Business in Mondstadt moved in waves, Henry quickly realized.
The morning rush arrived first: knights rotated patrols, adventurers stocked up before commissions, and curious citizens wandered in, drawn to the strange two-wheeled machines lined neatly along the shop floor.
By noon, the crowd thinned, only to surge again in uneven bursts whenever someone rode a bicycle past the front windows, catching the attention of passersby.
Henry stood behind the counter, sleeves rolled up, explaining for what felt like the twentieth time how balance worked.
"No, you don't steer it like a horse," he said patiently, resting a hand on the handlebar of a display model. "And no, it will not throw you off if you stop pedaling. Just—try it."
The customer, a middle-aged man whose posture betrayed years of distrust toward anything without reins, eyed the pedals warily.
"So I just… push?"
"Yes," Henry replied.
"And it moves?"
"Yes."
"And I don't die?"
Anthony, oiling a chain nearby, glanced up and shrugged. "Statistically speaking, the death rate is extremely low."
The man paled. "Statistically?"
Henry shot Anthony a look. "He means practically nonexistent."
Anthony raised his hands.
I didn't know he was this cheeky. Looks like the salary I'm paying him has made him a little too comfortable.
Despite the explanation, the man left ten minutes later, wheeling a bicycle out the door with an expression somewhere between terror and exhilaration.
Henry exhaled, leaning back against the counter. "That's number twelve today."
"Fourteen," Anthony corrected. "You forgot the two knights who bought them together."
Henry blinked. "They actually paid in full?"
"Yes, in full. And one even asked if we offer discounts for squad purchases."
By late morning, Henry decided to close for lunch. He flipped the sign on the door himself, ignoring the disappointed groans from a pair of adventurers who arrived exactly thirty seconds too late.
Anthony locked the door, and turned back to the counter. "We should eat now."
Alina nodded. "Agreed. I'm starving."
They gathered around the small back table in the kitchen, where food had been laid out by Alina: breads, soup, and grilled meat laid out across table.
Mona took a seat across from him, placing her hat carefully beside her. Her eyes flicked toward Alina, then back to Henry.
They ate in relative peace for a few moments. Anthony was midway through explaining a potential bulk order for the Knights—something about patrol efficiency and reduced horse requirement—when Alina spoke up casually.
"So," she said, tearing off a piece of bread, "since you've already seen my body, so when are you were planning on proposing?"
Henry froze mid-bite. Anthony choked. Mona's spoon stopped halfway to her lips.
"What—what?"Henry coughed, scrambling for water.
"No—no—this is—Alina, that is not—" He waved his hands helplessly. "That is not what happened."
Mona rested her chin on her hand, elbow on the table, her face turning red again.
"So," she said lightly, eyes lowered, "something did happen."
Henry turned to her slowly. "Mona—"
"And yesterday," she continued, "you said you ran into her room because of a roach."
Henry opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"This is being taken completely out of context," he said, desperation creeping into his voice.
Alina's lips twitched. "I mean, technically—"
"ALINA."
She raised both hands in surrender. "I'm just saying, you did enter my room while I was changing."
"I accidentally entered," Henry shot back.
Mona's blush faded slightly. "Oh… that's what happened."
Alina leaned closer to Mona with a grin. "Then why were you blushing? Were you thinking of something naughty?"
Mona's face immediately turned red again.
Henry stood abruptly, having already finished his lunch.
"I'm heading out," he muttered.
Alina smirked faintly. "Try to come back early, honey."
Henry ignored her, grabbed his coat, and all but dashed out of the shop.
[Ha ha ha, Alina got you riled up. So when are you planning on marrying her?]
Ignoring Orianna, Henry continued his way towards the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
The library was quiet as always. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, dust motes drifting lazily through the air. The calm hit him instantly.
He exhaled.
Lisa noticed him at once.
"Well now," she said, eyes bright as she looked up from her book, "if it isn't Mondstadt's most ambitious merchant."
Henry walked straight toward her. "I need help."
Her smile widened. "Oh? That sounds promising."
Lowering his voice, he said, "I went back to my world."
Her playful expression vanished instantly. "…You did?"
"Yes. Earth."
Lisa stood, closed her book, and guided him to a nearby sofa. She sat close—closer than strictly necessary—enough for Henry to notice the faint scent of her perfume.
"How?" she asked softly.
Henry explained everything: falling asleep in his shop, waking up in his old bed, and returning again without needing the same trigger.
Lisa listened without interrupting, eyes sharp and focused.
"…Fascinating," she murmured at last. "So time didn't synchronize, and you can return at will."
"Yes. This time, I just focused."
She leaned back slightly. "That's… extraordinary."
Henry told her what he'd done during his time there—selling Mora, handling cash again, buying into a business. A normal day that only felt unreal in hindsight.
Lisa listened with clear fascination, asking questions as he spoke.
A throat cleared behind them.
Henry turned to see Albedo approaching, his confused gaze flicking between Henry and Lisa, pointedly, on the space between them.
"Good afternoon," Albedo said. "Lisa. And… Henry."
"Albedo," Lisa replied lightly as she stood. "Perfect timing."
They moved to the alchemy room, where Sucrose sat hunched over a desk, her quill scratching rapidly. She squeaked softly when she noticed them, shrinking slightly behind her work.
Henry briefly noted, with mild amusement, how much she resembled a cute and nervous anime girl with glasses.
Henry reached into his system space, and a bicycle appeared with a soft thud on the floor.
Albedo circled it immediately, fingers hovering without touching.
"Steel frame," he noted. "Consistent forging. Uniform thickness."
"Steel exists here?" Henry asked.
"Yes," Albedo replied. "What are the wheels made of?"
"Rubber."
Albedo paused. "…Rubber?"
"Yes. Flexible, Resilient. But it degrades over time."
Lisa exchanged a glance with Albedo. "There is no such material recorded in Teyvat."
Henry blinked. What? there is no rubber? So Mauvika's bike doesn't exist?
Albedo pulled a thick volume from a storage cupboard and flipped through it.
"These are all documented materials native to Teyvat," he said, scanning the pages. "Properties, variants, limitations."
Henry leaned closer, absorbing the information.
"May I borrow this?"
"I have a copy," Lisa said with a smile. "I'll lend you mine."
"We'll need further study before proceeding," Albedo added with a nod.
Lisa looped her arm through Henry's as she guided him back to the library, pressing the book into his hands.
They settled at a table soon after.
Henry paused. "Oh—I almost forgot."
He produced a can of Coke from his system space.
Lisa blinked. "What is this?"
"A drink from my world," Henry explained. "Coke."
Her eyes lit up as she took the can from him.
He next handed her a small bottle of perfume and a bottle of wine. Lisa smiled, clearly pleased.
"Henry, what are all these gifts? Are you courting me?"
He hesitated, then gathered his courage. "If I am… would you mind?"
She leaned closer, letting the answer settle between them. "Not at all."
Henry felt her warmth as she rested against him. It was distracting, but he forced himself to stay focused on the book while Lisa remained close, occasionally pointing out materials he had never heard of and quietly ensuring that he was very aware of her presence.
---
I did not release the additional chapter last week as Stones did not surpass even 50. I will release a chapter if stones surpass 60.
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