Chapter 37: The Guides know best

Taylor arrived shortly after that, a few medical Espers beside her as she was clearly working while going in between the two locations. When she saw that everyone was there, she froze.

Kellen could tell that his Mom felt bad the moment she laid eyes on Taylor. She had clearly been ready to tear into the poor girl, but given the state that Taylor was in, even after being sent home to get some rest the night before? Well, his Mom wasn’t one to hurt people who were already injured.

“Damnit Taylor, you look terrible. Come here.” Henry said, stepping away from Kellen slightly to open his arms for the younger woman. Taylor hesitated for a moment, glancing at Kellen’s Mom, before she moved. She rushed towards Henry’s open arms, sinking into the Guide’s warm embrace and letting out a soft sigh. Charlie stepped in behind her, wrapping his arms around her and Taylor shuddered. It was clear that she needed this.

No one said a word while she was soothed by the atmosphere of the two Guides. One because he wasn’t allowed to guide anyone else, and the other because he was about to guide an S Class.

“When did you last go get a guiding session, Taylor?” Henry asked softly and Taylor shuddered.

“I’ve been fine.” She protested, which was an answer in and of itself. Henry tsked, and Kellen kept his mouth shut. Out of anyone, it was his Father who could convince someone to go get guiding. He had a better bedside manner compared to Kellen.

“Sure, you have been fine, but I can feel your energy in the air, Taylor. You are not doing okay. If you don’t take care of your own body, how are you going to be able to take care of others? Do you want me to check and see if your better compatibility guides are available today? I can do that right now. We can set it up so that you can sneak in a quick session while Rhys and Charlie have theirs. Kellen can keep an eye on the machines, you can still stay in the room. It can just be a quick hand holding session. Just like Rhys, hmm? Or we can do it just after, while your other coworker gets the area set up.” He was tempting her, his voice soothing.

Kellen had only used that kind of voice for a few months but he watched how effective it was on her. Taylor’s shoulders slumped as his Dad basically held her up.

“I don’t want to bother them. They have so many people to tend to.” She murmured and Kellen spoke up now. Soft, in the same voice. Taylor didn’t even flinch.

“Taylor, we put into motion that the healers of the Guild are prioritized right now. You are making their job harder if they can’t tend to you, alright? It’s not going to bother anyone if you take a little break. If you sit down, you can consider it a double purpose rest period, okay?” Rhys gave Kellen a strange look as he heard the gentle way Kellen was speaking to her. Kellen winked at Rhys, and watched the other man smile.

He turned his face away, hiding his smile from Taylor as the Woods family manipulated her into what they wanted. Even Charlie was doing it.

“I’ve heard how worried the Guides have been about the medical team, Ms. Green. If you get some guiding it will really take some stress off of their shoulders.” Charlie said, all sweetness and innocence. Taylor never stood a chance.

By the time that Taylor was out of Henry’s arms, he had already booked a time slot for her for a guiding session just after Charlie and Rhys’ session. So, in about half an hour. Taylor looked a little dazed, and that was when Carlos showed up.

He looked tired too, but he didn’t look as exhausted as Taylor was. Part of that had to do with the woman who was at his side.

Isabella.

She was wearing the uniform of her Guild, her dark hair pulled back in a tight, no nonsense ponytail that did nothing to hide the softness of her features, just kept her hair out of her face. Her soft, brown eyes took in the family dynamic, and she smiled.

“Hello. You must be Guide Woods’ parents. I am Isabella, Carlos’ Guide.” She said, introducing herself to Kellen’s Mom and Dad. Both seemed to relax at the sight of her while Carlos remained sharp and unapproachable.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isabella. Are you around so that nothing goes wrong with the transfusion today?” Kellen’s Mom asked and she nodded. Her gaze slid to Kellen and she gave him a smile.

“Carlos won’t admit it, but he’s greatly worried for how this will go. I’m the backup battery in case something goes wrong. I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you that Guide Woods is in good hands. Carlos owes a lot to Guide Woods, and he doesn’t want to mess this up.” She said with a twinkle in her eyes. Carlos snorted.

“Bella, you tell them too much.” He muttered, annoyed, but Kellen could tell he was really just embarrassed. Kellen’s Mom let out a laugh.

“It’s alright, Carlos. Our son has a habit of doing this. Saving those who need it the most. I appreciate what you are attempting to do for both of our children, and how hard you have worked. Thank you.” She sounded a little choked up and that only seemed to make Carlos more uncomfortable.

“I’ve done nothing.” He mumbled, more embarrassed while Isabella smiled.

“It’s a great honour to have someone like you thank us. We are only doing what we should do. For now, Esper Green, we have our set up ready. Is it just the Guiding Session left before we are ready to go?” Isabella asked and Taylor looked a little embarrassed. She went to answer, but Kellen’s Dad stepped in.

