Chapter 471: The ride down
Kellen was brought down to the lower level where he had normally met his students when they came back from the front lines. He hadn’t seen the other side of this place, and when he got there with Casper, he found that they weren’t alone.
Another Esper was waiting there. It wasn’t Morrison since he was pretty sure he remembered someone saying he was in a gate when everything went down. It was another man who Kellen had seen around and spoken to but they didn’t run in the same circles.
"Kellen, this is George Winston. He’s been with the Guild about as long as I have. He’s also been transporting people to and from the front lines for a long time as well. Rhys asked for him specifically to drive you to the front lines. He is a former member of a hate group." Casper told him.
Kellen scanned the dirty blond hair and brown eyes with a different tone. It wasn’t one of judgement, more of calculation.
"I’m assuming that means you’re at least somewhat reformed?" Kellen asked and Esper Winston chuckled.
"Somewhat. I’m how Gunther was able to get in a lot easier then if it had been someone else. Even if it’s in the past, my old name carries some weight." He admitted, and Kellen noticed that like Carlos, he had a large slit across his throat. Was that just something they liked to do to people they didn’t like? It was ridiculous.
"I see. Well, I’m glad that’s the case." Kellen told him and Casper nodded as he looked between the two of them. Kellen glanced at Casper and noticed how his eye was twitching. He wondered for a moment why that was happening until Casper reached over, grabbed Kellen and pulled him in for a hug.
Kellen was a little stiff, having not expected that the other man was going to hold him. Casper wasn’t much for hugging in all the time that Kellen had observed him.
Casper gave him a tight squeeze, pulled away, and opened and closed his mouth. His eyes weren’t spilling over with tears, but he did look emotional.