Morning sunlight bathed Mondstadt's grand square, casting golden beams across the cobblestone expanse as a crisp breeze swept down from the cliffs, swirling around the towering Statue of Barbatos, its stone wings gleaming under the dawn's tender glow. Beneath its watchful gaze, Venti stood poised on a crate, his green cape fluttering, his Anemo Vision pulsing faintly at his hip, a Maine Coonmon purring at his feet, its amber eyes glinting with quiet resolve.
He strummed his lyre, its notes dancing through the air, a bard's call that drew a crowd from the waking city, merchants pausing mid-haggle, children tugging at parents, all eager for his tale. "For free comics and Harlan's noon feast," he thought, his grin sly, "We fight, don't we, buddy?" he murmured, the Maine Coonmon mewing in agreement, their pact sealed by greed and glee.
"Today, Yu-Gi-Oh's saga unfolds!" Venti declared, his voice a melodic spark, his hands sweeping wide as the crowd hushed, eyes wide with anticipation. He'd read the comic yesterday, its duels a fire in his bardic soul, a story he'd spin to pack Galehaven Comics with eager souls.
"Picture this," Venti began, his tone rising, "Yugi Muto, a gentle boy, faces Seto Kaiba, a dragon of pride who'd crush his grandpa's soul!" The crowd leaned in, their breaths held, the tale of honor and stakes a hook that snared them fast.
"Kaiba looms, his deck a storm, but Yugi grips his grandpa's cards, a mystery pulsing within," Venti continued, his green cape fluttering as he mimed a draw. "The Millennium Puzzle flares gold, Yugi fades, and Dark Yugi rises, fierce and bold!" he roared, his voice a thunderclap, his mimicry of the shadowed hero drawing gasps.
"'Kaiba, for Grandpa's soul, I'll crush you!'" Venti bellowed, his stance wide, his lyre silent as the crowd erupted, "So cool!" a merchant cheered, "Dark Yugi, who's he?" a child piped, their voices a chorus of awe. Venti grinned, "The Puzzle's secret, maybe kin," he teased, his hazel eyes glinting, the mystery a lure he'd dangle.
"The duel ignites, Kaiba's might unfurls, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, a beast of scales and sky!" Venti sang, his hands tracing the dragon's form, its roar a phantom in the square. "Dark Yugi falters, defends with scraps, four odd cards binding hands and feet," he added, his tone dipping, tension coiling in the air.
Breaths quickened, the crowd's eyes wide as Venti's voice soared, "Three Blue-Eyes tower, their breath a storm, Yugi's hope slim!" A baker clutched his apron, "How's he win?" he gasped, a seamstress nodding, "Those cards, useless!" their doubt a tide Venti rode with glee.
"Then, a spark, Grandpa's wisdom echoes," Venti cried, his green cape swirling as he struck a pose, "Five cards unite, Exodia awakens, invincible!" The crowd buzzed, "Five, really?" a knight muttered, "Against dragons?" a florist whispered, their hope teetering on his words.
"Will he draw the last piece, can Exodia fell the Blue-Eyes?" Venti paused, his grin wicked as he strummed a note, "Find out at Galehaven Comics, just 100,000 Mora!" He winked, "Cheap for such thrills," he added, his voice a lure, the cliffhanger a dagger in their hearts.
"No, not there!" a merchant groaned, his fists clenched, "Did he get it?" a child wailed, tears welling as the crowd turned sour. "Kill the bard!" a blacksmith roared, "Breaking it like that, cruel!" a seamstress hissed, their fury a storm Venti danced through with a laugh.
He raised his duel disk, its sleek form glinting as he slid a card in, "Behold!" A flash erupted, the Black Magician rising, his purple robes billowing, his staff aglow with arcane might. "Dark Yugi's ace, real as you or me!" Venti crowed, his Anemo Vision pulsing, the crowd's rage melting to awe.
"Holy winds, it's alive!" a baker gasped, his apron fluttering as he stared, "I need one!" a knight cheered, his spear forgotten. "To Galehaven I go!" a florist vowed, her bouquet trembling, golden rice's fame now dueling magic's pull, trust blooming in their eager hearts.
Venti bowed, "That's all, see you tomorrow!" he chirped, the Black Magician fading as he leapt from the crate, his task done. "Comics and food await," he hummed, his green cape fluttering, the Maine Coonmon trotting at his heels, its purr a victory hymn.
