The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne)

With a "beep" through her earbuds, a smirk played on Vivienne's lips.

"Looks like someone's getting impatient."

No sooner had Vivienne spoken than her account pinged with a deposit. The next moment, a deep voice from the village chief echoed from outside the door.

"I've transferred the money as you requested. From today, you'll start treating the folks of our village."

Vivienne didn't rush to reply, waiting instead for a nod from Logan. "We'll start making house calls from today. No need to worry."

A fleeting look of resentment flashed in the village chief's eyes before he cast a venomous glance at the firmly shut door and stormed off.

Vivienne and Logan quickly got ready and headed outside.

As they began at the edge of the village, word of Vivienne's healing from the day before had already spread, making her a beacon of hope to many.

Even before she could approach, a woman, her face swollen from crying, knelt at Vivienne's feet.

"Please, I beg of you, save my child. He's barely breathing, and I don't know what to do. Please, have mercy and help us."

The village remained shrouded in mist, the woman's cries adding to the somber mood.

Vivienne frowned, "Get up and show us what's wrong."

The woman scrambled to her feet, frequently looking back as if fearing Vivienne might change her mind.

Vivienne and Logan exchanged glances, alert to their surroundings as they followed the woman to a small house with just one visible room and seemingly an empty lot behind it. Without a word, Vivienne followed the woman to the door.

The woman pushed open the creaking door, revealing a figure on the bed.

Squinting, Vivienne could just make out the faint breathing of the person in bed.

The room was dim, and the woman made no move to turn on the light, prompting Vivienne to command, "Turn on the light."

Hesitant, the woman didn't comply, so Vivienne flicked the switch herself.

"Ah!"

A scream filled the room as the child on the bed slowly opened his eyes, revealing a cloudy haze as if covered in a thin veil of gray. The child, seeing strangers, covered himself with the blanket, trembling.

The mother rushed to embrace him, whispering reassurances.

Logan, puzzled by the family's behavior, looked to Vivienne for clarity.

Once the child calmed, Vivienne spoke, "When can we start the treatment? Many are waiting."

Reluctantly, the mother persuaded her child to come out for treatment.

The boy peeked out, only to be shrouded in shadow.

"Position yourself and undo your shirt," Vivienne said coldly.

The child complied, and suddenly coughed up blood, shocking his mother who turned her fear into anger at Vivienne, threatening her if anything were wrong with her child.

Logan intervened, "Do you want him saved or not? If so, be quiet!"

The woman fell silent, realizing her child didn't seem worse for the wear.

Logan scoffed at the cessation of her outburst.

Throughout, Vivienne maintained her detached demeanor, as if aloof from the preceding events.

As the final needle was placed, Vivienne stood, "Master, my part is done. It's up to you now."

Logan, understanding her cue, almost saluted before catching her warning glance.

"Right, check for the source of the poisoning."

As Vivienne left, the woman's attention wasn't on her, providing a perfect opportunity.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Vivienne headed straight for the backyard contrary to her expectations, finding nothing but a well and a small vegetable garden that oddly thrived amid the barren land.

Approaching the garden, she detected a peculiar scent, hinting at the source of the problem. Just as she reached out to a plant, footsteps approached. "What are you doing?"

The woman stood behind her, defensive and wary.

Vivienne faced her, "I'm checking for any issues with your living conditions as per my Master's request. Why so anxious?"

The woman's concern for her vegetable garden seemed exaggerated, hinting at hidden truths or lies.

Vivienne could tell the woman hadn't

yet grasped that her fibs had been

seen through. As the woman

babbled on, Vivienne's patience wore thin, and she cut her off

mid-sentence.

"So, it wouldn't be a problem for me to check your well, would it?"

"Oh, that... that's fine."

With the go-ahead, Vivienne moved to the well's edge. She scooped up a ladle of water and as soon as the silver needle touched the surface, it tarnished black. The woman gasped in shock. "Someone's poisoned my well?!"

Vivienne glanced at her, unimpressed. "Let's not jump to conclusions. It's possible everyone's water is like this, not necessarily poisoned."

With those words, Vivienne turned to leave. But before she did, she cast a meaningful look back at the vegetable patch, leaving an unspoken message hanging in the air.