The next day.
Amber began trying to recharge her headband.
Progress was painfully slow.
Still, her speed was slightly faster than Noelle's.
But it would still take days to fill completely.
Nothing compared to Fischl, the devoted believer, or Qiqi, the zealot.
Meanwhile, Noelle spent her free time poring over tomes in the library.
The more she read, the heavier her guilt grew.
Mopping the floors, she would think of it—how she felt like a thief stealing another faith's relic, or a sinner profaning her own.
The clash of faiths gnawed at her heart.
Just when the burden felt too much, a possible turning point came.
---
The Dragon Potions was opening.
Though not large, it still needed multiple attendants to guide customers and keep things running.
Zhu Zi, Ying'er, and Chi Yu had been idle for a month. Thrilled to finally have something to do, they all cried, Me! Me!
They couldn't keep taking salaries for lounging around—paid vacation with food, lodging, and massages wasn't something any boss offered forever.
Still, they'd only work a few days.
Once the Windblume Festival ended, everyone was off to Inazuma.
So permanent staff were needed.
Since Xia Zhi had bought the shop himself, he remained the boss, carrying over the Summer Shop's system:
High base pay with high bonuses.
9-to-5 shifts.
Meals and lodging included.
Guaranteed holidays.
Even in high-paying Liyue, such terms were outrageous—let alone in lower-salaried Mondstadt.
So when the ad went up, hardly anyone applied. People thought it was a prank.
Captain Jean had to send a few Knights of Favonius to stand outside as endorsement.
Then applications exploded.
From dawn to dusk, interviews couldn't keep up.
It even disrupted business.
After two grueling days, the permanent staff were set.
Xia Zhi then approached Jean with a request: to let Noelle work at the shop.
After all, it was still under Favonius' umbrella, and as a maid-knight, her workplace hardly mattered.
One—Noelle was his Magical Girl, someone he trusted. Stationing her there meant peace of mind, even in his absence.
Two—her maid duties earned her little. Knights weren't paid much, and no maid could out-earn a knight.
But if she worked at his store, he could give her a proper salary—an actual benefit of being his Magical Girl.
Especially since her family wasn't well-off.
Jean asked Noelle her opinion.
After some thought, Noelle agreed.
Her dream had always been to become a true knight, not just an exceptional maid.
And with the [Hilt of Wind], her strength already surpassed most knights of Mondstadt. The official "knighthood certification" was meaningless.
Realizing this, she accepted without hesitation and joined the pharmacy.
Thanks to her maid experience, Noelle excelled at every task. Being a Vision holder, the other clerks showed no resentment.
Xia Zhi called her over. "The organization has decided—you'll be the manager of Dragon Potions."
Noelle froze, stunned. She waved her hands. "Mr. Xia, I don't know how to manage people—I only know how to work hard."
Xia Zhi reached out, producing a smooth, glowing bead. "Do you know what this is?"
Noelle shook her head. "No."
"This is condensed Faith Power."
She blinked. "Faith Power?"
"Yes. Mine. Useless to any other god. Do you know what it does for you?"
"What?"
"One bead… fully recharges your hilt. Five times."
"!!!"
Her gaze fixed on the bead, desire flickering in her eyes.
Ever since her first exhilarating transformation, her hilt had remained only almost full.
Xia Zhi sighed. "If only you'd accept being manager, I'd give it to you…"
Noelle wavered, torn.
"And every month thereafter," he added casually.
Noelle straightened. "Mr. Xia, life is meant to be a challenge. I may not have managed before, but I'll meet your expectations!"
Xia Zhi laughed, pressing the bead into her palm. "Good. Work hard. But this was always meant for you—I was only teasing. I thought you'd stay stubborn forever…"
Noelle blushed.
"No need to feel guilty. That choice I gave you—nothing but benefits. Only a fool would refuse."
"As for faith, I've never forced you to worship me and me alone. Don't be anxious. You lived just fine before you had a transformation device, didn't you?"
"Your Favonius swordsmanship is at its peak. There's no more room to grow. Tomorrow morning, come—I'll teach you a new style."
"And remember—don't stare only at your dream. Every moment of life is meant to be enjoyed."
He ruffled her hair, smiling as he left.
Noelle watched his back, emotions stirring inside her.
That night, she transformed again.
But unlike before, she didn't rush off to hunt the Abyss Order.
Instead, clad in armor, she walked the familiar streets at a slow pace.
No lowered head. No rush.
Just walking. Enjoying the moment.
She felt something within her shifting.
The path of a knight—I've walked it now.
And truly… it was nothing more than this.
---
After several days of clearing out monsters in the wild, Eula led her weary squad back to Mondstadt.
On her first night home, she finally slept well.
The next morning, she had no intention of lounging around. As usual, she planned to either pick up part-time work at a shop or take a couple of commissions from the Adventurers' Guild to earn some Mora.
Out on the street, she could see the Favonius Cathedral from a distance.
In truth, there was a third option—she could go find Mr. Xia and join their group outings.
But the last time she'd gone to the bookshop, she'd bought one of his novels. She read it while on night watch in the wilderness, and… the plot was outrageously bold.
It kept her up half the night, unable to sleep.
The book was undeniably good.
It was just… after finishing it, she suddenly felt awkward about facing Mr. Xia again.
Not fear, not dislike—just awkward.
Even though he had no idea she'd secretly devoured his work.
Eula sighed and headed toward the commercial street to check out part-time postings first.
Too little pay. Too little again. Not a job she could handle. Not this one either… Hm? This one's conditions are really generous?
"Dragon Potions. Interested applicants please contact Manager Noelle…"
Manager Noelle???
…It couldn't be that Noelle she knew, could it?
No way, right?
Still, a part-time job with such good conditions was rare. Eula tore off the notice and followed the address.
Soon, she arrived at the shop. At the counter, a girl in formal attire was bent over the ledger, studying it intently.
Eula walked up. "Excuse me, are you hiring part-timers here?"
The girl looked up, surprised. "Lady Eula, you're back?"
Eula blinked in surprise herself. "Noelle—you're really the manager?"
Noelle nodded with a smile. "Mm. Mr. Xia gave me the chance, and I'm working hard not to let him down."
Looking at this confident, composed girl, Eula could hardly see a trace of the quiet maid she once was. "That really is a great opportunity for growth. Keep at it."
Noelle nodded. "Mm-hm. Lady Eula, you're here to apply for part-time work, right?"
"That's right."
"Please have a seat, I'll make you some tea."
"No need to trouble yourself."
"It's no trouble. Today, you're my guest as an applicant."
Noelle brought over the tea with practiced grace, then sat across from her. Legs together at a slight angle, hands folded neatly at her lap, a perfectly measured smile on her face.
In that moment, Eula felt like Noelle carried herself with even more poise than a noblewoman.
"I already know your qualifications, Lady Eula. We can skip the formal interview. The terms are all listed on the notice. If you agree, once you finish your tea, I'll walk you through the details of the job."
Bathed in backlight, speaking calmly, radiating an aura all her own…
Eula was momentarily dazed.
What on earth had happened in the few days she was away?