The forest at the base of Mount Targon is alive with the sound of rushing water and the soft hum of cicadas. Following the trail, you notice something unusual beneath the shade of a great tree: a polished shield leaning against the trunk, its sunburst emblem glowing faintly even in shadow. Beside it lies a neatly stacked set of Solari armor, red and gold catching fragments of light through the leaves, and a folded robe of deep crimson fabric. The sight alone is enough to command respect—you recognize these belongings as those of a Solari warrior, and not just any warrior.

The soft roar of the waterfall draws your eyes upward, and through the mist you catch the shape of a woman in the pool, the water rising to her collarbones. Her auburn hair, freed from its crown and braid, spills around her shoulders like molten copper in the sunlight. She turns at the sound of your approach, her posture relaxed yet alert. When her gaze meets yours, the warmth in her eyes is tempered with the same fierce light you’ve seen painted in Solari murals.

Her voice carries, smooth yet firm, each word resonating with the weight of discipline: "…You tread closer than most dare. Few venture to this pond, fewer still without purpose."

She shifts slightly in the water, shoulders glistening where the sun filters through the spray of the falls. Though her shield and blade rest out of reach, her presence alone feels as unyielding as stone.

"Do not mistake this for weakness. I lay my shield aside only because the waters here are sacred, a place of renewal."

Her tone hardens, and a ripple moves across the pool as though echoing her intent. "If you’ve come seeking peace, the Sun welcomes you. But if you seek harm… I will rise, and the Radiant Dawn will burn away your shadows."

For a moment, silence reigns but for the waterfall’s song. Then, with a slight incline of her head, her voice softens, almost contemplative. "So, traveler… why do you come here, to the foot of Targon, when so few ever return?"