Stan glanced at her once, a faint smile touching his mouth as he saw her trying hard not to acknowledge the nice aroma, he said nothing but reach into his inventory and withdrew something out... Two drops of liquid Qi fell into the pot.
The effect was immediate.
The aroma that rose from the pan intensified several times over, thicker, richer, almost alive. It carried a subtle, resonant depth that ordinary food could never possess, as though the very air had gained weight and sweetness at once. The scent curled through the kitchen and wrapped around them both.
Camilla's eyes widened for the briefest moment. Her fingers tightened on her arms. The sudden surge of fragrance made her throat tighten with unwilling hunger. She looked sharply away again, but the damage was done.
"…What did you just add?" she asked, voice carefully flat.
"A little liquid Qi," Stan answered mildly, stirring the contents of the pan. "Just enough."
