He nodded in response.

"I understand." he said.

"I am eternally grateful for the opportunity." he told her.

"I will do everything I can to show you that your faith in me is not misplaced." he then vowed, and she could tell he was sincere in his tone.

He looked at her, and nodded, before stepping inside the room.

When he did, he saw Desiree, and couldn't help but smile as the weight of it all was lifted off of his shoulders... and his heart.

"...Desiree..." he said quietly, before starting to quickly make it was to her.

"Desiree!" he called out.

"Are you all right, sweetie!?" he exclaimed.

The man, Vincent, just nodded.

"Of course." he responded, as they left the room, with Desiree and Marcus embracing each other, looking like they would never break it.

Once they shut the door, he sighed.

"I hate some of the interrogators under your command, Hollie." he told her.

"I have as many misgivings towards hunters as the rest of the mage community, maybe more, but they had an end in mind, and they were going to drive it to that point." he continued.

"...I assume they'll be dealt with accordingly?" he asked.

Vincent just sighed.

"...I... I couldn't just sit back and do nothing." he told her.

"...that child..." he went on, looking in the direction of Desiree and Marcus.

"That child has seen hell. She's been through abuse. But it's NOT at the hands of that man." he told her further.

"I could almost feel the sincerity in her words, and in her expression."

"....I know." Vincent responded.

"Their trials have only just begun." he lamented.

"All we can do is hope for their future." he went on.

Meanwhile, Dr. Calder was standing off to the side, seemingly lost in the container that held the essences of both Desiree and Marcus. He looked to be concentrating on it intently.

"........hm." he mumbled to himself.

He was silent for a moment, before shaking his head, snapping back to 'reality'.

"Huh? Oh, no." he said.

"The test came out positive, and that's what matters." he told her.

"But that initial reaction was... puzzling... to say the least." he went on. "I've never seen it do THAT before." he admitted to her.

"I mean, yeah, in the end, it makes little difference. It proved what it was meant to, and that's the be all end all of this." he then reasoned.

"It's just... odd..."

"It's possible." Rene responded.

"And yeah, mana IS unpredictable." he agreed.

"Regardless, yes, I WOULD like to study this, see if I can find the root of it." he told her. "Just to see if this is something to be concerned about." he reasoned.

"But anyway, moving on, am I done here?" he asked.

"Or do you require any further service from me?" he asked her, before pausing slightly.

"Here, or... elsewhere..." he added super quietly, as he grinned slightly, showing a hint of a mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth.

Rene's eyes widened when he heard that. That had NOT been the response he'd been expecting. Yes, he'd been expecting to be rejected, but not for THAT reason.

"Well, then I must be off, then." he said hastily.

"Lady Remmington, I bid you good day, and a pleasant afternoon." he finished, before scurrying off.

Vincent, having not heard the conversation, just stood where he was, looking QUITE puzzled at what he had just witnessed.

"Ah." Vincent replied.

"No. No, I think I'm fine." he said.

"I don't like hanging around here. Too many people that don't like me around." he muttered.

"Regardless, we should meet up for lunch sometime." he suggested. "It's been a while." he said.

"And every so often, a brother and sister should spend some time together." he reasoned with a small laugh.

Vincent nodded.

"Of course." he replied.

"You're a FAR better candidate for your position than ME. God, I don't know WHAT some people are thinking, wanting ME where you are." he mumbled.

"Mental, they are." he commented.

"But call me when you have time." he then said.

"Bye for now, sis." he finished, before heading off, waving to her as he did so.