In a quiet alley in Mondstadt, a small comic shop waited for customers. The sign above the door read Galehaven Comics, with faint Anemo runes etched into the wood.
Inside, the shop looked sleek and modern—completely different from the older, stone-and-wood buildings in the city. It had two levels: the upper floor was a resting space, and the lower floor was for business.
Behind the counter sat Harlan Flint, sipping black tea and looking around with a satisfied expression.
"It's finally open. Now I just need someone to walk in," he muttered to himself.
Harlan wasn't from Teyvat. Just three days ago, he had collapsed from exhaustion in another world. When he woke up, he found himself in this strange land, surrounded by unfamiliar skies and unfamiliar rules.
It was a lot to take in, but he adjusted quickly. Teyvat was full of amazing things—elemental powers, magic, and incredible landscapes—but it was also dangerous.
Hilichurls roamed the wilds, the Abyss Order plotted in secret, and even inside the city, Fatui agents caused trouble.
Harlan's worries faded when a voice echoed in his mind. It was calm and powerful.
"You are now bound to the God-Tier Comic Shop System. Use it to shape fate through stories."
That was how Galehaven Comics came to be. The system had created the shop as a reward. Inside, Harlan was safe—no one could hurt him here, not even with magic.
Every morning, the system would give him a random prize from one of the comics in his collection. But the bigger rewards only came when people actually visited and read.
To enter, customers had to pay 100,000 Mora. In exchange, they would get a reward from the comic they read. It could be anything: a magical item, a new ability, or even a living being from the story.
Right now, the shelves only held two comics:
One Piece: East Sea Saga — a story about pirates exploring the seas.
Cardcaptor Sakura's Magic — about a young girl collecting magical cards.
The system had more comics available, but Harlan had to earn them. For every ten customers, he could unlock a new title. As a beginner, though, the next three only needed two readers each to unlock.
He took another sip of tea. Two hours had passed, and still no one had come in. The alley was too far from Mondstadt's main roads, and the price was too high for most people. A book in Inazuma might cost just a few Mora, but here, Harlan was asking for a small fortune.
Still, he believed someone would eventually show up.
"All I need is one person. That'll be enough to start," he said quietly.
Then he heard footsteps. He looked up, alert.
A blonde girl stepped into view, curious but cautious. Floating beside her was a small companion with wide eyes and a loud voice.
"Galehaven Comics? Who builds a shop way back here?" Paimon said, half annoyed, half curious.
The traveler, Lumine, took a step closer and examined the shop. She had just arrived in Mondstadt today, exploring the city with Paimon by her side. This alley had caught her attention by accident.
"Let's check it out. Might be something interesting inside," Lumine said, and walked in. Paimon followed right behind her.
The shop was quiet. The smell of tea filled the air. The space was bright and neat—nothing like the old buildings outside.
Lumine spotted Harlan at the counter. He looked calm and relaxed. Behind him, the shop stretched out with clean lines, soft lighting, and comfortable seating. It looked nothing like the rest of Teyvat.
There were bookshelves, but only a few comics. The walls had portraits of people Lumine didn't recognize—probably characters from the comics.
Paimon floated forward, amazed. "I've traveled all over with Lumine, but I've never seen a shop like this!"
Harlan stood up and greeted them with a small nod.
"Welcome to Galehaven Comics, traveler—and emergency food Paimon," he said, half-joking.
"Wait, what?! I'm not emergency food!" Paimon snapped, flailing her arms.
Lumine narrowed her eyes. "How do you know who we are?" she asked.
She hadn't been in the city long. Only someone with inside information would know about Paimon's nickname, a joke Amber had made just hours ago.
Harlan leaned casually on the counter. "I'm just a shopkeeper. That's all."
Lumine didn't buy it. Something about him was off. The shop felt strange too—like it had a quiet energy running through it. The comics seemed to glow faintly, like they were more than just books.
Paimon floated to the shelf. "One Piece? Cardcaptor Sakura? What are these?"
"They're comics," Harlan said. "Stories from another world. If you read one, you'll get a reward from its pages."
He pointed at the shelf. "100,000 Mora for one comic. One read per day."
Lumine touched her Mora pouch. That much money could pay for a whole week's worth of travel. It was a steep price.
"What's the catch?" she asked.
"No tricks," Harlan replied. "Just pay, read, and receive something extraordinary."
Paimon leaned in and whispered, "It's expensive… but kind of exciting, right?"
Lumine stayed quiet for a moment, thinking it over. The place felt real, and Harlan didn't seem like a liar.
"I'll do it," she said, stepping forward and pulling out her Mora.
Harlan smiled slightly as she handed over the money. Finally, someone had taken the first step.