Of course, they'd try to pawn her off to her brother, why bother with talking to her when they could ship her across states for the summer so they could ignore any wrongdoing? She didn't want to be at this stupid wedding anyways, it's not like Dave cared for anything important to her.

Marty tried her best to compose herself quickly, refusing to attract any more unwanted attention than she had already done earlier. Summer was going to be hell if she couldn't get out of this but so far her options seemed slim to none to convince her parents to stay. There's no way in hell her stepdad would budge once he made the decision, he'd probably even enjoyed the idea of having a break from her 'antics'.

She sighed, there's no need for a pity party. She glanced around the pergola from her hiding spot. It wasn't super hidden, just her wedged in between one of the beams of the structure and a large vase with a bush of flowers spilling out over the edge. Most of the guests had moved towards open grass, where tables were being set up. They were likely getting ready for the wedding speeches, the perfect time to slip away. Glancing around once more to make sure her parents weren't anywhere near, she bolted through the pergola and around tables to reach the hedge garden.

She kept her head down, not wanting anyone to stop her once they saw her smeared makeup or tear-stained cheeks. Marty peeked around as she kept moving forward. Her body jolted as she saw her parents nearing the pergola which quickened her pace. 'Please don't look this way." She begged, her eyes locked on her parent's form.

She's suddenly halted in her rush by a solid frame, running into the person with such force it caused them to stumble forward and her to fall back on her tailbone. She hissed in pain as her tailbone and palms made contact with the concrete patio, she'd be feeling that tonight.

"You doltish child! Didn't your mother teach you any manners?" The man she had bumped into snarled through his teeth. His form was intimidating, to say the least. He towered over her, his frame casting a shadow that smothered her entirely. His eyes seemed to pierce through her, looking down at her as if she was an insect. His clothes seemed outdated, reminding her of a mob boss. His stance carried him as one too, there was no denying this man held power. She almost wished her parents caught her, the man's presence was soul-crushing.

"Well?" He snapped, his voice stern like a teacher scolding a student. Marty could feel the heat on her cheeks and ears, tears threatening to spill once more. She didn't want anyone to see her crying, especially not this man.

Marty tried to keep her voice stable, failing miserably "I'm sorry, sir." She stuttered, her tongue feeling thick in her mouth. She flinched, squeezing her eyes closed and bringing her hand up to protect her face as the man swung his cane out towards her. When she didn't feel the contact of the metal cane, she looked up at him. His expression feigning mild amusement, the irritation from earlier still in his brows. The cane was held out to her and he gestured once more for her to grab it. If Marty was embarrassed earlier, she was mortified now. She grabbed onto the cane and the man pulled her up faster than she expected, causing her to stumble forward before stabilizing herself.

Marty wiped away the pebbles that stuck to her hand from the fall, pleading with herself to keep it together. "I'm sorry again sir, it won't happen again." She said, her eyes flickering between him and the ground. The man simply huffed, brushing his gloved hands on his coat to get rid of the invisible dirt from her bumping into him. Marty went to leave, not wanting to be around him a second longer but something about his presence didn't feel right, why was he here?

"Who are you?" She asked, "If you don't mind me asking." She stammered after, not wanting to annoy the man further. She could barely keep herself from cowering back as he turned his attention to her again, his agitation was suffocating.

"I'm-" he paused, "Just an old friend of Dave's. Do you know where I might find him? I don't have time to spare and need to be leaving soon, however, I have a parting gift I'd like to give, in person," he responded, the sternness in his voice just as sharp. What kind of people was Dave associating himself with? Maybe he was an old professor, it would explain his tone,

"My brother's that way, they're starting the speeches soon so you better hurry." She shakily responded, she was trying so hard to keep herself composed. She couldn't tell if she was shaking from the situation earlier or in fear of the man who stood before her. Marty looked up at him again, her words seeming to stop him in his tracks. Marty could feel her emotions bubbling in her throat, ready to burst.

She walked by as the man's thoughts raced. A sister to the Prime Merlinian? As she passed he felt a flicker of her magic on his skin. Becky seemed like the obvious choice to reach the boy, just as he had in their first encounter but she knew of him, it would be difficult to get her alone. Getting close to Becky was out of the question but her? The key to his plan had walked right into his hands and he'd almost been none the wiser if he had decided not to entertain her question. There was no recognition in her eyes that hinted towards her knowing who he truly was, did she even know of the magic within her? Everything seemed to click in place, a smile creeping on his lips.

