Night had draped Mondstadt in a velvet cloak of deep indigo, stars twinkling faintly above as a cool breeze swept down from the cliffs, rustling lanterns that cast golden pools of light across the cobblestone streets. The city thrummed with life, the distant clatter of mugs echoing from the Angel's Share where bards spun tales over cider, their voices blending with the creak of windmills slicing through the dusk air. The scent of dandelions lingered, sweet and wild, mingling with the buttery aroma of golden egg fried rice that wafted from the Deer Hunter restaurant, its wooden facade glowing warmly against the shadowed square. Inside, the hearth crackled, its flames dancing across scarred wooden tables crowded with townsfolk, their faces alight with wonder as Sarah bustled about, her apron dusted with flour, her hands deftly serving trays of luminous rice.
Sarah lifted another lid with a flourish, a burst of golden light spilling forth to illuminate the room, gasps and cheers erupting from the crowd as the glow painted their awestruck expressions in radiant hues. The aroma followed, rich and tantalizing, curling through the air like a siren's call, drawing even the weariest travelers from the streets beyond. Customers clapped, some standing to peer closer, their voices a chorus of delight as they marveled at the dish, its grains shimmering like tiny suns, its steam a fragrant dance that promised bliss. Opening the lids had become a ritual, a spectacle that transformed the Deer Hunter into Mondstadt's beating heart, each flash of gold a testament to Harlan Flint's comic magic, a legend growing with every bite.
Beyond the restaurant's walls, the scent drifted farther, teasing noses blocks away where merchants paused mid-haggle, their heads tilting as they murmured, "What's that smell, so good?" A seamstress near the fountain sniffed, her voice a whisper of intrigue, "Deer Hunter, something new?" A knight on patrol squinted toward the glow, his spear dipping as he muttered, "Heard it shines, gotta see." Curiosity sparked, their boots scuffing the stones as they converged, drawn like moths to the golden flame, their chatter a ripple through Mondstadt's night. Harlan Flint stepped into the square, his dark jacket slung over one shoulder, his hazel eyes glinting with quiet pride as he inhaled, the scent a familiar echo of Little Master's art now alive in Teyvat.
"Sarah's doing fine," Harlan said aloud, his voice a low hum as he strolled closer, his grin widening at the sight of the packed restaurant, its windows aglow with golden bursts. Passersby shot him odd glances, their brows furrowing at his casual tone, such divine rice dismissed as merely "fine" seeming absurd to their dazzled senses. Harlan ignored them, his grin unshaken, his palate honed by the super chef skills fused into his soul, a gift from the system that elevated his taste beyond mortal bounds. Shao'an's tofu had once thrilled him, a novice's delight, but now he judged with a master's eye, noting Sarah's fledgling craft, her first attempt a touch raw, its glow dimmer than Liu Maoxing's brilliance could have wrought.
Still, for Mondstadt, it was a marvel, a dish to rival legends, and Harlan's chest swelled with a quiet thrill as he approached, the crowd parting instinctively around him, their whispers trailing, "That's the comic guy?" Sarah emerged with a tray, her eyes lighting up as she spotted him, her voice a spark of joy, "Boss Harlan, you came!" She handed the tray to a waiter, her apron fluttering as she waved him over, her gratitude a palpable warmth in the bustling chaos. "Business is booming," Harlan chuckled, his hazel eyes sweeping the packed tables, every seat claimed, every face beaming with rice-fueled bliss. Sarah nodded, her grin wide, "All thanks to you, that reward changed everything."
She led him to a reserved table, the only oasis of calm in the storm, where Lumine sat, her blonde hair catching the hearthlight, her golden eyes glinting with a traveler's curiosity as she scooped rice. Paimon fluttered beside her, her starry cape fluttering with glee, her silver hair bouncing as she shoveled food, her spoon a blur of delight. Wendy lounged across from them, his green cape draped over the chair, his Anemo Vision glinting faintly, a Maine Coonmon purring at his feet, its amber eyes fixed on the dish. "Boss Harlan!" Paimon squealed, her mouth full as she waved, her tiny hands wiping a chair clean with comical haste, "Sit, sit!"
