Chapter 349: Back to what we know

Kellen did feel like he was walking up to a tv set or a movie set given how many traps he was seeing. It felt less like an actual Guild building, and more like someone should be filming this and putting it on t.v.

The Healers were in their glee, quite excited to chat and explain about what each trap did and how it would harm the bad guys who approached the traps. It really made Kellen think that the obsession that this one Healer had was traps, and from the gleam in Brent’s eyes, that appeared to be what he thought as well.

Kellen was glad that Brent was amused, even as Sergei and Kellen remained on high alert. Partially because Kellen could tell that the further they went in that something wasn’t quite right and it was probably related to the Espers going a little too far in their desire to protect everyone, and also because it was so quiet.

Thankfully, Uncle Vance showed them why it was so quiet rather quickly, putting some of Kellen’s worries to rest, and exacerbating the others.

Kellen wasn’t as familiar with this Medical Bay. Each head of the Medical Bay had their own ways and layouts for how they wanted them to look, so Kellen kind of knew that they would be different. What he didn’t know was that hidden behind two layers of corridors past Uncle Vance’s office was a large open space that would make Miro swoon.

It was a huge open space with a damn tree in the center, surrounded by benches, more greenery, and more benches. It was clearly to help with the healing process that some Guides and Espers had to go through. Healing of the mind, not just the body, and that was where most of the people were gathered.

Including those that had clearly used their powers too much. Brent went stiff, able to see powers in the very air, while Kellen just caught a glimpse of yellow in the iris of someone who walked by, and snapped his hand out.

"Protein and carbs. Now." Kellen barked, not taking a no for an answer. Kellen didn’t even recognise the person he had grabbed, but Sergei didn’t freak out, nor did Zaria as he dragged away the shocked Esper with wide eyes. Kellen brought him to a bench nearby, pushed him into sitting down, and scowled as he slipped off his glove and gave his hand to the Esper.

Brent growled.

"I’m going to circle up the worst offenders. Zaria, you’re coming with me, Sergei, you’re in charge of keeping Kellen from going overboard. 15 minutes. That’s it." Brent ordered, giving Kellen the freedom to focus on the task at hand, while Uncle Vance stood there, a little shocked.

That lack of an immediate response was a telltale sign from the Esper that he wasn’t quite well either. Kellen hissed, annoyed as he yanked off the goggles he’d had on his face and stared into the Esper’s eyes whose hand he was holding. He wasn’t an S Class, Kellen was able to tell by the pull of his powers on his own reserves, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t been reckless.

He was a Healer, Kellen could tell. His powers inside weren’t overwhelming in how much they took, but they were overwhelming in how deeply they took. The giant syringe that he was, that Kellen had to hook up to his arm was clear in how much it needed at the very least, but it still took a while to give it a steady, even stream.

Sergei’s hand came down too soon, but at the very least Kellen had prevented them from surging.

When Kellen opened his eyes, Uncle Vance was there with a few of the Espers that Kellen and the others had been traveling with. They had clearly gone with Uncle Vance in the time that Kellen hadn’t been paying attention to grab what Kellen ordered, while Sergei not too gently escorted the Esper he had Guided away, and the Wind Esper helped over the next Healer who needed Kellen’s help.

"Brent ordered that we let you have a snack break in between every two Espers." The Wind Esper said and Kellen nodded. He trusted that the others would have their back, especially the trap obsessed Healer, so now he was focusing on what would always be his main task, Guiding.

Uncle Vance stood by helplessly, uselessly, as he watched Kellen begin his second guiding session of the moment, not knowing that he was going to be the next one after this Esper because Kellen couldn’t handle him being useless.

The second Esper was also a Healer, but they were a rather comical-sized washing tub that Kellen had to help fill with water. Kellen had no idea what that was about, but he didn’t question it, just worked.

Sergei also stopped Kellen this time, the Wind Esper forcing Kellen to stop and eat. He was about to pull another Esper over, when Kellen shook his head and pointed to Uncle Vance.

"Him." Kellen ordered, and the other S Classes didn’t even hesitate.

