It'd been a month since the events of the Signora incident, and all had returned to normal for free city… mostly. Trade had largely resumed as normal, save for a large decrease in shipments to Snezhnaya. Resolved or not, many held grudges over the fear the icy nation inspired and the actions of its diplomatic representative.
One thing that had changed though was the business of the knights. Their prosecution rates had nearly tripled since the incident. People that'd swaggered on the streets without a care were suddenly being accused of heinous crimes anywhere from collusions with the Fatui, trafficking, erasing crime scenes, etc. While many weren't surprised that the city had a distinguished criminal underbelly, they hadn't realized how deep the rabbit hole went.
"Did you hear? Apparently, the knights managed to arrest someone else from the Lawrence Clan."
"Another one? Who was it this time?"
"It was Shubert! Can you believe it!?"
"Really!? That pompous asshole!? Ha! Serves him right!"
"What did they get him on?"
"Something about working with the Fatui against Mondstadt. Sounds like they were running a kidnapping ring."
"Urgh… disgusting… what's he in for? Life in prison?"
"Don't know. His tribunal date is next week."
"You think they'll execute him?"
"Doubt it. Jean's too nice for her own good. I doubt she'll push for something like that, even if the bastard deserves it."
"Oh yeah… But really, the Knights have been on a roll, haven't they?"
"Yep. They've been digging up all kinds of dirt."
"Ay, they be draining the swamp. Doing a mighty fine job of it too."
This was a topic Illya'd heard on repeat all morning. Apparently, the knights practically dragged the offending Schubert from his manner to their headquarters. From there, the man's charges were announced at the headquarters entrance. Status updates would be posted at the town bulletin boards daily.
You'd think people would discuss these things behind closed doors, but here they were interrupting her morning tea with their babble. She'd found herself frequenting this outdoor café every morning and normally enjoyed the pleasant, peaceful atmosphere. Though, those descriptions became less valid on arrest days when the gossip pool was particularly potent.
She shook her head with mirth, mumbling, "Really… bystanders are the most terrifying creature. Always gossiping half-heartedly, swaying like the tide with every rush of information…"
"Hmph… you must be new to Mondstadt then?" A pompous voice called out, getting Illya's attention.
"Hmm? And you are?" Illya asked before taking another sip.
The woman was of nobility. Her refined features, well-decorated clothing, and high-postured demeanor were an absolute declaration of her upbringing. Yet, she also wore the insignia of the Knights of Favonius. She remembered seeing her before, but she couldn't remember where…
"Captain Eula Lawrence, Spindrift Knight, Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company. I extend to you my greetings."
"Illya Leere Siegfried, traveling monster hunter." Illya returned, standing to give a light courtesy. "But I was under the impression that the nobles loathed the knights."
She sat down, silently prompting the noble to do the same. She wasn't going to stand when her teacup was still half full, nor was she a fan of talking to standing people when she herself was sitting down.
Eula complied, joining her at the table. "We do. The Knights stand on the side of justice. As the vile aristocrats that we are, I've been sent to infiltrate the knights, all to further our grand, diabolical plan!" Eula confidently declared.
Illya's brow raised. "Really?"
"That's right and I couldn't stand by and allow your ignorance to fester. As a distinguished descendant of our historic bloodline, I thought it prudent to educate you, one of our honorary knights, about the divide between us and the rabble. Maybe then you'll understand why they cheer at our downfall."
"…" Illya was growing more and more confused. On one hand, the girl indeed held herself to all the conventions of a proud noble. On the other, it seemed as if every other sentence was a simultaneous jab at her own family.
Illya popped a smirk. "You don't seem like you like your clan very much?"
"Nonsense! You dare slander me? I will have vengeance!" Eula sharply replied exaggeratedly. "I am a true descendant of a renowned bloodline, a feat that's afforded me many unique experiences. Our reign over the peasants continues even to this day; they just don't know it yet."
"Right…, but ugh… question: If you don't like your clan, why don't you just come out and say it?"
