"This had better be a good plan," I say, folding my arms and looking at Lily and Jowan expectantly.

"I can get us into the repository. But there is a problem," Lily says. "There are two locks on the phylactery chamber door. The first enchanter and knight-commander each hold one key. But it is just a door. There is enough power in this place to destroy all of Ferelden. What is a door to mages?"

I groan inwardly. "It can't be that easy." There's no way that it would be. If it was, more mages would do it.

"What if it is?" Jowan protests. "We have to try. I once saw a rod of fire melt through a lock. You could get one fromt he stockroom. But Owain doesn't release such things to apprentices."

"Let's not waste more time, then," I say with a nod.

"We should stay here," Lily says to Jowan. "One mage at the stockroom will attract less attention than a mage, an apprentice, and an initiate."

"Yes, you'd only slow me down."

"Good luck. Our prayers go with you."

I turn and walk away from the two lovers, who embrace each other. I leave the chapel and head for the stockroom, and I still feel sick to my stomach. I am disgusted with myself for my cowardice. I wish I was strong enough to really help my friend.

I am not, though. I care too much about being alive and myself to bother being someone respectable.

For the third time today, I see Cullen. The Circle is small, and everyone knows everyone, but this is excessive. It is unusual for this much unplanned interaction in a day. Just my luck. I am in control of myself now, though, and will be able to divert suspicion much more easily.

His eyes are still full of concern. He excuses himself from the group of templars he's talking to and walks over. "I- umm, are you alright?" He is fiddling nervously with his hands.

I nod, and the lies roll off my tongue with surprising ease. "I'm sorry. The Harrowing left me... worse off than I thought. I am alright now."

His eyes search my face, and I can see how badly he wishes he were able to comfort me. "Are-are you sure?" He pauses. "I know you aren't supposed discuss the Harrowing with anyone who hasn't yet undergone it, but I'm a templar, so you could talk to me." My face must show how little I like this idea because he quickly backtracks. "You don't have to, of course! It's just- I mean, sometimes talking about things helps."

I take a deep breath to keep something unnecessarily unkind from spewing out. Cullen isn't willfully malicious; he's just dumb. I know that his concern for me is genuine, but I really wish he would just keep it to himself. I am not interested in his body or his concern. "Thank you for the offer, but I have spoken with First Enchanter Irving already, and I feel much better. I also have things to do."

He blushes. "O-of course! I will not detain you." He returns to the other templars, and I go to the stockroom.

The Tranquil is standing in front, looking off into the distance. I approach and look into his hollow eyes, shuddering slightly.

"Welcome to the Circle's stockroom of magical items. My name is Owain. How may I assist you?" he asks in a monotone voice.

"I need a rod of fire," I say without hesitation. I am no longer an apprentice; I should be able to request anything I choose from the stockroom. Though, upon further consideration, I doubt that my tone even registers with the Tranquil.

"Rods of fire serve many purposes. Why do you wish to acquire this particular item?"

"I need the rod for my research into... burning things," I lie and grown inwardly about how dumb I sound.

He turns around and grabs a piece of paper from the desk behind him. "Here is the form - 'Request for Rod of Fire.' Have it signed and dated by a senior enchanter. I will release a rod to you once I have the signed form."

I sigh. "Why can't you give it to me now?" I ask. Isn't the fact that I've completed my Harrowing enough to earn me some trust in this prison?

"It is procedure. I need a senior mage's authorization to release an item. Thank you."

I sigh and walk away. Irving will sign it, I'm sure. He's already signed off on this ridiculous scheme. On my way to his office, though, I pass the laboratory and something catches my eye. There's an elf pacing back and forth, her expression tense. She's blonde and slender, and her robes signify that she is a senior enchanter.

I cannot resist. I have to know what is happening. I approach her slowly.

"Yes?" she asks.

"Can you sign this form for me?" I ask, showing her the parchment in my hand. It seems a good an introduction as any that I might concoct.

"Rod of fire? No, I'm not signing this. I don't know what you need it for and I barely know you. Ask someone else."

I shrug. It was worth a try. "What's that door over there?" I ask, motioning to the door that she's been pacing in front of.

"That leads to the Circle's cavern store-rooms," she explains. "There are caves running through the rock that the Circle is built upon. But of course, you know this."

I did. "Do you have rods of fire in there?" I ask, thinking to bypass the bullshit with Owain altogether.

"No, that's something the Tranquil deal in. This store-room is for raw magical materials and alchemical substances. Lyrium, basilisk blood, and so on."

