Every sound seemed to echo into infinity, and Matthew was careful as he drew stale air into his lungs. Sol Sanctum was dimly lit - it was to be kept from complete darkness at all times, for reasons of tradition - but not nearly as bright as during ceremonial celebrations, when people were actually allowed inside. He had always thought of it was warm and welcoming, if a little barren. Today, with no one to watch him explore, it felt mysterious. Suspicious, even.

He glanced over his shoulder. Little sunlight reached this far into the chamber, but the fact that there was any at all told him that the person on guard duty wasn't back yet. Even so, no point risking it. No sound, no Psynergy, nothing that would prompt investigation. Matthew was 99% certain that somewhere in Sol Sanctum, there would be a place to hide.

But it wouldn't benefit him until he found it.

The chamber opened into the central atrium. Vale's Elders and priests would give speeches to the masses at each solstice and equinox, in addition to the occasional minor holiday and (in theory) serious emergency. The stones at his feet were worn from centuries or even millennia of occasional contact. The statues against the far wall were nondescript figures of worship, presumably left by the ancients. But who knew anymore? And who really cared?

That last part was what perplexed Matthew the most. He drew closer to the statues. A thin pool of water flowed around the edge of the atrium, just before the statues and the wall, and the delicate sound of running water helped cover his too-loud footsteps. This whole room seemed so… generic. Dim lights, smooth stone, faceless statues? A water feature, for gods' sake? Sol Sanctum was supposed to be dedicated to the glory of the sun in all its aspects. Where was the iconography? Where was the beauty that the histories spoke of?

He checked for the guard again. The light was a little dimmer this time - was it his imagination? Or was there someone standing there, blocking some of the light? If there was, he'd need another diversion to get out when he was done. He bit his lip. A problem for later, then. For now… the statues.

Starting at one end of the room, he walked slowly, looking at them from all angles. Who were they supposed to be? Why were they here? Nobody in town could give him an answer when he had asked. He looked at each in turn, tried to spot any hints the ancients might have left. But in the dim light, he saw even less than he had a month ago, at the Spring Equinox celebration.

At least now he had the freedom to investigate as he pleased. So when he reached the other end of the room, no answers yet presenting themselves, he did what he always did when presented with a troubling problem.

He sat and meditated.

Eyes closed. Deep breaths. He felt the air flow through his lungs. On his skin, the warmth of the flame topping the wall's torches. In his ears, the sound of the water. And all around him the earth and stone. Was this intentional, he wondered? Did the Ancients bring the four elements together here as a metaphor, a message for the disparate Adepts of Vale to work together as one? Or… perhaps it was a message about the sun itself, the root of alchemy before the power was (mostly) sealed to protect mankind?

The scent of the room brought back memories. Stories the Elders told to the crowds. The excitement of childhood, learning about Vale's culture and its storied past. Parables about doing right, treating others properly without regard to differences or prejudice.

And what to do when lost. How to do the right thing.

When in darkness…

…Seek the light.

Light.

He opened his eyes. Blinked. Light?

With his eyes adjusted to the dim conditions, he noticed it for the first time. Light. A halo around the head of one of the statues. How? From where?

He came slowly to his feet, walked toward the statue in question, his eyes never leaving the mystery light. It was barely anything, a thin outline. But it was definitely there. And the closer he got, the more certain he was.

The light was coming from behind the statue. And if the statue was flat against the wall… that meant there was something behind it. Something that, as far as Matthew knew, no one else in town had discovered.

He bit his lip to keep from cheering and settled for a vigorous fist-pump instead. He couldn't talk about it until he was certain, but… this could change everything. His parents were always talking about the nature of alchemy itself, the study of the ancients, but how could they call themselves scholars if they hadn't even seen the real Sol Sanctum?

He'd be back. In less than a year, he'd be 18, and he'd finally be eligible for guard duty. He could come back and examine this in greater detail, find a way to move that statue.

Without the present risk of getting caught and prosecuted for trespassing, of course.

He sneaked back toward the entrance. Yup, the guard was back. Elissa, he thought? He didn't know her well. One of Tyrell's sisters' friends, maybe. He couldn't hope that she would let his presence slide if she saw him.

He reached into his pocket and took out the rock he'd prepared just for the occasion. All he needed to do was make a distraction…

"What I don't get," Tyrell said, taking a drag for dramatic effect, "is why people make such a big fuckin' deal."

The two women with him were hanging on his every word, as if he'd said something profound. He was late to the party, so to speak, so they had a bit of a head start on him, and he was no lightweight when it came to smoking weaveweed anyway. They were baked, and he was merely slightly stoned.

