The Springshaper estate looked magnificent in the evening light, its modern architecture seamlessly blending with carefully maintained gardens that stretched toward the horizon. As my transport pulled up the circular drive, I could see warm light spilling from the windows of the main hall, and the subtle glow of magical enhancement fields that provided both security and ambiance for tonight's celebration.
Rose's eighteenth birthday. The day we had all been waiting for, though perhaps none more than Rose herself.
I straightened my formal jacket—a perfectly tailored piece in midnight blue that complemented my eyes—and checked my appearance one final time in the vehicle's mirror. Tonight had to be perfect. Not just because it marked Rose's transition to adulthood, but because it represented the culmination of months of careful patience and growing anticipation.