A voice cut through, "That shop, can it boost strength?" soft yet clear, its owner stepping from the crowd's edge. Venti turned, "Oh, Noelle!" he greeted, spotting the maid, her brown hair tied back, her gray dress crisp, her Geo Vision glinting at her waist.
Noelle blushed, "Sorry to bother," she murmured, her green eyes shy, her hands twisting the hem of her apron. Mondstadt's universal maid, a whirlwind of aid, now stood uncertain, her omnipresence swapped for a rare plea, comics a lure she couldn't resist.
"Amazing, yes," Venti grinned, "Curious? Come with me!" He winked, "Harlan might let me linger if I bring you," he thought, his bardic wit a scheme for extra pages and bites.
Noelle hesitated, "Too much trouble," she stammered, her cheeks pink, unused to aid flowing her way. "No bother," Venti waved, "Just praise me to Harlan," he teased, his voice light, her puzzled blink a spark he'd fan later.
"Let's go," he urged, his green cape swirling as he led her off, Noelle's boots clicking beside him, her Geo soul stirring. The square buzzed behind, "To the shop!" voices rose, Venti's tale a wind that swept them toward Galehaven's glow.
The alley loomed, Galehaven Comics a cozy nook, its lantern flickering as Venti pushed the door, Noelle trailing with a shy nod. Harlan Flint leaned at the counter, his hazel eyes glinting, "Back so soon?" he asked, his grin warm, Klee giggling nearby, her Yu-Gi-Oh a mess of cards.
"Mission done, crowd's coming," Venti chirped, his lyre slung over his back, "Brought Noelle too!" He nudged her, "She's curious," he added, his voice a spark, Harlan's brow lifting with interest.
Noelle bowed, "Heard it's special," she murmured, her green eyes wide, 100,000 Mora clinking as she paid, her maid's thrift bending for this chance. Harlan nodded, "Shelves there, pick one," he said, his hazel eyes tracking her, Venti hovering with a grin, "Good word, remember!" he whispered.
She drifted to the books, her gray dress brushing the floor, Yu-Gi-Oh catching her eye, its duels a mirror to Venti's tale. "Strength in cards," she mused, sinking onto a sofa, its pages rustling as she dove in, her Geo heart racing with new dreams.
A shout shattered the peace, the door banging wide, Amber bursting in, "Harlan, trouble!" Her red bow bounced, her green eyes wild, her Pyro Vision flaring with alarm. "Comic spill, dragons in the square!" she gasped, her voice sharp, Venti's tale turned real too soon.
Harlan leapt up, "Blue-Eyes?" he asked, his grin fading, his jacket slipping on as he moved. Amber nodded, "Three, big, white!" she panted, her scout's calm lost, Yu-Gi-Oh's beasts breaking free, a glitch he'd face head-on.
Venti strummed, "Let's duel them!" he cheered, his Anemo Vision glowing, his green cape swirling as he dashed out. Noelle rose, "I'll help," she said, her voice firm, her Geo shield flaring, her maid's duty merging with newfound zeal.
They hit the square, three Blue-Eyes White Dragons roaring, their scales gleaming, their breath a storm that shattered stalls, townsfolk screaming. Venti spun, "Wind wall!" he shouted, a gust rising, deflecting a blast, his lyre's notes a shield against the chaos.
Harlan dodged, "Summon counters!" he yelled, his hazel eyes sharp, his super chef mind bending comics to battle, "Exodia's vibe, unity!" Amber fired, "Burn them!" her arrow blazing, a dragon recoiling as flames licked its wing.
Noelle charged, "Geo crash!" she cried, her shield slamming, rocks spiking a dragon's flank, its roar faltering under her might. Venti laughed, "Team play!" his wind swirling, Harlan's grin returning, "Focus, wear them down!" he urged, a barrel tossed, water splashing, weakening their glow.
The dragons wailed, their forms flickering, Venti's gust, Amber's fire, Noelle's stone grinding them to mist, a final roar fading as they vanished. "We did it!" Noelle beamed, her green eyes bright, her gray dress dusted, her strength proven beyond chores.
Harlan panted, "System hiccup, fixed," he lied, his hazel eyes glinting, the crowd cheering, "Heroes again!" Venti bowed, "Tale's real now!" he chirped, his green cape fluttering, Noelle's nod shy, "Worth it," she thought.
Back at Galehaven, Venti lounged, "Food soon?" he teased, his grin sly, Harlan's chuckle soft, "Earned it," he said. Noelle sat, Yu-Gi-Oh open, "Power's here," she murmured, her Geo soul alight, Mondstadt's day ablaze with ink and valor.
***
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