He believed that this was what experienced politicians called "easy mode."

"I have like, five older sisters," he said. "My grandfather's the mayor. Both my parents work in administration. I'm not dumb - I've done my homework. I've even spoken to visiting merchants on Market Days, and they agree - there's a ton of potential for growth if we just stop being so closed off to the world. Vale needs an ambassador, I have the experience, and it's not like I'm needed here."

Lyra stole the joint from his hand and took an eager puff. "Fuck you," she said dryly. "You just wanna see the world. Everyone does at first." She passed it back. "I've been out. It's nothing impressive. Just a bunch of boring people with boring lives. Like here, but nobody can even start fires with their mind."

"I think the Elders have a point," said Beth quietly. "Vale is so small compared to the big nations. If they knew about us, and our resources…"

Tyrell scoffed. "What, you think they'd come for us? Try to conquer us? Like Lyra said, we have Adepts. We're too dangerous to attack, too small to worry about, and too wealthy to ignore."

"Fffffffffffuck alla that," Lyra sighed. "Can you quit talking politics for like, five minutes? Let's talk chill shit." She flopped onto her back. "People on the outside are a bunch of big swingin' dicks anyway."

Tyrell leaned closer. "What, too many huge dicks in your life?"

Lyra lifted her head enough to wink at him. "No shortage, if I do say so."

Beth shuffled closer. "Ooh! Do tell! And pass it around, Ty. You're hogging."

He handed the joint to her as the girls traded gossip. Yeah, maybe he cared too much. But who could blame him? The youngest child - and only son - of a family with a history in government. He had a thing or two to prove, and he wasn't shy about it.

If he only had the opportunity-

"Uh oh," Lyra said. "Dork incoming."

Tyrell looked in the direction Lyra indicated as she stood and started brushing dirt off her skirt. There he was, Ty's closest friend, the kid brother he'd always wanted and never had. Matthew, alias Dork.

"I've said it before," Tyrell groaned. "It's not cool too talk about him like th-"

The sound of rapid footsteps interrupted him, followed by a grunt as Matthew jumped into a slide next to them. He kicked up a cloud of dirt and dust, spattering Beth and Lyra as he landed in an unconvincingly relaxed position.

"Ladies, Ty," Matthew said in greeting. "Fine day, right? Hey, pass a sec." Beth and Lyra were too distracted by brushing themselves off - Matt seized the joint and took a deep, deep drag.

He fell into a coughing fit, predictably, but seemed to fan the smoke toward his own clothes. Brother-from-another-mother or not, the kid's behavior was really, really tough to defend sometimes.

"So what's on the docket?" Matt asked with an obnoxious grin. "We're being cool, rebellious teens?"

"Matt, what the fuck?" hissed Tyrell.

"It's cool, play along," whispered Matthew. "If anyone asks, I've been here all afternoon. I owe you big."

"Fuck yes you owe me-"

"Yeah, um," started Beth, "I gotta… I got a thing. With Lyra. Right?"

Lyra boggled, taking a moment or two before it clicked. "Oh! Right, the thing. Thanks." She brushed off more dirt. "Good to see you, Matt. Later, Ty." She barely concealed her eye roll as she turned and left with Beth.

Tyrell watched them leave. He was sure there was something he could have said to bring them back, but… well, the weed was hitting him. And… just, what the fuck, Matt?

He shook his head and held out a hand in a what-the-fuck gesture toward Matthew. The other boy put the joint in it.

"Today, I learned something," Matt said.

Ty didn't answer. He took a much-needed puff.

After waiting a moment, Matt shrugged. "I learned that when I can't use psynergy to help my aim, I'm really shit at throwing rocks. Trust me when I say I was aiming down the road."

"What-"

And once again, the sound of footsteps.

Matthew took the joint, threw it to the ground, stood and stomped in one fluid motion as he turned to face the newcomer.

"Oh, h-hey! How's it, uh…"

"Don't care. Pissed." Elissa's voice, a friend of his oldest sister. Shit. "Some bloody whore smoked me in the head with a rock. He was running this way. Either of you see him?"

Matt, you fucking idiot.

Matthew, of course, was feigning a dumb, clueless look. "Someone like… who? What? No, nobody here but us, and uh…" He trailed off, coughed. "Just us."

Tyrell palmed his face.

Elissa frowned. "Is something wrong? What's that smell?"

"W-what smell? I don't smell anything."

Oh, nobody stammers like that in real life and you know it.

"I bet." Elissa looked at Tyrell. "I wonder how your dad's gonna react when he hears you two have been smoking weaveweed in the woods."

Fuck you, Matt.