Chapter 6: A catalyst
The Center was only a short 15 minute walk away from Guiding Center B. Guiding Center A was also only 15 minutes away but in the opposite direction, along with Guiding Center C.
It was one of the reasons why the Guiding Centers were so highly competitive against each other. Having the Center being the focal point of the area made sense, since everyone, Guide or Esper went to the Center after they'd awakened to check their Class.
The Center was also run by the government. Back in the day, it also used to have total control of all Espers as well, until an Esper broke off and formed the first Guild.
Now the government separated from the Center and had a whole Department where the Espers who worked for the government were stationed. It was the Department of Esper Control, or the D.E.C. for short.
Kellen was fairly certain that when his parents took 'vacations' they were working for the D.E.C. since they had worked for them before the Center had separated and created the two entities. It wasn't a far split though, since the D.E.C. and the Center were in the same building still.
Similar to the Guiding Centers, the tower that held the Center and D.E.C. was all glass. But unlike any of the Guiding Centers, not just Guiding Center B, the area in front of the building wasn't utilized that well. it was practically a parking lot with a few miserable benches in strict formal lines. The trees planted next to them felt like the colour had been sucked out of them. It had nothing to do with Kellen projecting his bleak outlook on the building either. The uniforms for the D.E.C. and the center were slate gray with black accents, which didn't help the image they projected.
Despite that, Kellen watched as the excited faces of young Espers and Guides entered into the large glass doors with their parents. This was a hopeful place for lots of people. If the circumstances were different, Kellen was sure he would be excited for this retesting. But given his history, all he could feel were chills running down his spine, and how clammy his hands were.
Swallowing, the Guide moved towards the sliding doors, his hands shaking. He glanced towards the giant fixture above him, the chandelier that was two storeys in length. He supposed it could have been pretty, but it felt rather threatening to him, the reflective shards of crystal looked like daggers aimed directly at him.
Kellen forced himself to line up behind the rest of the people in the lobby, and he was slightly grateful that the line was moving slowly today. He gripped onto his wrist with his hand, trying to hide the fact he was trembling like a leaf.
He'd been avoiding looking at the front desk until eventually, he got close enough he couldn't avoid it and he almost stumbled.
The lady who was working at the front desk was the first person to sneer at him when he hadn't improved like he thought he would, the first time. She'd taken pride in making him feel miserable and small, and here she was, once more.