(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 436

Chapter 436: The first day after everyone arrived on the front lines
Everyone got to the front line safely. No one was hurt, no attack happened, it just went…smoothly.

Brent checked in via Sergei’s set up with Rhys when he got in, and Hill also happened to be there. Kellen himself was in a class so he wasn’t able to speak to them but Rhys told Kellen later that day that everything seemed normal, no hiccups, and everyone was excited to be there for the first time, and in the Field Guides’ case, be back.

Rhys had smiled at him warmly as he had said that, happy to be able to soothe some of Kellen’s worry. Kellen was grateful that he was there, looking out for him. Kellen was also grateful that he took the step and let him know about what was eating him alive. Rhys hadn’t freaked out like he had worried, and instead had been very accepting of what he’d said.

He also hadn’t brushed him off, which he didn’t think he would, but it was nice to know that Rhys had his back in everything. This was still a slightly foreign concept to him in practise, even if he understood what it was when it was on paper.

He didn’t hate it though, and despite everything else going on, Kellen was rolling out the new training program for the Field Guide teachers the same day that others left for the front lines. The regular, now committed to becoming Field Guides were getting put through a simulation style training, working in groups with headsets on as if they were going through a gate up in the training rooms at the A Class gym. Casper had suggested that as his next move so that they didn’t feel like they were missing out on anything, and Kellen thought it was a great idea.

That left very little for Kellen to do during their class but monitor them to make sure nothing was going wrong. He could then send everything to the printers, have a lovely regular Guide help him organise, staple and label all of the teacher booklets that he and Brent had finalised before Brent left, and hand them out during his afternoon class dedicated to those who wanted to teach.

Lunch was a quiet affair. He had it with Charlie, his Dad and his Mom. They came down and ate with him after Kellen had asked them to join him for lunch. Charlie was doing good. He’d asked for one of the teacher booklets, just to leaf through, and Kellen had no problem giving it to him. He was curious, and catching on to the fact that no one was letting him guide.

He had apparently finally asked Casper and Kellen’s Dad about it recently, and after having everything explained to him, and why they had delayed doing so, he’d grown a bit more quiet. More contemplative. He was having a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that they didn’t want to use him for his powers.

Casper was doing his best, as the head of the Guiding Division could, but Charlie was a bit of a special case. Everyone was pretty sure he came from a bad background, and that he had been being abused, so everyone was walking on eggshells around him. There were a few who weren’t, and Kellen was glad for it. He also acknowledged the fact that he had been one of the people treating him like he was delicate.

He had been, both physically and mentally before, but now that he had a little bit less on his plate, Kellen was going to suggest for Charlie to join him for his morning classes. Work on turning that skin and bones body into something that could fight back. Not let others push him around.

It was one of the few things that Kellen could offer him that Kellen was wholly sure he could teach, and Kellen brought it up during lunch.

Kellen watched as he lit up, excited. He’d already sat in on a few classes already, but to get the formal invite? He was excited.

Kellen told him that he was going to pretty much be getting a personal one on one with him since the others were at a different stage than him, but Charlie didn’t seem to mind. He was just excited to be included, and that Kellen hadn’t discarded him when he’d shown interest.

Kellen’s parents were also happy with the outcome, even if Kellen’s Mom was a little disappointed that she hadn’t heard back from the contacts she had about ‘strange happenings’ with other paired Espers and Guides. Kellen could understand why she was upset since Rhys was also upset that he had worked up the courage to reach out and admit that something was wrong, but nothing had come of it.

Kellen hesitated, since his Dad already had a lot on his plate dealing with his grief, but…Kellen suggested it anyway.

He asked the question. Were they also reaching out to the Guides of the pairs, or were they only reaching out to the Espers? Kellen could have heard a pin drop in the few seconds of silence that followed before his Mom put her head in her hands and groaned.

“I’m a fucking idiot.” She grumbled and Kellen felt a smile crease his face as he met his Dad’s gaze, who was also smiling. He was offering comfort to his wife though, his hand on her back, patting it comfortingly.

