Barrett Mink is a professional magic authenticator, a person who distinguishes the counterfeit from the real bones of extinct magical creatures. Seven years ago, while evaluating dragon bones, a magical accident resulted in the loss of many of his limbs and much of his face, and in the death of his colleague's daughter. Now, the magical authentication industry is dwindling and business is slow. In LA, Barrett meets Edelle Bradford, an elderly woman who thrifts bones and has stumbled across what she believes to be a rare unicorn bone, worth over $50 million. Edelle has no idea where the bone came from, rendering her unable to authenticate it and thus unable to sell it. However, Edelle does not want money; rather, she wants the value of her bone to be recognized. Barrett is not so sure that the bone is real unicorn bone and struggles with the question of what he is willing to do for the chance to acquire the bone and its possibly immense value. The bone is a symbol of hope and the potential for Barrett to redeem himself for past mistakes. He decides to believe in the worth of the bone and sells all of his valuable belongings to purchase the bone from Edelle. Recognizing her as a powerful figure who has the potential to bestow the bone upon him, thus granting or denying him hope, Barrett acknowledges to Edelle that the bone is priceless and she sells the bone to him.