The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne took a delicate sip of her herbal tea, her eyes signaling her mentor to continue. Whether to believe or not, she decided, was up to her to judge.

"Sasha must've mentioned it to you, that artifact has quite a history, tracing back about two centuries. The family in question was of noble military lineage, but due to their overwhelming power, they were eventually decimated under the guise of treason. If any descendants exist, they'd be from a side branch."

"But there's a piece of folklore about this family that might just align with the clues you're seeking."

"Folklore?" Vivienne looked up, her gaze cool and detached.

Master Finnian's cheeks flushed with a touch of annoyance, his teacup clattering slightly as he set it on the table. "My dear girl, your mentor here has a reputation and dignity to uphold. Would I really concoct a tale just to save a few dollars?"

"Don't forget, I gave a generous wedding gift, even parting with some of my prized possessions, things your fellow apprentices could only dream of."

Vivienne returned to her tea, clearly uninterested in the tangent.

The old man was stretching it. How could she possibly believe a tale spanning two centuries?

Besides, she knew the "generous" wedding gift was funded by contributions from her fellow apprentices, and the prized possessions? Merely some calligraphy he'd done himself...

Other than the framing costs, she wondered where the expense was.

"I could return those 'precious' items if you'd like," she retorted.

"You wouldn't dare!"

ask back for. Spit three times to ward off bad luck, you ungrateful child. You have no idea of its worth; others would kill for such treasures..." Finnian, flustered and tapping his chest, glared at Vivienne. "Where was I? You've completely thrown me

Vivienne merely sighed.

this family was embroiled in scandal due to a marriage. The sole heiress fell ill with a mysterious disease that disfigured her on the eve of her wedding, rendering her

a potion brewed with the blood from

from a maiden's heart?" Vivienne

while it sounds macabre to us now, such beliefs were

family to avoid marriage and escape royal scrutiny. Others believe the blood was a decoy, that

eyes. A maiden's

Who was Abigail, really?

the outcome?" she

teacup towards her. "Pour me some tea, will you? Can't you see your

Vivienne obliged, their long-standing camaraderie evident even

sought the mystic as her mentor and vanished from the public eye."

teacup as if it held the secrets of the universe.

a

expectations. These "secrets" were

she realized she had missed a crucial detail.

his

Finnian called out, "Leaving so soon?

paused, turning slightly. "Master, have you heard of an ancient warrior lineage with the ability to teleport, accessible only beyond the fifth tier of their