Claire stood before the coven — ocean-blue eyes, twilight-colored hair, a gown that shimmered like dusk, and gold ornaments that glowed softly in the firelight. She was breathtaking.
Nicolas watched her in quiet awe. Gone was the frightened girl who once hid behind her uncertainty. The woman standing there now — Seraphina — was radiant, confident, and unafraid.
When she was introduced to the coven, Nick couldn't look away. It wasn't just her beauty that caught him, but the grace with which she carried herself — calm, poised, and full of quiet strength.
---
Four years passed.
Sera and Nick sat beneath a great old tree, their spell practice finished for the day. The forest around them glowed with the last light of evening, soft and golden. Both had grown powerful — but their hearts had grown gentler, bound by something stronger than magic.
The wind rustled through the leaves as Sera leaned back against the tree, her hair brushing her shoulders. Nick rested with his head in her lap, smiling up at her. Then, slowly, he sat up, a ring glinting between his fingers.
"Sera," he began, his voice quiet but steady, "these past few years, I've fallen for you a little more every single day. I don't think I loved you when I first saw you… but when you became Sera — when you chose your own name — that's when I truly saw you. You were magnificent. I knew you'd become someone extraordinary. Please…" he took a breath, eyes shining, "marry me."
Sera's lips parted, tears welling in her eyes. She couldn't stop smiling. Every day with Nick had been a gift — gentle, steady, full of laughter. And now, this moment felt like the brightest one of all.
"Yes!" she whispered, then louder, laughing through her tears, "Yes, Nick, I'll marry you!"
She threw her arms around him, and he caught her in a warm embrace. Their lips met — soft, tender, full of all the love they had quietly built together.
Nick slipped the ring onto her finger. The gold band glowed faintly in the twilight, intricate patterns carved along its edge.
Sera looked down at it, her breath catching. "It's beautiful," she murmured.
Nick smiled, brushing a strand of her hair aside. "It belonged to my grandfather… then my father… and now to me. We pass it on when we find the one we choose for life."
Sera's eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, happiness radiating from her like light. She leaned forward and kissed him again — soft and certain.
And in that quiet forest, surrounded by rustling leaves and the scent of wildflowers, two souls promised forever.