We climbed the last stretch of hill in silence, boots slipping on loose stone, the temple growing larger and stranger with every step until it filled the whole sky in front of us.
Up close, it was worse. Or better. I couldn't decide.
The walls were pale stone that seemed to hold its own light, veined faintly with something that might have been quartz or might have been magic, glowing so softly you could almost convince yourself you were imagining it. Massive columns flanked a doorway easily three times my height, carved with the same spiraling script we'd seen on the mountain, except here the letters seemed to shift slightly when I wasn't looking directly at them.
"That's not creepy at all," Des said, tilting his head to read them. "Totally normal ancient temple behavior."
"Can you read any of it?" Pearl asked.
"Some. Warnings, mostly. 'Only the chosen may enter.' Very original. Very unhelpful."