She didn't know what this girl's deal was… why the theatrics? There was no hostility in that claim of vengeance; she would've felt it. It was just hollow posturing.
"Mhmm…" Eula cleared her throat, ignoring the question. "I take it you're of nobility yourself, perhaps from your homeland?"
"Oh, what gave it away?"
"The acting grandmaster briefed us on your first impressions of Mondstadt's government. Combined with your manner of dress and refined gait, it's a natural guess."
"Well, yeah. I was… at a point. But that's a turned page on my life. Can't go back to a leveled castle after all." Illya acknowledged, awkwardly scratching the back of her head.
"Oh…" Eula hesitated, clearly realizing that she'd perhaps stepped on a mine.
Illya shook her head. "It's not a big deal. A story for another time, perhaps." It'd been many years since those days, so the wounds had long scabbed over, but that didn't mean she'd let the blue-haired girl distract from the topic at hand. One can of worms was enough.
"R-right…"
"But back to our earlier conversation. What were you mentioning about your clan?"
"Right… Everyone in Mondstadt believes the Lawrence clan to be scum, causing them to take great pleasure in seeing members of our ranks brought down beneath them."
"Vengeance is a powerful drug."
"Indeed. Vengeance is a noble's pride, our right by birth. Shubert, my foolish uncle, was amongst the greatest advocates of this. He was a leading voice in advocating for our vengeance against the heirs to Venessa, Ordo Favonius."
'That's not what I meant…' Illya silently mused.
A waitress passed by the table.
"Oh, one moment." Illya asked, turning to the waiter. "Excuse me."
"Yes, ma'am?" The woman politely asked. Neither missed the brief flinch of disgust the woman gave when she noticed Eula's presence.
Illya frowned. "Is there a problem?"
The girl opened her mouth and closed it, seemingly hesitant to speak her thoughts.
"No need to fret on my account. As a member of a tainted bloodline, it is natural that people know who to avoid."
Illya ignored her. "I would like two orders of Spring Breeze, please."
"B-but ma'am…"
"Excuse me, but did I stutter." Her eyes narrowed, startling the waitress as the air seemed to close around her.
The previously pleasant azure eyes became like those of a wolf staring down at its next meal. But it went as briefly as it came, leaving the girl to nearly collapse in terror. It was only the nuggets of courage and resilience that she'd gained from the recent Storm Terror raids that kept her (barely) on her feet.
"But… if it bothers you that much, just treat it as if they're both for me. I'll be paying for them anyways."
"R-right!" The girl hastily exclaimed before taking off in a hurry.
When Illya turned back to Eula, she found her considerably displeased. "That was completely uncalled for! Scandalous! That someone would steal my thunder! I will remember this! Mark my word; I'll get you for this."
"Hehe~" Illya chuckled. There was no menace there. She had a pretty good idea of what 'type' of person this girl was. "Sure. Sure."
"But really…" Eula's eyes fell to the ground; they were shadowed by her blue bangs and the droop of her head. "The Lawrence Clan is a foul family full of hatred, malice, and unbridled arrogance. While the people of Mondstadt can't be said to live in fear, the Lawrence pride themselves on seeking everything Mondstadt rejects. Control, classist division, slavery… these are all things that we're taught to extol and fantasize of. Meeting their justified fear with intimidation is uncalled for."
"… you're rather gentle then. I must say though, I've never been a fan of punching bags, especially when they're taking shots for someone else's sins."
The waitress returned with two cups. Nervously placing them down, she didn't even look at Illya. Rather, she looked at Eula with a bit of shame. "Sorry…" she whispered before hurrying away.
Eula briefly nodded, but otherwise didn't pay her any mind.
"They're not bad people, I'll have you know. Really, this is a rather unusual time." Eula paused as if reminiscing. "It used to be like this all the time, worse even, but thanks to a special friend and a wealth of meritorious service, the people's fear has lessened significantly. We've fallen into a statement, each of us silently plotting for our opportunity to repay the slights."
"So, what we just saw…"
"Is not normal, not anymore. You heard what they said, right? Shubert's crimes were egregious and he's one of several that've been revealed, and a precursor to the others that are cowering fearfully in their ostentatious abodes."