There may be something else in there that can help. "Can you unlock the door for me?"

"No," she says quickly, a bit of panic in her voice. "I can't let anyone in there just now."

I've struck a nerve. "Why?" Maybe this is just the bit of leverage I need to get this rod of fire.

She sighs. "There are just... things... in there that I would prefer to keep... safe."

"Are you stealing from the Circle's stores?" I ask incredulously, happy that this will work as excellent blackmail if it is true.

"No! Of course not! I just have... I... I am in the midst of checking inventory. And I... can't let anyone in there in case they... mess things up. Yes."

A lie. "So why are you out here and not in there?"

"Because I am taking a break. I hate the musty smell of caves and I..." She sighs, giving up. "Look, I'll tell you the truth, just keep it to yourself." She leans in. "There is an infestation of spiders in the caves. I don't know how they got in there but it's probably my fault. I was promoted to senior enchanter less than a fortnight ago and I don't want anyone to find out. They'll think I'm incompetent!"

I shrug nonchalantly. "If you sign this form, I'll deal with the spiders."

"Oh, your form for the rod of fire? Yes, I could do that, if you clear out the infestation."

"All right, I'll do it." I ready my staff.

"Wonderful! Here is the key. Oh, and be careful in there. I'd really like to keep the damage done to the Circle's property to a minimum."

I take the key from her and head into the store-room. There's a vial of lyrium dust in a broken crate, and I stick it in my pocket. Why not? Another chest has a lyrium potion and a necklace, and I take them both. I may need some lyrium to deal with these spiders.

There's a fork in the cavern, and I go right. A spider larger than I am hisses and descends from the ceiling. I hurl magic at it and narrowly avoid its venomous pincers. It dies, and I continue on. The next fight occurs at a four-way intersection further in. This time there are two. It is a tougher fight, and they land a couple hits on me.

I am enthralled. One thing about living in the Circle is that your life lacks purpose. You train as an apprentice to pass your Harrowing. Then you train as a mage to become a senior enchanter. Then, if you're exceptionally talented (as well as obedient) and there is an opening, you can become first enchanter of your Circle. If you are the best mage Ferelden has to offer, you may become the grand enchanter. None of these positions come with any real power. Occasionally, there is a war and the king asks for mage soldiers, but not often.

Down here, though, fighting these spiders that that wonderfully incompetent senior enchanter let in, I have purpose. I can use my magic for something tangible. Something beyond the theoretical, fear-mongering bullshit.

Wistfully, I wish that Jowan's plan wasn't doomed. I wish that I could have tracked down the pursuing templars and destroyed my phylactery. A life in hiding out there would be better than a life of slavery in here.

I continue on through the caves. Another spider attacks at a left-hand turn, and two appear at the next four-way intersection. Two descend from the ceiling before I make my next left turn, and one meets me down that path.

I continue on until I return to where I started. That must be all of them. I'm a little sad to be finished this task. I greatly enjoyed being down here and getting my hands dirty. I sigh and proceed through the door, back into the laboratory.

The senior enchanter sees me exit and scurries up to me. "You're back! Are the spiders gone?"

I nod. "I've dealt with your infestation."

Her face lights up. I'm sad that I've never seen her around before this because, without the lines of worry, her face is very pretty. "Oh, wonderful! You're a life-saver. Now where was that form you wanted me to sign?"

I take the form from my pocket. "Here it is."

"Right..." She takes it and puts it down on the table to sign. "There you go. How's that?"

"It'll do," I say, and I bitterly remember what I need the rod for.

"It was a pleasure," she says. "You'll go far in the Circle, I bet."

I turn away and roll my eyes. Yeah, because I want to go far in the Circle. Because I want to be in charge of the systematic oppression that Circles represent. I walk back over to Owain. "Welcome to the Circle's stocckroom of magical items. My name is Owain. How may I assist you?" he asks, and I shiver a bit thinking about how little must register in the mind of a Tranquil.

"Here's the signed form for the rod of fire," I say, handing it to him.

He scans it quickly and says, "Everything looks to be in order." He disappears into the stockroom for a few moments and comes back holding the rod. "Here's the rod you requested."

I take the rod from him and leave. The sooner I can be done with this horrible day, the better. I return to Jowan and Lily. "I hate waiting. It makes me nervous," I hear him saying to Lily as I approach.

"I have the rod of fire," I announce.

"That was quick!" Jowan replies in surprise.

