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As the golden afternoon sun dipped lower behind the spires of the Favonius Cathedral, the wind began to pick up, carrying the scent of Cecilia flowers throughout the city. Lumine and Paimon were practically sprinting—or in Paimon's case, franticly paddling the air—toward the fountain plaza.
"Oh no, oh no! Amber is going to be so mad!" Paimon squeaked, clutching her new camera to her chest. "We were supposed to meet her ages ago to help with those stubborn slimes near the gate!"
Lumine, however, was moving with a newfound grace. Instead of the heavy footfalls of a weary traveler, her steps were light, almost as if the cobblestones were pushing her forward. She felt the wind not as an obstacle, but as an extension of her own limbs.
"Don't worry, Paimon," Lumine said, a confident glint in her eyes. "If we're late, I'll just show her a little trick. I think she'll be too impressed to stay angry."
Just as they rounded the corner near the Good Hunter restaurant, they saw a familiar red ribbon bobbing in the crowd. Amber was standing by the fountain, tapping her foot and checking a pocket watch.
"There you are!" Amber called out, her hands on her hips. "I was about to send out a search party! Where have you two been? I've been waiting for an hour!"
"Sorry, Amber!" Paimon said, flying in circles. "We found this super amazing shop in an alley, and it had these books with pictures, and then Lumine got a power-up, and I got a—"
Lumine quickly nudged Paimon, remembering Han Feng's quiet demeanor. She didn't want to cause a riot just yet. "We found a bookstore, Amber. It was... very engrossing. I lost track of time."
Amber blinked, her irritation softening into curiosity. "A bookstore? You mean the library? Lisa didn't mention anything about new arrivals."
"No, it's called Jieyou Bookstore," Lumine explained. "It's a bit hidden. But Amber, look at this."
Lumine took a deep breath. She didn't manifest her Vision; instead, she tapped into the raw elemental fruit power she had absorbed. Suddenly, her body shimmered and dissolved into a swirl of translucent white wind. She surged forward like a localized gale, circling the fountain in a blur before reforming right next to a stunned Amber.
The Outrider's jaw dropped. "What... what was that? No Wind Glider? No Vision activation? Lumine, you just turned into the wind!"
"It's a reward from the comic book!" Paimon chimed in, unable to keep the secret any longer. "The boss said it's called a 'Wind-Wind Fruit' ability. And look what I got!" Paimon proudly held up the sleek black camera. "It records everything! Smile for the camera, Amber!"
Amber poked the lens of the camera, then looked at Lumine. "Are you telling me you got this kind of power just by reading a book? That sounds like something out of a fairy tale. Or a very dangerous artifact."
"It felt very natural," Lumine said, feeling the breeze tug at her hair. "The shop owner, Han Feng, is a bit mysterious, but the books are incredible."
"I have to report this," Amber said, her scout instincts kicking in. "But first... I want to see this shop for myself. If there's a place in Mondstadt that can grant powers like that, Master Jean needs to know immediately."
Meanwhile, back at the Knights of Favonius headquarters, Kaeya Alberich was leaning against the door of the Acting Grand Master's office. He had just finished a very interesting demonstration of his new "Soru" technique, much to the alarm of the guards in the hallway.
Inside the office, Jean Gunnhildr sat behind her desk, surrounded by stacks of paperwork. She looked up, her tired eyes widening as Kaeya explained his discovery.
"Superhuman speed without a Vision? A girl who can turn into wind?" Jean rubbed her temples. "Kaeya, if this is one of your jokes, it's a very elaborate one."
"I wish it were, Jean. But my legs still feel like they're buzzing from that 'Soru' move," Kaeya said, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "The shop is real. The owner, Han Feng, is calm, collected, and seems to know more about our world than he lets on. He even mentioned a book that might help you relax."
Jean sighed, looking at the mountain of documents regarding the Stormterror threat and the Fatui's diplomatic pressure. "Relaxation is a luxury I don't have. However, if this shop possesses the means to bolster our forces or provides a new form of elemental mastery, I cannot ignore it."
She stood up, adjusting her dandelion-themed mantle. "Take me there, Kaeya. I want to meet this shopkeeper."
"As you wish, Grand Master," Kaeya bowed playfully. "Just make sure you bring your coin purse. Knowledge—and power—comes at a price of 100,000 Mora."
Back at Jieyou Bookstore, Han Feng was tidying up the lounge area. He had just placed the first volume of Digimon Adventure on the featured display. He wondered who would be the first to encounter the digital monsters.
Maybe a kid like Klee? he thought, then shuddered. Actually, giving Klee a Greymon might result in Mondstadt being leveled in fifteen minutes. Maybe someone more responsible.
He sat back down and checked his system status.
[Current Funds: 300,000 Mora]
[Reputation Level: 1 (Local Curiosity)]
[Next Milestone: 5 unique customers]
"Two more to go," Han Feng whispered. He felt a ripple in the air—his Observation Haki picking up multiple signatures approaching his alley. One was the fiery energy of Amber, another the steady, noble presence of Jean, and the familiar, slippery aura of Kaeya.
The door chime rang out, clear and bright.
"Welcome," Han Feng said without looking up from his tea. "I see the Knights of Favonius have decided to make this a formal visit."
Jean stepped into the shop, her eyes immediately darting to the modern furniture and the rows of colorful books. She felt a strange sense of displacement; the shop felt like it belonged to another era, or perhaps another world entirely.
"Mr. Han Feng?" Jean asked, her voice commanding yet polite. "I am Jean Gunnhildr, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. I've heard some quite... extraordinary things about your establishment."
Han Feng stood up and gave a respectful nod. "The rumors are usually smaller than the reality, Grand Master. Please, come in. The books are on the right, and the rules are on the wall."
Amber and Lumine followed behind, Paimon already hovering near the Digimon shelf.
"Wow! What's this one?" Paimon pointed at the cover of the new book. "It has a orange dinosaur with stripes!"
"That is Digimon Adventure," Han Feng explained, walking over. "It's a story about children who are transported to a digital world and pair up with magical creatures to save both worlds."
Jean looked at the book, then at Kaeya, who was already browsing the One Piece shelf again. "And you claim that by reading these, one gains power?"
"I don't claim it, I guarantee it," Han Feng said. "But be warned—the reward is random. You might get a legendary sword, or you might get a very nice camera like Paimon's."
Jean looked at her hands, then at the city she worked so hard to protect. If she could gain even a fragment of new strength, she could better defend her people. She pulled out a heavy silk bag of Mora. "I would like to try."
"An excellent choice," Han Feng smiled. "Which story calls to you, Grand Master?"