"Focus-Bloom?" Azel asked, raising an eyebrow as he rolled the name around in his mind.
He didn't really remember every pill Esme had made before… There were dozens but from the name alone he could guess it was something meant to sharpen the mind or enhance attention.
Still, he wanted confirmation. "Sounds like something that makes you focus, right?"
"Yes," she replied with a small proud smile, though her eyes flickered downward. "It's actually an old thing. Though it doesn't have as much effect as the others so it didn't sell that much, but I… I made it with my heart."
Her shoulders shrugged slightly as if she expected him to dismiss it.
It was subtle, but Azel caught the insecurity in her voice. She always acted confident in Alchemy, but when it came to something she created personally, she showed a softer side.
He saw that downcast expression and without thinking twice, he reached forward, took the pill right out of her fingers…
…and swallowed it.
Esme froze.
