Page 79 of Omega Sanctuary

"Get some sleep," I said.

"You too.” Zara bit her lip. “Should I ask Priestess Deja about the missing omegas? It didn’t seem like a good idea for them to know we know something is wrong. At least, not yet."

"Wise choice." I nodded. “If you think it wise, ask them. Otherwise we wait for more information.”

“Sounds good,” Zara said, and yawned wide enough her jaw almost cracked.

“Get some sleep”

Zara tapped the glass, and her side went dark.

I leaned back against the tree. My knee ached, and my side throbbed from old injuries.

Tomorrow my search would continue. Until I found who was taking the omega, Zara wouldn't be safe.

"Focus your energy."

I settled myself into a seated position. We weren't taking any chances today, so the training session was in a temple a morning's hike away from the Sanctuary.

It was a small temple, mostly open air and gardens, with a sprawling courtyard. It was near a cliff, and a gentle breeze of ocean air wafted over the courtyard.

I liked it enough to relax.

I eyed the anastatis box, hoping this time I wouldn't blow everything up.

Sister Aalina sat on a cushioned bench nearby, doing some needlepoint. I sat in the courtyard, at the center of a complex diagram meant to redirect my magical power.

It didn't work much last time and I didn't put faith in it this time.

I let out a breath. Magic trickled around me, gentle and light like the breeze off the sea.

I gathered the energy inside me. It came to my call, much too quickly. I gasped, struggling to hold it. The world went golden with energy. I blinked, trying to feel my way through it.

It was just like baking. Just like kneading dough, feeling for consistency until the moment my fingers told me it was ready.

Energy burst. I tried to thread it through my fingers, slowly, but it gained momentum. The anastatsis glowed sharply.

I could do this. Spirits danced in my vision, and the stiffness in my bones sank deeper. The small mouse scurried out from behind a bush. I smiled, and the mouse ran up to my side.

Energy streamed around me, increasing pressure in my lungs.

I tried to breathe out, but I couldn't release it. Air rushed out in a harsh puff.

"Focus," came Aalina's sing-song voice.

I tried to focus. The spirit mouse had appeared this morning, a gentle weight on my knee.

I sucked in a breath. Pressure pushed against me, the ache in my bones flaring up. I wanted to shift position, but moving would shatter what little focus I had.

Magic pressed against me, tighter and tighter. I took small sips of air into my mouth.

Another breeze blew up from the cliffs, bringing waves of magic with it. I braced myself, the press of energy squeezing until I couldn't breathe.

It was going to be just like before, when I almost blew us to kingdom come. Frustration darted into me, changing the mellow golden spirit energy into something harsh.

"Release it." Aalina's voice was sharp.

I shook my head. I had to let some of the magic trickle away before releasing it or I could hurt someone.

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