Chapter 26: Too inexperienced to know better

“The booklet was a good place to start. I had the same thing when I jumped Classes. Did you get the booklet when you arrived at Guiding Center C?” Kellen asked and received a blank look from Charlie.

“A booklet?” He asked slowly. “I only received the one that Lieutenant Casper gave me. I honestly hadn’t seen a booklet like it before. Are they common?” Charlie asked and Kellen wanted to groan, but didn’t do it.

He had no clue, and it would be rude to him. Charlie was, as Kellen knew, still learning. He had thought he was a normal Guide prior to this and when Kellen had found him he had been skin and bones.

How the hell an S Class Guide ended up in that condition, Kellen didn’t need to know. He knew what he had walked in on and what he had saved Charlie from.

Instead of groaning, Kellen just gave Charlie a tight smile.

“Well, they are pretty common since those are the booklets that are made by the Guiding Authority. That’s the body that is responsible for Guide Rights across the world. They made this in several languages and distributed them across the world so that we all have a basic level of information that we all share. They were tired of meeting Guides that had a lack of knowledge of their own body.” Kellen winced since that was something he had been doing to him. “It’s kid friendly since Guides can awaken early as well. It needs to be digestible for younger minds. It can also be expanded on once they grow up.” Kellen said.

Charlie blinked, nodded, and seemed to sit with what Kellen had told him. Then he exhaled slowly.

“Alright. That sounds…good. It makes sense. We didn’t get those. We just got told what level we were, and what we could do. What was the limit of our powers and if we went over it, what that would mean.” Charlie drew a thumb across his neck, clearly indicating that he meant death. Kellen felt his mouth firm into a thin line.

He should have known that they would have no problems threatening children when they were already withholding their birthdays, their actual Class levels, and everything else. It was just eerie how he mimed it. There was nothing behind Charlie’s eyes as he did it. Like he had done it a million times before this.

“I see.” Kellen said, adjusting in his seat. “Well, maybe I’ll get you all of the booklets so that you can read them all, see what information that they had in them, and how they built up to S Class. It might have been confusing for you to read the S Class booklet if you didn’t have the back knowledge of the other booklets.” Charlie nodded slowly, agreeing with Kellen as he spoke.

“I think I would like that.” He said slowly and Kellen nodded. He stared at him, taking in Charlie’s slightly pale expression before he sighed.

“Alright. Okay. So, they spoke a bit about auras and the like when it comes to S Class Guides, but it’s far more than that. Espers, especially Espers of a lower Class level than you are drawn towards you. It’s far beyond instinctual since just the air around you can guide them. You’re like a walking diffuser of guiding power.” Charlie’s eyes widened at Kellen’s words.

“What?” He seemed shocked, but Kellen was sure that they did mention it when they went over S Class powers in the booklet. Maybe not as well, or to such a degree that Charlie wouldn’t have taken it as seriously.

“You’re in danger just because of that. That power alone is very attractive to all kinds of Espers, and regular humans. While Guides are stronger than the regular public because our bodies have to change to be able to hold all of the powers that we have inside of us, we are not stronger than most Espers, and we are not stronger than guns.” Kellen told him and Charlie nodded seriously.

Kellen watched as he distractedly picked up a treat and began to munch on it. Kellen almost smiled. That was a good sign that he had been around his parents too much. They were always subconsciously forcing you to eat.

“The other obvious thing is that your base as an S Class Esper is bigger and can contain more guiding power than those at an A Class level. You are probably double someone who is at the middle range of A Class like I am, and probably triple what someone at the beginning level of A Class.” Kellen told him and Charlie blinked.

“You’re at the middle range?” He asked, sounding curious, and Kellen nodded.

“Well, that’s what I tested at last time.” Kellen told him and Charlie looked a little confused.

“Have you been tested multiple times?” He asked and Kellen nodded. He felt a cold sweat run down his spine at the question, knowing what the next question would be. He knew where this was going. “Why?” He asked and Kellen pressed his hand against his thigh. He tried not to clench it too hard, forcing himself to reach out, pick up his drink, take another sip and then put the cup down.

“I didn’t think that they got my Class right.” Kellen told him simply. “I was right, but it took years for me to be right.” Kellen said simply. It felt strange to phrase what he had gone through so simply. So…quietly. There was so much pain hidden in those words that it felt wrong to say it so simply.

Charlie didn’t question further, he just nodded.

“I was tested a lot too as a child.” Charlie said, and it was sweet that he thought that he could speak of a comparable situation. Not because Kellen thought that what he had gone through was tough. He knew that what Charlie had gone through as a kid was worse than whatever Kellen had gone through.

“Well, I don’t know if they were exactly the same, but it isn’t important for what we are talking about.” Kellen said. “Anyways, S Class Guides have a lot more power to work with, they emit an aura, and their eyes glow like A Classes when they experience a great power usage or they are feeling a lot of emotions.” Charlie stared at Kellen blankly when he said that.

