Wendy approached the counter at Galehaven Comics, eager as he put Digimon: First Frontier back on the shelf. "Boss, what's my reward for finishing the comic?"
He had seen Barbara leave with a fluffy Snowballmon, which made him hopeful for something impressive—perhaps a fine digital-world wine. A drink from another realm promised a taste unlike Mondstadt's ciders, a bard's dream to enjoy and sing about.
Lumine and Paimon moved closer, their eyes bright with anticipation for this surprise reward.
Harlan's expression flickered with an odd twist, his tone mysterious. "Oh, it's a fantastic reward—you'll see."
Wendy grinned, puffing out his chest. "Fantastic, huh? It must be Barbatos blessing me with something special!"
A bright beam of light shone from the shop's ceiling, filling the space in front of them with a shimmering glow that made Wendy squint. Even as a wind god, he couldn't find the light's source, which deepened his awe of Harlan's mysterious abilities.
The brilliance faded, revealing a cat-like Digimon—yellow-furred, one-and-a-half meters tall, with large ears and a bushy tail. "Are you my master?" it purred, its voice soft as it tilted its head toward Wendy with curious eyes.
Wendy's smile froze, and he sneezed as he stumbled backward. "A cat—achoo!" Cats were high on his list of fears, along with cheese and slime; their presence caused an instant, uncontrollable reaction.
He retreated to the wall, his voice filled with dismay. "Boss, this is your idea of a fantastic reward?" A sting of betrayal sharpened his glare—Harlan's knowing smirk hinted at a deliberate jab at his weakness.
Harlan spread his hands, his tone innocent yet firm. "This is Meowthmon, a mature Digimon—feed it elemental power, and it will grow into a good helper." He added, barely hiding his amusement, "It's a solid prize, just like Barbara's Snowballmon—perfect for a bard like you, don't you think?" The reward was genuinely powerful, but Wendy's fear of felines made it a deliciously ironic twist.
Paimon bent over, laughing. "Oh, I can't breathe—the Songster's scared of cats!" She wheezed, "This isn't a wind god's blessing—it's a prank on you!" Her earlier annoyance about Wendy's free reads vanished, replaced by joy at his predicament.
Lumine shook her head, her voice dry. "Wendy, the boss says Meowthmon could help you, but I see it differently." Wendy's eyes softened, a flicker of hope rising—surely the Honorary Knight understood his problem. "I think it would be great when you busk tomorrow—your stories up top, Meowthmon dancing below, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!" she finished, her serious nod hiding the mischief in her words.
Wendy slumped, hand on his forehead, and sighed. "I was a fool to trust in kindness—the world's too cruel."
Paimon collapsed onto the table, cackling. "Lumine, how do you say that with such a straight face—I'm dying!" Harlan nodded silently, impressed by Lumine's deadpan delivery as Paimon's laughter filled the shop.
Meowthmon blinked, its voice small. "Master, don't you like me?" It sensed Wendy's dislike, its fluffy charm faltering as confusion clouded its wide, golden eyes. It hadn't clawed or hissed—just stood there, cute and innocent—so why the rejection? Determined, Meowthmon walked forward, intending to close the distance with its unwilling master.
"Don't come near me!" Wendy yelped, panicking as he bolted for the door without looking back.
"Master…" Meowthmon whimpered, its ears drooping as it watched him disappear into the alley.
Paimon floated over, her tone soothing. "Don't worry—spend time with Wendy, share meals, chat a bit, and he'll warm up fast."
"Really?" Meowthmon asked, its gaze brightening with a fragile spark of hope.
"Of course!" Paimon chirped, her confidence hiding a flicker of doubt as she puffed out her chest.
"I won't give up—I'll make my master accept me!" Meowthmon declared, its fighting spirit flaring as it dashed after Wendy.
Lumine glanced at Paimon, her voice low. "Let's follow them and see how this plays out." She had missed filming the chaos, and now her camera was eager to capture Wendy's cat-induced dark history. Paimon smirked, already planning—those clips could "convince" Wendy to treat them to meals later.
"Absolutely!" Lumine agreed, her nod firm as they prepared to follow the bard's frantic escape. They couldn't read more comics today anyway, and the Sky Lyre heist was tonight—they might as well enjoy the show.
"B-Boss, we'll be back tomorrow!" Paimon called, waving as they ran out the door.
Harlan nodded, a silent moment of sympathy passing for Wendy—Mora-less and now stuck with a cat Digimon. Life as a broke bard was tough enough without this furry twist of fate.