Morning sunlight streamed through Mondstadt's alleys, casting golden beams across the cobblestone paths as a brisk wind rustled the dandelions clinging to the city's ancient walls. Galehaven Comics stood nestled in a quiet corner, its weathered sign swaying gently, its narrow facade a cozy beacon of ink and wonder amid the waking bustle.
Kaeya stepped into the alley, his navy cape swirling around him, his dark skin contrasting with the pirate eyepatch shielding his right eye, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "So this is Galehaven Comics," he murmured, his single visible eye glinting with intrigue, "Finally, a chance to see it."
He'd heard whispers of the shop from Lumine and Paimon, tales of rewards that defied Teyvat's laws, yet his role as cavalry captain kept him tethered to duty. The Fengmolong's rampage and the Fatui's schemes had consumed his days, but now, with peace restored, curiosity tugged him toward Harlan Flint's domain.
His boot hovered mid-step, his gaze catching a familiar figure striding from the shadows, crimson hair blazing under the dawn light. "Well, well, dear brother Diluc," Kaeya called, his voice a velvet tease, "Didn't peg you for a comic fan."
Diluc paused, his red coat billowing slightly, his amber eyes narrowing as he met Kaeya's smirk with a frosty stare. "I seek power for vengeance," he said, his tone clipped, "This shop offers it, that's all."
Kaeya's smirk faltered, his eye softening as he echoed, "Vengeance." Their father's death lingered between them, a wound unhealed, their paths diverged yet united by that shared oath.
Diluc turned, his boots scuffing the stones as he added, "Rewards are random, hope luck favors you." He strode into the shop, his crimson silhouette vanishing through the door, leaving Kaeya blinking in his wake.
"More familiar than me, has he been here?" Kaeya mused, his brow furrowing. He followed, his cape fluttering, his Cryo Vision pulsing faintly at his hip, eager to unravel Galehaven's secrets.
Harlan Flint leaned against the counter, his dark jacket slung over a chair, his hazel eyes glinting with a shopkeeper's warmth as Diluc entered. "Welcome back, Master Diluc," he greeted, his grin easy, "Good to see you again."
Diluc nodded, his voice low but respectful, "Hello, Boss Harlan." He slid 100,000 Mora across the counter, his gloved hand steady, his familiarity with the rules clear as he moved toward the shelves.
Kaeya stepped in behind, his single eye widening at Diluc's deference, a sight rarer than a sober bard at noon. "This man humbles the proud Diluc," he thought, "Harlan's no ordinary soul," his intrigue deepening as he approached.
"Boss, I'd like to read too," Kaeya said, his voice smooth, his smirk returning as he leaned casually against the counter. Harlan sighed, "One hundred thousand Mora, once a day, books are there," he replied, pointing to the shelves, his tone weary from repetition.
Kaeya chuckled, "Heard the drill," he said, fishing out the coins with a flourish, their clink a cheerful note in the shop's quiet hum. He sauntered to the shelves, his navy cape trailing, his mind buzzing with tales of Barbara's icy fruit and Jean's prowess.
"Four choices, slim pickings," he muttered, scanning the titles, his eye lingering on One Piece: East China Sea Chapter. "That's the one," he decided, snagging it, Barbara's frost a lure he couldn't resist, power whispering from its pages.
He sank onto a sofa, its worn cushions creaking as he flipped it open, the scent of aged paper curling around him like a spell. Nearby, Diluc sat with Digimon, his amber eyes tracing digital beasts, his brow lifting as Kaeya dove into Luffy's tale.
"Luffy's stretch, unreal!" Kaeya gasped, his voice a spark as the rubber man stretched across the page. "Zoro's three blades, Hawkeye's might," he marveled, his Cryo soul stirring, "This power, I'd carve through foes," he dreamed aloud.
Klee perked up from her sofa, her red hat tilting as she spotted him, "Kaeya, you're here!" Her crimson eyes sparkled, her tiny hands clutching Yu-Gi-Oh, its dragons a thrill she couldn't contain.
"Hey, Klee, enjoying it?" Kaeya grinned, his voice softening, Jean's tale of her early rise a fond echo in his mind. Klee nodded, "Super fun, big dragons like yesterday!" she chirped, her arms flailing to mimic Blue-Eyes' roar.
