ã€ŠDungeon Photographerã€‹ Chapter 1: Maginet Monthly View: 15. 17% down from the previous 50 days. Subscribed last month: 2 Likes: 1 Practically the same data as last month, and the one before that, even less in reality. Bailey huffed in frustration, running her hands through her blond curls repeatedly. She wondered, again, why her blog wasn''t working. Yet, she was trying hard to create clear and comprehensive content, she always checked for grammatical errors, and she made sure to add the right amount of relevant photos and, if she could; videos. Normally, with these elements, a blog about dungeon crawling should attract a decent audience. Bailey started searching on Maginet[1] other sites that dealt with the same topic, hoping to find an explanation for what differentiated her little corner of the web from the others. Nowadays, in such a highly developed world, we tend to think of Dungeon explorations as a sort of lost tradition of our great-grandparents. Before globalization, the evolution of techmagic and the expansion of communications, one met other cultures by participating in these so-called missions with other people. Then, little by little, they were supplanted by an increasingly convenient greater flow of goods, services and ideas. In short, Dungeons today could be considered useless and out of fashion, which no longer has a place in the modern era in which we live. Instead, for a couple of years, the exploration of these fantastic places had found, in a certain sense, its ancient splendor in new clothes. Group trips, searching for and cooking rare foods, instructions for a relaxing camping trip... on Maginet you could find everything and more to satisfy everyone''s tastes. Bailey, as a good Halfling of the new generation, had also become interested in the topic and had decided to study it in depth, discovering an unexpected passion for enchanted places. Perhaps it was in the nature of Halflings to be fascinated by exotic and distant places, or it was simply what Bailey considered her vocation that, since she was a child, had made her dream of traveling around the world. She had considered becoming a ¡°travel blogger[2]¡±, but he was also happy just working in the tourism field. << And here''s the result: absolutely nothing. >> she declared out loud, alone, while staring at the computer screen. Bailey Peintre, after finishing school, had imagined herself reaching 30 years old settled with work, love life and above all financially. Instead, she worked at the call center of an office that produced magical furniture, it was better not to talk about her relationship and in terms of money she was lucky to split the expenses thanks to the support of her family. Totally the opposite of what she had wanted for herself. She got up from her desk and made herself a relaxing herbal tea, the last thing he needed was to get nervous. She sat down on the couch and her eyes fell, as if life wanted to tease her, on the travel magazines in the Dungeons. One magazine was left open on an article in which they interviewed a boy who had become famous thanks to the idea of ??growing vegetables in those specific places. It was mentioned that the vegetables had an excellent taste and many restaurants contacted him to have them, another line instead explained that the idea was born from his passion for nature and cultivation, a story that he had also shared on his personal blog. << Even vegetables are more successful than me. >> Bailey commented. Bailey had not chosen the topic of her blog at random. The theme of travel was not due to passion alone, but also to the studies she had completed regarding travel, culminating in well-deserved diplomas and certificates. Perhaps, if she had managed to graduate a little earlier, she would not have struggled to find any job related to what she had studied so diligently, and in the meantime that this research had continued, thinking of doing something special, she had opened her ¡°Halfling Around¡±. When she had decided to open the blog she had fantasized so much about the attention she would receive, the enthusiastic comments from followers and, in particular, the people she would meet. She had started with great enthusiasm, which was close to what she liked¡ but it was not bearing the hoped-for results. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What am I missing that others have?