December 31st | Virtanen Manor: The Garden
The Banquet Hall | The Parlour

Finally the garden had been decorated. The grass was cut evenly, the stables shut, none of the horses outside anymore. The trees had been decorated with fairy lights and the paved ways were seemed with lights as well. The garden seemed to glow in the dark, some single tables and benches were standing around near the manor, a little further away one could see the fireworks that were only waiting to be lit at midnight.

The quietness was only interrupted by some crickets chirping in the forest that bordered the Virtanen's property and the wind rustling the leaves of the trees. How the trees had regrown their leaves so quickly was a riddle to Opeila- either there had been magical help to regrow them more quickly, or they were magically protected from the effects of winter in the first place.

There was no sign of life on the grounds, something that would surely change once the banquet was over- people were welcome to go into the parlour to chat and drink, or outside. A table with different beverages and snacks had been provided for the guests who preferred to stargaze rather than join the others in the stuffy parlour as well.

Soon one would be able to hear the first fireworks being lit far away.