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One more place on his list to check out. Touma moved quickly towards the center of town. The clocktower loomed over everything and that was his destination. The arches of the tower rose high overhead as the people walked beneath to their own destinations. He stopped to watch them a few moments entirely unseen. One old man sat on the nearby bench but he was watching the women who walked by.

The ghostling sighed, a bit of disgust in the sound. Turning his gaze elsewhere he noted so many people just hurrying onward without even noticing the building above them. Few even glanced upwards except to look at the clock and move on.

Valkon had told him to be as invisible as possible which was not a real challenge for the ghostling. The living had forgotten the ghostlings that were a part of their world. Much like they had forgotten the two goddesses. He started moving forwards again but hesitated when a young woman's eyes followed him. She was staring directly at him. His eyes narrowed for a long moment and then he turned towards the door inside.

A bit of curiousity slid down over the ghostling and he was certain she was still watching him. Instead of stopping, he continued onwards. Then he hesitated, his hand on the doorhandle to glance back. She was no longer staring as he stood in the shadows beneath. Glancing outwards at the people and flowers scattered in containers, Touma saw a bright, colorful, and vibrant place. It was too bad that most did not notice what was beneath their feet.

It crossed his mind that perhaps they did not deserve what was coming. Perhaps they should be warned. Would he be believed even if they could see him?

Most likely not. Few ever saw doom when they should. And even fewer understood that was what it was when faced with it.

Shaking his head, Touma shoved the thoughts back to the matter at hand. He needed to inspect the clocktower. It would be a sign of things to come. Whether of safety or not, he did not know.

Slipping into the structure, Touma gazed around. Turning his eyes upwards, he followed the line of the staircase. The wooden railings were well-built and solid as they rose higher and higher. The wood landings every so far seemed capable of supporting many people. Moving upwards, the ghostling studied it all. It was as beautiful on the inside as the outside but he already knew few noticed such things as they passed beneath its structure.

His hand trailed along the railing studying the wood. It was sanded smooth and finshed with a fine sheen. Someone took care of it and had when it was created. The outside was carved stone, but the wooden framework inside was the true treasure of the entire place. Stopping on the second landing, he listened.

The soft creak fo the machinery just above as the gears turned slipped down to him gently. There was little sound to them, but it was as rhythmic as a well written song. He laughed thinking what a shame it was that so many people missed things like that as they walked past.

The hum of someone above came to his ears also. It could be a caretaker and Touma glided higher to peek and see. The old man was sanding a wooden bar. There was another one nearby that had splintered and he recognized it to be part of the clockwork. Dropping back to the landing, Touma sighed as he glanced out over the town from the window he now stood in front of.

"What are you doing?" she asked softly as she stood on the step staring at him. "What are you doing in this place? Are you a ghost?"

Touma turned, staring silently at the girl. It was the one from before. So she really had seen him. Unusual for a living person.Yes. I'm a ghost. I was just looking at this building. That's all. Why are you here?"

"I come here all the time. I love this place. My great grandfather helped build it all. He loved the wood here and sanded it all by hand. He would have it no other way." She laughed softly reaching out to caress the railing beside her. "I mean there were others who helped, but he made them do it properly. He died a few years ago and I still miss him. I used to love his stories of how much he got into trouble because he made them do it as he wanted."

"I see. He sounds like a very unusual man." then glanced back out the window.

"I keep thinking one day I'll see his ghost here." Her teeth tugged her lower lip a moment as she simply watched him. "You are not him, are you?

Touma blinked in surprise turning to stare at her again. A faint smiled crossed his face. "No. I am not he, but if I ever see him, I'll tell him you are looking for him."

"His name was Francis, but everyone called him Frank." she replied, nodding at his denial. She moved to stand beside him as she looked out the window. "The town has grown alot. It's not quite the same as when Grandfather was alive. I'm not sure what he would think of it."

"You live here?" as he moved back from the window to simply watch her.

"Yes. Over near the park at the edge of town. Do you?" She had seen other ghosts wandering around the town. Some had become quite recognizable to her. This one was not.

"No. I live in the forest... with others." he replied.

"I see. I always liked the forest but it's not always safe out there. Of course, it's not always safe here either." she replied, shoving hair back from her eyes. "I should go. My mother will expect me home soon. It was nice meeting you, Touma."

He watched her begin to walk down the stairs, but then called out, "Just a moment." When she turned to stare back at him, Touma said, "Be careful. Remember three things. The park, the clocktower, and the old temple of the goddesses. You will always find safety there."

Touma vanished thinking it was a shame so few others saw the things this girl did. He would not tell Valkon he had warned someone. But there was a treasure at the center of this town and it was not just the old clocktower.

She blinked in confusion, her mouth opening to ask him a question just as he vanished. "Well.. that was odd. The park, the clocktower, and the old temple? What on earth was he talking about? Just who was he?