“It’s never happened to me.” Charlie said. Kellen had a feeling that reaction might have been scared out of him. It would go against what the people who raised him taught him so that he would blend in. So that others didn’t question what he said he was. C Classes certainly didn’t have glowing eyes. Kellen would know.

“Well, there might be a reason behind that. You are an S Class, so you are capable of having glowing eyes.” Kellen told him and Charlie seemed to accept that answer. “Again, the aura is the most dangerous part of being an S Class. It means that the more you interact with others, or the more people you have the chance to run into, the harder it is to hide you and protect you.” Kellen said. “The aura means that Espers can sense where you are.” Kellen told him. “Good and bad ones.” Charlie nodded slowly as he processed that information.

“So…it’s like a beacon?” Kellen nodded to his question. “Why would we get that? If it’s dangerous, why would they attach that to S Classes?” He asked and Kellen shrugged.

“My only guess is that S Class Guides, just like S Class Espers, are meant to be humanity’s hope. If you can’t find them, you can’t use them. It’s just unfortunate that so much of humanity are fucking monsters.” Kellen said. “It’s also why there is a database for A Class Guides and up. So that the governments, the countries, everyone can keep track of where the Guides are. Where the ’valuable assets’ are. Of course, I would never view you that way, nor does Rhys. We view you as a human first, and worry more about your protection.” Kellen told him.

Charlie sat there, processing what Kellen was saying.

“But I’m registered?” Charlie asked after a moment and Kellen nodded.

“You were registered the day that we tested you. It wasn’t announced though, like it normally would be. For your safety.” Kellen said. “We acted big and scary so that you would remain without a target painted on your back. That will change once you start working as an S Class Guide. However, I want to deal with the E.A.G. in our city first.” Kellen said, then hesitated. “I am willing to listen to your complaints about that, and your concerns. I know you want to work, but it’s dangerous.” Kellen told him.

Charlie was nodding, his face serious before he sighed softly.

“You keep saying it’s dangerous, and I understand that the aura thing is a big deal, but…I think there’s something more to it, isn’t there? Otherwise you wouldn’t be enforcing that it’s dangerous. What am I not understanding?” Charlie asked and Kellen blinked. Oh, he hadn’t explained the most important detail yet.

“I’m sorry Charlie, I’m not intentionally keeping it from you this time. I just, gosh, that’s on me.” Kellen said, gently tapping the palm of his hand against his forehead. “Espers can get addicted to you guiding them if you guide them over and over. Your powers have a higher level of relaxing energy to them. That’s why we’re so cautious about who remains around you. Who can resist you the longest.” Charlie’s jaw dropped as his eyes widened.

“Even if I’m not touching them?” He asked and Kellen nodded.

“Even if you’re in the other room and your guiding is leaking through the door and walls.” Kellen told him and Charlie seemed shocked.

“Is that why the guards have been changing so much?” He asked and Kellen nodded. Charlie blinked, stunned, and leaned back against the couch.

“I’m a walking bomb, basically.” He said and Kellen winced. That wasn’t true. He wasn’t.

“You aren’t that, Charlie.” Kellen started, but Charlie shook his head.

“No, I am, and that’s why you didn’t tell me right away. I get it now. You were worried I was going to blame myself for this, and run away.” Charlie said and Kellen winced again.

“I was more worried you were going to put yourself in a dangerous situation.” Kellen countered and Charlie let out a little laugh.

“Which would be running away because I would have thought I was more trouble than I was worth.” Charlie said and Kellen couldn’t exactly counter the younger man’s words. Charlie let out another light laugh. “You were right not to tell me. I would have back then. I wasn’t coming to run away from the Guiding Center. I was coming to help you. I didn’t know how bad it was, not really.” Charlie shook his head, smiling bitter. “I was so upset that you were keeping things from me, but it turns out it was for the better that you did.” The way that Charlie was speaking about himself hurt Kellen’s heart.

Kellen bent, leaning forward and reaching out his hand. He placed it in Charlie’s knee, giving it a squeeze.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You didn’t know. You had no idea, no understanding of what was going on around you. Be kind to yourself.” Kellen told him softly. “I just didn’t want to overwhelm you with all of the information that was important for you to know. I should have told you the rest of this sooner, but…” Kellen trailed off. It was obvious what had happened.

Kellen’s injuries were a clear sign of it.

Charlie let out another bitter laugh, shaking his head, before he smiled.

“Thank you for saying that.” Charlie said before he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and then met Kellen’s gaze. “I’ll do it. I’ll guide Rhys. I want to do something for you guys, and if Rhys isn’t going to take everything from me, I’m willing to try. Even if it hurts.” Charlie said and Kellen felt his heart squeeze. He squeezed Charlie’s knee as well.

It was a big thing he was doing. He just hoped he didn’t regret it later.

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