“It’s okay darling. Sometimes we all need someone to point things out to us. Should I reach out to the better halves of these couples?” His Dad asked warmly, without belittling his wife. His Mom let out another huge sigh.

“They would take it better if you reached out.” She agreed glumly, and Kellen felt his smile widen. His Dad’s expression softened, and he raised his gaze to Kellen’s again.

“I’ll reach out today. Don’t worry, I can see it in your eyes. I can manage this much. Dina and I have been in contact almost everyday and she has been keeping me in the loop. I’m going to be there over video call when they have the funeral.” His Dad told him. It seemed to relax him slightly that he had an end date. A time to truly, fully mourn her.

Kellen felt himself nod, his smile softening.

“Alright Dad. I’ll trust you with that. I’ll get the list of Espers that Rhys has reached out to too, if you’re okay doing that.” Kellen suggested and his Dad nodded, smiling.

“Of course, sweetheart. I can do that.” His Dad told him, and they then went to talk about softer, easier topics.

When time rolled around for his afternoon class, Kellen was happy to meet them in one of the larger conference rooms on the Guiding Division level. They were usually used for meetings for the whole Guiding Division, which Kellen had heard the minutes for but had never really attended so far. His other obligations took precedence over that, and he wasn’t really hired on in the same capacity as the others. He was the personal Guide for the Captain of the Guild.

Most rules didn’t apply to him. For better or for worse.

The new Field Guide teachers were hesitant when they stepped into the room and saw that there were little booklets placed at almost every seat. Kellen was at the front of the class, smiling as he went over his own notes.

“Take a seat where there is a booklet please.” Kellen confirmed, with a smile and it only took about 5 minutes for the whole class to trickle in. Kellen felt his chest expand. He had kind of wanted to do this with Brent, but this was why he had a partner. So that he could do multiple things at once and not leave any of the people who relied on him out to dry.

It was a bittersweet feeling, but he was glad that he had someone like Brent who he could rely on. Who had proven that Kellen could rely on him.

Kellen pulled up the small slideshow that he and Brent had made before he left, explaining the booklet and each category. Kellen expected that they would do some reading, and each week they would be tackling a different part of the teaching structure that Kellen and Brent had created. Kellen expected them to have their own book to write everything in in tandem, so that would be a requirement for tomorrow. They just needed to pick them up from Casper’s secretary, since Kellen and Brent had already gone through the work to get that ready for them.

Then, once Kellen had gone through all of the gritty details, he opened the floor up for questions.

They had quite a few, which made Kellen actually happy. He answered every single one they had, and was impressed with how much thought, and how serious they were. Lots of questions about what the next step was after this education, and Kellen was blunt with them. Some of them would probably stay here, in the Guild, and help Kellen out with teaching more of the Guides that worked here in the same, condensed fashion that they had gone through. That was the future that the Guild wanted for all Guides.

For every last one to spend time on the front lines, like a Field Guide, but unlike those who had volunteered the first time, they didn’t get this choice. They were getting cross trained because they needed to, not because they wanted to.

That seemed to surprise the group, but lots of them were nodding as if that made perfect sense. Kellen then explained the next step after that.

The rest? Kellen wasn’t fully sure. There might be some inquiries internationally, but he knew for sure that Captain Sergei and Captain Sakura had been pestering him about training their people.

That seemed to surprise them. They hadn’t considered that, or at least not the international angle and Kellen chuckled. He told them that they should be proud of what they had accomplished. That it was a sign of how they had behaved on the front lines that word had spread as far as it had.

The booklets, the informational briefing, and the question period had given them a lot to chew on. They left, all in deep thought and Kellen sat back on his desk. This had been a good day. He felt like he had gotten a lot accomplished and that he was moving in the right direction. Things were good, physically.

Kellen, however, never felt like everything was okay though. That feeling that felt like a gut punch? It wasn’t gone. It hadn’t faded just because everyone had left for the front lines. Oh no.

It wasn’t as potent, but Kellen felt that sense of unease throughout the whole day. It was lingering behind him, tainting every positive interaction he’d had all day. Kellen wondered for how long it was going to linger, or if it was ever going to fade away?

He hoped it did. He really hoped it did.