The Million-Dollar Heart

Behind the Martinez family's back door, a figure clutching a box sneaked away.

"Master!"

Vivienne stood with her arms crossed, silently watching him, waiting for the moment he would notice her.

Finnian stiffened, then turned around with a grin, "You little rascal, what brings you here? Looking for me for something?"

Vivienne returned the smile, raising an eyebrow at him, "Thought you were heading back to the Rockies, you made it back pretty fast, huh?" Finnian, "..."

Seeing the box in his hands, Vivienne narrowed her eyes, "What's that you got there?"

Finnian instinctively hid the box behind him, "Nothing, nothing at all."

Vivienne saw right through him, "Master, taking gifts for your own disciple's matters? If Leopold finds out, you sure he won't come crying to you?"

Finnian's smile twitched, quickly pulling Vivienne to his side, "Come on, that fool of a kid is getting hitched, a little 'running errand' fee for his master isn't too much, right?" Vivienne just stared at him silently.

Feeling guilty under her gaze, Finnian gave in, "Alright, alright, I'll splurge on a fat check for his wedding, that should do it, right?"

But his treasures were off-limits.

With so many protégés, if this precedent was set, the rest of the Wolf pups would surely come sniffing around.

Vivienne glanced around, cutting to the chase, "Master, we talking here, or somewhere more private?"

Finnian, cautiously clutching the box, coughed lightly, "Here's fine!"

Changing spots might not guarantee his escape, after all.

Vivienne nodded, getting straight to the point, "About that backlash from forbidden magic you mentioned, is there a remedy?"

Finnian frowned, "Hard to say, the aftermath of forbidden magic varies greatly, and the cause is as elusive as a curse, even if cured it's only temporary."

"Generally speaking, the most direct way to break the curse is to eliminate the practitioner of the forbidden magic!"

doubted it was that

family,

forbidden magic usually harbor great ambitions and won't easily expose their weaknesses. But, everything has its origin, and the source of the backlash is bound to

had a plan

Finnian, clutching his box, attempted to

apprentices caught a glimpse of the box's contents, he doubted they'd

ever come across a condition where someone's scared of sunlight

confused, "You

Vivienne rolled her eyes.

human hearts and fears light."

Vivienne caught the importance in

saint, can't claim to have seen every creature of the night. I'll check when I

get your hopes too high, though. Such tales are

raised an eyebrow, "How

a moment, "A trip back to the Rockies,

and turned

paused, feeling he'd missed something crucial. Realizing, he stopped Vivienne, "Wait, what about the wild snow lotus you promised me? You didn't forget, did you?" Vivienne spread her hands, unfazed, "I've been at the

was sound, Finnian felt

Vivienne nodded, offering a verbal assurance, "Three days, I'll exchange what you find for the lotus, guaranteed." "And about that

eyes lit up, "That's

chin,

her off, "Off you go. And tell those kids to stop bothering me. They're grown

Vivienne didn't respond.

go of such an efficient means of

In the hall.

the barely

this bet out of. concern for me. They were worried

When I, Leopold, make a decision,

smiled bitterly, "No need for such extremes. Knowing you care is

realizing his mistake, "That's not what I