Prologue
In a world above the vast clouds, away from the human realm, an immortal—burdened with the weight of endless existence—sits upon a bench on the edge of a pond.
Draped in a golden robe, his long white hair falls perfectly around him, not a strand out of place. His appearance is impeccable—his skin is flawless, with no wrinkles or scars.
He watches a school of fish swim calmly through the crystal-clear water, and his reflection is shimmering proof of his otherworldly existence. Daisies, sunflowers, and lavender bloom along the bank, filling the air with the sweet scent of flowers and the gentle hum of birds—his very own slice of Heaven.
His mind and soul are at peace, a rare occurrence for a General of Eternis, the Immortal Realm. For Elias, moments like this—alone by tranquil waters, his thoughts uninterrupted by the weight of eternity—are treasured. Such occasions are seldom. His mind, usually burdened by memories of battles no mortal could fathom, finally feels at ease.
Little does he know that his quiet afternoon is about to become lively. He hears footsteps and can’t help the smile that forms on his ever-hardened face.
“There you are, Elias. Come quickly. A new book has been released, and it’s one of ours!”
A thin, short man wearing the same golden robes takes a seat beside him on the oak bench. His hair is dark brown, equally long and well-kept. His appearance is just as striking, but softer than the General’s.
Elias finds the man beside him mightier than any king.
The usually stern General should be annoyed at having his peace disturbed, but after what feels like forever, he has grown used to—and even looks forward to—his husband’s strange behavior.
“Magnus, don’t you think it would be better to wait until all the books in the collection are out before starting it?” Elias asks, knowing his words will have little impact.
One of the best parts of being married is being able to bicker.
Magnus’ shoulders drop as he crosses his arms, lips forming a pout. “But that will take thousands of years. The Time Master only publishes a limited number of books each year. How am I supposed to wait that long?”
Magnus’ sweet pout always enchants Elias, as if under a magician’s spell.
Elias shakes his head. “You’re always like this. Every time one of our life stories is written, you run to read it. It would be better to be patient. Then we wouldn’t have to wait for every volume of every story to be released. We could just read them all at once.”
The tension between the pair—one patient, the other impatient—is palpable.
“No, no, that’s no good. We have seven lifetime tribulations. I must read each story as soon as it comes out. You know I have no patience.” Magnus sighs and sits to the side. His golden robes reflect off the infinity pond, making it appear as if he’s glowing.
“Why do you like to read the stories so much anyway? Don’t you have all the memories from our past lives?” Elias wonders if Magnus is getting forgetful.
Magnus smiles as if remembering a happy moment. “When I think about a previous life, it’s like being in a dream. But when I read about it, it’s as if I’ve stepped back into that life—and I get to experience falling in love with you all over again.” Each life, each story, is a beautiful journey. It helps pass the endless years of their immortality.
A warmth pulses within Elias, one only Magnus can create.
“If it’s love you’re after, perhaps I should take the rest of the day off and show you exactly what love feels like... in new and exciting ways,” he teases.
Magnus quickly slaps Elias’s shoulder playfully. “You’re always like this.”
“Fine. Which lifetime is this one?” Elias caves—as always—to the man of his heart.
Magnus looks away, reluctant, but eventually mumbles, “It’s the one where we battle an evil woman and find happiness in a small town.”
Elias grins, instantly recognizing the lifeline. It’s his husband’s favorite.
“You mean the one where you’re a serial killer and I’ve been trapped in the same town for over six hundred years due to a curse?”
Magnus laughs awkwardly. “I was an assassin. It’s different.”
Elias eyes him with mock suspicion.
“Come on, Elias, don’t you think it’s exciting?”
In that particular lifetime, killing is too easy for Magnus. It’s one of the few lives where he gets to be strong, where he lives fearlessly. While it’s just another lifetime for Elias, he knows it means more to Magnus.
“What is?” Elias asks, though he already knows the answer.
“I’m the exciting one for once. I get to be heroic and throw knives at people and take out the bad guys!” Magnus exclaims, practically bouncing.
“My love, you’re always my hero.” Elias has always seen Magnus as fearless and majestic.
“Of course, you get to say that. You spend your days hunting demons, imprisoning evil, and sending ghosts to hell. Meanwhile, I have the oh-so-important job of cleaning the weapons arsenal.”
“You do a great job of it. In a few more years, you can attend the recruitment games,” Elias says, trying to cheer him up.
“I’ve tried eighteen times! Just face it—your immortal partner is destined to clean the boots of others, polish their armor, and sharpen their blades,” Magnus groans.
Elias knows Magnus craves the call of battle. He wants to feel like a contributing member of Eternis—to be so close, yet so far. Nothing terrifies and thrills him more than the thought of standing shoulder to shoulder with Elias to defeat evil. Elias understands what Magnus truly means: he feels inferior and wants to belong in life and battle, in the world of fierce immortals.
Without another thought about the book, Elias reaches out and lifts Magnus’s chin so their eyes meet.
“I believe in you, my love. Now, how about we start with the book, and then go train?”
A huge smile spreads across Magnus’s face. “You mean it? Yes! We’ll read our story, I’ll gain some inspiration, and then I’ll finally pass the recruitment phase and join you in the army!”
Magnus’s enthusiasm is infectious—even if Elias prefers to savor things slowly. His husband’s antics always have a way of softening his sharp edges.
Elias lets Magnus drag him to the library, his husband’s eyes glowing with excitement.
“Look! It starts with such a terrifying scene. This is great!” Magnus cheers as he opens the book and begins to read.
Elias feels an eerie chill. Perhaps this time, reliving the past might be more than just memories.