"Three heads, right?" Kaeya recalled, his smirk widening, Mondstadt's panic a memory he'd soothed with orders and charm. Klee bobbed her head, "Yep, gotta read more!" she giggled, diving back into her cards, her red cape fluttering with glee.
Harlan watched, his hazel eyes glinting as he tallied the morning's haul, four guests in a flash, a red-hot start. The door creaked again, three townsfolk bursting in, their voices a jumble, "Rewards like golden rice, real?" their eyes gleamed with hunger.
"Rumors are true, 100,000 Mora, one read a day," Harlan confirmed, his voice calm, his grin widening at the ripple from last night's feast. The trio nodded, "Worth it," they chorused, slapping coins down, their boots scuffing as they raced to the shelves.
They snatched the last books, Little Master, Cardcaptor Sakura, I Want to Fall in Love, their chatter erupting like fireworks. "Golden rice, it's here!" one crowed, "Sakura's cute, punchable face!" another laughed, "Shiny eyes, so cool!" the third gasped, Harlan's brow twitching at their wild takes.
He shook it off, his grin softening as he summoned the system, its panel flaring in his mind with a satisfying hum. "Task one done, eleven of ten, new draw time," he thought, his hazel eyes glinting, "System, pull a comic," he commanded, his pulse quickening.
The system whirred, "Drawing now," it chimed, "Extracted: Detective Conan," it announced, a tale of shrunk sleuths unfolding in his mind. High school detective Shinichi Kudo, ambushed by men in black, poisoned and shrunken, reborn as Conan, a mind sharper than steel cloaked in a child's frame.
Harlan's grin widened, "Perfect," he murmured, picturing Conan's cases weaving through Mondstadt's chaos, a reward ripe with cunning. He set the book on the shelf, its cover sleek, a mystery waiting to unravel, his shop's allure growing with each page.
The alley outside buzzed, whispers of golden rice drawing a crowd, their boots scuffing as they peered at Galehaven's glow. Inside, tension snapped, a shout piercing the hum, "Harlan, help!" Amber's voice rang, her red bow bouncing as she stumbled in, breathless.
"Slimes again, comic ones!" she gasped, her green eyes wild, her Pyro Vision flaring with alarm. Harlan bolted up, "Where?" he barked, his hazel eyes narrowing, the system's glitches a thorn he'd pluck.
"Square, big, blue!" Amber panted, her scout's calm shattered, Detective Conan's chaos spilling out already. Kaeya leapt up, "Let's move," he said, his Cryo Vision pulsing, his smirk gone, duty calling him forth.
Diluc followed, his red coat billowing as he growled, "More breaches?" His amber eyes burned, vengeance sidelined by this new fight, his blade gleaming in the lantern light.
They charged out, Klee trailing with a squeal, "Klee can blast!" her red hat bouncing, her bombs a gleam in her crimson eyes. Harlan grabbed her, "No explosives!" he snapped, his voice firm, her pout ignored as they hit the square.
A Sapphire Slime loomed, its blue mass shimmering, its wobble a taunt as it rolled toward a stall, merchants screaming. Kaeya slashed, "Freeze!" he shouted, ice spiking its side, its gel quivering as Diluc's flames roared, "Burn it!" he snarled, a fiery arc searing its edge.
The slime split, two halves surging, its squeal a chilling wave as Amber's arrow struck, "Gotcha!" Flames danced, ice cracked, the halves shrinking under their onslaught, townsfolk gaping in awe.
Harlan stepped in, his hazel eyes sharp, "Logic it out," he muttered, Conan's wit sparking as he grabbed a barrel, water splashing the slime's core. It shrieked, dissolving into mist, "Water weakens it," he grinned, his super chef mind bending comics to reality.
Kaeya wiped his brow, "Clever," he said, his smirk returning, the fight a thrill he'd savor in tales. Diluc sheathed his blade, "Effective," he grunted, his amber eyes glinting, a grudging nod to Harlan's guile.
Klee clapped, "Boom would've worked!" she chirped, her red cape fluttering, Harlan's chuckle soft, "Next time, kid," he teased. The crowd cheered, "Knights and comics save us!" their voices a tide, Galehaven's legend swelling with each clash.
Harlan led them back, his hazel eyes glinting as he glanced at the shelf, Detective Conan a quiet promise. "More to come," he thought, his grin widening, Mondstadt's dawn ablaze with ink and valor.
***
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