He turned towards the girl, softening his tone, "Thank you, dear." She stops, not expecting him to speak to her again, "I apologize for speaking so cruelly earlier, it was ungentlemanly of me; especially since you seem to be troubled by something already. Is everything all right?" Any indication of anger was gone from his voice, being replaced with a sickly sweet tenderness that seemed to enchant her, as if he had been nothing but compassionate the whole time.

Marty stopped in her tracks, shoulders tensing. She hated those words, "Is everything all right? Are you okay? Is something wrong?" because the moment those words were uttered, it was like opening the floodgates. Before she could stop herself a sob escaped her lips, tears flowing freely down her face. She made no move to face the man or continue walking, bringing her arms close to her chest. She wished the ground would swallow her whole.

Horvath could feel a familiar stare bore into his back, he needed to act quickly, "It's ok love, let's get you somewhere more private." He said, placing a tender hand on her back as he guided her towards the hedge maze, casting a quick illusion over them to assure the stare wouldn't follow. Marty couldn't refuse even if she wanted to, all she'd do is let out another sob. She didn't care where she was being taken, just wanting to keep anyone else from seeing her in this state.

The garden was a hidden gem, the voices of the crowd subdued by the thick hedges. As they ventured further, the upkeep of the maze lessened. Moss growing in between the stone path alongside weeds, the hedge losing its pristine form. It had been a while since Horvath had to play the good guy, he hoped he still had some charm left in him.

Coming around the corner they found themselves in a secret garden, mostly full of rose bushes with a few wisteria trees. In the center was a small metal gazebo. Some of the wisteria branches wrapped around the pillars, blanketing the roof of the gazebo in its luscious purple flowers.

Horvath guided her towards a bench within the gazebo, clearing the pedals that covered the seat with a flick of his cane. They sat there for a while as the sky turned to a bluish-purple, a few stars revealing themselves as the sun nestled further into the hillside. She had mostly settled down, the tears only painted her face, an occasional sniffle being the only indication of her earlier state. Horvath kept his arm around her shoulders, allowing the girl to lean against him. Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to the young lady.

She took it, staring down at the uneven stone and moss. She took a shaky breath, "Thank you." still trying to gather her bearings. Wasn't this man in a rush to leave earlier? Marty could feel the blush rise on her cheeks again. She didn't even know who this man was and yet here she was, who knows where being consoled by him. Isn't stranger danger one of the most ingrained lessons everyone gets? Marty folded up the handkerchief in her hand, she could feel how expensive the cloth was.

"I'm sorry for ruining your handkerchief." She said, her voice no louder than a murmur. Horvath gestured his hand up dismissively,

"I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I cared more about a handkerchief than helping someone who needed it." He joked, a light chuckle rumbling through his chest. Had Marty not already been emotionally drained, she'd probably be questioning why this man changed his tune so quickly from earlier. They sat in a comfortable silence. The sky was getting darker by the minute, the exterior lanterns flickering on, basking them in a soft warm light. Marty could feel the goosebumps freckle her arms as a cool night breeze washed over them. She shivered, her jacket was back in her parents' car. She felt the man pull his arm away for a moment before being replaced with a thick and heavy coat that practically engulfed her due to its size. Marty looked over at him with a soft smile. Underneath his coat was a form-fitting dress shirt and vest. She could see tattoos peeking out on his wrists, she didn't expect a man like him to have tattoos.

"If you don't mind me prying, would you like to talk about it?" He asked, tapping his cane lightly on the ground. Marty wasn't the type to overshare, even to her closest of friends but something washed over her, like a wave tugging away her reluctance. She felt compelled to tell him everything, obligated even, it was the least she could do after he helped her.

"It sounds silly now." She began, "It's just, my parents want to send me off to my brother's for the summer in the hopes he can push me in the 'right direction'. They want me to be just like him but I'm no math or science whiz, I barely understand basic algebra." She chuckled bitterly, "Every choice I make is judged under the shadow of my brother's accomplishments." She let out a shaky sigh, "I don't want to be him, I want to be me but that's not enough to them" She finished, half expecting herself to break down again but it seemed she had no more tears to spill. Marty's lip trembled, unsure what had overcome her to tell this stranger her life story.

