The interviews resumed just after noon, the scent of steamed parchment still clinging to the pages of Junen's selected file. With their shield chosen, the next seat to fill would be the other half of their defensive spine: the mind.
Control.
The one who would keep the battlefield unfolded — enemies slowed, deceived, confused. The one who could bend chaos long enough for the rest to shape it.
CALLIX GRELL
Callix entered precisely on time, parchment tucked beneath one arm, glasses newly polished. He didn't fidget — but his mind clearly was.
"Mr. Grell," Koda said as the mage seated himself, posture impeccable. "Let's begin simply. Do you want to step into hell again?"
Callix nodded, once. "Yes."
"Why?"
Callix placed a single scroll on the table and unrolled it just slightly — a personal combat record.
"I study corruption behavior. I analyze arcane mutation patterns. But data is incomplete without proximity. The Fragments distort reality. I need to be close to map that distortion."
He looked up then, direct and firm. "I'm not a warrior. But I am a mapmaker. And this is where the terrain is worst."
Terron whistled low under his breath.
Koda raised an eyebrow. "And if you die?"
"Then someone else will inherit a better map."
Once Callix was gone, Terron said, "That guy's gonna overthink himself into a coma."
Maia smiled. "Maybe. But he's sharp. Very sharp. Stable aura, clean focus, little ego. If Greed tries to manipulate him through ambition, he'll just calculate his way around it."
"Wouldn't hate having a walking encyclopedia behind me," Terron muttered. "But he might need watching."
WREN DAL
Wren slipped in like a breeze — barely a sound to her step, posture relaxed but alert.
She greeted them with a slight nod, no more.
"Wren Dal," Koda said. "You know why we're here. So I'll ask plainly: do you want to step into hell again?"
Wren tilted her head. "I don't think I ever left."
Koda blinked. "Explain."
"I work crowd control in panic zones. I deal with riots, breaches, cities breaking themselves from the inside. You've seen Greed in monsters. I've seen it in mothers, in merchants, in temple guards. So yes — I'll go. Because what's in there? It's just the mask pulled off what we live with every day."
Maia's expression didn't change — but her energy sharpened.
"And why us?" Koda asked.
Wren met his eyes. "Because you're the only ones talking about the cost. Everyone else just wants to win. You want to walk through it and stay whole."
Once Wren left, Terron let out a breath. "I didn't even hear her sit down."
Maia looked after her. "She's strong. Not loud, but… it's all there. She's walked through moral rot without picking it up."
Koda nodded. "She won't be the loudest voice. But she might be the one that holds when everyone else is cracking."
FENRICK TOLL
Fenrick entered like a tired professor who'd survived three apocalypses and still preferred tea over trouble.
Thickly built, salt-gray hair, plain robes. He greeted them all with a small nod and a warm, grounded voice.
"Mr. Toll," Koda said. "You've read the assignment."
Fenrick smiled faintly. "One does not often apply to walk into sin."
"So. Do you want to step into hell again?"
"I'll go," Fenrick said. "Because if someone has to speak clearly while the world is screaming, I've had practice."
"And why us?"
Fenrick folded his hands over his lap.
"Because your group thinks before it burns. And I've seen too many young heroes leap into the fire just to prove they can. I'll walk with you because I believe you'll step, not stumble."
Koda was quiet for a moment. Then nodded. "Thank you."
When he left, Maia exhaled.
"He's the most mentally resilient one we've seen."
Terron grunted. "If a demon whispered in his ear, I think he'd just tell it to shut up and let him nap."
Koda chuckled softly. "There's power in peace. He might be our tether."
Koda sat back in his chair, fingers steepled as he stared down at the three profiles now laid out before them in a neat row.
Callix.
Wren.
Fenrick.
All capable. All tested. All different.
He tapped the edge of the table once, then looked to Maia and Terron.
"Thoughts," he said. "Who's best matched to us—not just the mission?"
Maia was quiet for a moment, then leaned forward, hands folded.
"Callix is brilliant. No question. But he's tactical, not instinctive. If something throws the plan, he may lock up. Or overcorrect. He's not emotionally reckless, but I'm not sure he reads people fast enough for Greed's mind games."
She paused. "Wren, though… she sees corruption in people. Not just monsters. She gets what's coming. Her strength is subtle, but surgical. And she'll balance Junen well. I think they'd link fast — a quiet bond."
Koda nodded slowly, then glanced to Terron.
The hammer-wielder scratched the edge of his stubble.
"Fenrick's the old wall. Solid. Unshakable. But I wonder if he's too grounded. Like he's already made peace with whatever comes. That's useful, but if someone needs to burn, he might hesitate."
He looked at Wren's profile.
"She's got steel. You just can't hear it clinking."
Koda looked between them both, thoughtful.
"Callix gives us a brain. Wren gives us a mirror. Fenrick gives us a foundation."
Maia added softly, "And only one will fit in the rhythm we're building."
He stared at the three names a moment longer.
The answer was close now.
But not yet chosen.
Koda leaned over the three profiles one last time. His hand hovered briefly over Callix's name… then Fenrick's… before coming to rest gently on Wren Dal.
"Wren's the most adaptable," he said. "She's sharp enough to anticipate, subtle enough to maneuver, and her instincts are clean. She'll see what others miss."
He looked at Maia and Terron.
"She can act as our control mage and fill the gap we never truly had — a scout. Someone who moves quietly when we can't afford to announce ourselves."
Maia nodded. "And Junen will complement her. They won't need to speak much. They'll just move together."
Terron cracked his knuckles. "Alright then. The whisper with a spine it is."
Koda pulled Wren's folder from the others and set it beside Junen's.
"Two down," he said, voice quiet but firm. "Now we find fire."
Koda leaned over the three profiles one last time. His hand hovered briefly over Callix's name… then Fenrick's… before coming to rest gently on Wren Dal.
"Wren's the most adaptable," he said. "She's sharp enough to anticipate, subtle enough to maneuver, and her instincts are clean. She'll see what others miss."
He looked at Maia and Terron.
"She can act as our control mage and fill the gap we never truly had — a scout. Someone who moves quietly when we can't afford to announce ourselves."
Maia nodded. "And Junen will complement her. They won't need to speak much. They'll just move together."
Terron cracked his knuckles. "Alright then. The whisper with a spine it is."
Koda pulled Wren's folder from the others and set it beside Junen's.
"Two down," he said, voice quiet but firm. "Now we find fire."