Storm of Wonders

Lumine dashed toward Amber, her breath quick as she asked, "We're not late, are we?"

Amber flashed a warm smile, waving off the worry. "No, I just got here myself."

Relief washed over Lumine, her shoulders easing as she nodded gratefully.

Punctuality was her creed, and the thought of breaking it over comics had gnawed at her conscience.

Thanks to Harlan Flint's Wind-Wind Fruit, she'd soared over Mondstadt's crowds, arriving just in time.

"By the way, how did you drop from the sky like that?" Amber asked, her curiosity piqued as she tilted her head.

She'd seen Paimon float before, a quirk she'd accepted at their first meeting, but Lumine flying was a surprise.

Paimon bobbed excitedly, chirping, "It's because Lumine's got the Wind-Wind Fruit power—she can command the wind itself!"

Amber blinked, confusion creasing her brow. "Wind-Wind Fruit? What's that?"

She'd never heard of such a thing in Teyvat, her mind racing to place this strange power.

Lumine grinned, summoning a gentle breeze that swirled around her, lifting her feet from the cobblestones.

"See? It's like this," she said, hovering effortlessly as the wind danced in her wake.

Amber's jaw dropped, shock widening her eyes as she watched Lumine defy gravity without a Wind Glider.

Even her own Anemo Vision couldn't pull off such a feat, leaving her both awed and a little jealous.

"Is this Wind-Wind Fruit something only travelers like you have?" she asked, envy tinging her voice as she imagined scouting with such ease.

Lumine shook her head, landing softly. "No, I got it from a shop here in Mondstadt—Galehaven Comics—we just left there."

She explained how they'd flown to avoid being late, the shop's distance from the square forcing her to test her new wings.

Paimon waved her camera, adding, "You read comics there and get rewards—like this thing I'm holding!"

Amber's head tilted, bewilderment deepening. "Galehaven Comics? Rewards from reading?"

Her scout's knowledge of Mondstadt felt suddenly inadequate, this hidden gem eluding her patrols entirely.

"What even are comics?" she pressed, her mind swirling with questions about this mystical place.

Lumine smiled, eager to share. "They're books with lots of pictures and a few words—Harlan's comics are amazing."

Paimon nodded vigorously. "I loved Cardcaptor Sakura's Magic, but you can only read one a day, which is a shame."

They figured Harlan wanted business, and with the shop tucked in an alley, a little word-of-mouth could help.

Amber's eyes sparkled, intrigue overriding her confusion. "That sounds incredible—let's go check it out right now!"

A shop offering power through stories wasn't just interesting—it hinted at a keeper far beyond ordinary.

"Sure, we'll show you the way," Paimon agreed, then paused. "Oh, Amber, didn't you mention a gift for Lumine?"

Amber pulled out a Wind Glider, chuckling sheepishly. "It was this, but it seems kinda pointless now."

She'd planned to teach Lumine to glide and take the license test, but the Wind-Wind Fruit had outshone her gift.

"I'll make it up with carrot-fried pork in honey sauce later," she offered, her grin widening.

Paimon clapped her hands, beaming. "Great—double portions for me, please!"

Just as they turned to head back, the sky above Mondstadt shifted, dark clouds swallowing the sun's golden glow.

A strange wind howled through the streets, buzzing with an eerie energy that rattled the city's trees.

Then, a distant roar—deep and draconic—echoed, sending a shiver down Lumine's spine as she froze.

Amber's face hardened, her scout instincts kicking in. "That's no ordinary wind—it's the Stormterror!"

She hadn't expected the dragon to strike now, its threat a dark omen she needed to report to Jean at once.

High above, Stormterror loomed, its massive form coiling against the sky as it bellowed at the Anemo Archon's statue.

A black tornado spiraled from its wings, crashing into Mondstadt's streets, scattering panicked citizens in its wake.

Lumine's jaw tightened, justice flaring in her chest. "We can't let it rampage like this—I'm going up!"

With a surge of wind, she launched skyward, her golden hair whipping as she faced the beast head-on.

Paimon zipped after her, camera in hand, squealing, "Perfect timing—the first Traveler's Journal entry starts now!"

Amber stood rooted, her mind reeling as her friends soared into danger, leaving her alone amid the chaos below.

***

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