The world smelled of salt and woodsmoke when she opened her eyes for the first time. It wasn't an unpleasant smell, just one that permeated everything in Loirent, a scent woven into the very fabric of the city. Her childhood was a tapestry of these scents: the warm yeastiness of bread from Mrs. Abernathy’s bakery down the street, the tang of fish brought in by the morning boats, and always, ever-present, the smoky scent of her father tinkering away in his workshop. She loved watching him work. He wasn't a man of many words, but his hands moved with a quiet grace as he coaxed life back into broken clocks. The rhythmic ticking that filled their small home was a lullaby to her, a constant reminder of the steady passage of time. Growing up, she helped her mother tend their small garden behind the house, learning the names of every herb and flower. She believed in the power of things grown from the earth: chamomile for calming nerves, rosemary for memory, lavender for sweet dreams. Her hands were always stained with soil, a testament to her connection to the land. She found solace in the familiar rhythm of Loirent life: the clatter of trolley wheels on cobblestones, the cheerful chatter of vendors at the market square, the shared stories exchanged on stoops under the warm afternoon sun. She knew every corner of the city like the back of her hand, each twist and turn a part of her story. Her spirit was as resilient as the ancient elm trees that lined the streets, bending but never breaking in the face of adversity. She believed in kindness and compassion, extending a helping hand to those in need without hesitation. In her heart, she carried the quiet strength of generations past, a lineage woven into the very soul of Loirent. As she sat on her porch swing, watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, she felt a deep sense of belonging. This was home, a place where time flowed gently, where connections ran deep, and where the scent of woodsmoke mingled with hope for a brighter tomorrow.