Higher Stakes
"I crafted it using Alchemy," Henrik declared proudly. "This is the pinnacle of my creations. The only person capable of surpassing this is Evelynn Rosetta, but since she has passed away, we can confidently say that this is the finest of its kind." Henrik's eyes sparkled with pride as he handed Eve the salve, neatly contained within a black jar.
Eve calmly opened the jar, preparing to inhale its scent, but Henrik halted her hand. "Exercise great caution. Each ingredient I used was of the utmost quality and incredibly costly. You wouldn't be able to replace them even if you offered yourself to the Prince."
Eve nodded, understanding the value and rarity of the ingredients. She took a delicate whiff of the salve and a smile graced her lips.
Intrigue gleamed in her eyes, and she regarded Henrik with a raised eyebrow. "Vitaliscura Unguentum?" she mused. "So, you are the enigmatic alchemist of the black market."