Chapter 9

Issac took a deep breath, still feeling the lingering chill from Jaren's awakening, and knocked gently on the door. "Hey, you alright in there? I heard a—uh, a pretty loud noise."

No response came, only the faint sound of water dripping. He exchanged a glance with the empty hallway, biting his lip, unsure if he should just leave it be. But worry crept in, and he turned the handle, pushing the door open.

The sight that greeted him made his heart drop.

The bathroom was in disarray. Water pooled on the floor, but more alarming was the thick layer of frost covering every surface, the air cold enough that his breath misted. Jaren lay on the floor, the remnants of his shower still running, but he looked dazed, shivering violently as he struggled to regain control.

"Jaren!" Issac exclaimed, rushing forward and dropping the blanket he had brought. He quickly wrapped it around Jaren, who looked up at him with wide, glazed eyes, confusion and warmth mingling in his expression.

"Thanks," Jaren murmured, his voice trembling as he pulled the blanket closer, trying to regain some body heat.

Issac knelt beside him, concern etched across his face. "What happened? I thought I heard an explosion. Your powers..."

"I... I didn't mean to," Jaren said, his words shaky. "It just... happened."

Issac nodded, settling on the cold tiles beside him, letting the warmth of his body seep into Jaren's as he covered them both with the blanket. "Let's get you up and out of here," he said, trying to lighten the mood despite the gravity of the situation.

Jaren took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. The warmth from the blanket was comforting, but he still felt off-balance, the remnants of his awakening swirling inside him, echoing with the force of his new powers. His skin prickled, the sensation still tingling as he took in Issac's presence.

As he sat there, he felt something else beneath the surface, a subtle corruption resonating from Issac. It was faint but present, a whisper of darkness mingled with the warmth of life. Jaren couldn't help but reach out instinctively, his Guide powers responding to the urge to cleanse. He knew he could help—if only Issac would let him.

Before Issac even noticed, Jaren had drawn closer, focusing on the corruption swirling around Issac like shadows. He directed his energy toward him, feeling the stirrings of warmth wrap around them both.

What happened next caught Issac off guard. Instead of the usual painful process that accompanied cleansing, he felt an incredible wave of warmth, a tingling stimulation that sent shivers racing down his spine. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.

"What are you doing?" Issac managed to ask, surprised at the rush of sensation coursing through him. Jaren was silent, eyes focused, his brow furrowed in concentration.

A soft, golden light enveloped the two of them as Jaren continued to cleanse the corruption, his Guide abilities flowing out of him without hesitation. The feeling was comforting, as if each touch was pulling the darkness away piece by piece, leaving nothing but clarity behind.

Issac's heart raced, shocked into stillness. He had expected pain, the usual stabbing sensation that accompanied his past encounters with cleansings, but this was different. This felt... right.

"Jaren..." Issac breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. He locked eyes with Jaren, searching for any hint of what was happening, but all he found was concentration and determination.

He felt the warmth swell deeper, saturating him, illuminating the dark corners of his mind he thought were long lost. The sensation was intoxicating, and he couldn't help but lean into it, letting the warmth take over as Jaren continued his work.

"I... I can't believe this," Issac murmured, surprised by the connection forming between them. "You're stronger than I thought."

With every pulse of energy from Jaren, Issac felt the corruption slip away, felt himself become lighter, as if the shadows that had gripped him for so long were finally unraveling. It was a strange and exhilarating experience, both new and achingly familiar.

"Just hold on," Jaren urged softly, still focused on the cleansing process, the warmth radiating between them.

Issac watched as Jaren's expression shifted from determination to surprise, then to something softer, as if Jaren had tapped into something he hadn't expected to find. The golden glow surrounded them both, and for a moment, the cold tiles, the broken bathroom, the chaos outside faded away.

Instead, there was just the two of them, the shared warmth between their bodies, the connection sparking like electricity in the air. Jaren's powers were soothing, healing, pushing the corruption away until only a soft, vibrant light remained.

Finally, as Jaren let out a shaky breath, the glow around them began to fade, leaving both of them panting lightly. The shadows that had clung to Issac were gone, and for the first time in a long time, he felt free.

"Wow," Issac breathed, still trying to process everything. "That was... incredible."

Jaren blinked up at him, his expression a mix of relief and confusion. "I didn't mean to do that. I just sensed something off, and I wanted to help."

"It felt good," Issac said, his voice steady now, the remnants of chaos fading. "You really are powerful."

Jaren's cheeks flushed, and he looked away for a moment, trying to hide his smile. "Thanks. But I still need to learn how to control it."

"I think you're doing just fine," Issac replied, offering him a reassuring smile. "But let's get out of this cold shower before we both freeze."