"To the repository, then," Lily says. "Freedom awaits."

The three of us head downstairs and into the basement. No one takes notice of us, and for that I am grateful. In the basement, we come upon a door.

"The Chantry calls this entrance 'the Victims' door.' It is built of two hundred and seventy-seven planks, one for each original templar," Lily explains.

I can't wait to burn it down, then, I think with a grin. Jowan catches my eye and sees me fiddling with the rod of fire. He catches on and grins back.

"It is a reminder of all the dangers those cursed with magic pose," she continues, and my lip curls up in a snarl.

"It looks just like any other door," I admit, crossing my arms.

"The doors can be opened only by a templar and a mage, entering together. The Chantry provides the password, which primes the ward, and the mage touches it with mana, to release it."

My brows furrow. "Since you have the password, can't Jowan help you enter?" It seems like I didn't have to be a part of this.

"The ward only responds to the touch of one who has been through the Harrowing," she explains.

I glare at Jowan, realizing he's been waiting to ambush me with this request the moment I completed my Harrowing. He looks at me sheepishly. "So what must I do?"

"First the password..." Lily turns to the door and holds out her arm. "'Sword of the Maker, Tears of the Fade.'"

A pretty short password. But it works. I can feel the magic on the door reacting. "Is that it? Can we enter now?"

"The password only primes the door. Now it must feel the touch of mana. Any spell will do, but hurry."

I let my magic surge through me. It hits the door, and the paling fades. The door swings open, and we cautiously walk through. There's another door in front of us.

"Do you have the rod with you? Melt the locks off!" Jowan urges in anticipation.

I nod and grasp the rod tightly. I allow my mana to pulse through me, but nothing happens.

"What's the matter?" Lily asks in horror. "Why isn't it working?"

"Maybe the rod's broken," I say with a shrug.

"Lily," Jowan says slowly, "something's not right. I... can't cast spells here. Nothing works."

I feel it too. My magic sits just under my skin but cannot find a way into the world.

Lily frantically examines the door. "These wards carved into the stone... this must be the templars' work. They negate any magic cast within this area. I should have guessed! Why would Greagoir and Irving use simple keys for such a door? Because magical keys don't work! How do you keep mages away from something? Make their powers completely worthless! That's it then! We're finished! We can't get in."

I sigh deeply. Looking around, I notice another door down the hallway to our right. "That door there, where does it lead?"

"I don't know," Lily admits. "Do you think it's another way in?"

"That door probably leads to another part of the repository," Jowan says. "What are the chances of there being another entrance?"

"Or we could just forget this foolishness and leave," I say, hoping that maybe, if we leave and abandon this doomed venture, my friend will escape punishment.

"No!" Lily protests firmly. "We can't get into the chamber the way we planned, but we're not about to give up. We can see where this door leads, but I don't think it'll be easy... it looks locked, for one."

"The rod will work on those locks, shouldn't it?" I suggest.

"Yes," Lily agrees. "Let's hope they haven't warded that door as well."

"Let's hurry..." Jowan suggests. "We've wasted enough time." We head toward the door and Jowan says resolutely, "I'm not giving up. We've come too far."

I pull the rod of fire back out and point it at the lock. This time, though, my magic is not suppressed. Flames erupt from the tip of the wand, and the lock, after a few moments under the hot blue flame, melts away. As the door pops open, the suit of armor in the hallway behind us, a piece that I'd barely noticed, begin to move.

"Oh, that's not good," Jowan says, and we brace for battle. The three of us - Jowan and I with our magic and Lily with a dagger - are easily victorious. "Are you alright?" Jowan asks hurriedly, moving toward Lily as soon as the suit of armor falls to the ground.

She smiles at him. "Yes, thank you."

They're idiots. Everything about their relationship is a horrible idea. This escape plan will never work, and they will be caught and separated. Even if they'd decided to stay in the Circle as a secret, they'd have been caught eventually.

And yet, my heart still aches when I see the way that they look at each other. I've been with a couple people, but it has only ever been skin deep. We've always known that deep, emotional attachments are suicide for mages. The templars fear mages who have something to lose.

We press on. Through the door and around the corner, more sentinels come to life. The rush of excitement is like that in the store-rooms. It's only been an afternoon of excitement, yet I am dreading the return to the meaningless life of a Circle Mage. How do the mages that fight in the army handle it?

There is a door to my left, unlocked. I step inside. There's very little in here that is of note. Bookshelves and stacks of books are all about, but nothing that strikes my fancy. There is another room further down the hall, and it is much the same.