¡± she asked herself. It was frustrating not to have an answer. What made other sites stand out, even if only moderately successful? << Your content is good, but too ¡°basic¡±. >> was the answer her sister Amaranta gave her on the phone. Looking at them, you wouldn''t have said they were sisters: while Bailey was curly and blonde with fair skin and dark brown eyes, Amaranta was brunette with straight hair, a beautiful, tanned skin and cerulean eyes. When Bailey needed an honest opinion, she knew she could count on her sister, even when it came to things that might make her feel bad. << You know the subject and you handle it well. But in general¡ it''s quite elemental. You should refine it, making it more personal and more detailed. >> Amaranta suggested to her. << How so? What more can I do? >> Bailey asked her, sounding a little impatient. She was already putting much effort into the blog, and being told it wasn''t enough stressed her out. << Well, for example, you could try to participate in more challenging exploration campaigns. To gain more experience in the field. >> Bailey made a face of annoyance, luckily her sister couldn''t see her on the phone. Yet, her sister knew that the topic touched a raw nerve. Despite her knowledge of the subject, she was not an excellent adventurer. She was not agile, strong, or fast, and could be said to have played more of a supporting role, where she could be. <> Bailey replied, finding the courage to express her opinion. << But it could give you a hand with the blog. >> Amaranta replied, this time with a more cautious tone. << Think about it, it will be a great way to have new experiences, get out of the house and¡ >> << Yes, yes. I''ll think about it. Thanks. >> Amaranta paused, knowing she had perhaps said too much. She ended the call with an ¡°I love you,¡± and reminded her little sister that she could call her for anything she needed. Alone again with her thoughts, Bailey reflected. The tangle of thoughts, each more complex than the last, made her feel discouraged and afraid of having wasted precious time on something that, if she had loved before, she now considered useless. And it was a horrible feeling. Like a broken hourglass that was losing its sand, she saw the time slipping away that she could have used for more important things and that, perhaps, would have allowed her to take a shortcut that could have avoided that situation. Even if she didn''t cry, the tears still flowed, as already happened other times. ¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì Another phone call, another customer complaining that their magical footstool was not responding to their command to come closer so the owner could lean on it. Bailey managed to calm the person on the phone without losing her temper over their rude behavior, giving them the correct instructions for operating the object and ending the call with an insincere ¡°good morning.¡± Free from the interference, she resumed her work at the computer, rapidly pressing buttons on the keyboard. Working in an office wasn''t her dream job, but it helped pay the bills. For an office dedicated to magical furniture, there was always a lot of animation, especially during the morning hours when they answered the continuous calls of customers who often, for one reason or another, had to complain about something often very stupid. The phone wasn''t the only task that was given to Bailey, now and then they gave her slightly more demanding tasks such as tidying up the archive or learning about the latest magical properties on the market. Was it a tiring job? Quite enough. Was it a stressful job? Very much so. It''s no coincidence that the lunch break was always awaited with trepidation, from the part-timer employee to the manager with a permanent job. Luckily Bailey had the afternoon off that day, which meant going home early to eat non-cafeteria food and watch her favorite TV series on time. Housework? Yes, maybe she would have done it if she had felt like it. Mid-morning a colleague suggested a short coffee break which she gladly accepted, after two long hours of calls her ears needed a break and she needed to breathe a sigh of relief. Almost at a run they went down to the bar which, as usual, was crowded with just as many employees who needed an early new supply of caffeine. Between centaur asses, tall elves who wouldn''t move even if asked, and noisy humans, she managed to lean over the counter and ask for a steaming, frothy cappuccino just the way she liked it. From the first hot sip she felt better, all that was missing was a nice croissant to go with it. She and her colleague, a human in her sixties who often wore shades of blue like her eyes called Elvira, began to talk about this and that, between gossip and pastimes. She, knowing Bailey''s passion for Dungeons, told her about a new application called "Dungeon Follower". << It''s a kind of virtual bulletin board. >> she began to explain, waving her hands always adorned with beautiful rings. << It''s for those who need people for their campaigns or projects. Like they did in the old days, when they put written announcements in newspapers or on blackboards displayed around town. >> << And you say they are also divided by type of ¡°business¡±? >> asked Bailey interestedly. << That''s right. A friend''s son, who is studying to become an archaeologist, used it to form a group to explore an area with ruins. At university he couldn''t find anyone capable enough for the project, so he relied on this app and met other guys with the same passion, who gave him a hand. >> << Oh, that¡¯s nice. >> << Try it, maybe there''s someone you could meet. >> Bailey didn¡¯t show it, but she tried not to look puzzled by her colleague¡¯s proposal. Her sister¡¯s words about trying to run a campaign again came back to her. She didn¡¯t believe in coincidences, but it almost seemed like it was meant to be.