Chapter 14

Ulric was resting on his bed when he heard Jesse groan. "Hello there," he said.

"I thought I told you to go away," Jesse said.

"You know that I can't do that," Ulric said. "You're my friend," he said. " Tears brimmed Jesse's green eyes.

"Why do things like this always happen to me?" Jesse asked. "I changed my identity and left my world because of jerks like him," he said.

"Don't cry," Ulric said, wiping Jesse's eyes with his shirt. "There are idiots like him everywhere," he said.

"Will I ever be able to be happy?" Jesse asked.

Ulric sat down behind Jesse and gently pulled him into his arms. "Yes, you just need to believe that you deserve it," he said. "Jess, will you let me be the one to make you happy?" he asked. Jesse glanced at Ulric with a puzzled look.

"You do," Jesse said. "You're the first person who actually acted like they cared," he said. They silently sat there for several seconds. "Ulric, why did you call me Jess?" he asked.

"It just slipped out," Ulric said. "If you are uncomfortable, I can continue to call you Jesse," he said.

"That's okay," Jesse said. "I like the nickname," he said.

They glanced at the door when a soft knock was heard. "Come in," Ulric said. The door opened, and their teacher came in. "Hello professor," Jesse said. "What brought you here?" he asked.

"I heard what happened and wanted to see how you were doing," she said.

"I'm sore; otherwise, I'm fine," he said.

"Get well soon," she said.

Jesse nodded slightly and smiled. "I'm sorry that I'll miss your class," Jesse apologized.

"That's why I'm here," she said. "Here are the instructions for your next potion," she said, handing them a cream-colored paper. "If you need ingredients, just tell me, and I'll get them," the woman said.

"We are running a bit low on them," Ulric said.

"I'll get enough for both of you and bring them over on Monday," she said.

"Thank you," both boys said.

They thanked their teacher and glanced over the instructions when she left.

"On Monday, let's see if you can tap into your power and heal these injuries," Ulric said.

"What?"!" Jesse was shocked by the suggestion. "Are you insane?" he asked.

"If you can heal yourself, you can heal others," Ulric said. "That'll also decrease our need to use healing potions in the dungeons," he said.

"Oh, I see," Jesse said. "But that'll take lots of concentration," he said.

"That's why we are going to go slow," Ulric said.

Ulric watched as Jesse carefully rose from the bed. "Need me to run you some bath water?" he asked.

"I should be fine," Jesse said. Jesse took two steps and then stumbled.

"Easy now," Ulric said, racing to his side and wrapping an arm around his waist, steadying him.

"Maybe I do need some help," Jesse admitted, blushing hard. Ulric smiled and assisted Jesse to the bathroom, where he sat him down on the toilet lid.

"I'll run the bath water and add bath salts," Ulric said. He filled the tub while Jesse slowly took off his shirt. Jesse hissed while he pulled the shirt over his head.

"Let me help," Ulric said, turning off the water and grabbing hold of the shirt and pulling it up.

"I can do the rest," Jesse said.

"If you need anything, just yell," Ulric said.

Ulric sat down on his bed and went through his schedule for tomorrow while Jesse finished undressing and took a hot bath. He kept his wolf senses on full alert in case Jesse needed him. Ulric lifted his head from the holographic screen when he heard soft crying coming from inside the bathroom. He stepped up to the door and knocked lightly.

"Jess, are you okay?" he asked. Ulric heard nothing for a few seconds until a soft "I'm fine" was heard. He opened the door slightly and asked, "Are you sure?" "I heard crying," he said.

As he was about to close the door, Ulric heard Jesse say, "I look disgusting." That was all Ulric needed for him to open the door and step inside.

"Jess, you are not disgusting," he stated. "You are the most beautiful person I've known," he said.

"But my body is a wreck," Jesse said. Tears covered his cheeks.

"Your body will heal," Ulric said. "This is one challenge you can rise from," he said.

"I wonder how many more challenges I must endure," Jesse said.

"You'll get through what comes because I'll be by your side," he said.

Jesse finished his bath with Ulric washing his back. The hot water helped his muscles, so he didn't need help getting dressed.

"I'm not going to do my strength workout, but I'm thinking about working on my meditation," Jesse explained.

"Don't do it all at once," Ulric suggested. "One or two hours at a time followed by resting should be fine," he said.

"Okay, but can I meditate in your arms like last time?" Jesse asked. "It helps me relax," he said.

"Sure, anything for you," Ulric said, smiling and placing a kiss on Jesse's forehead.

Ulric positioned himself on Jesse's bed like last time, and Jesse leaned back into Ulric's chest. Jesse took a small breath this time and closed his eyes slightly. He slowly breathed in and then exhaled. Small bubbles of light swirled around just Jesse this time. Jesse felt a tingly sensation on his body, starting with his ankles. Ulric felt a change in the atmosphere but didn't sense any danger. Thirty minutes into his meditation, Jesse felt a tingling in his stomach. More and more balls of light appeared and entered his body. When Jesse got through, he slowly opened his eyes.

Jesse noticed a puzzling look on Ulric's face. "What is it?" "Did something happen?" he asked.

"You tell me," Ulric said. "Did something happen while you meditated?" he asked. Jesse sat there silently for several seconds.

"I did feel a tingly sensation going up my body," he said.

"Did it hurt?" Ulric asked.

"No," Jesse said, shaking his head. "It felt warm," he said. Ulric changed positions with Jesse so that he faced him.

Ulric reached out his hand but stopped when he noticed Jesse watching him intensely.

"I'm going to check something," Ulric said. Jesse breathed out and relaxed while Ulric pulled up his pants leg. His jaw dropped at what he found. The bruises that were visible were barely there.

"Jess, you did it," he said. "You healed your legs," he said. Jesse glanced down at his legs and then back at Ulric. It was Jesse's turn to have a surprised look on his face. The two boys smiled big and hugged each other.

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