Chapter 8

Ariel glanced back at the school and off to both sides to make sure they weren't around, and continued forward.

"Oh!" Ariel stopped in her tracks. He actually showed up? And on time? She made sure her hair covered the bandage and approached Jade at the outer wall that surrounded the school, making sure to keep him on her good side. "You came?"

"Of course; I said I would." Jade eyed her for a moment before looking at the school as she did, his eyes narrowed. "Let's go home."

His hand on her shoulder, he pulled her close, and they walked home.

What's he doing? "Guess it's safe to say you know your way to my school already."

"The trip is neither long nor hard to make. I wouldn't mind walking you to and from daily."

"You don't need to, really."

"We're not going to get into this again, are we? I want to. Now more than ever," he whispered the last part so she wouldn't hear it. "How was your day?"

"Umm... It's school." She shrugged.

"Don't like school?"

"No; I never have. Don't get me wrong, I love to learn, but I don't like the school... environment." People are too much, sometimes.

"I guess I can understand that line of thinking."

"Did you enjoy going to school? Did you finish school?" I assume they have schools, since he knows about them.

"My official schooling is done, but my training continues, and I continue my personal studies on my own time, when I have the chance. I don't think I'll ever be done learning."

Ariel couldn't help but smile at that. "I like that. People think when they're done with school, they're done learning, but that should never be true. There's always something new to learn, and you shouldn't hinder yourself by ignoring those paths."

"Agreed."

They arrived home safely, and Ariel checked her phone for any messages from her brother as she grabbed water from the fridge and poured a glass.

"Can I ask you about this?" Jade put his hand on the counter behind her, boxing her into a corner as he lifted her bands and brushed her hair back.

Ariel froze, a glass of water in her hand as she swallowed hard. After a moment, she looked away. "It was..." I don't know why, but it feels wrong to lie to him, but what else can I do? "An accident."

"Is that true?" Jade raised an eyebrow and lightly touched the bandage.

She bit her lip and held back from talking, not that she knew what to say. It's not like I can run away from him. Just repeat that it was an accident.

Jade sighed. "I know we haven't known each other for long, but I'm worried. Between this and whatever happened to the books in your backpack, I can't help but think you're being bullied."

Ariel gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes met his. Dammit. I can't keep anything a secret.

"I'll take that as a yes. If it's small enough, I can heal a cut."

"It's okay; it'll heal."

"Mind if I look at it? I'll be careful." His finger trailed along the edge of the bandage.

"Why?" she asked, focusing on the warm tingling feeling left behind by his touch. Oh, what is that?

"I want to see how bad it is. I have a lot of experience with wounds."

Being a soldier like him, that makes sense.

When she didn't answer, but made no attempt to run, he peeled the bandage off to reveal the glued together gash.

"Ouch, this looks painful."

It is.

Jade closed his eyes, leaned in close, and kissed the wound. Ariel scrunched her eyes closed and went still. A light glowed at the point of contact, and the wound healed, sealing off.

The pain from the wound and the headache both eased. "Oh," she sighed. "W-what was that? Was that more magic?" Her hand flew to her head as she checked on it.

"I'm glad it worked. Now you won't have a scar." Jade smiled at her. "And yes, it's healing magic, but it has limits. Your arm is injured, too?"

"It's just a scrape."

Jade knelt down in front of her. "Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. I may not be able to heal your heart or mind directly, from whatever you've been subjected to, but I can help with healing your body." He repeated his process, pulling the bandage off and kissing the wound on her arm.

She flinched away this time from the warm sensation, but Jade kept a hold on her arm until he was done.

"That should feel better, too. Any other wounds?"

Ariel shook her head no. "But the nurse knows about my wounds, and them suddenly vanishing might seem a bit odd."

"We can keep them covered with fresh bandages for a few days if you want to hide it. At least you won't have pain or scars from them."

"Good idea." Why didn't I think of that?

"Where do you store them? And don't say you can do it all on your own; it's a bit hard to bandage your head and the back of your forearm on your own."

"In the bathroom upstairs, in the cabinet behind the mirror."

Jade grabbed her hand as he stood and led her to the kitchen table to sit on a cushy chair. "Please, stay here, and I'll be right back."

Ariel nodded, shoulder curled in as she fiddled with her thumbs. Is he pushy or chivalrous? I'm so confused. Isn't he going a bit far for me? I guess it's not the first time he's shown me his magic, though. Wait, didn't he say a witch sent him here? He's an elf with magical powers... Is that different from the witch?

"What are you thinking about so hard?" Jade knelt down in front of her with the kit he found in the bathroom.

"You. You said there was a witch that sent you here, but you have magic, too?"

"All sorts of races have magic where I'm from, though they vary in type and power. A witch has the most powerful, most versatile, and most destructive magic of any being we know of," Jade explained as he redressed her wounds. "A terrifying enemy to be up against. There, that should do it."

"Thank you."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Not really."

"Won't even tell me what happened to cause the wounds?"

He deserves that much. "I was pushed and hit the wall, and landed hard on the ground."

"I see," Jade sighed. "I'm not one to sit back while my friends are being bullied, so this is going to take an insurmountable amount of restraint on my part."

Friend? He considers me his friend? Oh, probably the close-proximity principle. It's because I'm the only one around him.

"If things escalated further than they have, I'm not sure I can hold back. I will intervene, okay?"

"Intervene, how? It's in school that it happens, sometimes in the girls' bathroom."

"I'll infiltrate your school. As long as my ears stay hidden and I get a uniform, I'm sure I can fit in. And if I can find a way to be in all your classes, I can make sure they don't touch you."

"I don't think that last part would be possible. I'm not even sure how you'd register with the school, since you can't just show up and start attending classes."

"I have my ways." Jade smiled and rested his hand on hers in her lap. "You don't have to face everything alone."

"Why? I'm used to doing that." Ariel shrugged. "You don't need to help me; I'll survive somehow."

"You're helping me when you don't have to. I know I have to worry about your brother coming home, but you offered your study room to a stranger from another world who had nowhere to go and no one to rely on. Scaring away some bullies is the least I can do. Even if you didn't do that, I hate bullies, even more so if they're picking on my friends."

"Why do I feel like there's a story in there?"

"I have many stories, but we can leave that for another time." Jade stood. "How about I make you supper?"

"You can cook?"

"I may not be familiar with all your ingredients, but I should be able to manage something palatable."

I'm not sure what to think of that.

"Just trust me. I'm sure you have homework to focus on and would probably do well to eat something that isn't 'microwavable.'"

"There's nothing wrong with microwaved food."

"According to the labels I've seen, they have questionable amounts of sodium and chemicals, but whatever suits your taste."

Her eyes widened. "What'd you get up to today?"

"We can talk about it over dinner."

"Okay." Ariel nodded. "Thanks, again." She pointed at the bandage on her forehead.

"I'd say any time, but I'd rather you don't get injured."