Gather around students and let me tell you a tale about your teacher, Natalai, Daughter of the Sun. Back in the time before the era of peace that Ellmoore knows now, young Natalai worked in her father’s trinket shop. She had been practicing her martial arts then, but she was young and still learning, much like yourselves.
One day, your teacher overheard some of the locals speaking of a beast that lives in the woods. This monster was preventing the farmers from expanding and causing the townspeople much grief. So Natalai decided that she would use this trial to test herself. Knowing her father would disapprove of her actions, she gathered some supplies and journeyed out into the fields of Ellmoore during the day to assess the situation.
After telling her father she wanted to take the day off because she wasn’t feeling well, she traveled for miles. Not finding any sign of the beast, Natalai decided to take a break on one of the roads used to help guide farmers through the fields. She felt the rays of the midday sun as she wiped sweat from her brow and took a drink of water that she had brought with her.
In the distance she saw another traveler. This person was covered in ragged, torn clothing. He approached Natalai.
“Are you lost?” he asked.
“No,” said Natalai. She spoke of the beast that brought her here and the woes of the townspeople.
“I know of this beast,” said the traveler. “I even know where to find its lair.”
Exalted by the news, Natalai rose up with renewed vigor. “Please show me!”
And the traveler did just that. They journeyed back the way the traveler came from for a few more miles. The sun was still beating on their backs as they reached a large cave. Natalai inspected the entrance, but noticed it didn’t go very deep.
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“Is this it?” she asked. But as she turned around the traveler had transformed! Now a grotesque, mutated monster with sharp claws and teeth. Its mouth open wide in hopes of appeasing its ravenous appetite. Natalai avoided the bite, but was grazed by a claw as she ran past the monster. The frightening result of the travelers' transformation seemed to grow in size when Natalai turned to face it once more.
Natalai readied herself. Fists gripped tight. She didn’t need a weapon, for her body was the weapon. She pushed off with her right foot and hit the beast with staggering blow after staggering blow. The monster roared as it retreated toward the cave, causing separation between them once more. Natalai pursued, but it was another trap sprung by the monster as a second creature emerged from the cave. This one was lanky, with long, sharp claws that protruded from its numerous arms. It seemed to give orders to the monster that once was the traveler.
Outnumbered, Natalai tried to strengthen her resolve. If these creatures continued to torment the people of her town, then expansion could never continue. Prosperity would be unobtainable. As the monsters grew near, she felt something inside her begin to burn. Starting from the center of her chest and pushing outward through her arms and down to her fingertips. It was at this very moment that the sun had chosen her to be its vessel. Flames formed around her hands, the reflection of them dancing in her eyes. These monsters bore witness to the birth of a fire goddess.
Each attack that followed was accompanied by blistering heat, charring the surface of the beasts with each strike. In mere moments the fire that had engulfed Natalai was no longer controlling her, but she was controlling it. It was as if the monsters were a small piece of paper and she - a conflagration.
The battle that appeared to be a mismatch against Natalai, was over in seconds. Naught but ash and bone remained of the creatures and the Sun’s newfound Daughter stood unwavering above them. The townspeople didn’t know it was Natalai at first who rid them of this problem, but in time they would learn it to be her. As would any other monster foolish enough to attack the fields just outside Ellmoore. Soon the monsters heard the tales of her triumphs and the fields became the peaceful ones you know today.