Lisa stood quietly near the counter, watching the cold mist still trailing from Barbara's hands. Her expression was serious. "Changing a region's climate... that's not normal. That's something only a god should be able to do."
She remembered Mondstadt's stories well—how Barbatos had cleared the mountains of snow to create green fields. That level of power had only ever come from Archons, and even they had earned it through ancient wars. Now Barbara, a healer without battlefield experience, had been handed something similar just by participating in a comic-reading event.
It unsettled Lisa. It wasn't jealousy—she respected Barbara too much for that. But the scale of power being distributed here was larger than expected. If even one comic reward could unlock an ability like this, Galehaven Comics was more than a shop. It was a threat, or at least a major unknown.
She glanced at Harlan. He still looked like a regular shopkeeper, casual and unbothered. But Lisa had read enough history to know that looks could lie. Whoever or whatever he was, the shop's magic wasn't Teyvat's. That alone made it dangerous.
In the back corner, the Lady had been listening carefully. She didn't react outwardly, but her thoughts were sharp and focused. The moment she'd heard Harlan explain the Freeze Fruit, she knew the Tsaritsa would want to know.
A shop that could grant elemental powers stronger than Visions? That could change the balance of power. The Fatui might not even need the Archons' Gnoses if they had access to these kinds of tools. She didn't trust the shop, but she did recognize its value.
She made a decision. Once her current task in Mondstadt ended, she would return to Snezhnaya and report everything—names, locations, abilities. Whether by diplomacy or by force, this shop would become part of the Tsaritsa's plans.
Meanwhile, Lisa turned her focus to her own reward. She examined the yellow-green laptop, its surface smooth and unfamiliar. "This is Koshiro's laptop, from Digimon: First Frontier. I remember it guiding the team through most of their journey."
She powered it on. The screen lit up with categories and files—Digimon species, evolution stages, attacks, classifications. Lisa's eyes lit up with interest. For her, this was ideal. It wasn't flashy like Barbara's new powers, but it was deep and rich with information.
"This device is packed with data on Digimon—how they evolve, battle, interact. Pretty valuable," Harlan explained, stepping in to help her navigate the interface.
Lisa scrolled through it, taking it all in quickly. "Armor evolutions, warp evolutions, element alignments... I can see myself getting lost in this."
"One warning," Harlan said. "Its battery isn't infinite. This isn't like Paimon's system-upgraded camera. You'll need to manage its charge."
Lisa raised an eyebrow. "No worries. I'll just power it up with a little Electro. Vision output should do the trick, right?"
Harlan paused, unsure. "Possibly. It's worth a try. The system didn't modify the device, though, so it still runs on real-world rules."
Lisa smiled, already thinking of ways to experiment. "Don't worry. I'll find a way to keep it running. I've kept older tools functional with less."
Barbara adjusted the strap on her bag and stepped toward the door. "I'm heading out of the city for a bit. I want to test this power more."
Lisa hesitated. "Want me to come? You've never trained outside alone."
"I'll be fine," Barbara replied confidently. "This Freeze Fruit changed everything. I'm not a support role anymore."
Lisa laughed a little. "Alright, just don't cause a regional ice age."
Barbara waved and took off down the alley, clearly excited. Lisa turned in the opposite direction, walking toward the Knights' headquarters with her laptop cradled under her arm like a research project.
A few minutes later, the alley wasn't empty for long. A group of four teens approached, chatting quietly as they looked around.
"This is the place Wendy told us about?" one asked, staring up at the sign.
"Yeah, she said something about getting powers from reading comics. I thought it was a joke," another replied.
"It took us forever to find this alley. It better be worth the walk," someone grumbled.
The last one pointed. "There's the door. Let's go see if this shop lives up to the hype."
They pushed inside, curiosity stronger than skepticism, unaware of how quickly their lives might change.
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Reflection:
This chapter deepens the implications of Barbara's new power, especially through Lisa's historical lens. Her recognition of the Freeze Fruit's scale raises questions about Harlan's true nature and the shop's place in Teyvat. The Lady's silent decision to report the shop to the Tsaritsa confirms that Galehaven Comics is drawing dangerous attention. Lisa's reward is less dramatic but equally important—providing knowledge that could shape future battles. Meanwhile, new readers are arriving, pulled in by word of mouth. The shop's influence is spreading fast. Harlan remains calm, but the situation is no longer under full control.