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Oh well, it doesn¡¯t cost me anything to take a look at it.¡± she thinks. The App had been around for less than a year, but it already had a lot of subscribers. The simple graphics were compensated with their well-organized structure on the division of the missions, labeled by type, difficulty and even number of participants. Bailey felt a strong nostalgia when reading requests, it had been a long time since the last time she had started looking for a party, the last time they still used the forums[3]. Those were good times, simple and fun. ¡°Obviously, there¡¯s mostly stuff that¡¯s too challenging.¡± She thought as she read the proposals. Not all the offers were made for her, many of them were looking for experienced people and with that she had the excuse to be able to back out, others, however, seemed closer to her strings. She was really considering joining a party, she stared at the "participate" button with determination ... and at the same time with anxiety. A lot of anxiety. ¡°No. No. Not here.¡± she said to herself. Her mind was clear, but her heart had begun to beat wildly, without warning. The emotion, weaker than reason, was not yet able to bear the argument. She didn¡¯t want to have a panic attack in the office, that would be too humiliating. She closed the app with the excuse of going back to work, that way she wouldn¡¯t be tempted to keep looking and remembering things from the past that she didn¡¯t want to bring up. While she was in the elevator, a ping from her phone forced her to look at it: on the screen there was a notification from Dungeon Follower that said ¡°request being accepted¡±. << Holy Smokes! What have I done? >> Bailey exclaimed in surprise. She realized that, instead of kicking out the app, she had unwittingly accepted a proposal. She slid her fingers across the screen to cancel the operation, embarrassed by such a silly mistake. Before she could cancel everything, she stopped to read the so-called mission, realizing that it was not like the others: TITLE: PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT. MISSION OFFER DETAILS: OUT OF CITY TRIP, FOOD AND LODGING INCLUDED. SALARY: 1000 AURI. POSITION DESCRIPTION: Temporary assistant wanted, preferably female, for the role of bag carrier/assistant for a period of approximately two weeks. No special qualifications or ability to fight are necessary, the candidate must only be very quiet. ¡°What a strange request.¡± thought Bailey. Ok, technically speaking it wasn''t that strange since there were also requests that didn''t necessarily include just adventure, but it was the first time she read something that had to do with photography. She analyzed the message several times, it wasn''t necessary to fight but only to be very quiet - and modestly, Halflings were very good at that -, food and accommodation were included in the price... but those 1000 Auri alone weren''t exactly convenient for two weeks of work and the "possibly female" candidate stank a bit. ¡°However¡ since no particular skills are required, I might give it some thought.¡± Her thumb remained parallel over the ¡°delete¡± button for a long intense minute, the time Bailey went back and forth in indecision. A subsequent communication informed her that the job applicant would be in touch with further details as soon as possible. ¡°It must be bullshit.¡± She thought, regretting her gesture. ¡°I can always say no, later.¡± ¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì Usually, the Glimmerpeak tram moved slowly and quietly through the city, but today it was surprisingly fast, perhaps because it was almost empty due to it being a holiday, or perhaps because it wanted to get Bailey to her destination right away. In fact, she couldn''t wait to get the appointment out of the way. She wonders what kind of person was looking for a photographic assistant. When she answered the call, a young, friendly-voiced boy answered, which gave her hope that he was an ordinary guy. The person she was supposed to see was in a very distant part of the city, she would have to get off at the end of the line and then walk for about fifteen minutes, maybe twenty minutes at most. After passing the usual stop where she was used to getting off, Bailey had started paying attention to the names of the other platforms and the neighborhoods she was passing through, so new to her that she had never been there, despite having lived in Glimmerpeak for almost ten years. The tram seemed at a certain point to turn itself around as it went down the slope of the city, as if it wanted to go around the entire mountain on which it stood, and as it went further and further down the sea became closer and closer. She finally arrived at her destination: the Little Drop neighborhood. She had never been in those parts; she had always passed over them every time she took a bus or a car to cross the bridge that connected the two points of the city. It was a port district, small boats docked in the stone port that also served as a promenade, on display like a special collection. The larger ships, on the other hand, crossed the canal to enter the large inlet where the main port was located. The houses were almost all basic and often did not exceed three floors compared to those in the city center, but they were certainly nicer, and almost all tended towards warm autumn colors, as did the trees ready for the change of season. The Dragon''s Back Bridge stood out imposingly on the horizon, with cars and trucks crossing it without a moment of fear. ¡°Nice little place, I would live here.¡± Bailey thought, enjoying the new view. She relied on the map on her phone to find the address of the office she needed to reach. After a long walk through the tree-lined streets raining yellow and red leaves, she finally arrived in front of a two-story brick-red building with large, white-framed windows. She analyzed the doorbells of the house numbers until she found the one corresponding to the name of the person she was looking for. << Zirko Gr?nsten ¨C Photographer. From his name, he must be a dwarf. >> Curious as ever, Bailey pressed the intercom and after a few minutes a male voice answered, the same one she had heard on the phone: << Who is it? >> << Um¡ I''m Bailey Peintre, I''m here about the assistant ad. We spoke on the phone the day before yesterday¡ >> << Oh, yes! I remember! I was waiting for you. Come on up, I''m on the first floor. >> The door opened, she ignored the large ground-floor entrance hall from which music was coming, and walked up the flight of stairs in front of her to the first floor, stopping in front of the door that, again, listed the photographer''s name. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s the moment of truth. Remember: you can always say no.¡± The door was already open, she pushed it open slightly. The first thing that appeared before her was a giant photo of a mermaid sitting on a rock, her gaze dreamily towards the horizon, illuminated by the setting sun already half immersed in the sea. She stared at the photo, enraptured, every element of that shot was perfect¡ a true work of art, if she could dare say so. << So, you''re Bailey. Nice to meet you. >> The girl turned and had to raise her head very high to meet the eyes of that guy called Zirko. Bailey was wrong. It wasn''t a dwarf she thought she was meeting, but a troll. Dwarves and Trolls had in common the custom of having names based on stones or minerals, which is why Bailey had assumed the photographer was a Dwarf. But he wasn''t thinking of that now. ¡°Damn! He is so handsome!¡± was Bailey''s first thought when she saw Zirko. It was rare to meet a Troll with such an attractive appearance, at least by human standards. Usually, the distinguishing features of a Troll were large noses, promising muscles, and an intense gaze that sometimes mistakenly led to the threat, as well as excessive hair on their body. This guy was, instead; slim and athletic, with a nice, tapered face with cheeks adorned with dark freckles and a French nose, a friendly gaze lit up by mustard-colored irises. At first glance, he could be mistaken for a normal human being - in fact, he looked more like one of them than a troll - but his wild traits were immediately evident such as the beautiful long tail, the feline irises, the stone-gray skin, and the large and slightly pointed ears. He was probably a Changeling, there was no doubt about it. << Welcome, I am Zirko Gr?nsten. >> << N-nice to meet you, I''m beautiful¡ I mean, I''m Bailey. >> the girl managed to say after a few minutes. She had just realized in time that she was staring at him with her mouth open like an idiot. << Thank you for coming, I was beginning to despair that anyone would respond to the ad. >> he replied, holding out his hand. Bailey held it close and shivered: the skin was hard and soft at the same time. He had no idea what to compare it to, but it certainly was a nice touch. The studio was small and cozy, it could have passed for a small apartment since it was equipped with a small kitchenette where a large orange coffee maker was boiling. The small room for welcoming guests was bright thanks to the large window overlooking the port, with a nice white sofa on one side and a large desk on the other, on which there was a large computer that was currently turned on the desktop. On each wall there were photos, one more beautiful than the other. In one there was a portrait of a family of Pegasus swimming in a lake at dawn, in another instead a Cerberus - wolf walking in a snowy landscape with his gaze turned towards who knows what lens. All the subjects were mainly animals, and only in a couple were portrayed individuals such as centaurs and mermaids. Zirko began the interview by asking Bailey the usual questions about who she was, what she did for a living, and her interests. Zirko nodded, looking at her seriously but not intimidatingly, more focused on listening to her. She wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing. When asked how she found his request on the app, she answered honestly: << Well, I admit it was a coincidence. I pressed the confirmation button without meaning to¡ >> she said, trying not to sound stupid. << On ¡°Dungeon Follower¡± there are more exploration campaigns than photographs. I admit I didn¡¯t think they existed. >> << There are, even if few. It''s just that the algorithm likes to give precedence to that other genre. >> << So¡ how does it work? What does a photographer''s assistant do? >> << Let me explain better. As I mentioned in the ad, the assistant I need does not necessarily have to be an expert in the field, but can mainly help me with transporting the material, assembling the lights and various accessories. Very simple things, in short. And let it be quiet. Are you quiet, Miss Bailey? >> << I''m a Halfling, we''re very good at this. And carrying heavy stuff is no problem, I built up my muscles moving folders around the office. >> Bailey''s answers were a bit exaggerated, but it was by showing that she was confident in herself that she found her current job. The rumbling of the coffee maker interrupted the conversation for a moment, just enough time to fill the cups and sip the drink while it was hot. She had already had two cappuccinos that morning, a third cup was no problem. << You seem very determined, but that''s not enough in this job. I want to point out that the job will take place outside the city, in the White Warthog forest. >> << It''s nice far away, why right there? >> Zirko spread his arms theatrically, nodding at the various photos hanging there. <> Bailey rolled her head back and forth, amazed that all these wonderful shots had been taken by her. She thought it must be a lot of work, if he was dealing with animals, some of which were notoriously dangerous. Just then something occurred to her: <> << Yes and no. A temporary Dungeon has been created at White Warthog for a magical energy surge. Naturalists say it will last a couple of weeks, the perfect situation to photograph a special subject. >> << Really? What is this about? >> Bailey noticed the troll''s large ears drop slightly and made a small, embarrassed face. He clenched his hands and took a deep breath. << Before I answer you, I must ask you a delicate question¡ which is linked to the reason why I want a female assistant¡ >> Bailey clutched her coffee mug, curious to hear the reason. << Are you a virgin? >> Bailey blushed like a tomato. What kind of question was that?! << Is it necessary to know this? >> she asked embarrassed and offended, getting up from the sofa. << Unicorns! That''s why! >> The troll hastened to explain. He picked up a regional newspaper that talked about the forest and the possible presence of unicorns within it. The girl had heard something about it, but she didn''t believe that they were those pure creatures, since they were rare to spot and were often confused with Pegasi. Zirko, however, was sure that he would find them and be able to photograph them, which would be a great shot to add to his portfolio. << Since it is well known that unicorns only approach virgin women¡ this is the only way I can think of to meet them. >> << Yes, this way the ad makes much more sense. But you should have specified it, reading it sounded very ambiguous. >> << It''s true, I admit it. But I was afraid that by doing so it would attract the attention of other explorers such as bloggers, zoologists, and hunters. In short, too much competition. >> << You''re not entirely wrong. Given how things are, 1000 auri is not enough. >> << I know it''s not much as compensation, unfortunately for now I can''t afford too high expenses, I''ve cut many things from the budget. But I absolutely need help. If you don''t intend to accept, I understand perfectly and I won''t insist. I only ask you to think about it, at least for a while. >> The troll''s