“She has her own Guiding Session in between. She’s been taking care of others for too long, Guide Bella.” His Dad said and Isabella looked a little surprised at what he called her, but she seemed pleased at the same time.

“Oh, that’s not good. I warned her a few days ago that she needed some care.” Isabella said and Kellen watched as Carlos narrowed his gaze at Taylor. He, of all people, knew how dangerous it was to go unguided for too long.

“You said that you had gone to get some guiding. Did you lie?” He asked, his voice made even more dangerous from the rasp to it. Taylor flinched.

“Something…came up.” She muttered and he let out the most dramatic sigh possible.

“Alright, let’s get this guiding session on the road so that I don’t have to wrestle an unwilling doctor down to an area of this damn tower where everyone’s afraid of me.” Carlos growled, storming towards the door and opening it. “Captain, grab your damn Guide. You can unhook him. The iv is on wheels for a reason.” Carlos said and Rhys chuckled, nodded, and moved.

Within five minutes the whole group was moving towards a familiar room and Kellen was in Rhys’ arms. Charlie was wheeling the iv beside them, looking pleasantly surprised and happy.

“I like Carlos’ Guide.” He whispered to Rhys and Kellen. Kellen chuckled.

“She’s nice, right? I’ve known her for a while. We were in the same intake for Guide School.” Kellen told both Rhys and Charlie. Charlie seemed surprised.

“She’s a C Class?” He asked, surprised, and Kellen chuckled.

“No no. She’s a B Class Guide. Just because we were in the same intake doesn’t mean we were in the same Class. However, she’s a very nice woman, always has been one. She was recruited into Sakura’s Guild pretty quickly. She was highlighted when Sakura took her in because her powers have an extremely calming effect on Espers.” Kellen told Charlie and Charlie seemed excited to hear that.

“Guides can have different effects?” He asked, and Kellen smiled.

“They can. I’m sorry. I meant to get you those books but then this-” Kellen started apologising but Charlie frowned and shook his head.

“No! Stop right there! I am not going to hear another word of an apology from someone who is ill!” He said, rather loudly and everyone glanced over their shoulders at Kellen and Charlie. Kellen flushed as Charlie looked smug. Kellen’s Mom gave Charlie a quiet thumbs up at his behaviour. That only made Kellen flush more.

“Charlie-” Kellen started but Charlie shook his head again.

“Nope! You taught me this. You can’t help it if you’re sick, and you are sick. We’re doing what we can to get you better, so don’t apologise when your plans went awry. I have time. We’ve discussed how I have too much free time. A few more days without books isn’t going to hurt me.” Charlie said with a cheeky grin and Kellen felt his shoulders drop. He sighed, smiling as he met the cheeky glinting gaze of the boy who he attempted to rescue, but had truly saved himself.

“Alright. I can’t fight you when you use my own logic against me. I’ll make sure to get you those books and research materials once I’m better, alright?” Kellen promised and Charlie nodded.

“Only after you get better. I don’t want you collapsing again. That was terrifying.” Charlie said and Kellen couldn’t agree more.

He never wanted to see Rhys looking so scared again.

~

Thankfully, the guiding session went without a single problem. There were some pain issues on both Charlie and Rhys’ side, but not enough for either of them that they wanted to stop or needed to stop. They went the full 15 minutes and while Rhys wasn’t guided to the same level that Kellen could do for Rhys in that time, he was in a much better state compared to before.

Was Kellen a bit glad to hear that an S Class Guide wasn’t able to guide Rhys to the same level that Kellen could? Kellen was never going to say it out loud, but Rhys wore that truth like a badge of honour.

“Sorry Charlie, Kellen’s the only one for me.” Rhys declared loudly to the room as they separated, taking the pads off of their chests. Charlie chuckled, getting help from Kellen’s Dad.

“That’s okay. I don’t take it personally, Captain. I’m actually relieved that that was the case. I think Kellen would have sent me away if that was the case.” He joked, smiling, and everyone chuckled.

Kellen was a little worried about how much the idea struck a chord inside of Kellen as soon as he heard it.

Taylor’s turn for Guiding was shortly after that, and a simple knock sounded on the other side of the door of the room. Kellen’s Mom made sure to answer it, escorting in one of Kellen’s students.

They smiled at Kellen, in work mode as they made their way towards Taylor. Taylor almost looked weary of the girl, but Kellen’s Dad was there, speaking softly to Taylor and it was short 20 minutes later before both Rhys and Taylor were in better condition and it was now time to begin the main event of the morning.

Testing if this ’crazy’ idea would actually work.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep