"Time for a formal introduction!" Caesar announced.

Across from her dramatics, Eliza and Eous sat on a random couch outside their assumed base. Eous was sitting against the arm rest and Eliza was sprawled out across the rest of it in exhaustion from the heat.

"We're the Sons of Calydon, a biker gang from the Outer Ring. I'm the current boss, Caesar!"

She suddenly gestured her shield to the man in sunglasses. "That's Lighter."

"Hey." He gave a small nod.

"That's Piper." Caesar gestured to the woman sitting on top of the massive truck parked outside the base.

The lazy woman spared a wave while she yawned and leant back against the truck.

"And here's Burnice!" She waved to a girl with pigtails prodding with a very flammable backpack, who only gave a brief wave before getting back to tinkering.

"And lastly, this is Lucy!" She jerked her shield towards another woman standing off to the side with small pig-like creatures standing at attention around her.

"A pleasure." She lifted her helmet a bit and gave a nod.

"And, we're not exactly sure what Nova is..." Caesar gave Eous a grin.

Eous gestured to himself, "Leg work," then to Eliza, "Data Analyst." then he waved his hand around to gesture to wherever Belle and Wise might be. "There's more behind the scenes. It's a team effort."

"Well, we know a thing or two about that. It's great to meetcha'!" Caesar held out her hands to the two.

They shook it, smiling a bit at her contagious positivity.

"Now, I'm sure Billy let you in on that we need a favor. Perlman and his airship crashed here in the Outer Rim during landing. He's lucky to be alive, but he's badly injured and hasn't woken up yet."

"I can wake him up real quick—" Eous was cut off by Eliza's elbow jabbing his side.

"Caesar, are you stupid? Negotiations haven't even started and you already handed over such an important bargaining chip?!" Lucy scurried to her side with a leer.

"Bargaining chip...?" Caesar scratched her cheek in confusion. "Lucy, we aren't being petty— That's not very Overlord-y of us!"

"Ugh, easy for you to say! I worked by butt off to keep this info under wraps— so if we can't strike a deal with Nova, where do you expect us to find a reliable Proxy for the Tour de Inferno?" Lucy argued.

Caesar rolled her eyes. "The Tour de Inferno is our business. I never planned to count on anyone else!" She exclaimed, turning to Eous and Eliza with a grin.

"Don't worry, Nova, you coming to the Outer Ring is a sign of respect. Even if you don't agree to help us, I won't go back on my word about Perlman."

"We only really expected to walk away with a lead. What you're offering is leagues above that." Eliza turned to Eous with a smirk. "You down to help? This could be a nice vacay— you and I?"

Eous hummed, tapping his crossed arms as he thought about—

"I'm in." He nodded.

"Yes! Straight to the point— I like it! Lucy, you can relax now." Caesar smugly turned to Lucy with her hands on her hips.

"...Thanks, Nova. Your willingness to help will be huge for us." It was clear she was trying to keep her composure, hiding how happy she was behind the professionalism.

"Oh, let me tell you what's what with the Tour de Inferno! It's the biggest event in the Old Oil Field that only the strongest of biker gangs can compete— a test in the Hollows to find out who's the best!"

Lucy shook her head at Caesar's explanation. "That doesn't help them understand in the slightest..."

"Simply put, the Tour de Inferno is an off-road motorbike race that crosses through a Hollow. Only two teams compete, and the rules are simple: The first team to cross the Hollow, reach the finish point at Cinderglow Lake, and throw a sparkstone into the lake wins."

"Neat little holiday you've got out here." Eous mused.

"It's not just for the thrill, Proxy. It's also a way to ensure the safety of our oil resources in the form of a race. After all, oil is the lifeblood of the Old Oil Field."

"B-But, also!— The winner of the race becomes Overlord of the Old Oil Field Motor League!" Caesar cheered with a double fist pump. "The current Overlord's faction is called 'The Vanquishers,' and their boss held the title for years. I've been itching to challenge him for a while now!"

"Aside from her childish ambition, the Overlord also has actual power here in the Outer Ring. They assign transport routes, and the Vanquishers have only given us the worst ones for the past sixth months! They're definitely messing with us." Lucy elaborated.

Eliza turned to Eous, who shrugged at all the details since it was out of his realm.

"Anyway, Proxies, it's great to have your help with the Tour de Inferno." Piper shuffled over, before slumping into the little space Eliza left on the couch. "Let's give it our best shot."

"...Yeah." Eliza nodded with a thin smile.

"Well, we're gonna camp out here. This gas station's closed, so we set up a camp here for when we're on route. It's totally safe." Piper gave a weak thumbs up before lying her head back.

Eliza wasn't exactly certain of the safety thing, but the small settlement nearby gave her a bit of comfort knowing people still banded together in conditions like these.

"Take me to my quarters, please, squire." Eliza stood up with a smirk.

She waited for Eous to responded before noticing that he wasn't on the couch like she remembered.

She looked around before seeing him beside a nervous Lighter and eager Burnice, spectating a duel between Lucy and Caesar.

Eliza shook her head and smiled seeing him already fitting in with new people. Belle told her that he was in a slump, but it seemed he would do just fine in this environment.

~•~

Eous was walking around the Blazewood settlement, taking in the scenery and getting a lay of the land for the time being.

After all, this was practically a work-vacation. Small proxy work, a side of sightseeing and tourism, with a bit of busting Perlman for info as dessert.

Eous hummed, wondering where he could get some breakfast until he felt an arm slink around his shoulders.

