"Sans, where did you sleep last night?" Cheese Toucher asked, as Sans stopped by Goth Grand Hotel on the way under the light rain and clouded, gray sky.

"Noelle gave me the right to tuck in a sleeping bag in her kitchen, Iramati and Slajland people brought them alongs." Comedian Outrider explained. "And again, thanks for the first night at your place."

"Pfah! No need to." Cheese Toucher shrugged his arms with a smiling face. "Cover of the Snezhnaya anthem with you and Ten Gallons Of Lobster was worth everything."

"Huh, thanks I guess." Sans nodded,before his face suddenly turned worried. "Though… know where is Eula by occasion? She wasn't around to investigate me."

"Either outside the city on a job or shitfaced in Angel's Share, maybe in her room." Fatui member crossed his arms with a visible scowl. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, right. Investigating me isn't her main duty." Sans said his thoughts out loud. "One of her subordinates, a blonde youngster named Mika, came slamming to Noelle' door in the morning, crying himself to exhaustion sleeping over his Captain not coming back for a night nor being reported by the local orphanage workers."

"Crap…" Cheese Toucher nodded, impressed by the news. "Sorry, good bud. I am clueless on this topic."

"Meh, no hard feelings." Sans nodded. "Either way, I gotta go look for her. Thanks for ideas."

"No problem, Sans!"

"Hmm…" Sans hummed lightly, walking with wet armor into the Angel's Share and quickly noticing bright blue hair near the opposite wall.

"Oh, hello there, Outrider." Bartender with light brown hair and full facial hair greeted him from behind the bar. "Came to shelter from rain, have a meal or pick up the last guest?"

"Neither, but rather close to the latter." Sans responded, walking up to him and pointing index finger towards a familiar person. "She owes how much?"

"Zero, actually." Bartender responded with an amazed face. "But she will have trouble with buying any food till' next payout."

"Good to know. Thanks good Sir." Sans thanked him, tossing a single Mora to a small gratuity box on the counter before proceeding all across the dining area to a chair on the opposite side of the table. A familiar person in a Knight outfit sat with her face put down on the table as if she had a concussion.

"Uuuuu… Nopody lives meee…" Person groaned, messing names as she went.

"Well, I do." Sans said, making the head slowly stand up and reveal Eula with a purple shade all around her right eye and a bit of clotted blood coming from her nose to lips. "What happened to you, though?"

"I-I-I-Ii.. Iiiii… I-I had a frink. Tatayhths aaaaaAAAaalll…" Eula groaned, mildly conprehensive in speech.

"You literally have blood sticking from your nose and black eye." Sans pointed out. "Whatever happened last night, messed you up."

"Youuuuuuu… Aaallways go around, disthrusting othhers witf yur… Funny-Funny worlds." Eula groaned, trying to move her torso up but having her elbow slide all over the table like people on banana peels in stereotypical comedy fashion.

"Alright, I should take you to the Knights Headquarters for medical treatment-"

"Plese, please o! Jnn wil have me banned." Eula grabbed him by the hands, her face completely red with a few granules of yellow… Something coming from the right side of her neck.

"Sorry, but life taught me that waiting for consequences to catch up is a bad idea." Sans said decisively, lifting Eula with his soul magic and slowly walking away from the table, Eula's flying body in deep blue outline following suit.

"... Oh." Bartender gasped, rather amazed by the show of force.

"Sorry for her, Sir. She has a sudden downturn and I don't know yet why." Sans excused her.

"It's common knowledge that she isn't fully happy." Bartender responded calmly. "But this occurrence of her drinking full has to stop. I don't mind scaring the clients with mere presence, but leaving a mess is unacceptable."

"Duly noted." Sans agreed as he proceeded towards the exit doors. "Cmon, Eula. We have to move." He added to the silent person he had to carry behind.

"How is she?" Sans asked, as he, Jean and Mika sat near the doors to the infirmary, being faced by a stern looking man with bald head, gray eyes and Knight armor.

"She'll have a break from duty for a few days, but otherwise fine." Man responded, then taking out a small piece of yellow, rock-like dust placed on a stable paper. "However, this weird substance was also found in her clothes."