proposal was not a trivial one. A job outside the city, in the middle of nature, in a Dungeon among other things... it was a lot of stuff, to prove it was a mission in all respects. Challenging, difficult, and perhaps dangerous. She didn''t like to give answers right away, she told him she would think about it and went home. Chapter 2: Photographers Assistant To Bailey''s delight, for once the take-out arrived early. She placed the hamburger and fries on a tray, stuck a straw through the cup lid with the fizzy drink, and settled on the couch, abandoning herself to the pleasures of greasy, fried food. There was a reality cooking show on television, the host was yelling at the contestants to hurry up or they would be eliminated. She didn''t like cooking much, but she liked watching others prepare it. She had done little or nothing that day, but she felt tired as if she had worked like a mule. The television was on high volume and kept her focused on the program in progress, but the ¡°ping¡± of the phone was enough to bring her attention elsewhere, and more precisely to that job offer as an assistant. When she couldn¡¯t decide on something, she overthink it for a long time until she made a final decision, if she could. She admitted it, it was one of her biggest flaws. On the one hand, she kept telling herself that there was no point in accepting, she knew nothing about photography and had never been in nature, and above all she didn''t have to prove to anyone whether she was a virgin or not. On the other hand, however, she also said that it was an opportunity to get out of the city and get to know a new place, have the chance to see perhaps a unicorn, and maybe even have a new experience. The more she thought about it positively, the more the fantasy of embarking on a journey like that reawakened nostalgia for times gone by, the passion for exploring unknown and enchanted places that returned to burn her heart with enthusiasm. She thought back to when she was more enterprising as a child, back when her friends managed to convince her to go exploring in the hills behind the house that they very rarely managed to get past. But the negative side of the matter held her back... not to get any illusions and to keep her feet on the ground, rather than embark on something that could certainly disappoint her. But traveling was part of the package for those who wanted to explore the Dungeons or be a tour operator... so it wasn''t a waste of time. Or was it? The food and the reality show lost their appeal, she turned on the computer to check her blog, now silent for over a week. She opened the writing box to start a new article, she wanted to write something, vent it on... but she remained staring at the white window without being able to string the words together. ¡°And what do I write? Even if I have an idea, someone will have already proposed it in a better way.¡± She thought, already resigned from the start. She lowered the laptop screen in defeat. At that moment, the television was showing an advert, and that was being shown at that moment a unicorn was used as a symbol of beauty and power for a new car model. A unicorn, what a coincidence. She had been seeing images of this animal all day, sometimes even casually mentioned. She didn''t think there was any reason to be surprised, considering it was a very well-known animal. <> she wondered again. ¡°Just do it,¡± began a determined voice that followed the commercial. The living room remained quiet, disturbed only by the music playing on the television, while Bailey remained as still as a statue after hearing those words. In a snap, she picked up the phone and dialed a specific number. <> Zirko replied. << Is your offer still available? >> Bailey asked hastily, without saying ¡°good evening¡± or ¡°hello.¡± << What? Who is it? >> << It''s Bailey. I asked you if you still need an assistant. >> << Bailey¡ the Halfling? Yes, why¡? >> <> ¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì Two weeks later. One, two, three¡ four sneezes in total, one after the other. << Bless you! >> Zirko repeated, for the fourth time. << Stop saying it! It makes them sneeze more! >> Bailey retorted, breathless. She believed that every time they answered ¡°bless you¡±, it continued to stimulate her sneezing. It was normal for it to be cold at that hour, it was six in the morning and it was winter¡ but she didn¡¯t think it could be that cold. She didn¡¯t like that, nor the silence of the White Warthog woods, barely disturbed by the birds singing and the chirping of insects, even the sound of leaves and branches crushing underfoot was muffled, making her feel uneasy. One thing to say, with the air being fresh and clean she felt as if her lungs were freeing themselves of a weight that had been held on for so long uselessly. << How much longer do we have to walk? >> asked an already tired Bailey to Zirko. << Just ten more minutes, the entrance to the dungeon isn''t far away. >> he replied. It was clear that the troll had already traveled in nature, he was calm and walked with the ease of someone who already knew the place. Despite his thick-soled boots and his firm step, he made almost no noise, he had the light walk of a cat, a detail that Bailey could not help but admire. << Couldn''t we go by car? It would have been quicker that way. >> << Too much magical force. It would have broken down the engine and we can''t afford that if we want to get home. Better to proceed on our own two feet, and a good walk never hurts anyone. >> ¡°You say it because you have long legs.