They were over the sink now, the warm sunlight reflecting off the polished metal as Esme scrubbed away the last stubborn streaks of foamed honey sticking to the inside of the cauldron.
Her brows were pinched together in silent disappointment.
She worked with a kind of precision only someone who had cleaned cauldrons a thousand times already could produce, her hands were delicate but efficient as she rinsed the final suds away.
Behind her, Azel was drying his face with his shirt, he looked very guilty.
"You wasted perfectly good honey." Esme shook her head as she carried the now-clean cauldron back to the crafting table.
Her voice was resigned and tired as if emotionally drained by the fact she now had to use more honey. "I'll make sure you pay for the honey."
"I just thought the Inflating salt would, you know… increase the amount of honey," Azel said, sounding genuinely confused by the outcome though he was having fun with it.