"W-What's that?" Mika asked anxiously.

"I genuinely don't know." Man said with a disapproving face. "Whatever it was, it may have caused that night to become so much worse than previous ones. Speaking of which…"

"Extensive drinking." Jean ended his thought after communicative glare.

"Turns out you can't exactly drown sadness in drinks." Man said, not moving his eyes off of Jean. "By all means, I may have to tell Sans that you caught her at the last moment. Hour or half later and she's a memory."

"..." Heavy silence befell all four of them. As should be by the gravity of the situation. No jokes, no puns. No smiles.

"Doctor, she's awake and stable." Feminine voice from inside called. "But she has a request."

"That is?" Man asked, turning around as Jean and Mika's faces suddenly became happier and their heads rose up.

"She wants to see Sans."

"What do you think?" He asked, looking back at the trio visiting as Sans stood up, his head still down.

"I'll go." Sans said, looking aside at Jean. "Can you two go back and welcome Noelle? I heard the local orphanage has scheduled help today."

"Understood." Jean agreed, standing up and walking away followed by a visibly dazed Mika.

"So… Please, lead me in."

"Sssss…"

"No need to say my name." Sans said, walking in and sitting down on a stool beside the bed, left of Eula's lying, still living body.

"I habe… Question." She said, still messing words on the way."

"Whatever you need to know."

"... Why did you come looking for me?" Eula asked him. "Why do you care?"

"Because I know how bad things go when you don't." Sans responded with no hesitation. As if he always knew the question she was to ask there.

"... Huh. Good grief…" Eula almost smiled, turning her head away from him to her right and towards the window. "You know… You-You made one again wonder how some can make so many friends without even trying?"

"... Many reasons." Sans answered. "Thing is, answers rarely are simple."

"..." Eula stared through the window silently.

"But jealousy can only lead as far." Sans continued. "I'd argue one tight friend is better than an infinite amount of loose ones."

"... Faaair." Eula nodded, almost groaning as she turned her head back to look at him. "But I don't want friends out of pity."

"You still are a person trying to do the right thing. Even if it doesn't work." Sans counter-argued.

"And what… Makes you think that?"

"Mika told me you volunteer in an orphanage from time to time." Sans responded.

"... That's nothin'."

"More than me." Sans didn't relent. "Still, I am worried. Mika is worried, Jean is worried. Noelle is worried too."

"How kind of you." Eula said, almost losing her breath by the end. "But since our time is almost out… Please" tell me one more thing… "

"Go on." Sans nodded patiently.

"Is there something that makes you see worth in me? Even after all of this mess?"

"... I have a simple question for everyone I judge, actually." Sans responded. "Ready to hear it?"

"... Yeee…" Eula responded, losing the last letter on growing apnea.

Sans closed his eyes, took a deep breath and started. "Do you think, even the worst person… Can change?"

"..."

"That everyone can be a good person… If they just try?"

"..." Eula didn't respond, blandly staring at his face.

"Welp, that's all for my question." Sans opened his eyes, making an encouraging smile. "Whatever your answer is, is for you to decide. But no matter what you answer…"

"...?" Eula raised her right eyebrow, as if she caught something interesting in his voice.

"... I'll be there, ready to give what you deserve not by popular comments or rare superstitions, but by your own actions."

"..."

"That's all, wish you good recovery." Sans ended, quickly leaving her with a waving hand and a wink on the face.

"... Try…"

"Captain, what did the investigation find?" Jean asked, as she and Albedo conversed in front of wooden doors with the label 'Experiment in progress'.

"Yellow dust Eula had on her clothes happened to be an unknown substance, most likely outside of Teyvat." Albedo started to explain. "What it was exactly we are yet to conclude. But from what few witnesses said it must've been a form of drug that makes people happier."

"To think Favonius Captain would take drugs…" Jean grabbed herself by the face and shaked it sideways.

"Not even close." Albedo responded quickly. "In fact, she didn't take them willingly."

"... What?" Jean asked, moving her hand out and staring at him with big eyes.