¡± Bailey thought. The girl stopped suddenly, startled by the sound of an unrecognizable animal cry. She stared at the visible horizon of the forest, trying to glimpse some presence between the tree trunks. She tightened her hands on the straps of her backpack like a lifeline, she felt exposed to everything, and she didn''t like it. << Don''t worry, this forest is not dangerous, I have come here many times. >> << G-good to k-know. >> << By the way, have you taken pills against mana sickness? Too strong magical energy can¡ >> <<¡ cause headaches, nausea, and other ailments. In more sensitive subjects, even hallucinations and loss of consciousness. >> << Oh, you are well versed on the subject. >> <> << Good job, you were farsighted. Usually, those who explore dungeons tend to underestimate magical energy, especially beginners. >> << Yes, it is the most common mistake. In the Top 10 mistakes made in exploration, this is always in the first place. >> << Have you done any explorations in the past? >> << A couple of times. >> Zirko''s ears twitched slightly with curiosity as he waited to hear the rest of Bailey''s experience. She remained silent, only asking after a while if they could continue. They continued in silence and with slight discomfort. Yet, the girl shouldn¡¯t have felt embarrassed to talk about what was, after all, her favorite topic. She thought she should have been more cordial, after all, they were there to work together and he was treating her kindly, stopping often to check on her. She didn¡¯t want to be seen as a troublemaker, not after she had insisted on being hired. ¡°Come on, try to be more open. You¡¯re his assistant, right? So make sure you assist with a normal chat, too.¡± she thought, racking his brains to find a way to break the ice. While thinking of a conversational strategy, Zirko stopped suddenly, and his ears this time perked up to attention and the irises of his eyes widened for a moment. << We are at the entrance to the Dungeon. >> he announced. << Ready to spring into action? >> Bailey looked up at a pair of trees, the wood was a light emerald green that faded to purple towards the top, the leaves glowed slightly as if they were equipped with little neon lights, and some of the branches intertwined with each other in a sort of arch. The entrance to the Dungeon couldn''t be more obvious than this. Her legs began to shake, she hadn''t felt so agitated in a long time. Her head was about to turn towards the exit, but she held back so as not to give in to the temptation to go back. She took a deep sigh and went into that magical place with the troll. Bailey had never explored a natural dungeon, only those formed within human structures, so she wasn''t sure what to expect exactly. At first glance it didn''t seem different from the rest of the normal forest, certainly, the crossing was not smooth with the wild boars galloping through the bushes and the hanging branches full of leaves that brushed her like disturbing caresses, sometimes she even had the impression that they were pulling her hair. As they went on, however, the arcane side became more and more distinctive such as, for example, the bizarre shape and color of the trees and plants or the presence of magical entities, like when near a small muddy swamp, she saw some living plants that followed them opening their buds with a slight hiss and even some will-o''-the-wisp[1]. All very fascinating on the one hand, but incredibly stressful on the other, at least for Bailey. It was a constant fright for something that seemed to move towards her, a constant fall because of roots that emerged from the ground, or a grumbling for annoying insects... in short, her discomfort towards the forest had not changed, on the contrary; it was only getting stronger. << You''re obviously a city girl. You''re tighter than a violin string. >> Zirko commented, helping her up off the ground for the umpteenth time. << But have you never been in a forest? Not even for a walk? >> << I''m more of a beach person. My parents always liked the coast, rather than the mountains. >> Bailey replied, giving up on