Mirabe snapped the box shut and looked up at Conrad, who had just made a snide remark. "Did the person who gave you the form ever mention how tough it is to replicate?"


    Conrad stared back at her, icy and silent.


    After Sophia handed him the form, he had spent ages trying to crack it, but no matter how many tests he ran, he couldn''t nail it. That''s why he decided to use it in today''s assessment-he had nothing else.


    Mirabe smiled, her patience evident as she spoke again, "Tell you what, you can skip the whole brewing process. Just jot down the form."


    Conrad didn''t find anyfort in Mirabe''s suggestion. He sneered, "You must be joking. Write it down for you to swipe it?"


    A form was a brewer''s secret weapon; nobody would just hand it over.


    "Scared, or just clueless?" Mirabe paused, then grinned. "How about this? I''ll write mine down for you."


    The form was crucial, and with the right recipe, you could churn out endless batches of the brew.


    Conrad was caught off guard, staring at Mirabe in disbelief.


    Mirabe didn''t pay any mind to Conrad''s reaction. Shezily turned to David, "Got any paper and a pen?"


    David, puzzled by her intent, had someone fetch them for her.


    In no time, Mirabe scribbled down a list of ingredients, their quantities, and the method. Once done, she handed it to David, "Could you have someone give this a whirl?"


    David looked at her lively handwriting, a bit surprised, but soon focused on the instructions. His eyebrows shot up. "Is it really this straightforward?"


    Mirabe''s eyes twinkled. She hadn''t seen others brew, so she asked, "Simple, is it?"


    Her method could be even more straightforward, but she''d written a beginner''s version, fearing it might be too cryptic otherwise.


    David gave her a thoughtful look, questioning if their brewing methods were worlds apart.


    With a sigh, David scanned the room for someone to test the form when his eager apprentice, Devon, bounded over.


    "Let me try it," Devon said, his face a mix of curiosity and exhaustion.


    David hesitated, not sure if Devon was up for it. "You think you''re up to it in your state?"


    Devon nodded earnestly, "I can handle it. If it''s about proving whether Conrad made this, I''m the right guy for the job."


    After mulling it over, David handed the form to Devon.


    Devon skimmed the recipe, wearing the same expression David had earlier. He nced up at Mirabe, who met his gaze with a warm smile.


    Mirabe said, "If you hit a snag, just ask me."


    Devon merely nodded and headed off to start brewing.


    David casually mentioned to Mirabe, "That''s my apprentice, Devon. Remember


    I told you about him through Messenger?"


    He then picked up the brew Devon had crafted for the assessment and passed it to her.


    Mirabe examined it, raised an eyebrow, and remarked, "Not bad for a beginner."


    David chuckled, "He''s just a bit headstrong."


    "Being headstrong isn''t always a downside," Mirabe replied, then moved to sit by an empty spot near James.