"Before entering the Angel's Share, she received an official letter from her Father, informing about revocation of the clan's glacial seal." Albedo continued. "And guess what I found in the envelope wax seal…"

"Don't tell me…"

"I'm afraid I have to." Albedo responded, proceeding through shocked Jean. "Lawrence Clan in the very best scenario allowed Eula to be drugged. At the very worst, however…"

"... They used her life inconvenience in an attempt to eliminate her." Jean responded. "You know what the doctor said."

"That hour later and she would be dead…" Albedo looked down at the floor, and sighed. "This, is, bad."

"I know. I will have to hold a meeting with all available Captains to decide what we will do next." Jean said with a decisive tone. "I count on you to begin there."

"State time and place, and I'll be here."

"Noelle?" Sans asked, walking up in front of a below-standard maintained building with Stone walls at foundation and wooden ones at higher levels.

"Oh, Sans!" Noelle exclaimed, turning around and looking at him. "How is Captain Eula?"

"Bad, but she'll recover." Sans responded with a straight face.

"Good to hear. Erm, the recovery part I mean…"

"Relax, relax. I know that already." Sans calmed her down, preventing the quick blush. "What I don't know though, is why you are waiting here."

"Inside is a friend I made yesterday." Noelle responded. "He wanted to accompany me on my Outrider test today but got caught up looking for work." She added quickly.

"Huh, fortunate." Sans smirked as the entry doors opened and showed a dominantly back in wear and hair young man walked out with a tired face. "You're Noelle's friend?"

"Yes…" Man responded, barely managing to raise his arm for a waving greeting. "Name is… Matthias. You?"

"Sans."

"Sans, huh… Original."

"Thanks."

"Sooo, are you two ready for my test?" Noelle asked.

"Lead the way, please." Sans smiled as she ran ahead and the two followed her, barely catching up. "Tired after work with kids?" Sans asked his new companion.

"More like… Tired from… Work at all." Matthias said through gasping for air. "I'm just weak and lazy."

"At least you try." Sans pointed out.

"Heheh… Point taken."

"Sooo… Who will be my opponent?" Noelle asked, walking onto the arena with her trusty claymore in tow, ready to go.

"Jean really wanted to, but got caught up in the paperwork again." Amber responded, stepping onto the arena from the stands. "So, as your potential supervisor, I will be your opponent!"

"This is going to be a good show." Sans commented, sitting down on the stands with Matthias to his left.

"You like to watch ladies fight?" Matthias asked.

"I like to watch determination." Sans responded, focusing on the show ahead.

"On the mark." Random Knight said from a sideline, having his sword ready to go down and give so. "Set… Go!"

"Hya!" Amber made a first move, quickly firing a flaming arrow straight ahead, only for Noelle to block it with her own sword. "Hm, maybe if I charge it…"

"You think she catches up?" Sans asked, seeing how Noelle slowly crouched down on her own half, preparing her sword for a low deflection swing.

"She doesn't need to, really." Matthias pointed out, after which Amber fired her charged up shot and Noelle made her swing, combining in an explosion that pushed the latter back up to the edge. "But she can't be on defense forever."

"And that's where you are wrong." Sans responded, while Noelle stood up and jab her sword into the floor, forming a small wall of rocks from below. "Knights of Favonius protect, not conquer."

"So it would seem… " Matthias made a sour comment just before Amber started her rapid-fire onslaught, sending fire after arrow into rocks with minimal effect in the form of blackened shade and small cracks. "But Noelle must do something here."

"Hmm…" Sans wondered, looking ahead into the arena. "..."

"Come on! Show me the smile!" Amber encouraged, sending fire after arrow onto Noelles' defense. "Protecting Mondstadt and its people is something to be proud of!"

"Actually, is Noelle even there?" Sans asked out loud, just in time for Matthias to notice something.

"Look!"

"Heh?" Amber gasped, suddenly sensing herself off balance as rocks started to form all over the arena. "This power is Whoa!" She gasped again, narrowly dodging a flying wave of boulders and falling down on an uneven surface as an orange sphere started to walk slowly from the other end of arena.