"Morning, Proxy! Glad to see you're up early!" Caesar greeted with a grin.

"You can call me Eous. My work isn't illegal out here."

"Cool, cool. So, Eous~, I've got us a tour with the mayor of this town. You let me know when you're ready to roll so we can get you accustomed to roughing it like us." She seemed excited to use his name.

Eous shrugged. "I can grab Eliza and be ready."

"Great! Let's walk and talk, Eous." She spun him around and the two began to make for the gas station.

"You like the name...?" Eous wondered.

"It's super cool! And so is Nova! You guys have taste. And after seeing that weird power yesterday, I'm interested in hearing what city-living cut you like this." Caesar replied.

"Well, less city-living, more Hollow living. I was trapped in one for years and then I got Ethereal powers."

"That sounds straight out of a manga! That's awesome!" Caesar shook him enthusiastically, before spotting Eliza leaving the gas station with a nasty case of bed hair.

"Morning..." She mumbled.

"Hey there, sidekick, we've got a tour— come on!" Caesar jogged up to her and urged her towards the makeshift elevator down to the settlement entrance at the bottom of the cliff.

"B-But I need to change, we didn't expect to be here so long." Eliza was worried about looking presentable.

"And that's why the Starlight Knight is on the case!" Billy announced, holding out two suitcases to Eous and Eliza.

"Nice, can wear some new digs." Eous murmured.

"Your sister figured this was necessary seeing you'd be in for the long haul." Billy crossed his arms after they took them.

"How'd she get my clothes..." Eliza squinted her eyes.

"I wouldn't question it..." Billy replied.

"I wouldn't complain." Eous added with a smirk.

"You two freshen up and then we get this show on the road!" Caesar cheered.

•

"Wow, guess New Eridu starts working them young just like us. Nice to meet you, kid." A woman in an aviator jacket and cropped, white turtleneck held out her hand to him.

"You as well. Eous." They firmly shook hands.

"Kasa, the mayor of Blazewood. The Sons of Calydon have taken good care of our town, so if you need anything, just let me know. That said, you can stay in the house behind me tonight. Sorry, it's still got some stuff that hasn't been moved out, but I'll get someone to clean it up."

"Oh, that's more than enough. Thank you so much." Eliza bowed in gratitude.

"Hey, Kasa, what are these woven items people are making in town?" Caesar asked as someone walked by with a craft in hand.

"We don't have a choice. The pipeline to town still isn't fixed. Without a gas station, all we can do is make handicrafts to earn a living." Kasa crossed her arms with smile. "Luckily we got a big order recently. With the Tour de Inferno coming up, the Sunflints are selling like hot cakes."

"A Sunflint...?" Eliza wondered.

Fairy suddenly whispered in Eous' ear, making him bow and say "Excuse me a moment."

"It's a kind of a handicraft woven from straw. During the Tour de Inferno, almost every house in the Old Oil Field hangs them up." Kasa took one out from her pocket and lent it to Eliza.

Analyzing it, she found it a bit funny that the marking in the center of the craft looked like an upside-down person.

"Is this someone significant?"

"You're pretty clever, Eliza! The upside-down figure is the first Overlord of the Motor League." Caesar answered her question. "The elders of the Outer Ring also say this design is the face of the God of Sun and Fire, guiding the hero to ignite Cinder Lake and return safely from the Hollow—..."

Eous' bored stare grew confused hearing Jane greet him.

"Are you calling me off a burner phone?"

"What? No. I did last week. This is my cell..." Jane corrected.

Eous shrugged. "Fair enough. What's up? PubSec need a proxy? I'm kinda away on business."

"As much as we'd love to share a room with Nova, this isn't about him. I'm calling about you, silly. Now, tell me what business has you leaving New Eridu entirely...?"

Eous frowned, feeling a bit nervous about talking about himself. He hadn't done it in a long time. He felt bad that he assumed Jane wanted him for work, so he needed to start giving her the benefit of the doubt.

"Uh, Outer Ring. Can't get into the details, but there's a ritual out here that requires a Proxy's help. Let's say the reward is invaluable to me." Eous replied.

"Oh, the vast desert and beaming sun. Can't say it's my cup of tea, but it's someone's. How do you like it out there? As wild as the rumors?"

"We crashed a truck into a Hollow our first hour out here, so... yeah."

He could tell her silence was filled with concern. "The stuff you get up to amazes me. It's a wonder you aren't dead yet."

"You've seen why."

"Felt it too." She mused, making him groan. Another silence grew from her joke, making her clear her throat in regret. "Um... sorry about that. And... sorry about that night, too."

"No need to be. I'm not going to act like I didn't enjoy it. I'm sorry for being such a prune about it."

"I took advantage of you. Manipulated you in a moment of weakness I created— as if you were one of my enemies. I shouldn't have done that." Jane's voice was filled with remorse, making Eous smile.

"You told me everything I needed to hear. It was a learning experience, and I'm glad it was you." Eous exclaimed.

"Woah now, talk like that makes a girl want to try her luck again. But... Thank you, Eous."

"Thank you. I should probably get back to learning about this commission. I can save this number and not look crazy, right?"

"Feel free to, it's safe. Later, pretty boy."

The call ended and Eous felt much better about himself than the week prior. Fairy crossed her arms and eyed him up and down, seeing a figurative weight lifted off his shoulders.

"Partner, have you found closure?"

"Well, can't call it that if we're not finished. Maybe we can be friends."