Back at the Sage Archive Agency, the debriefing room is packed tighter than usual. Dispatch officers line one side of the table, analysts and coordinators fill the back, and several higher-ups stand along the walls with tablets in hand. At the head of the room sits Evermend herself, posture rigid, expression unreadable. The air is tense even before anyone speaks.
Liza wastes no time.
"This mission was labeled C-rank," she snaps, wings flaring slightly as she gestures sharply at the holo display showing footage from the bank robbery. "C-rank does not include a B-rank mastermind lurking in the background waiting for an opening. Summoner Solomon does not just happen to be on the scene."
A few dispatchers visibly flinch. One opens their mouth to speak, but Liza cuts them off immediately.
"These two are provisional heroes," she continues, pointing back at Justin and Braxton. "Strong ones, sure, but still rookies. If you had sent in anyone weaker, we'd be filling out casualty reports instead of praise sheets. Hell," she adds, voice tightening, "if it wasn't for them, I might have been the one carried out on a stretcher."
The room grows quiet. Several eyes flick nervously toward Evermend, since most of Liza's anger is very clearly aimed in her direction. Evermend does not interrupt. She sits still, arms folded, gaze sharp but patient, letting every word land.
Liza finally exhales, fists clenched at her sides. "You cannot afford sloppy intel. Not with probationary teams. Not ever."
For a long moment, no one speaks before Evermend rises from her seat.
"I agree," she says calmly. "This was a failure of oversight."
She inclines her head slightly toward Justin and Braxton. "I am genuinely sorry that something so dangerous befell my rookies on their first assignment. We will do better. I will personally ensure tighter verification protocols going forward."
The room seems to collectively breathe again.
Evermend's gaze sharpens with something closer to approval. "That said, your performance was exceptional. All of you. Emerald Atlas, especially. Taking down a B-rank threat on your first patrol is no small feat."
Justin straightens a little, Braxton's tail flicking proudly. Evermend gestures toward the door. "Everyone else is dismissed."
As the room empties, only Evermend, Liza, Justin, and Braxton remain, the weight of what comes next settling quietly between them.
Evermend's gaze shifts fully to Justin and Braxton once the door slides shut behind the last of the staff. The room feels quieter now, heavier somehow, like the walls themselves are listening. She studies the two of them for a long moment, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
"I won't mince words," she finally says. "I had high expectations for you both before today."
Braxton straightens instinctively, ears twitching. Justin offers a polite, if slightly cocky, half-smile.
"I knew who you were the moment your names crossed my desk," Evermend continues. "Justin Kalego. Son of Lady Void. Braxton Buzz. Son of Human Storm." She exhales softly. "Your parents aren't just famous heroes. They're founding members of the Seven Sentinels. People I bled alongside back in my youth."
That gets Braxton's full attention. "You… worked with my dad?" he asks, voice a little quieter than usual.
Evermend nods. "Back when I was still a rookie C-rank trying not to get myself killed. Your father and Justin's mother were already legends in the making." Her expression softens, just a touch. "Lina Kalego, especially. I looked up to her more than she probably realized. She was a mentor to me, whether she meant to be or not."
Justin blinks, clearly caught off guard. "I knew you and my mom knew each other," he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just… didn't realize it ran that deep."
Evermend allows a faint smile. "It did. Which is why I expected a lot from you." Her eyes sharpen again. "And you didn't just meet those expectations. You shattered them."
Braxton's tail swishes, unable to hide his grin as Evemend steps closer. "If you keep this up, I fully intend to see out your contracts and give both of you full-time positions once your probation ends."
Justin's confidence flares. "We won't let you down."
Braxton nods eagerly. "Yeah. I promise. We'll work even harder."
Evermend turns her attention to Liza. "Jay-Jay, keep a close eye on them. Guide them. Push them. I have a feeling these two are going to be something special."
Liza smirks, wings shifting. "No pressure or anything."
With a final nod, Evermend gestures toward the door. "You're dismissed. Get patched up and rest. You've earned it."
Time passes quietly in the agency infirmary as automated systems and medical staff finish patching up the trio. Bruises fade, cuts seal, and fractured pride is tended to just as carefully as fractured skin. Braxton ends up being the most banged up of the three, sporting bandages across his arms and ribs. Still, he's the first one cleared to leave, bouncing off the infirmary bed like nothing ever happened.
"I gotta tell my dad about this," he says, practically vibrating with excitement as he pulls on his jacket. "First mission, bank robbers, flying sword guy, I mean, come on, this is insane!" He gives Justin a one-armed hug, waves enthusiastically at Liza, and is gone in a blur of energy and poorly suppressed laughter.
That leaves just Justin and Liza.
The silence stretches for a moment. Justin sits on the edge of his bed, watching Liza fidget with her cascading hair. He's noticed it all day, the tightness in her posture, the way her eyes kept darting whenever Solomon's name came up.
"You've had that look since the fight," Justin finally says, gentle but direct. "What's going on?"
Liza hesitates. "It's nothing," she replies quickly, then sighs. "No. That's a lie."
She leans back against the wall, arms crossed. "Summoner Solomon isn't just some random B-rank," she admits. "He's got ties to Decay. Real ties."
Justin's expression hardens. Everyone knows that name. Decay. A-rank supervillain. The worst crime boss Haven City's ever seen.
"My family got mixed up with his organization years ago," Liza continues, voice quieter now. "I don't want to get into details, but… it ended badly. Really badly." Her jaw tightens. "Seeing Solomon there, realizing how close that was to spilling into something bigger… it rattled me."
Justin nods slowly, not interrupting. "That makes sense," he says. "Anyone would be shaken by that."
She lets out a shaky breath. "I hate feeling like this."
"You don't have to go through it alone," Justin says earnestly. "Whatever happens, if things go south, I've got your back. I promise."
Liza looks at him, surprised, then smiles softly. "Thanks, Atlas. That… actually helps."
She leaves soon after, wings folding neatly behind her. Justin watches her go, thoughtful, before finally heading home himself.