even get to meet them?” Lavini mused.“I hope so! We just have absolutely no clue on who they were, what sort of clock they were associated with, if they even were at all, what they looked like…” Bridget started listing off, counting the questions on her fingers.“Yeah, yeah, we get it, Bridget,” Akita chuckled. “One thing at a time. Let’s just worry about the opening tomorrow.”“You are correct, Akita dear. We will all have to do our very best to make as good of an impression on the people of New Stepolis as possible,” Lavini agreed.“Uhuh…” Akita said with a sigh, turning to Bridget. “I guess you get your wish after all, Terabyte.”“Huh? What?” Bridget asked, tilting her head.“Remember back in high school, when you said that you’d get me up on a stage one way or another?” Akita said.“Wait… right! By the goddess, you remembered that?” Bridget laughed.“Well, of course! I’m like an elephant; I never forget anything!” Akita said, standing a little straighter.“Is that so? I seem to recall at least two instances where you had forgotten about your own birthday. Then there was also that time that you had forgo-” Lavini said.“Okay! Okay, I get it,” Akita snapped, to which the others laughed. “Maybe I just remember the useless stuff…”Right at that moment, Cassie reappeared into the hallway dressed in the outfit that the tailor had made for her.“How do I look?” she asked, blushing. It was a nun’s outfit specifically made for this church with various clocks adorning it. It was clear that the outfit was very prim and proper and that Cassie was going to have to take some time to get used to wearing something like this.“You’re looking great, Gigabyte!” Akita cheered.“It’s fantastic! Well worth the wait!” Bridget agreed.Lavini did not know what to say. She had always thought that Cassie was pretty but seeing her in this outfit? It heightened her cuteness and beauty Lavini thought. All she could really do was eye their nun and admire her. She had been just so fond of Cassie ever since they met. Seeing her go from a petty street thug into a prim nun. She was just so pretty...“Lavini?” Bridget asked, waving a hand in front of her face.“A-ah! Yes, yes, you are looking beautiful, Cassie dear,” Lavini blurted out. Now, it was her time to blush, which only seemed to make Cassie feel even more embarrassed.“Déja vu…” Akita muttered under her breath, causing Bridget to giggle. “In any case, I think we’re going to do great tomorrow, girls!” Akita cheered.“Yeah! So, get your well-deserved rest and wake up on time!” Bridget said., Once Lavini and Cassie were in their own room, Cassie plopped herself on one of the beds and laid back.“You must be very nervous for tomorrow,” Lavini said. She had still not quite recovered from her earlier reaction to seeing Cassie. It was actually very surprising to Lavini that she had been so stumped for words.“You don’t know half of it…” Cassie yammered. “But I bet you’re way more nervous than I am.”“I am certain we will do fine,” Lavini said with a smile as she approached her own bed.Cassie stayed silent for a moment longer, looking up at the ceiling, occasionally glancing over at Lavini. “Do… you really think I look beautiful?” she asked.The question came as a surprise to Lavini. She eyed the nun from top to bottom again as she felt herself blushing slightly. “Well… yes. I think so. The tailor did an excellent job on your new outfit,” she said.“T-thank you…” Cassie said, followed by a rather awkward silence where neither of them really knew what to say or do. That is, until Lavini remembered something.“What were you going to say before?” she asked.“What?” Cassie asked.“Outside. You said you wanted to tell me something,” Lavini said.“O-oh! Y-yes… right… of course,” Cassie mused, talking softer and softer.Lavini narrowed her eyes as she sat down on the bed herself. “Have you changed your mind about all of this?” Lavini guessed.“No! No, that’s not it at all!” Cassie said, sitting up straight.This relieved Lavini somewhat. “Hmm, good, good,” Lavini mused. “Then, what was it?”Cassie gripped her clothing tightly as she looked down to the ground. “I… I want to tell you… that…” she started but try as she might, she could not seem to say what she wanted to say. “... that I want to take off this outfit first. Wouldn’t… wouldn’t want it wrinkled up before tomorrow.”Lavini narrowed her eyes. “It is okay. You know you can tell me anything,” she said.Cassie bit her lip, trying to find the right words. “I know… I know,” she stammered as she stood up and began taking off her stockings. She was kind of balancing on one foot as she did so, and badly at that.“Do you need help?” Lavini asked curiously. Something about this seemed off. Fake almost. What was Cassie planning?“No… no I got it… I go- whoah!” Cassie cried out as she fell over. Lavini just barely managed to catch her, gripping the girl in her arms. “Are you okay?” she asked calmly.Cassie just looked right into Lavini’s eyes. For a moment, there was only silence as the two stared at each-other… and then Cassie reached up with her arms, pulled Lavini’s face closer and gave her a kiss.Lavini opened her eyes wide in shock as they kissed. Never before had Lavini kissed someone. One did not simply ‘fool around’ as a lady and as such, she did not exactly know what to do. Cassie, on the other hand, appeared to be more experienced and so, Lavini simply let Cassie do her thing for now. The kiss did not last for all that long as Cassie soon broke it off again but for Lavini, it felt like it lasted a century. The two stared into each-other’s eyes for a moment again, just as they had done before the kiss.“I’m sorry!... I’m so sorry!” Cassie said hurriedly. Lavini looked her over. This was what Cassie had wanted to say. This had been what Cassie was feeling. For how long? Was this a good thing? Was this bad? What would her mother… No. Lavini was on her own now. Her mother had nothing to do with this. She had to decide everything for herself now and she already knew what to do. She had known it for a long time but realized it only now.“No… no, don’t be…” Lavini said as she finally helped Cassie stand upright again. She then wrapped her arms around Cassie and leaned in closer. “You… merely surprised me,” she whispered as she returned the kiss. The kiss felt like it lasted even longer as the two shared this intimate moment together. Lavini could feel Cassie’s hands softly stroking her hair. Lavini responded to this by gently placing her hand on Cassie’s cheek. It felt so soft. It felt so precious. It felt so wonderful.When their kiss broke apart again, Lavini still had her eyes closed as she leaned her face into that of Cassie. She was still reveling in the aftermath of her very first kiss.“I love you,” Cassie whispered nervously.“I love you too,” Lavini whispered back., Lavini was in a haze ever since that moment. She and Cassie had kissed several more times since then until they both decided that they really needed their sleep. They didn’t want to be too tired during the opening after all. And so they went to sleep but not before dragging both of their beds together to form one big bed. Still though, Lavini could not quite fall asleep. She was still feeling too wonderful about what had just happened. She had often looked to her friends, Bridget and Akita, wodering what it would be like to be one of them. To be a part of such a relationship. Now, she was finally going to find out with her Cassie. Her dearest Cassie. It excited her to no end.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. For a moment, she thought that she must have imagined it. That maybe something had fallen over or that she was half dreaming but then the knocking sounded again. And again.Lavini looked at Cassie. She was still sleeping. Carefully, so as to not wake her, Lavini stood up and crept towards the door just as there was another set of knocks. It had to be Bridget or Akita, or perhaps both. Maybe they were too excited for tomorrow and could not rest properly as well? However, this expectation was dashed instantly when she actually opened the door. Lavini gasped and placed a hand over her mouth at what she saw.There, on the other side, stood her mother, Orketra Providence.