After all, Kellen was not only keeping them alive, being around him lifted their spirits, gave them guiding even if they were imprinted, and they were worried about the Healer as well.

Uncle Vance was waving his hands, complaining about being one of the first few to be helped when there were clearly others who needed it more. He was laughing, putting on a good show, while Kellen ripped and tore into high calorie dense sheets of dried meat. He washed it down with a dense calcium drink. The combo was not great, but it was what he had available and he wasn’t going to be picky.

He glared at the Esper speaking, chewing, and only spoke after he rinsed his mouth.

"If you don’t shut up, Uncle Vance, things will only get worse. You’re going to drain me more than any of the others here. Are you telling me to Guide you later just because you’re you? Shut up. If something happens, you need to be able to act with a clear head. Brent is making sure I don’t go overboard, so accept your guiding like a good little Esper before I ask them to assist me in holding you down. You know I would hate to do that to you, but your health comes before your comfort." Kellen warned with a serious growl. Uncle Vance, who had heard of this Kellen, but had never truly been faced with this Kellen because, well, he wasn’t a bad man, blinked.

"Oh." He said dully. "You’re...not taking no for an answer." He said. Kellen nodded, taking the open fourth drink that an Esper had offered him and downing it without blinking. Uncle Vance stared. He held out his hand compliantly and Kellen grunted.

"Good." Kellen said, taking his hand and beginning his guiding session.

Uncle Vance was in the same vein as the syringe Healer. He was a giant roll of gauze. So big it was beyond Kellen’s comprehension, truly. Kellen was fairly certain he knew what he had to do, as most Guides know instinctually, and so Kellen began to attempt to weave more gauze, but that wasn’t correct.

It took Kellen precious time to realise that it wasn’t that he had to make more gauze per se, but that he had to take the giant gauze sheet and break it up into smaller pieces with a pair of scissors and divide them into two piles for use. It was a rather abstract idea but who was Kellen to judge?

He got to work, cutting and dividing as quickly as he could. When he felt Sergei bother him, he resisted for a little bit because he’d wasted his time, but he relented when he could hear Sergei’s voice through his guiding session.

Kellen pulled back, breathing heavily, huffing as he stared into the slightly shocked, but healthier-looking expression of Uncle Vance.

"That was one of the most efficient guiding sessions I’ve ever had." Uncle Vance said carefully, and Kellen laughed.

"Of course it was. I did it." Kellen wasn’t cocky, he was being serious. His productivity had shot through the roof since he’d jumped to A Class, and was even better at S Class now. He’d used to be envious of how much Brent had been able to do, but now here Kellen was, doing the same as the man.

Kellen would have died guiding an S Class before now, and here he was, in charge of several. If the Kellen from a few months ago saw Kellen now, he wouldn’t believe his own eyes. He’d think it a hoax.

"You took too long." Sergei warned and Kellen waved his concern off dismissively.

"Not long enough for it to matter, Sergei. I took a little longer to figure out how to guide Uncle Vance, so I took a bit longer to make sure he got a proper session." Kellen explained. Sergei’s expression didn’t shift, so Kellen couldn’t tell if he understood what Kellen was saying or not. It didn’t seem to matter, since Sergei was in charge of making sure that Kellen came out in one piece, not if the others got a proper guiding session.

~

Kellen wasn’t sure how much time passed like that, Kellen guiding two Espers, taking a break and stuffing his face, while Brent and Zaria went about checking on others and giving much lighter guiding to those who needed it.

It had to be at least a few hours, and as the time slipped away, Kellen’s anxiety shot up. Where was Rhys? Where were the others? What the hell was going on? Kellen’s gut was twisting, worry eating him alive.

What if something awful had happened but Kellen didn’t know? What if Rhys’ powers were rubbing off on him and he suddenly couldn’t sense if something close to him was injured or worse, dead?

Kellen didn’t like that thought, so he simply didn’t think about it, even as the rock in his gut continued to grow. He just wished that he could contact someone on the outside. Why were their phones down? What was going on outside of the Guild?