She quickly made her way to the librarian and asked if there were any books about the magical magnifying glass. The librarian directed her to a shelf filled with books on the subject. "Thank you," Luna said with a smile, and the librarian returned the gesture before walking away.
Luna scanned the shelf carefully, her eyes landed on an old book titled The Magisterium, a history of magical artifacts and their origins. On her right side, there's a vacant table with two chairs. She took a seat and opened the book. Before diving in, she inhaled deeply—it smelled like something old, a musty scent of a book long stored in an antique cabinet.
Something felt off when she noticed there was no author's name listed, but she shrugged it off and continued flipping through the pages, reading with her eyes.
"A boy named Theodoros Vasilakis had a godly friend, Workhart, the god of work. He told everyone about his divine companion, but no one believed him. Instead, they bullied him, calling him crazy. He was upset because of what others did to him. In response, Workhart gave him a magical magnifying glass. The god told him it would allow him to see things beyond what the eye could see. As Theodoros grew older, he developed a love for making jewelry. The magnifying glass helped him see intricate details and his work became easier, but no one knows his secret.
Years passed, and he married a beautiful woman named Katerina Georgiou. One day, he went to the market to sell his jewelry, leaving her home sick. While she rested, a thief sneaked into their house, searching for valuables. Katerina got up to get a glass of water. She spotted the thief and grabbed a stick to beat him, but he quickly dodged her strike.
The thief tried to stop her, but she fought back. In a panic, he got a knife from his pocket and stabbed her—once, then again, and again—until she collapsed, lifeless. Grabbing everything valuable, he fled into the night.
When Theodoros returned home, he opened the door to a nightmare. His wife lay on the floor, soaked in blood, their belongings scattered in chaos. A scream tore from his throat—a sound of pure agony and anger. He dropped to his knees, cradling her in his arms as rain poured outside, mirroring the tears streaming down his face.
In that moment of heartbreak, he made a vow: he would find the man who did this. He will seek justice and revenge.
A lightning bolt cracked through the sky, striking near the house and lighting up the room in a sudden flash. At that moment, Theodoros noticed something—his magnifying glass, lying close to his wife's hand. He picked it up, trembling, and with a broken voice, pleaded to the heavens, "Please… help me."
A voice, soft and distant, echoed in his mind: "You already hold the tool that will lead you to the truth." Then, silence.
Gripping the magnifying glass tightly, he raised it and looked around. Suddenly, a vivid vision overtook him—a flashback of the night's horror. He saw it all unfold: the struggle, the thief's blade, the brutal end.
When the vision faded, his eyes fell on faint fingerprints on his wife's bloodied skin. He leaned in, burned them into his memory, every line and curve etched deep into his mind.
Gently, he lifted her in his arms, tears mixing with the rain that poured outside. He would give her the burial she deserved—and then, he would begin his search.
Justice will come."
Luna was crying as she read the book. Suddenly, a hand holding a handkerchief appeared out of nowhere. She looked up and saw a handsome guy dressed in a maroon polo shirt and black jeans, with a dimple on his left cheek. Without a word, she took the handkerchief, murmuring a soft "thank you." He nodded, then pulled out the chair across from her and sat down, as if they weren't strangers at all.
"It's rare to see someone crying over a book," he said, placing two books on the table.
"This book is pretty emotional, and I'm the type of person who cries easily—even over stories," she said with a small smile. "You should read it, it's really good. And… thank you for the handkerchief." She handed it back to him, then looked toward the book beside him. "Is that a fantasy novel?"
"Yes—and it's got a bit of mystery, too. I love this book. The last time I read it was back in college, so I thought I'd read it again," he said with a smile. "Are you new around here?"
"No, I live nearby, but it's my first time coming here. I'm thinking of visiting more often."
"Great. I'll let you get back to your reading. See you next time," he said with a smile, picking up his books and walking toward the librarian.
After he left, she ran her fingers through her hair and returned to her book.
"The next day, after burying his wife, he began searching with the magnifying glass, hoping it would reveal the fingerprints. It took him two years, but he finally discovered the truth: the culprit was one of his neighbors. The day his wife was killed, his neighbor, Frederick, had disappeared. Other neighbors claimed he had gone back to the province to care for his sick parents, since no one was willing to take care of them. It was Saturday afternoon when Frederick bought the jewelry from him, saying he would give it to someone. Theodoros went home, feeling hopeless about the investigation, as if he was ready to give up on finding the culprit. While counting the bills he had earned, the magnifying glass slipped from his bag. He picked up the magnifying glass and began scanning the room, his gaze landing on the bills he was counting. His eyes widened when he saw the fingerprints—ones he would never forget. Furious, he immediately left for Alexander's house to confront him. Alexander admitted the crime because of guilt. Theodoros punched him in the face since he did not dodge it, the blow landed hard. After a while, Alexander attempted to stop him, but Theodoros couldn't be held back. The two continued to exchange punches until Theodoros's eyes landed on a knife on the table. Theodoros stabbed Alexander repeatedly until he died. As he watched Alexander die, his hands shook, overwhelmed by a sense of confusion. He felt as though he had become a criminal himself. In a fit of despair, he burned everything—his house, the evidence, all of it—and fled into the forest. In the darkness, he threw the magnifying glass into the river, hoping to rid himself of the past. Eventually, consumed by guilt and pain, he took his own life. Until today, no one knows where the magnifying glass ended up."
Luna closed the book and went to the librarian to borrow it. On her way home, she kept thinking about Workhart. She seemed familiar, but she couldn't remember where she saw her. She also felt the magnifying glass could help with her investigation. Many thoughts crossed her mind, but she was certain the glass had magic. She might not know how to use it yet, but she will figure it out soon.