(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel 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. _{frёewebηovel.cѳm}

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.