diff --git a/src/camera.rs b/src/camera.rs
index d0746f0..d167c3d 100644
--- a/src/camera.rs
+++ b/src/camera.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use bevy::prelude::*;
 use bevy_mod_raycast::{RayCastMethod, RayCastSource};
 
-use crate::player::*;
+use crate::{pillar::UnlitPillar, player::*};
 
 pub struct MyRaycastSet;
 
@@ -43,16 +43,36 @@ pub fn update_raycast_with_cursor(
 }
 
 #[derive(Default)]
-pub struct MouseCoords(pub Vec3);
+pub struct MouseCoords {
+    pub raw: Vec3,
+    pub processed: Vec3,
+}
 
 // Update our `RayCastSource` with the current cursor position every frame.
-pub fn update_mouse_coords(
+pub fn update_raw_mouse_coords(
     query: Query<&RayCastSource<MyRaycastSet>>,
     mut coords: ResMut<MouseCoords>,
 ) {
     for pick_source in query.iter() {
         if let Some((_, intersection)) = pick_source.intersect_top() {
-            coords.0 = intersection.position();
+            coords.raw = intersection.position();
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// checks for pillars and stuff
+pub fn update_processed_mouse_coords(
+    query: Query<(&Transform, &UnlitPillar)>,
+    mut coords: ResMut<MouseCoords>,
+) {
+    let mut dis = 20.0;
+    coords.processed = coords.raw;
+
+    for (trans, _) in query.iter() {
+        let d = trans.translation.distance(coords.raw);
+        if d < dis {
+            coords.processed = trans.translation;
+            dis = d;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 03e0fcb..7911bcf 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ mod debug;
 mod illumination;
 mod light_balls;
 mod loading;
+mod pillar;
 mod player;
 mod rendering;
 
 use camera::*;
 use debug::*;
 use light_balls::*;
+use pillar::*;
 use player::*;
 
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Hash, Debug)]
@@ -30,8 +32,10 @@ fn main() {
         .add_plugin(DebugLinesPlugin)
         .init_resource::<Debug>()
         .init_resource::<LightBallMaterials>()
+        .init_resource::<PillarMaterials>()
         .init_resource::<MouseCoords>()
         .init_resource::<FloatingOrbsInterpolationState>()
+        .init_resource::<PillarActivationProgress>()
         .init_resource::<loading::LoadedAssets>()
         .add_state(AppState::Loading)
         // raycasting
@@ -63,7 +67,8 @@ fn main() {
         .add_system_set(SystemSet::on_enter(AppState::Game).with_system(setup.system()))
         .add_system_set(
             SystemSet::on_update(AppState::Game)
-                .with_system(update_mouse_coords.system())
+                .with_system(update_raw_mouse_coords.system())
+                .with_system(update_processed_mouse_coords.system())
                 .with_system(exit_on_esc_system.system())
                 .with_system(light_movement.system())
                 .with_system(move_light_friends.system())
@@ -71,6 +76,8 @@ fn main() {
                 .with_system(move_player.system())
                 .with_system(camera_follow_player.system())
                 .with_system(light_up_ball_when_close_to_player.system())
+                .with_system(increase_progress_when_activating_pillar.system())
+                .with_system(activate_pillar_when_progress_is_1.system())
                 .with_system(toggle_debug.system()),
         )
         .add_system_set(
@@ -88,6 +95,7 @@ fn setup(
     mut materials: ResMut<Assets<StandardMaterial>>,
     mut ambient: ResMut<AmbientLight>,
     light_ball_materials: Res<LightBallMaterials>,
+    pillar_materials: Res<PillarMaterials>,
 ) {
     // set ambient light to very low
     ambient.color = Color::rgb(0.3, 0.3, 0.3);
@@ -118,6 +126,8 @@ fn setup(
     // columns
     // columns::spawn_columns(&mut commands, &mut meshes, &mut materials);
 
+    spawn_pillar(&mut commands, &pillar_materials, Vec3::new(0.0, 1.0, 30.0));
+
     // player
     spawn_player(&mut commands, &mut meshes, &mut materials);
 