"So, they're taking it out on you. All Lawrences are suspicious, huh?"
"And rightfully so! I've reminded them on many occasions of my dubious purpose! Why, my infiltration into the knights has gone so well that I even lead a company of my own!"
"Hehe~" Illya giggled at the jest. "Congratulations then. You truly are a diabolical mastermind."
"I'm glad you understand!" Eula replied proudly.
The two continued their discussion over tea, paying little mind to the occasional pointed looks they were getting.
Illya felt a fond kinship with this woman, despite her eccentricities. When she cut through the redundant posturing, the girl seemingly cared quite a bit for these people. So much so, in fact, that she joined the overworked knights in their service and even defended them when they were intimidated, even if it was in her defense.
It was a classic moral debate. When people are wrongfully scared and use innocent people as their outlets, should they still be protected? Does their emotional well-being supersede the victims…? Clearly, Eula's answered this in her own heart. Like a brilliant diamond, her stainless spirit casts a brilliant glow on all who care to see.
The people on the other hand…
As Illya drank another sip, she thought, 'I guess Mondstadt's people are not as idyllic as I'd been led to believe.'
"Say… you've already registered for the adventure's guild, right?" Eula asked.
"The what now?" Illya asked, confused.
"…" The knight looked at her crazily for a few moments before settling down. "OK… the adventure's guild is an international organization that lets regular people submit commissions to experienced adventurers. They can range anywhere from travel escorts, delivery, exploration, and even monster slaying missions."
"Oh? And this organization spans the seven nations?"
"Yes."
Illya was about to ask 'who could own such a broad-spanning group', but changed her mind. It really didn't matter to her, and this world had long proven to be nonsensical at times.
"But really, I am surprised you haven't learned of this earlier. How have you been making money?"
"Hehe~ I'm not really the task rabbit type. Like I mentioned, I'm a monster hunter. I occasionally explore too, but I don't usually go out of my way to run errands." She reached into her 'pocket' and pulled out some large chunks of metal.
"As for making money…" She clapped her hands together, generating a sonorous hum, and slapped them onto the table. A blue circle of light bloomed around her hands, encompassing the metal. Small bolts of electricity arced around the generated field as the chunks were soon bathed by shining light. They merged and… the finished product was a small golden goblet. "In one of the worlds I've visited, transmutation-based alchemy was their equivalent to your visions. Some stuff…" her mouth fell into a frown. "…happened and I picked up some of their tricks."
"… I believe our resident chief alchemist would love to meet you…" was all Eula could say looking at the beautiful goblet. "May I?"
Illya nodded. "Of course."
She grabbed it and raised it above her head, looking at its gleaming surface. She tapped it, listening to the sound it made. "I can't tell the difference…" She lowered it back onto the table, turning back to the smirking Illya. "…is this real?"
"Probably."
"And what does that mean?" Eula asked, brows furrowed.
"Substances like gold are usually made from the same building blocks wherever you go throughout the multiverse. Differences are usually by how other factors react to it. What I mean is that it's real based on the commonly understood definition of it. I plan to compare the two later, but I haven't had the time to compare it. That said… I'm not selling these until I have that answer. I make a little money simply by selling replacement parts to people. Stainless steel water spickets for the merchants, specialized ores for the smiths… little stuff like that."
Eula felt a headache coming along. "Be careful with that… educated as you are, I'm sure you understand how such a skill could affect the economy. If you end up crashing the market, we'll have to bring you in and I can't get my vengeance on someone locked in a cell, now can I?"
"Hehe… I guess not." Illya chucklingly replied with a hint of self-mockery. "But… you don't need to worry. I'm passed that phase in my life… lavish spending isn't something I take part in. Mostly, I live off what I make on monster hunting and small goods selling."
*Phew* Eula let out a breath of relief before suddenly jolting. She pulled out a pocket watch and, to her horror, saw a time far beyond what her schedule allowed. Her heart dropped into her stomach as she quickly stood up.
