(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 117

Chapter 117: What it takes to be a Field Guide Chapter 117: What it takes to be a Field Guide “Alright everyone.

I hope you are ready.

Gather round.” Kellen barked, and the Guides moved closer to Kellen, even if they appeared uncomfortable.

Once everyone was close in, Kellen began.  “We know that some of you have an idea about what Field Guides are.

We are, in some ways, emergency rations when inside of a gate.

At least, that is what most of the outside world, and new Espers view us as.

But, we are more than that.  We are informational booklets themselves.

We are healers in a pinch, tour guides of an extreme ‘adventure park’, and yes, in some cases, rations themselves.

It is our duty to have more knowledge than everyone else that enters the gates.

Sometimes, that includes other Guides, but it definitely includes Espers.  We need to know what is safe, venomous, poisonous, any dangerous areas to look out for, what type of monsters roam certain areas, details about those monsters, what flora grow in the area, what type of gate, etc.

There have been times when knowing the breeding period of certain monsters can be the difference between you making it out of the gate alive, or in a body bag.  Some of this can be learned through books, and we will do our best to depart as much information as possible, but most of this is learned through experience.

As a Guild, our mission is to go to the front lines and close gates, which means we have access to as many gates as we need to make you lot good Field Guides.  My job is to take all of the base knowledge you have as regular Guides and turn you into spectacular Field Guides.

I have seven years of active experience.

Most Field Guides last 2 years, and then they retire.

That is fine.

If you last two years going in and out of gates, wear that with honour.  But keep some things in mind.

You are a Guide in the truest sense as a Field Guide.

With all of the information and physical prowess we are going to drill into you, your job is to make sure everyone you brought into the gate, makes it back out alive.

Injured?

No big deal.

Potentially missing a limb?

Healers are outside waiting for a reason.

As long as they make it out alive, you’re golden.

But if they don’t make it out alive?

You better have a damn good reason why someone didn’t make it out.  Which takes us to why it is so important to be physically fit.

I do not care what size you are.

That has never been a concern of mine, and never will.

My biggest focus while you are my students is to make sure you can get yourself, and others, out of a dangerous situation.

Sometimes, that’s a few seconds of effort, and other times, it is several minutes to hours.

You will need to have stamina, you will need to have guts.

We are going to push you to your limits, and further.

You will need to know how deep your powers go.

What are your true limits?

Because that will be the difference between life and death for you.

There is a saying that goes around the front lines.

Brent?” Kellen turned to Brent, who nodded.  “An untrained Guide is dead weight, and dead weight gets left behind.” Kellen nodded.  “We are here to make sure you are not dead weight.

As I said, our job is to teach you how to survive on the front lines, and how to keep others alive as well.

We’re going to put you through your paces today because we need to know what we’re starting with.

As Guides, we are expected to have a good memory, but that’s about it.

For now, split into two groups and Guide Jameson and I will lead you in some warm up stretches before we run you into the ground.” Kellen told them with a slightly menacing grin.

He watched as a couple of them swallowed.  Bree and the two Guides who had witnessed what Kellen had done stayed together and were insistent that they had Kellen as their instructor.

Kellen had no idea why, since it was obvious that he scared them.

But, he followed their wishes and motioned for more to join his group.

He made sure that he had more in his group than Brent.

So, Kellen ended up with about 8 wannabe Field Guides in his group, while Brent had 4.  Brent was clearly grateful for the smaller group, blowing Kellen a kiss much to Kellen’s exasperation.

Brent was right.

He had never truly trained anyone, but Kellen knew he had the makings to be a good teacher, he just needed experience.

But, Brent had still used a lot of his own powers in the last 2 hours, and Kellen wanted to give him some time to gather himself.  Plus, Kellen had the training experience.

He’d trained several dumb, idiot Guides on the front lines.

Hell, he’d trained Brent, and he turned out just fine.

He’d already lasted 3 years.

