Victor sat hunched over in his study, his brow furrowed as he flipped through the pages of yet another ancient cookbook. The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from the small lamp on his desk. Stacks of books and loose papers covered every surface, some open to recipes, others filled with Victor's scribbled notes. The air was thick with the scent of parchment and ink, mingling with the faint aroma of various ingredients he had been experimenting with in his apartment kitchen.
"Come on, come on," Victor muttered to himself, flipping a page with more force than necessary. "There has to be something… something that stands out. Something unique."
He paused to jot down a note about a particular herb found in the deep forests of the Elderwood, known for its subtle yet complex flavor profile. But as soon as he wrote it down, he shook his head and crossed it out.
"No, too ordinary," he mumbled. "Everyone's tried that. I need something different."
