Page 134 of Omega Sanctuary

Sweat broke out over my skin. Lie, it was a lie. Which meant they didn’t want to be caught in the act.

Tibelda pushed forward. "Like the Saints it is. You are defacing a sacred site protected by the Crown."

The man standing behind Puffy Hair stiffened up, his hand moving to his belt, near his sword hilt.

I glanced behind me, where ten omega teenage girls were milling around, most of them looking bored.

I brushed my hand on Rayth's sleeve. "Watch the girls," I said, my voice low.

He frowned. "But you and Asano..."

"Have magic," I finished. Asano nodded, stepping close to me.

Nikki shifted his weight, sharing a look with me. If things went badly, he would be there to make sure I didn't make things worse by trying to help.

Adrenaline sang in my veins. I hoped I was overreacting, the heat making me paranoid.

"I suggest you take your...class." Puffy Hair looked at me and the other girls. “And leave.”

Tibelda opened her mouth, no doubt to make things worse.

I shot Tibelda a look. "Certainly sir, we didn't know maintenance was scheduled for today."

We could alert the Royal Guard if we could leave.

"There is no maintenance on ancient holy sites, Zara, you know that." Tibelda sputtered. "I am Priestess Tibelda, from the Omega Sanctuary, and you are trespassing. Leave at once."

Puffy Hair stiffened up, and then grinned. "Damn. I was hoping we could do this the easy way."

The scruffy man behind him pulled his sword out.

"Don't even think it." Tibelda snapped. She lifted her hands up, and lightening crackled in her hands.

Spirit magic surged around us. The little fireflies dancing in my vision started to swarm.

The newly-etched runes glowed. The man doing the etching stood up and slapped his hand against the rune, and a burst of magic shot of out of the stone.

Tibelda gasped. Nikki pushed forward, and the magic sucked into his space.

I looked at Tibelda. "Get the girls."

I stepped forward, hands raised. Magic came the second I called, golden light bursting from me. Puffy Hair stepped in front and instead of getting a face-first blast of my magic, he snapped a wand across it.

All my magic was absorbed, just like Nikki had.

Puffy Hair smirked. "She warned us about you. But I didn't think we'd actually see you."

Nikki stepped close to me. "Leave." His voice boomed over the small field. "The Royal Army will be here soon."

"It will still be too late," Puffy Hair said.

Coming behind us, from the temple and the surrounding ruins, more rough looking men approached.

Tibelda backed up. Rayth corralled the novices around him, forcing them into a tight circle. I let myself focus completely on the men in front of me, knowing without a doubt that Rayth wouldn't let anything happen to the girls.

Rune Man slapped the stone again. I wasn't prepared, and spirit magic almost hit me square in the chest. Nikki stopped it, but I knew from experience Nikki couldn't do this for hours. I needed him to make sure I didn't hurt anyone, so I had to step up my game.

Even though I was terrified. I swallowed hard and took some steps forward, trying to put distance between us and the novices.

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