Harlan Flint sat at his corner table in the Deer Hunter restaurant, his expression subtly changing as Amber's praise for his shop reached his ears. He hadn't expected the Scout Knight to hold him—the mysterious owner of Galehaven Comics—in such high regard without even knowing it was him.
"Hey, you okay over there—feeling off, or is the fried pork not sitting right?" Amber asked, her warm concern cutting through as she noticed his odd look. "I'm Scout Knight Amber—need any help?" she added, her friendly nature shining through, strengthened by their shared table.
Eula's cool gaze flicked to him too, a spark of curiosity igniting—she had prepared for the usual Mondstadt disdain associated with her Lawrence name. Most locals avoided her, their eyes sharp with old grudges, yet this stranger showed no hint of scorn or hesitation. Had he not heard of her family's stained reputation, or was he simply not from around here?
Harlan smiled, shaking his head. "No, the fried pork with carrots in honey sauce is delicious—I'm just intrigued by that comic shop you mentioned." He said, his tone genuine—the dish was a savory delight, a Deer Hunter specialty he had enjoyed.
Amber beamed, her enthusiasm overflowing. "Oh, you should totally check it out—it'll blow your mind, I promise!" She hadn't visited yet herself, but that didn't stop her from praising Galehaven Comics to anyone who would listen.
"Definitely," Harlan replied, his eyes gleaming with amusement—someone recommending his own shop to him was a twist he hadn't expected.
Sarah approached then, balancing two steaming plates. "Here's your fried pork with carrots in honey sauce, you two." The aroma hit like a wave, rich and sweet, sparking Amber and Eula's appetites as they dug in without pause.
"I couldn't help overhearing—you were talking about that comic shop?" Sarah asked, her curiosity piqued as she lingered. A place where reading granted rewards sounded too wild to ignore—she needed details.
"Yep, Galehaven Comics," Amber confirmed, swallowing a bite before continuing her pitch. "What would you want from a comic, Sarah?" she asked, tilting her head with a grin.
Sarah paused, then nodded firmly. "I'd love new recipes—imagine the Deer Hunter with a lineup of signature dishes!" She pictured herself mastering exotic flavors, earning enough to leave her boss and run the place herself one day.
"Food, huh?" Amber mused, scratching her head—she wasn't sure comics offered culinary secrets, but the idea intrigued her.
"There might be," Harlan cut in, his smile sly. "I've heard tales from far-off lands of dishes that glow or make your clothes burst when you eat them." He thought of comics like Food Wars! or Toriko—if he drew them later, someone could claim those fantastical recipes.
"Glowing dishes? Clothes-exploding food?" Sarah's eyes sparkled, her imagination igniting with the possibilities. Amber and Eula exchanged a glance, doubt on their faces—such dishes sounded like bard's tales, not reality. They opened their mouths to ask more questions, but distant shouts cut through the chatter. "Catch the thief! Don't let them escape!"
"Thieves?" Amber snapped to attention, her knightly instincts flaring as she and Eula turned toward the commotion. Down the street, dozens of Favonius Knights chased two fleeting figures—one in green, the other blonde—dodging through the crowd.
Eula flagged a panting Knight rushing past. "What's going on—report, now!"
"Captain Eula, Scout Knight Amber—perfect timing!" the Knight gasped, relief washing over him. "Two thieves just stole the Sky Lyre!"
Amber's jaw tightened, her voice sharp. "The Sky Lyre—stolen?"
Eula's expression darkened—the lyre, touched by Barbatos himself, was a sacred relic, its theft a blow to Mondstadt's heart.
"Sara, we'll be back for the food—we've got to handle this," Amber said, already rising with Eula in tow.
"No problem—go!" Sarah replied, nodding as the pair bolted off to join the pursuit. As Knights, they couldn't stand by while Mondstadt's treasure slipped away—duty called, loud and urgent.
Harlan watched them go, a faint smirk on his lips. "Looks like Lumine's about to be a wanted woman again." He had recognized the thieves instantly—Wendy's green cloak and Lumine's golden hair were unmistakable, even in the chaos. Wendy's smooth talking had likely gotten Lumine into this heist—whether they had taken the lyre with her enhanced strength was the question. "Not my circus, not my monkeys," he shrugged, curiosity lingering but business taking precedence—he would stick to running his shop.
"Miss Sarah, that fried pork was fantastic—I'm off now," he said, standing with a polite nod.
"Thanks—come back anytime!" Sarah called, her smile bright as he headed out. Her mind lingered on his words—glowing dishes, explosive flavors—could they crown the Deer Hunter's menu and make her a culinary legend?
"That comic shop sounds like a goldmine—I've got to see it for myself," she resolved, already planning a visit.
With Sarah now planning a visit to Galehaven Comics, and Jean, Lisa, Amber, and Eula all aware of its existence, how do you think Harlan's customer count will be affected in the coming days? Do you think the Sky Lyre theft will draw any new "customers" to his shop as well?