That was a good track record.  Once the groups were sorted, Kellen watched as everyone relaxed as they started normal, average stretches.

It made Kellen smile that they thought he was going to put them through something insane, even as a warm up.

That being said, Kellen could tell he was going to need to send them to the medical bay once this was over.  This was going to be awful for them.

They were far below what he had anticipated for fitness level, especially from people who wanted to become Field Guides.

This was going to be a rough day all around.  Brent and Kellen moved them towards the obstacle course with the students in tow after the stretches were done.

They were clearly interested, but also weary of it.

Kellen could understand why.

They were regular Guides, anything was scary.  No no, Kellen shouldn’t let his bias show.

Some of the regular Guides had just tried to kill several Espers, so they could do scary things too.  “Alright everyone, in the same groups, you are going to try to run the obstacle course.

Get as far as you can.

Guide Jameson and I are going to mark down your names, times, and how far you’ve gotten.

As time goes on, we will come back to the obstacle course room, and you are going to do your best to beat your time.

This isn’t a competition, this is to check where your fitness levels and your ability to adapt to situations under pressure.” Bree raised her hand and Kellen nodded at her.  “Guide Woods, would you and Guide Jameson run it first?

I’m just not confident that I can run it without an example first.” The group of Guides began to nod enthusiastically and Kellen glanced over at Brent.

They had planned to run it after, but Kellen wasn’t going to protest too much about running it right away.  Brent sighed, pulling his leather jacket off, leaving him with his gloves on.

His prosthetic was in full view, and Kellen could tell they were staring.

The Guides eyes zeroed in on it.

Kellen took off his jacket at the same time, tossing it nearby.

“Sure, we can do that.

Did one of you want to count us down?

Kellen asked, and one of the girls nodded.

Brent and Kellen got into place besides the cones they had set up at the beginning of the course.

Waiting.  “O-Okay.

Ready, set, go!” Brent and Kellen took off, both of them having pent up energy from the events upstairs.

They were flying through the course, both of them panting as they moved.

They had made it harder to complete, but since they had personally made the changes, with the help of the Captain, it was slightly easier for them.  Brent and Kellen were neck in neck, even as they got to the bell.

Both of them grabbed it forcefully, hands on top of each other.

Their chests heaved with their breaths, and Kellen glanced at Brent.

His eyes were lighter green, his cheeks flushed, and he looked alive.

Brent glanced at Kellen before grinning.  “A tie?” He suggested and Kellen laughed.  “I had my hand on it first.” Kellen told him breathlessly, and he shook his head.  “We both grabbed it at the same time.

A tie, Kellen.” Another voice interrupted them.  “T-That was amazing!” It was the girl who had counted down for them.

They glanced down at her, before both of them shared a look, and began to climb down.

They met the group of Guides below.

All of them had stars in their eyes as they looked over the Field Guides.  “Are we going to be able to move like that too!” “Oh, that was so cool!” “You were so fast!

It was like ‘whoosh!’ and off you went!” “You guys moved like Espers!” Kellen chuckled at their words, pushing his hair out of his face.  “I am glad you guys liked our example so much, but now it’s your turn.

Yes, our plan is for you to get to half of the level that we’re moving at, and after that it’s up to your determination to get better.

A good trait for a Field Guide is never to get complacent, or your life could be on the line.” “Don’t get cocky either.” Brent added, grabbing a water bottle from a table nearby, that they had set up for this exact reason.

He took a huge gulp.

“I know that Guide Woods is better than me, but there are plenty of Espers that are better than either one of us.

We’re just good compared to regular civilians, and that’s not a bad thing.

It means we aren’t a burden in gates, which means we get more jobs.

And we come back alive.” They were hanging on each of their words, taking them more seriously.  At least the new Guides.

The three that had seen what Kellen had done, and had listened to his lecture upstairs had taken Kellen’s words seriously from that moment on.

They didn’t need these lectures.

CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Awe, the ones who don’t know have stars in their eyes.