Harlan sank into the seat, his grin softening as he ruffled Paimon's hair, his voice a teasing lilt, "Such flattery, what's the catch?" Paimon blushed, her starry cape drooping as she stammered, "Just wanna taste your cooking, heard Sarah, you're the best!" Her snack-obsessed heart thrummed, Sarah's praise of Harlan's skill a lure she couldn't resist, a dream of feasts beyond the golden rice now teasing her tongue. Harlan's brows lifted, his hazel eyes flickering with amusement as he glanced at Lumine and Wendy, their faces betraying the same quiet hope, their spoons pausing mid-bite, their silence a plea too proud to voice.
A spark flared in Harlan's chest, his grin widening as he leaned back, his tone a playful drawl, "Cooking's tough, wears me out, shoulders ache just thinking about it." He rolled his arms, a mock wince creasing his face, his hazel eyes glinting with mischief as Paimon perked up, her voice a chirp, "I'll help, shoulder rubs!" She darted behind him, her tiny hands hammering with eager zeal, her starry cape fluttering as she giggled, "Better now?" Harlan's grin deepened, his voice a lazy hum, "Body's one thing, mood's another, bad business tomorrow, no cooking vibe." Wendy caught the hint, his bard's grin flashing as he slapped the table, "Leave that to me, I'll pack your shop, Yu-Gi-Oh tales, duel disk demo, monsters in the square, trust me!"
The Maine Coonmon mewed, its fluffy tail swishing as it nodded, its amber eyes glinting with resolve, a pact to aid its master for a taste of Harlan's craft. Lumine froze, her golden eyes widening as she stared, her spoon clattering to the table, her voice a silent scream, "They've got it covered, what about me?" Paimon's smirk widened, her tiny hands pausing as she leaned close, her voice a wicked whisper, "Warm his bed, sis, daily feasts secured!" Lumine's face blazed red, her golden eyes flashing with mortified fury as Harlan's gaze flicked to her, his grin tilting with curiosity, her breath catching as she choked, "Paimon, you little!"
She lunged, her hands snagging Paimon mid-flight, her fingers ruffling the sprite's hair with vengeful force, her voice a growl, "Bed warming, why not you, huh?!" Paimon flailed, her starry cape tangling as she wailed, "Mercy, sis, just helping, ow!" Her words slurred, her mischief a mask for a deeper plot, a fleeting dream of trading Lumine for endless snacks, a scheme she'd never confess. Wendy laughed, his lyre strumming a jaunty note, "Sibling love, a bard's delight," his green cape swaying as he dodged a stray swipe from Lumine's elbow.
Harlan watched, his hazel eyes dancing with amusement as he sipped tea, the chaos a familiar hum in Galehaven's orbit, his voice a low tease, "Keep fighting, I'll cook when the mood strikes." The restaurant pulsed around them, golden light flashing as lids lifted, the crowd's cheers a symphony of awe, the scent of rice a tide that drowned the night. Sarah darted past, her trays a whirlwind, her grin wide as she called, "More coming, hold tight!" The square outside buzzed, knights weaving through onlookers, Lisa's purple hat tilting as she purred, "Harlan's mischief, glowing again," her Electro Vision sparking with intrigue.
Lumine released Paimon, her golden eyes narrowing as she huffed, "Next time, you're the dish," her blush fading into a steely glare, her traveler's pride bruised but intact. Paimon pouted, her starry cape drooping, "Just a joke, sis, love you!" Harlan's grin softened, his tea cooling as he leaned back, the system flaring in his mind, [Task Progress: Culinary Influence Rising], a quiet triumph as Mondstadt bent to his comic whims, a golden legend born from ink and rice.
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