Page 72 of Omega Sanctuary

"Easy, girl. We'll get you back to the Sanctuary where you can rest up. You'll be training again in no time, without having such disastrous consequences."

"Worse than this?" I gestured around us.

Aalina chuckled. "Girl, I leveled a few temples in my day as well. The valley is still standing, isn't it?"

I nodded, but the world swayed around me, so I stopped moving my head. My skin flushed hot until I felt sick from it. I whimpered, every ache of my body making itself known.

Aalina summoned some healers, who carried me back to the Sanctuary. I missed most of the trip, the world coming in and out in waves.

That night I couldn't sleep. Pain came in waves, some minutes worse than others. I rolled over just to feel sore and try a new position.

Kivai came late in the night.

"It will get better." He sat down next to me, and stroked his hand though my hair. I rolled so I could put my head on his chest.

"What are the Shrines? Spirit magic places?" I wasn't sure if I was talking out loud or not.

"Yes. Places where we encourage magic to flow to. It was too chaotic, too much for the world. We thought this would be better." His voice was barely a whisper. "I'm not sure we were right."

I tried to reassure him, but I slipped into sleep.

Nova came to see me in the mornign. She touched my forehead and frowned.

"Training," I said.

"I'm going to get you to the steam baths," Nova said. "You're going to need the help."

She helped me get dressed and lead me down a long, winding staircase.

"You want me to get someone to carry you?" She studied my face.

"No." I stumbled over my feet.

The air grew dimmer and steamy. I put one foot in front of me, concentrating on walking.

"What's wrong?"

Shai's voice floated over the pulsing black. I was surprised to see the other omega around. She closed the distance between us, her pretty face pulled into a frown. She had a towel wrapped around herself, and her hair was wrapped in a silk scarf.

"Hurt," I said. My teeth were chattering, making it hard to talk.

My vision grayed out. I moved forward, somehow, losing time. Everything was on fire, every brush of air on my skin a bleeding wound.

Water touched my skin. I jerked away, but Nova squeezed my hand. "Get into the water, you'll feel better."

Legs shaking, I sank into the water. Shai helped me settle into a corner I didn't have to hold myself up in.

"There you go," Shai said. She got into the water next to me and helped me arrange my arms so I was in the water up to my chin.

I shivered, but some of the pain receded.

"She had her first training session," Nova said. "Priestess Aalina told me she almost leveled the Valley."

Shai snorted. "No wonder she's miserable."

Nova pulled some large, fluffy towels out of a basket near the wall and brought them over to the bath. She slid in next to me, and between her and Shai they wrapped me up.

The heat and pressure from the towels felt so good I almost cried.

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