Horvath sat there for a moment, contemplating his next words. It has been ages since he's dealt with teen angst. Different stories, same desires of being something more. It was quite trivial what they seemed to view as life-altering choices as if this one summer would change the entire course of her life. Well, it wouldn't have before he got involved. All they needed were a few words to feel heard and you practically had them leashed under your jurisdictions, willing to answer to your every beck and call for more approval.

"A tricky conundrum." He says, looking over at Marty, "It seems like no matter what choice you make their expectations will never be reached because you can never be your brother, so why not pick your own path?" He suggested, placing both hands on his cane. Marty couldn't help but scoff,

"As if it was that easy." She clutched the coat tighter, her shoulders drooping. Horvath paused, not expecting to be met with attitude. His lips formed into a tight smile, biting back a remark. Instead, he reaches over and gently takes the folded handkerchief, laying it flat in his palm. Marty's attention snapped back to him, unsure what his intentions were.

"A flower doesn't stop blooming because it fears not growing like the other flowers, it just blooms." He states, waving his cane over the handkerchief. Except, it wasn't a handkerchief anymore, a large blooming rose sat in his palm instead. Marty's eyes widened in amazement, her eyes scanning the flower trying to process where the handkerchief went. She looked up at his eyes in wonder,

"How did you-"

"A sorcerer never reveals his secrets." He responded, giving the rose to her. Marty couldn't help but chuckle. Sorcerer? Why not a magician? Well, sorcerer did sound more elegant than a magician, how fitting.

She twirls the rose in her hands, examining its beauty. It seemed so perfect, too perfect. She sighs, dropping her hands in her lap. "Thank you, you're very kind but I'm no rose." She murmured.

"Well, what are you then?" He asked, surprising Marty. She wasn't quite sure how to respond. Looking around the garden trying to rack her brain for flowers, her eyes landed on a sole dandelion growing between the cracks of a broken stone piece.

"I suppose I'm more of a dandelion," Marty said, just an unwanted weed that many found to be a nuisance. The man hummed,

"A dandelion you say?" He asks rhetorically. "You know dandelions are one of the most resilient flowers. Despite the odds, they find a way to keep growing. They're quite distinctive, not many recognize their beauty. If you let them foster," He pauses, pointing the tip of his cane at the dandelion. Marty couldn't believe her eyes as the yellow petals wilted away, the white seedlings sprouting out into a giant puffball, "Their ideas can spread far and wide." The night breeze picked up, sweeping up the dandelion seeds that fluttered away into the night sky.

Marty turned towards him, trying to process what she had just seen. There's no way that was just a simple magic trick. She tried to utter out any words to question how he did it but froze as she felt his hand under her chin, closing her mouth. He smirked, bringing his index finger to his lips.

"Sorcerer's secret," he said, a devious sparkle in his eye. All Marty could do was nod in agreement, she'd probably be up all night researching how he did it.

Horvath could feel the ward he placed to conceal his magical energy dwindling, Balthazar would know of his presence soon if he wasn't careful. "I hate to stop our conversation so suddenly but I do need to take my leave now, perhaps we'll cross paths again dear. I'll be visiting your brother soon." He said standing up, Marty doing the same. He could see the disappointment on her face, just as he intended.

"Thanks again, here's your coat back." She said softly, carefully taking the coat off her shoulders and handing it back to him. He smiled, thanking her as he adjusted his sleeve in the coat to keep them from bunching up.

"Keep your chin up darling, you have a lot more going for you than you realize." He advised, placing something down on her head that wasn't in his hands a second earlier, a crown of wisteria. "Would you like me to take you back to the pergola?" He asked, offering his arm. Marty had almost forgotten why she was there in the first place.

"Thank you, but I'd like to stay here for a bit longer." She said. He smiled,

"Of course, take your time." He began to leave, stopping just before the entrance back into the hedge maze, "Oh and one more thing. Let's keep this interaction between you and me. Your brother wouldn't be too happy if he didn't get to personally introduce me to you first." He chuckled, he wasn't technically lying but the reasons for Dave's displeasure were far different than what she probably believed them to be.

"Pinky promise," She said. She turned to where he stood, "Oh, I didn't get your name-" She said, her voice dying out as he had already disappeared into the maze.