"Must be said, the city is beautiful." Vanko commented as he, his Company plus Sans and Klee had a casual stroll towards the main gate. "Even if cramped."

"Meh, many people came here in the last two days." Sans answered. "Creating a new home takes time."

"I once heard that now we have twelve people in one room somewhere." Klee added with an innocent giggle afterwards.

"Really?" Simon asked, impressed.

"They were said to pay rent together." Klee continued. "But it is great to see them stay together!"

"She is confused, but she's got the spirit." Vanko whispered to Sans as they went across the gate.

"I know." Sans nodded, giving a quick nod to a knight on watch duty as they strolled up to the stone bridge between lake island the Mondstadt City was on and Teyvat in general, as a united continental landmass. "Either way, what do we do now?"

"Well, the Knights of Favonius Grand Master will meet us in the evening…" Simon scratched his beard.

"Not that it would change much." New voice cut in, as the whole group starred ahead towards a gently dressed young man with rich crimson red hair approaching them from another side. "Knights as an institution are not worth saving. Even if some individuals inside it try making a difference for the better."

"Huh." Sans nodded, intrigued. "And how would you know?"

"I used to be one of them. And saw some… Troubling practices." Man continued, blinking his red eyes briefly as if to check his eyesight. "Then again, if Knights give their custody to a mercenary group…"

"Former." Vanko corrected him. "We do this because of a promise, not money."

"Really now?" Man asked, sounding rather unbelieving.

"Nobody paid us for it." Vstanko added. "In fact, we don't even know if the Acting Grand Master agrees with us doing it, at all."

"I will ask her veeery kindly." Klee threw in out of a sudden form in the middle of a tight group. "I'm sure she will listen."

"... How kind of you." Man crossed his arms, almost sniffing with amusement. "Either way, there is something called legal custody. And even if the Knights struggle with enforcing basic rules, there are still noble citizens who keep the law living."

"Do you suggest a duel?" Vanko asked.

"..."

"He does." Simon concluded. "But remember to be civil and honorable about it."

"You don't ask about the right for duel to commence to begin with?" Man with red hair asked, almost sounding unserious.

"You didn't seem so wary about it, Mister…" Simon began, slowing down as he realized something.

"Diluc."

"Mister Diluc." He ended after the response.

"Truth be told, we can have the duke right here and now if everyone else beside me and the opponent agrees to act as witnesses to ensure willingfulness." Diluc said, slowly reaching for the handle sticking out of his holster.

"Will be done." Vanko concluded, as everyone in his company nodded.

"I will do so too." Sans nodded. "But, who is your opponent?"

"Good question." Diluc nodded, turning around away from the city. "When you choose one who dares against me, come all to where I stand and we will get down to this."

"Sure thing." Vanko nodded as Diluc started walking away and twenty two people in total formed a circle. "Alright, anyone confident he can take him?"

"I could try." Sans responded. "However, I was told to keep Klee out of trouble."

"Hm, that complicates things." Vstanko commented.

"Why don't you, Boss?" Sigurd asked, looking at Vanko.

"I am not strong enough." Vanko responded. "In fact, this guy has this funny golden thing called Vision. Who knows what he does to us…"

"Oh, I know!" Klee almost giggled, showing them her own Vision. "It grants him fire, just like me!"

"Fire, huh?" Simon nodded with amusement.

"What do you suggest?" Vanko asked.

"Let me at him."

"... Aren't you too old for individual combat?" Vstanko asked.

"Fifty is too old? Fifty?" Sigurd shaked his head sideways. "Oh, please. Age isn't a detriment in war, it's just a change to adapt towards."

"Your point being?" Sans asked for more precision.

"I am not as strong as him." Simon said. "But I sure have an advantage in less direct factors."

"... I'm not sure." Vanko rolled his eyes and looked a bit lower than the rest.

"Boss. When you made our group, you were clear like a shed tear about difficulties." Simon said sternly. "I sail with you across an Ocean in a boat they put on large ships for escape. I can take on a hot head with superiority delusions."

"... Alright." Vanko nodded, looking up at him. "Get this dude for our Promise.

"I will."

"DILUC!"

"Oh?" Called man gasped lightly, turning around with sword in hand as he saw the group form a bow-shapes line behind a silver-haired man in familiar set of war equipment. "Of all people, you chose an old man?"

"Talk is cheap." Simon smiled, taking a sideways stance with a rectangular red shield covering almost his entire torso and an ax prepared behind him for an overhead strike. "Ready?"

"Ready." Diluc said with no smack talk. "On the mark."

"..."

"..."

"Maaark!" Faint feminine cry from a distance sounded.

"Hyn!" Dulic wasted no time, instantly rushing ahead at a signal with a straight aim at the neck as fire engulfed his sword.

