Measured Descent

Returning inside from the autumn chill, I ascended to the dark wooden mantelpiece above the hearth, where a brass-framed sandglass stood silent. Gripping the slender support pillar with both gauntlets, I exerted steady leverage to invert the twin glass chambers upon their circular base. An unbroken stream of pale silica immediately surged through the central constriction, forming a sharp, conical dune within the lower bulb. Resting the sheathed edge of my crimson blade against the polished timber, I monitored the granular flow rate against my internal chronometer. The rate of descent held perfectly constant, providing an exceptionally steady, analog cadence to conclude this day's operations.