Next shift

Days passed as Sarah's training continued. Her early morning arrivals at The Daily Grind had become a constant rhythm over the past few months, as natural as the ebb and flow of customers through the café's doors. Marcus found himself increasingly intrigued by his student's progress. Her presence brought something new to his centuries-old existence – whether in their casual conversations between customers or in the simple comfort of having someone who knew him as more than just a barista.

"Marcus," Sarah called out, noticing his distant expression. "You're dozing off. Are you okay?"

The final customers had left for the night, leaving them alone in the café. City lights reflected off the front windows, and the warm glow inside reminded Sarah of that first night when Clotho had visited, when the weight of destiny had hung in the air like incense.

"Yes... I'm fine," Marcus said, leaning against the wall while Sarah settled into one of the worn leather seats that had witnessed so many of their lessons. "But honestly, it's been an intense couple of months, hasn't it?"

"I agree," Sarah said, studying his divine aura with her now-practiced sight. "It feels like my whole world has flipped since I've moved here." She smiled gently. "And for better or worse, I have to thank you for that, Marcus." Her gaze lingered on his true form – that unique balance of energies she still couldn't quite understand, even after months of training. His divine presence remained as compelling as ever, like a truth too complex to fully grasp.

"I appreciate what you have done for me," she continued, straightening her posture. "Thank you for taking me under your wing. It's not often you have a literal god in your corner."

Marcus absorbed her words, feeling the truth of them ripple through the café's ambient energy. As both a god of truth and her mentor, he felt every emotion she offered – her lingering uncertainties, her growing confidence, and most powerfully, her genuine gratitude.

"It's getting late," Sarah said, gathering her belongings from the back room. She moved slowly, savoring these quiet moments in the sanctuary they shared. Each day spent learning the deeper truths of reality had become precious to her.

"Sarah, wait," Marcus called out. He placed his hand on her shoulder, channeling his divine energy into the form of a playing card that merged invisibly with her being.

"What did you do?" she asked, though her enhanced perception already gave her hints of the blessing's nature.

"I just bestowed you a blessing," he explained, "since you have been diligently studying and working when asked to." The blessing carried echoes of their first meeting, of that initial cup of coffee that had changed everything – a reminder of how far they'd come from that moment when she'd first dared to see the truth that lay beneath the surface of reality.

What had started as a chance encounter between a hidden god and a latent Truthspeaker had grown into something neither of them had expected – a partnership in maintaining the delicate balance between divine and mortal realms, one perfect cup of coffee at a time.

After bestowing the blessing, Marcus watched as Sarah absorbed its essence, reminded of how far she'd come from that first fateful cup of coffee. Her ability to perceive truth had grown stronger with each lesson, yet she still hadn't fully grasped the complexity of his own divine nature – that unique duality Clotho had hinted at during their first meeting. Part of him wondered if she would eventually see through even that carefully maintained balance, just as she'd learned to see through every other veil he'd taught her to perceive. But for now, he was content with their shared purpose, protecting this sanctuary where divine and mortal realms intersected. The morning light was beginning to creep through the windows, reminding them both that soon The Daily Grind would once again fill with customers seeking their daily dose of carefully crafted divinity, whether they knew it or not. Tomorrow would bring new lessons, new truths to uncover, and perhaps, as Clotho's threads had suggested, changes that neither of them could yet foresee.

"Sarah one last thing" with a bright smile he said "Thank you, I'll see you next shift"

"Yes, Yes you will" Walking out the door the cold air nipped at her skin as she made her way home.

Preparing for the morning rush in a couple hours Marcus gathered what he needed, but he wouldn't lie to himself; he was excited for the next time he would get to work with Sarah.