But to no avail, as Simon casually crouched at last moment, raising his shield up so the sword would Slide upward while turning the ax in his hand backwards and trying a light puncture at Diluc's leg.

"Hah!" Diluc gasped in realization, jumping aside and turning ahead to point hsi sword at Simon, only to have to be forced back as the latter pushed it away a little with a shield to give himself safe space to stand up and assume the position again. "Same trick?"

"It's called battle formation." Simon responded. "Shows that you are blue blooded."

"Either way, not going to save you." Diluc commented, making a wide swing as a curved line of fire flew ahead at Simon.

"Curss!" Simon almost uttered, jumping away as the fire smashed against his shield, pushing away and almost sitting him down with momentum as he landed back on grassless dirt path.

"Hoya!" Diluc didn't relent, dashing ahead up to him and repeatedly making straight jabs with blade, but having them all end on shield as Simon slowly backed away, using his trusty defense to block clinical strikes at limbs and neck.

"He was right about the power difference." Vstanko commented as both fighters made a half-circle and moved the fighting closer to the watching group, slowly accompanied by a group of, like, a few bystanders.

"Why is Master Diluc fighting this old warrior?" One worried Woman asked, walking up to them.

"Honorary duel." Sans responded, keeping his hands close in case he needed to cover Klee's eyes. "It's not the nicest thing, but sometimes it has to happen."

"Ugh!" Diluc groaned, smashing his sword with an overhead strike that pushed Simon backwards along with two trails of black soot that shaded the dirt in a V-pattern to his sides. "I admit, you are a tough fighter. But I beg to wonder how much you can take."

"Can't find out yourself?" Simon teased him, slowly standing and spreading his arms widely, leaving his front way less protected than before. "Go on, test my chains."

"... Alright." Diluc nodded, spinning his sword twice before sending a precise flow of fire ahead at him.

"Whoa!" Vstanko gasped, seeing how Simon lowered his body forward, almost making a bird-like pose while fire roared above his back. "He dodged it!"

"To believe I ever doubted him…" Vanko commented, observing as Diluc launched forward with his sword only to be again blocked by shield and then axe for a change. "Shame on me."

"Hrnn…" Simon and Diluc both groaned, clashing their weapons in a pushing contest on occasion making a spark fly down to the ground.

"You're good." Diluc said, moving his sword away and on instinct extending his free hand, but stopped quickly as he saw Simon not fall forward and stand his ground. "You even don't fall for blade clashing trick."

"You really though old warrior isn't experienced?" Simon asked, slightly tilting his head to a side. "You disappoint me."

"Oh really?" Diluc asked, taking a straight posture as he moved his claymore to be perfectly in front of him. "Then I will show you my real power."

"Fine then." Simon nodded, seeing the opposing blade ignite with flames all the way from tip to the handle. "Come at me."

"Oo…" Klee gasped in amazement. "For as weird as he is, Mister Diluc sure can be amazing!"

"Yup." Sans nodded, noticing Diluc slightly lowered himself with knee movement. "He's about to strike."

"Hyaa!" Diluc suddenly shouted, leaping upward with a sword set for an overhead slash as air directly above him turned into a mix of red blaze and black smoke.

"Huah!" Simon didn't wait for the end, throwing his shield up at him.

Smack* Diluc also didn't feel like being smacked, bringing his sword down and breaking the shield in two, ripping open the view behind it which… Was empty.

"Hu?"

"Catch!"

"Wha-?" Diluc turned left after the sound, only to notice Simon casually standing rather close with crossed arms, two armored rings near his left elbow being blackened with soot. "Huoo-!"

"What?" Vanko asked, staring in disbelief as Diluc slipped his right leg at a perfectly aimed axe throw, effectively making a split leg pose against his will, still going down after full-force strike and without preparation.

Needless to say…

"AAAAAUGHUAAAA!"

"aaaaaaughuaaaaaa!"

"You heard that?" Jean asked, as she and Kaeya were walking up to her office.

"All of it." The latter responded. "Sounds like Diluc tried to make splits unprepared."

"Hm, odd. I thought he was more athletic than that." Jean commented with light suspicion.

"Natural fitness is not an all-or-nothing thing." Kaeya said. "Some things require a morning routine he may not exactly have since he left the Knights."

"Well, I still think something bad happened there." She continued to worry. "Could you check that for me first, please?"

"Since you ask so kindly…"

"Uwaaghh…" Diluc groaned, turning from side to side and holding his hands between the legs as four people went ahead to pick him up.

"Simon, how could I ever doubt you!" Vanko kneeled, giving a kowtow to the returning winner.

"Oh, please." Simon almost laughed. "You remember the final thing that made you let me in your group?"

"Ah, right." Vanko nodded with a smile. "You were a shieldbearer for Flyord The Inn Melter whole twelve years."

"Didn't believe it was true, up until today."