diff --git a/src/pillar.rs b/src/pillar.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ede200f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pillar.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+use bevy::prelude::*;
+
+use crate::player::LightFriends;
+
+const SIZE: f32 = 10.0;
+const HEIGHT: f32 = 20.0;
+
+pub struct UnlitPillar;
+pub struct LitPillar;
+
+pub fn spawn_pillar(commands: &mut Commands, materials: &PillarMaterials, pos: Vec3) {
+    let mut column_material: StandardMaterial = Color::rgb(0.7, 0.7, 0.7).into();
+    column_material.metallic = 0.0;
+    column_material.reflectance = 0.0;
+    commands
+        .spawn_bundle(PbrBundle {
+            mesh: materials.mesh.clone(),
+            material: materials.unlit.clone(),
+            transform: Transform::from_translation(pos),
+            ..Default::default()
+        })
+        .insert(UnlitPillar);
+}
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct PillarActivationProgress(pub Option<(Entity, f32)>);
+
+pub fn increase_progress_when_activating_pillar(
+    pillars: Query<(Entity, &Transform, &UnlitPillar)>,
+    friends: Query<(&Transform, &LightFriends)>,
+    mut progress: ResMut<PillarActivationProgress>,
+    input: Res<Input<MouseButton>>,
+) {
+    if !input.pressed(MouseButton::Left) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    let (friends_trans, _) = if let Some(f) = friends.iter().next() {
+        f
+    } else {
+        return;
+    };
+
+    for (entity, trans, _) in pillars.iter() {
+        let d = trans.translation.distance(friends_trans.translation);
+        if d < 5.0 {
+            // set as the one on progress and increase
+            if let Some(p) = &mut progress.0 {
+                if p.0 == entity {
+                    p.1 = (p.1 + 0.008).clamp(0.0, 1.0);
+                } else {
+                    *p = (entity, 0.0);
+                }
+            } else {
+                progress.0 = Some((entity, 0.0));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn activate_pillar_when_progress_is_1(
+    mut commands: Commands,
+    mut progress: ResMut<PillarActivationProgress>,
+    mut query: Query<(&mut Handle<StandardMaterial>, &UnlitPillar)>,
+    materials: Res<PillarMaterials>,
+) {
+    if let Some(p) = progress.0 {
+        if p.1 >= 1.0 {
+            progress.0 = None;
+
+            // activate pillar
+            commands
+                .entity(p.0)
+                .remove::<UnlitPillar>()
+                .insert(LitPillar)
+                .insert(Light {
+                    color: Color::rgb(15.0, 15.0, 15.0),
+                    intensity: 300.0,
+                    ..Default::default()
+                });
+
+            if let Ok((mut handle, _)) = query.get_mut(p.0) {
+                *handle = materials.lit.clone();
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+pub struct PillarMaterials {
+    unlit: Handle<StandardMaterial>,
+    lit: Handle<StandardMaterial>,
+    mesh: Handle<Mesh>,
+}
+impl FromWorld for PillarMaterials {
+    fn from_world(world: &mut World) -> Self {
+        let world = world.cell();
+        let mut materials = world
+            .get_resource_mut::<Assets<StandardMaterial>>()
+            .unwrap();
+        let mut meshes = world.get_resource_mut::<Assets<Mesh>>().unwrap();
+
+        let mut unlit: StandardMaterial = Color::rgb(0.9, 0.9, 0.9).into();
+        unlit.metallic = 0.0;
+        unlit.reflectance = 0.0;
+        let unlit = materials.add(unlit);
+
+        let mut lit: StandardMaterial = Color::rgb(15.0, 15.0, 15.0).into();
+        lit.metallic = 0.5;
+        lit.reflectance = 0.5;
+        lit.emissive = Color::rgb(15.0, 15.0, 15.0);
+        let lit = materials.add(lit);
+
+        let mesh = meshes.add(Mesh::from(shape::Box::new(SIZE, HEIGHT, SIZE)));
+
+        Self { lit, unlit, mesh }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/player.rs b/src/player.rs
index 8fc5362..a784a73 100644
--- a/src/player.rs
+++ b/src/player.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use bevy::prelude::*;
 
-use crate::{camera::MouseCoords, illumination::Illumination};
+use crate::{camera::MouseCoords, illumination::Illumination, pillar::PillarActivationProgress};
 
 pub struct Player;
 pub struct PlayerLight {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ pub fn move_light_friends(
     for (mut trans, _light) in query.iter_mut() {
         // interpolate between player pos and mouse click pos
         let i = interpolation.0;
-        let center = i * coords.0 + (1.0 - i) * player_pos;
+        let center = i * coords.processed + (1.0 - i) * player_pos;
 
         let mut d = trans.translation - center;
         d.y = 0.0;
@@ -94,18 +94,23 @@ pub fn light_movement(
     mut query: Query<(&mut Transform, &PlayerLight)>,
     time: Res<Time>,
     interpolation: Res<FloatingOrbsInterpolationState>,
+    pillar_progress: Res<PillarActivationProgress>,
 ) {
     let t = time.seconds_since_startup();
-    // make the friends go further when the button is pressed
-    let width = 5.0 + interpolation.0 * 7.0;
+    // light pillar activation progress
+    let p = pillar_progress.0.map(|(_, p)| p).unwrap_or(0.0);
 
+    // make the friends go further when the button is pressed, but close in when activating a pillar
+    let width = (5.0 + interpolation.0 * 7.0) * (1.0 - p);
+
+    let p = p as f64 / 3.0;
     for (mut trans, light) in query.iter_mut() {
         let i = light.i as f64;
         let i2 = i / 2.0;
         trans.translation = Vec3::new(
-            width * i2 as f32 * (t * 0.4 * i2 + i).cos() as f32,
-            3.0 * (t * 1.1 * i2 + i).sin() as f32 + 4.0,
-            width * (t * 0.4 * i + i).sin() as f32,
+            width * i2 as f32 * (t * (0.4 + p) * i2 + i).cos() as f32,
+            3.0 * (t * (1.1 + p) * i2 + i).sin() as f32 + 4.0,
+            width * (t * (0.4 + p) * i + i).sin() as f32,
         );
     }
 }