ETERNAL THREADS

FATE BETWEEN THE PAGES

Chapter -1

The soft, golden light of early morning filtered through the bookstore's windows, casting a peaceful glow over the shelves. The quiet was almost comforting, with only the occasional sound of a page turning and the hum of the world beginning to stir outside. Magnus sat in his favorite armchair by the window, the one that gave him the perfect view of the streets below. A steaming cup of tea rested on the small table beside him, but his attention was fixed entirely on the leather-bound book in his hands.

Magnus had always been a lover of poetry, and today, it was Gideon Archer's words that captivated him. The quiet, aching beauty of the lines spoke to something deep within him, a part of him that had long been left unspoken.

"The heart longs for what the eyes cannot see,
A future unknown, a love that might never be.
Yet still, we wait, as the stars wait for the dawn,
For something, anything, to carry us on."

The lines lingered in his mind, and Magnus found himself lost in them, his fingers lightly tracing the edges of the page as though he could pull the meaning from the paper itself.

For a moment, everything outside of the bookstore disappeared. There was only the comfort of the words, the tea's warmth, and the quiet peace that the morning brought.

As he sank deeper into the verse, he barely noticed the figure standing in the doorway. Asmodeus watched his son with an affectionate smile, his dark eyes filled with pride.

He had always known that Magnus had a deep connection to books, to the stories and the worlds within them. He loved that his son could lose himself in them, finding solace and meaning in the written word.

However, as much as Asmodeus loved seeing Magnus so absorbed, he knew that life outside these walls would always call to him. He glanced at the clock on the wall, his smile softening. Magnus had been so lost in the book that he had forgotten about the time.

"You're going to be late, Magnus," Asmodeus said quietly, his voice filled with gentle affection.

Magnus startled, looking up from the page, his eyes wide as he took in the time. "Oh no, I'm going to be late for college!" He scrambled to get up, his heart racing as he dropped the book back onto the table, hurriedly gathering his things. He fumbled with his bag, his fingers moving quickly but a little clumsily in his rush.

Asmodeus stood in the doorway for a moment longer, simply watching his son. He could see the panic in Magnus's eyes, but there was also something else - the soft glow of a love for something that could never be taken away, no matter how much time passed.

Asmodeus loved that about Magnus. He was passionate, absorbed, and deeply loyal - not just to the things he cared about, but to the people he loved. And that made Asmodeus's heart swell with pride.

Magnus, still rushing, stopped just as he was about to leave, looking back at Asmodeus. There was a brief moment of hesitation, a soft look of gratitude that passed between them.

"I'll come back later," Magnus said, his voice softer now, as if the weight of the world outside the bookstore had settled into him for just a moment.

Asmodeus smiled, crossing the room with slow, deliberate steps. He reached out, his hand gently cupping Magnus's face. His thumb brushed over his son's cheek, a gesture so tender that it made Magnus pause in his movements.

"You don't need to rush," Asmodeus said quietly, his voice filled with warmth. "Go to college, but never forget the things you love. The world outside will always be waiting, but your books will always be here."