As soon as Phobos made an irritated sigh, Kassandra knew it was time to stop. The relentless days on the road had taken their toll on both horse and rider. The weather was unforgivingly hot and dry. Ahead of them, Ikaros, was circling and making a loud, persistent cry. Water. Or at least a lake. It was something Phobos desperately needed and Kassandra craved for a moment of rest. Her body ached from the endless days on horseback.

As they moved closer, Kassandra could see an ancient temple, long abandoned. Statues lay fallen and broken, remnants of a nameless god who had been forsaken by time and prayers. She dismounted. She moved past the crumbling columns; the building was mostly overgrown with vines and wildflowers. She walked between two Doric columns and stepped into a neglected garden. Each side was framed by more columns, with a still pool in the center. She stopped, her body tensing as she took in the scene.

Amidst the overgrown nature, with grass and wildflowers surrounding the pool, she saw you. There was a little dust in the air, and the soft wind carried the pollen from the wildflowers. The sunbeam hit the water, making it sparkle. It was raw and beautiful... like a nymph, no... a goddess. Your hair flowed loosely over your shoulders as you dipped a vase into the pool. It was like a vision, and Kassandra couldn't stop staring. Gods and goddesses... you were beautiful in a way that made philosophers fools, the brave cowardly, and emperors wage wars. Then you saw her, and the vase slipped from your hand, shattering with a loud crash.

"Who are you?" you asked, your voice a mix of surprise and curiosity, tinged with an accent that spoke of distant lands.

"Kassandra," she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I mean no harm. We're just seeking rest."