"Do you wish to see the remains of the extraction system?" Moragon asked.

"Is it in the same state as this?"

"Worse. There must have been a series of explosions. Each part of the extraction system detonated with greater force, causing a major cave-in."

"Saryah was here," the Primate said.

"She was," Moragon looked at him, "and I have no doubt they fought. Yet the intruder was the victor."

Melovar Aspen shook his head. "I thought she was unbeatable. Did you know she killed several bladesingers, as well as the Alturan High Enchantress? Not a mark on her."

"What about Templar Zavros? Have you spoken with him?"

"Not yet," the Primate said. "I wanted to see this for myself before hearing his account. Clever as he is, he sometimes misses the bigger picture."

"I'll take you to the extraction system then." Moragon turned when he noticed the Primate had stopped in his tracks. "What is it?"

The Primate put his fingers to his temples. "I will see the extraction system, or what's left of it, later. Take me instead to the Pinnacle."

~

MELOVAR Aspen climbed the stairs with complete disregard for the height and the gusting wind that pushed relentlessly against his thin frame. He was barely out of breath; he had tasted the bitter sweetness of the elixir on his way, and could feel the strength it gave him. He may still look an old man, but he felt as good as he had when he was a young priest.

Ahead of him Moragon turned, no longer surprised at the Primate's progression from frailty to vitality.

"Here, Primate. This is where the fourth and final explosion occurred."

The summit of the mountain was once a pure place. The gentle glow of the Pinnacle was all that decorated the level area, and even the Primate himself came here when the trials of the world imposed some much-needed time to think.

The pilgrims came from far and wide to see the Pinnacle, and many of Aynar saw the light from Stonewater's summit and felt in awe of the templars and priests who lived here. Much of the Tingaran Empire's reverence for the Assembly of Templars stemmed from the wonders of Stonewater.

And now the Pinnacle was gone, the mystery of the light solved once and for all.

The light had guarded a building. Whatever it had been, it was now in rubble, the broken blocks covered in dust.

"You say this was where the fourth explosion occurred. How much time passed between this and the explosion at the refinery?" Melovar asked.

"The templars thought it as strange as you do, Primate. Apparently there was not long between them."

"How do you think he made his way from the foot of the mountain, the very base of the vault, to the summit of Stonewater in such a short span of time?"

"I don't know," Moragon said.

"Speculate," said the Primate, raising an eyebrow at the melding.