"Another deadline has come up. Thank you for the tea." Eula distractedly said before running off.
Illya shook her head at the fleeing knight and looked on at the again-empty table. She'd planned on giving the goblet to her straight, but this was a public setting, and those townsfolk had been giving their table nasty glances during their entire conversation. Even if they'd seen how it was made, she was sure giving the evil Lawrence a golden goblet would look a certain way. No need to make it harder on the proud tsundere knight.
"Maybe I should check out that adventurer's guild…" She muttered.
---
Jean sighed as a knight finished reporting a situation they'd seen at the market. One of the outlanders, the lilac-haired one, intimidated a waitress. Eula'd been involved. That told her everything she needed to hear. Thankfully, it seems the Noble Knight diffused the situation before it could become any worse.
"Eula's truly a treasure from Barbatos." She happily muttered.
"That she is. More than we deserve, I'll say." Kaeya, the one who'd delivered the report, replied.
"It seems we'll need to remind our honorary knight though. We can't have her threatening civilians like that." Jean sternly stated, brows furrowed.
Kaeya shrugged. "Well, she was standing up for one of our greatest."
"That may be, but such behavior is unacceptable. We with strength cannot retaliate against our own citizens."
Kaeya's response was a hum and a smile, keeping the truth of his thoughts to himself. He appreciated their acting grandmaster's integrity; it was one of the reasons he supported her so fervently. Truthfully though, his feelings were mixed on the matter. Even to his seasoned mind, knowing that their people treat one of their most loyal knights with such distain is heartbreaking, not that he'd ever express that aloud. On the other hand, Jean's not wrong.
Being a knight was rarely simple. Justice wasn't always about being right. Often, burying their personal feelings was required to maintain the law as was their solemn charge. It was among the many reasons this purge brought forth so many potent emotions. It wasn't just the citizens that were snubbed by the aristocracy; the knights had been suppressed by their own legal code, traditions, and overall weakness. Truly, all who swore the oath would understand Illya's frustration… but that didn't mean they could condone such lawless threats.
In short, regardless of whatever they personally believed, they couldn't allow such blatant violations of the law.
"Why don't we just let Eula handle it?" Kaeya proposed. "Rather than stubbing our toe against righteousness, why not trust the accused to prove kindness the better option?"
"…" Jeans face scrunched in thought – Mondstadt's Dark Knight Hero coming to mind - before relaxing. "We'll do that then. You're right. Despite Illya being in the wrong, she's right to be concerned over Eula's treatment. No need to start a fight."
She sighed… "But… it is disheartening to hear Mondstadters treat Eula that way."
Kaeya's hands flared to the sides. "What can you do? That's just how people are. It's hard not to paint in broad strokes when it seems the whole family is being ousted for such grave offenses. Even though she's steadily changed the way they look at her, she'll never change the blood flowing through her veins." He said, a tinge of self-mockery worming its way in at the end.
"But that shouldn't erase the distinguished service she's rendered for Mondstadt!"
"They're not knights, boss; they're just normal people." Kaeya patiently stated. "The discipline to judge fairly is a learned skill, one that takes even the best of us years to truly master. Can't expect normal folk to have it when even the knights aren't all there."
Unspoken was the recent string of incidents they'd uncovered where knights 'overlooked' certain crimes when offered mora. Between the Fatui's direct accusations and other crimes they'd uncovered when reviewing the seized assets from Lawrence clansmen like Shubert, they'd found quite a few dishonorable servicemen. Leaked patrol schedules, census records, and even structural blueprints to the prison… it was no wonder both factions had been capable of getting away with so much.
"…how long do you think it'll take this time, for the people to lose their edge?" Jean pensively asked, sidestepping the uncomfortable subject. She was very much still coming to terms with the knowledge that so many of these and some of those on Grandmaster Varka's expedition would commit such betrayal.
Kaeya shrugged. "Give it a few months and they'll get over it, maybe shorter if we make a public statement when this is all over."
"That's good." Jean nodded, liking the idea.
*Knock* *Knock*