Page 4 of Omega Sanctuary

Sabine's eyes lit up. I had somehow helped her cause. Hestia, preserve me.

"I could be of use."

The zippy feeling was back. My hands and feet tingled, and my ears started to ring. The fireflies came into sharper view, like they had come close enough for me to finally see them. Tiny shapes, some humanoid, others animal like. Birds with human hands, moles who wore cloaks, mice that walked upright.

I could not lose it in front of the Temple Priestess. I could not. They would assume I was carrying some rare illness, or worse.

"Your talents could flourish, given the right teacher." Sabine picked up an eclair with a happy sigh. Usually being near her while she was eating my food was enough to put me in an amazing mood. Sabine's control over her magic was impeccable, but she really loved my food. Warm contentment radiated out of her.

Not today. Today I was too distracted.

"I want you to consider coming back to Penrith with me." She looked me in the eye and I fought myself not to just say yes.

I took another sip of tea. "Back to Penrith?"

"You clearly have a blessing from the gods. Come back with me, and I can set you up with an apprenticeship with the master baker. I've already spoken to her."

My chest grew tight. Leave Nan? Stonebriar? "But my Nan..."

The Priestess shook her head. "I will make sure she's taken care of."

Taken care of. I bit my lip. Priestess Sabine could find a girl from town to help, but I was the resident baker here. It wouldn't be the same.

Plus there was the matter of leaving. If I went elsewhere, I would always be the backwoods foundling the Priestess took pity on.

Maybe I had too much pride, but I didn't want to be treated like I was a charity project.

The Priestess's face fell. "You don't like the idea?"

I froze. "I just...this is my home."

The Priestess sighed. "I thought you would say that. And who knows, maybe some of your gift comes from your ancestral hearth."

Right, and the long hours I spent in the kitchen had nothing to do with it. But I kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to move to Penrith, and become the personal baker to the Priestess. It would be easier to get my hands on rare fruit and chocolate, but the trade off wouldn't be worth it.

I wanted to bake with my Nan and maybe find a man someday who wouldn't rush through the good parts of sex.

"Let me know if you ever change your mind," Sabine sighed.

"Of course."

"You're what? Twenty years under the sun?"

"Twenty one."

Sabine nodded, like that answered all her questions. She probably assumed I would change my mind when I realized small town life wasn't for me.

We finished the tea and the sweets, and she bid us farewell with a generous donation. The strange fireflies disappeared slowly, like candle flames going out.

I put the money away, knowing we would need it for the lean times, and focused on cleaning up the kitchen. Missy wanted to stay and help, but I sent her off. I wanted time to myself.

Nan brought big empty trays back into the kitchen. "You need to restock the bread shelves."

"Just a minute." My headache was back. I pulled my oldest sourdough starter, Ben, out of the back cupboard, and set it on the counter.

"You might want to do it right now." Nan smirked at me.

I sighed. It was no use to argue. Loading the tray up with fresh loaves, I carried them out to the display case.

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