"Well, now you do." Simon pointed out, extending his arm to help the boss stand up.

"Hmm… Does the nickname 'Inn Melter' have a meaning?" Sans asked, walking up to the two.

"Two, actually." Simon responded, turning his head left to stare at Outrider. "First one is that he always targeted inns during his raids to throw other countries into financial disarray, then flood them with his own coins and control their economy with benefit."

"Hmm… The other?" Sans asked.

"Can't share when kids are near." Sigurd pointed out, directing his index finger at Klee who just watched butterfly go by with Vstanko by her side. "Let's just say The Razenvy Khaganate gave him inspiration to punish those who tried to reach for his hard-earned wealth."

"Huh, fair enough." Sans nodded, looking past them as he saw someone approach from behind the two. "Hi Eula."

"Don't you hi me, Sans." She responded with a superior scowl. "Don't you know how to talk to a lady?"

"We already discussed this." Sans pointed out. "It's hard to make out you are one. Plus, you're a Knight of Favonius first in my book."

"Really?" She asked him, dubiously raising an eyebrow.

"Yup." Sans nodded, suddenly pulling out a 'Book of Sans' in comic sans white font over blue cover. "Guess the first words."

"Alright, enough incidental comedy." Eula almost groaned, looking aside at the disappearing shadow of lying Diluc. "What happened to him?"

"He lost a duel by hitting the ground too hard." Sans responded.

"Really?"

"Yes!" Total of twenty armored men responded.

"Um, yes!" Klee added, slowly thrown off rhythm.

"Huh. Trouble sure does seem attracted to you." Eula commented with visibly forced amusement.

"At least I know that keeps it away from others." Sans responded, looking behind at Klee. "Who knows, maybe seeing the bright side can do something?"

"Hmm… And your group?" Eula switched topic, seeing ahead towards warriors.

"I'm Vanko, leader of this group." Leading man presented himself. "We came here to protect the Sparkling Star, Klee. Sans can attest that we mean no evil and we do this to make our homeland and it's people happy."

"... Odd. But Acting Grand Master will hear of this." Eula concluded.

"We planned to contact her when the day ends, but no harm done in letting her know beforehand." Sans added from the side.

"If you haven't notice, I am done conversing with you." Eula said, giving him a squinted side eye.

"Can't say it worked the other way." Sans shrugged his arms. "But do what you do. I won't judge."

"Fine then." Eula nodded, proceeding ahead and throu the crowd.

"She isn't used to friendliness, isn't she?" Simon asked, mildly confused.

"For what I know, yes." Sans nodded. "I may need to learn more about the context behind it though."

"Sounds fair." Simon nodded. "In the meantime… I'm gonna have to make myself a new shield." He added, looking around the space.

"I mean, we have some trees around, so your biggest trouble will be with red paint." Sans pointed out. "Just remember to get resources by legal means."

"Will do, Sans. Will do."

"Cathedral cleaning… Check. Package delivery… Check. Pot store assistance… Check." Noelle counted, recounting various jobs as she proceeded through the relatively spacious street compared to past few hours. Though still with a wide range of people on and around. "Hmm… I feel like I have something more. But I can't put my finger on-!"

"Who, sorry."

"Ack!"

Noises of falling on stone pavement*

"You alright?" New, male voice asked her as she looked from her sitting position to the right and saw someone slowly standing up, though his left side seemed to lag behind.

"I am fine, thank you." Noelle said, wasting no time to stand up and then getting to help him stand up. "I'm sorry for running into you! I was so focused on my duties I didn't saw you come from the side."

"Happens to the best." Male shrugged off the concern, now coming in full view as a rather thinly built man between fifteen and twenty years old, his black hair and under chin beard not sticking out too much from his clothes unlike the brown, near beer-like eyes. "May… May I know your name?"

"Noelle, maid for The Knights of Favonius." Noelle presented herself modestly, making a light bow-crouch on the way as if she greeted someone on the official ball. "What's yours?"

"Matthias." Stranger said. "A traveler, staying for some time in one place before moving to the next one."

"And you are staying in Mondstadt for a time?" Noelle asked.

"I arrived last night, so, yes." Matthias nodded, seemingly distracted. Not that she noticed though. "But since I am here, can I ask you for something?"

"Of course! Please say what you need help with." Noelle agreed without hesitation.

"Do you know if someone has a temporary job available?" Matthias asked, scratching the back of his head. "Last I checked ten minutes ago, all were taken."

"All?" Noelle looked at him, surprised

"All, bullet in board were full of paper cards marked 'end of applications'." Matthias responded.

"Maybe try looking for something outside of the city?" Noelle asked, grabbing him by the arm. "I'm gonna take you and we together will look for something.

"Um, sureeaaa!-" Matthias agreed, but was taken aback with how fast Noelle proceeded, not letting him finish.