There's another door at the end of this hallway, and more sentinels on the other side of it. When they fall lifeless to the ground, I look at my companions. They are still on-edge. Jowan tries to muster a smile, but his usual optimism is missing. I nod with what I hope will be encouragement, and proceed through the next door.

Here, two sentinels and the spirit of a mage wait for us. Lily surprises me bu cutting off the head of one of the sentinels. Maybe they aren't as hopeless as I thought. Jowan looks at her with an odd mix of pride and fear.

Another door. Much to my surprise, deep stalkers wait for us in here. They are weak, but there are many of them. Different tactics are necessary, and I grin as they fall to my power. When we stand amid a pile of carcasses, Jowan puts a hand on my shoulder. "See? You can do anything," he says so earnestly it pains me to hear it.

I smile weakly, trying not to betray myself, and say, "Let's keep going."

Through the next door, two more sentinels and another spirit. There's a door in front of us, and once our adversaries are taken care of, we enter. It's just a room, so we turn around and go right down the hall. Through that door, three sentinels wait for us. Through the next, two sentinels and a spirit.

It might seem that this would be tedious. It isn't. It's positively exhilarating. I don't want to turn a corner to face an empty hallway. Each of these adversaries is a ward placed by templars. They are meant to hurt mages who do not bend to the Chantry's will.

I relish the destruction of each.

We make it to another door. "We'll need another way into the phylactery chamber," Lily reminds us. "Let's explore the repository."

We enter the next room. It's filled with artifacts I cannot identify. They're probably Tevinter artifacts. I wonder how many of them are taboo just because the Chantry fears Tevinter and how many are actually inherently dangerous.

There's an unlocked chest, and I open it. Inside is a blackened heartwood staff. "Wow," I breathe.

"That's a really nice staff," Jowan says appreciatively.

"Are you sure you should be touching it?" Lily asks uneasily.

"It's fine," I assure her. I take it with me.

"Wow, that old wall's about to come down any moment," Jowan says, looking at some brickwork behind a bookcase.

I walk over to a statue vaguely shaped like a dog. I kneel down to examine it.

"What do you think this does?" Jowan asks.

"Why does the Circle keeps so many Tevinter artifacts in storage?" Lily asks, fear creeping into her voice.

"It's history, Lily," Jowan says, "and it's fascinating."

I haven't been able to detect anything interesting about this statue, so I say, "This is just a stockpile of useless objects, Jowan."

"I've seen pictures of things like this," he says, and I'm struck by his knowledge of something I know nothing about. "They amplify any spell cast into them. I bet we could use this to break into the phylactery chamber."

"I doubt we could move it to the door," I say, thinking about how long it took us to get here.

"See where the mortar might be decaying behind that bookcase?" he says, motioning in front of us. "Let's take a closer look." We walk up to the bookcase. It's not too large, and the wood is fairly thin. "It should be pretty easy to get this out of the way."

I smirk. "Alright, Jowan. Move the bookcase aside." I cross my arms and stand aside.

"I can't do it on my own! You have to help me." In those words, he sums up our entire relationship. "If we work together, we can shift it. Come on."

It moves aside with little effort from us.

Jowan returns to the statue. "Use this with the rod. I'm sure it'll work. Hurry... the clock's ticking."

It is, Jowan. I'm so sorry, I think and use the rod again. The wall comes crashing down.

Jowan rushes forward. "This is the phylactery chamber! It worked!"

"We must find Jowan's phylactery quickly," Lily urges.

"Where would it be?" I ask.

"With the other apprentice phylacteries, I imagine," she replies.

"It shouldn't be hard to find. There aren't many phylacteries here," Jowan says.

He's right. Everyone who's passed their Harrowing has theirs sent to Denerim. Three sentinels attack, but we are filled with adrenaline and they stand no chance. Up some stairs, there are shelves covered with small vials of blood. We each take a shelf to peruse.

I find one that has Jowan's name on it. "Here," I say, beckoning them over.

"That's my phylactery!" Jowan says excitedly. He hugs me. "You found it! I can't believe this tiny vial stands between me and freedom." He holds it up and inspects it. "So fragile, so easy to just be rid of it... to end its hold over me..." He drops it. Glass shatters and blood splatters on the floor. "And I am free."

I stretch and say, "That certainly took a while."

"Well, it is done now. Let us leave."

"I do not want to stay here a moment longer," Lily agrees.