"Hey, she's doing it!" Sans pointed out, directing Matthias towards Noelle moving her blade forward and up for frontal parry while slowly walking and having rocks just roll themselves off of her way.

"It takes a real danger to activate my shield…" Noelle said, raising her claymore even higher and straightened it for aligning with her body. "But protecting the people is what I will do."

"Heh… Oh yes!" Amber exclaimed, more than happily standing up and launching a quick arrow ahead, only for it to casually bounce off Noelle bubble shield. "... Oh."

"But please, don't feel sad or disencouraged!" Noelle asked, seeing how Amber's confidence was replaced by realization of imminent defeat. "I just want to help people like you do!"

"... And that is all I wanted." Amber smiled, lowering her bow. "Noelle, you have passed the Outrider exam. Congratulations."

"I… I have passed?" Noelle asked, making her shield disappear and lowering the sword as joyous disbelief started to kick in.

"Of course. This test isn't for me to see if you can fight." Amber explained. "It serves as a test if you have the mental values to be a Knight. Protecting the people, honor and collected mind in combat."

Clap, clap* Sans and Matthias gave their congratulatory applause from the stands.

"And while the official ceremony is to be held tomorrow, I ensure that in eyes of law, you are an official Outrider, pridely third one in the group."

"Vanko, you heard the news?!" Sigurd ran into the room, earning grand total of fifteen faces looking at him."

"Speak." Vanko ordered.

"Favonius Captain has been poisoned!"

"A what?!"

"Treachery!"

"Unforgivable!"

These, and many other shouts, sounded across the packed room.

"My friends, please stay down." Simon said, bringing the whole group down to calm. "Boss, if you please."

"We must contact our brothers and sisters in Slajland. But how?" Vanko began. "We are too far away to reliably bring help with messenger, and human sacrifice is prohibited, so no priest can hear our call."

"Hmm…" The group started to wonder.

"I think I have an idea." Weirdly small compared to the other man with bald head and blonde beard said from the opened window, looking away from the street and into the room.

"Holke? You crazed child, speak please." Vanko commanded.

"Maybe we have to pray for our Sparkling Star to send a spark of help for more daring warriors?"

"Fan-tastic idea!" Vanko nodded. "Sigurd, please find Vstanko's group at the market and tell them to meet us before the city gate. We have prayers to say."

"Yes, Boss!"

"Hmph, that will cause trouble." Huzarib commented, as he and Hakh sat down in the former's yurt. "Our new friends are already in crisis."

"What must we do, my Father?" Hakh asked, worried.

"We do what all good allies do." Huzarib responded. "Go for Kadiq and Lily, collect the warriors and when the time strikes, lead our horde against the treacherous."

"It will be done." Hakh responded, taking out his Electro vision. "I promise."

"No need to, I sense your drive is eternal." Huzarib smiled, almost laughing afterwards. "But I must say something…"

"Yes?" Hakh asked, slightly worried on the visual side.

"If the sayings are true, and Electro vision is connected to eternity…" Huzarib began. "... Then I know our tribe won't degrade under your riding passion. Have the pious dream and make envious reality kneel to it."

"I will!" Hakh proclaimed proudly, turning around and leaving his old man in the tent.

"These youngsters, one small change and they are like completely different person..."

"Darker, yet darker…"

"Indeed. Mondstadt is about to be stricken with the hardest of times…" Mona agreed, looking down onto her astral wheel and planes with an enigmatic skeleton in black cloak behind her shoulder. "Do you think my old master and her friends will interfere?"

"Bold assumption that powerful people lift their fingers to change." Enigmatic person cackled in wingdings. "As long as chaos doesn't touch upon their interest. They are not to be included in calculations of the future."

"So we must ensure Klee isn't affected." Mona concluded, moving her attention onto Triforum constellation. "Do you think we can ensure it?"

"No need to." Figure responded. "After all, Sparkling Star has already been given a chance to change the events." He added, sending one of his wingdings hands to fly out of the window and into the sky, unnoticed by anyone. "So I think, as an experiment, we can support the tendency and see the very, very interesting results…"