Lens of Adventure

Paimon hovered in stunned silence, her wide eyes locked on Lumine as the wind still whispered faintly around her friend's golden hair.

"Isn't this reward just too incredible?" she squeaked, her voice trembling with awe after witnessing Lumine's wind-summoning display.

She'd seen the whole spectacle—Lumine rising from the floor, gales bending to her will—and it hit her like a bolt from a clear sky.

Never before had Lumine wielded such power, sparing them clumsy river swims if only they'd found this shop sooner.

The truth crystallized in Paimon's mind: the comic's reward was real, a gift born from the pages Lumine had devoured.

Her tiny heart raced as she imagined her own prize, the Gourmet Tablecloth's endless feasts shimmering in her greedy dreams.

Without a second thought, Paimon darted back to the sofa, snatching up Cardcaptor Sakura's Magic to finish her read with frantic urgency.

Lumine smiled softly, settling beside her to revisit One Piece: East Sea Saga, unwilling to let its pirate thrills slip away so soon.

An hour slipped by, the shop's quiet hum broken only by the rustle of pages and Paimon's occasional gasps of delight.

"That was amazing!" Paimon exclaimed, snapping the comic shut with a grin that lingered like a sweet aftertaste.

The tale of Sakura Kinomoto, a brave girl chasing scattered Clow Cards to save her world, had woven its spell over her completely.

Paimon saw herself in Sakura's loyal companion Kero, a steadfast partner to Lumine through Teyvat's trials and triumphs.

Reading it felt personal, each panel pulling her deeper into a story that mirrored their own bond in vibrant ink and color.

Sakura's gentle courage charmed her, though Paimon privately thought Lumine outshone the heroine in every way.

Then there was Tomoyo Daidouji, the poised girl with her trusty camera, a detail that sparked a wild idea in Paimon's mind.

"If I had that camera, I could capture every epic moment of Lumine's battles," she mused, picturing a grand project she'd dub Traveler's Journal.

Her joy dimmed as the plot twisted, the kind Yukito revealing himself as Yue, the Judge, a betrayal that stung like a hidden thorn.

"How could he turn on Sakura like that?" Paimon muttered, shaking her head at the memory of the girl's shocked face.

She vowed silently to stick by Lumine forever, a partner no twist of fate could sway from her side.

Yet one disappointment gnawed at her: the Gourmet Tablecloth, her culinary holy grail, hadn't appeared in the comic's pages.

"Boss, where's the Gourmet Tablecloth you promised?" Paimon asked, zipping to the counter with a pout that begged for answers.

She'd drooled over that prop since Harlan first dangled it, but her search through Sakura's tale had come up empty.

Harlan's lips curved into a knowing smile. "That's from Doraemon, a comic not yet in stock—patience, it'll come soon enough."

Paimon's shoulders slumped, disappointment clouding her eyes as she sighed, "Hurry and get it, boss—I'll be back for sure."

Just then, the system hummed in Harlan's mind, its message glowing with a new reward for Paimon's completed read.

She'd earned Tomoyo Daidouji's video camera, a sleek device upgraded with endless memory and power, perfectly sized for her tiny hands.

A beam of light sliced through the shop, landing a small, gleaming camera in Paimon's grasp as she blinked in surprise.

"What's this thing?" she yelped, turning it over with a mix of confusion and recognition from the comic's scenes.

Harlan leaned forward, his tone warm. "It's a camera—records people and places in motion, just like Tomoyo's, if you paid attention."

Paimon's face lit up, her earlier gloom vanishing as she clutched her prize. "This is exactly what I wanted!"

Her joy faltered briefly, her brow furrowing as she realized she had no clue how to wield this strange gadget.

"Here, let me show you," Harlan offered, stepping around the counter with the ease of someone who'd once wielded lenses in another life.

His hands guided hers, teaching her to frame shots and press buttons, skills he'd honed as a photographer before Teyvat claimed him.

Paimon caught on fast, giggling as she aimed the lens at random corners of Galehaven Comics, testing her newfound craft.

"Oh, and it's got unlimited battery and storage—you can film forever," Harlan added, watching her delight double.

"Perfect! I'll record Lumine all the time now!" Paimon chirped, her voice bubbling with mischief as she swung the camera toward her friend.

Lumine's head snapped up, suspicion narrowing her eyes. "Record what, exactly?"

Paimon hid the camera behind her back, stammering, "Uh, nothing—just thought we should find Amber soon!"

She couldn't let Lumine catch on, not when her Traveler's Journal dream depended on stealthy footage of epic deeds.

Lumine frowned, then nodded as memory sparked. "Right, Amber's waiting—we've lingered here too long already."

They'd meant to explore Mondstadt and meet their first friend, but the shop's magic had ensnared them in its tales.

"Thanks, boss, for these amazing rewards," Lumine said, her gratitude echoed by Paimon's eager bob of agreement.

Harlan waved it off with a grin. "It's your luck at work—come back if you liked it."

"Absolutely!" they chorused, their voices firm with resolve as they turned toward the door, prizes in tow.

The comics' allure and the power they bestowed were too potent to resist, a lure that would draw them back to this hidden alley.

***

Support me on Patreon to read 50+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/Nocturnal_Breeze