---

With the cold tiles beneath them and the chill of the bathroom lingering, Issac helped Jaren to his feet, wrapping an arm around his shoulder for support. "Let's get you to your room so you can rest. You took quite a hit today," Issac said, guiding Jaren carefully down the hallway, trying to keep him steady.

Jaren leaned against Issac, still feeling the aftereffects of his awakening. "Thanks. I didn't think it would be so... intense," he admitted, glancing sideways at Issac. "I mean, I thought it would be a little uncomfortable, but that was..." He trailed off, trying to find the right words.

"Different?" Issac suggested with a smirk.

"Yeah," Jaren replied, chuckling softly, although the sound was tinged with exhaustion. "That's one way to put it."

They reached Jaren's dorm room, and Issac opened the door, helping him inside. The room was a simple layout with a bed, desk, and a small window overlooking the campus. It felt homier than Issac expected for a college dorm.

"Here, sit down," Issac said, guiding Jaren to the edge of the bed. "I'll grab you a glass of water."

"Thanks, man. You really didn't have to," Jaren replied, sinking into the mattress, his body finally relaxing.

Issac returned shortly with the water and handed it to him. "Just drink up. You need to rehydrate."

As Jaren took a sip, Issac's mind started racing with everything that had happened, and he felt an urge to leave the room, to have a moment alone to process. "I'll let you rest. If you need anything, just... I'm next door," he said, feeling a mix of concern and reluctance to leave.

"Okay, I will," Jaren replied, offering a small smile.

Issac stepped out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him. He leaned against the wall for a moment, collecting his thoughts, and then made his way back to his own room. Once inside, he shut the door and let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

"What the hell just happened?" he muttered aloud, running a hand through his hair as he paced the small space.

Alfred's voice chimed in, amused. "You were in there a long time, huh? Did you two have a bonding moment?"

Issac groaned, collapsing onto his bed and covering his face with his hands. "It wasn't like that! Jaren was freaking out, and I just—"

"Just what?" Alfred interrupted, his laughter echoing in Issac's head. "You just happened to discover that his Guide powers felt incredible? You should be grateful!"

"Grateful? I feel like I'm losing my mind!" Issac replied, sitting up and glaring at the wall. "How was it not painful? I don't get it!"

"Oh, come on! It's called chemistry," Alfred teased. "You two have this weird bond now. You can't deny the connection! It's practically romantic."

Issac rolled his eyes, heat creeping into his cheeks. "Shut up! It's not like that at all!"

"Really? Because I think it is. You helped him through his awakening, and he practically melted into your arms!" Alfred exclaimed, cackling. "I mean, the guy was practically swooning. You should've seen his face!"

"Stop!" Issac groaned, covering his face again, his heart racing. "You're making it sound worse than it was! It was just—"

"Just a sweet moment between two guys? With powers? And connection? C'mon, man, it's like something out of a romance novel!" Alfred continued, unabashed.

Issac buried his face in his hands, embarrassment washing over him. "I can't believe you're actually saying this. What's next? Are you going to start writing fanfiction?"

"Hey, don't tempt me! I could write a bestseller about you two! 'The Two Dorm Mates: An Unexpected Bond,'" Alfred replied, still laughing. "You might even get a movie deal!"

"Don't you dare," Issac warned, his voice muffled. "I'm serious."

"Alright, alright! But you can't deny there's something special there. You felt it, too, right?" Alfred asked, his tone shifting slightly to a more serious note.

"Yeah, I did," Issac admitted reluctantly, pulling his hands away from his face to look at the ceiling. "But it's complicated. He doesn't even know about my past. And here I am, just some guy who... who..."

"Who has a talent for making life more interesting? You're not the same Issac anymore, remember?" Alfred replied, his voice turning gentle. "You have a chance to start fresh. Maybe Jaren is part of that journey."

Issac sighed, a mixture of frustration and hope swirling within him. "I just don't know how to navigate this... whatever this is."

"Well, you've got to figure it out, genius! Because I think you might have just stumbled into something more than just a friendship," Alfred said, chuckling lightly. "And honestly? That's kind of adorable."

Feeling his cheeks flush again, Issac groaned and threw himself back onto the bed. "Can we just drop it for now? I need to think."

"Fine, fine! But don't think too long. He might steal your heart while you're at it," Alfred teased one last time before fading back, leaving Issac in the comforting silence of his room.

As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, Issac couldn't shake the feeling that this new life, with all its unexpected twists and turns, might just lead him somewhere he never anticipated. And despite the confusion, he found himself almost looking forward to whatever came next—especially if it involved Jaren.