wiping her pants for the umpteenth time. << And I confess that I would be more comfortable walking on the seashore, rather than continuing to stumble like an idiot. Right now I wouldn''t mind putting my feet in the water. >> << In the absence of the sea, would a river be good for you? >> <> << We have reached our first stop on the unicorn hunt. >> In front of the duo appeared a narrow and muddy river, on the surface now and then a fish jumped in an attempt to catch the insects that dared to fly over it. Near the bank stood an old wooden walkway hidden among the thick bushes, perhaps an old hiking trail that the dungeon had incorporated during its ¡°birth¡±, on both banks small bunches of Purple Loosestrife had blossomed that bees and butterflies visited in turn. Without wasting any more time, Bailey and Zirko set up base camp. It was then that Bailey realized why the backpacks were so full: the stuff they had brought was all necessary. The air was humid and cold, but their tent seemed to promise to protect them well, despite the apparent difficulty they managed to set it up easily thanks to the sturdy but flexible tubes, the entrance was spacious and even had a sunshade and two windows on the sides provided better ventilation. Furnishing the inside of the tent was less challenging, they spread a large blanket on the ground for a more comfortable bed and then unrolled the sleeping bags, the troll had even brought some small chairs and a very comfortable wooden table that rolled up on itself with folding legs on which he placed a large lantern inside which was a magical agate that, through a mechanism, caught fire and then began to emanate light and heat together. Bailey immediately sat down next to it to warm up, enjoying the warmth. << Now I need a nice cup of hot coffee to warm me up inside too. >> commented the girl. It felt more like a day of camping than a photographic ¡°hunt¡±.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. << At the end of the day, we''ll drink as much as you want. >> Zirko told her, inviting her to get up. << But the tent is set up, and you said we can set up the rest of the camping gear later. >> << For the camp, exactly. But I was referring to the work we are here for. >> While she was warming up, Zirko had finished preparing a camera. Even an inexperienced eye could immediately tell that it was a professional model, it even had a large lens mounted on it.[2], it looked like one of those that paparazzi used to photograph celebrities. << Come with me, let''s take a walk around. I want to find a good spot to stake out. >> << Why? >> << To hide myself. >> << Are you kidding me? Do you have to do this in your job? >> << Sure. It allows me to photograph animals without scaring them and above all to stay away from them. You don''t think they pose for me on purpose, do you? >> They walked along the riverbank observing the landscape all around. Zirko took the opportunity to explain to Bailey some aspects of his work and she was surprised at how much detail there was to consider. The purpose of nature photography is to obtain images of wild animals in freedom in their natural habitat, as such it is necessary to know both the natural environment in which one operates and the habits of the fauna that inhabits it. An important point that a photographer of the branch must consider is not to influence the environment with his presence, and therefore to wait for the best moments for the shot without creating them artificially. << It seems incredibly complicated. >> << No, in the end, you just have to be patient. >> Having found a spot that the troll considered suitable as a workstation, he asked for help in setting up a sort of second small tent whose colors were almost like those of the surrounding nature, they covered it with leaves, and then inside they reassembled the large camera and a small chair on a tripod. << Are you comfortable in there? >> Bailey asked Zirko after a few minutes after he entered. << No, it''s tight. >> he replied uncomfortably. << Isn''t it more convenient for you to take pictures from the bigger tent? >> <> << You''re more likely to get a bad backache first. >> << Yes, maybe. But I''m willing to do anything to photograph a unicorn. >> << Ok¡ and what do I do in the meantime? >> << Go back to the big tent and make yourself comfortable. Make yourself some coffee if you want, I have everything under control here. >> << Oh. Okay. >> Bailey returned to base camp where, with some hesitation, she managed to set up the electric oven to heat water for coffee. Alone in the tent, as the water boiled lazily, she thought back to old times, when a tent like this one had meant something special. She had never camped in the woods, but in the gardens of her house or at the seaside during the summer there had always been a tent to keep her company to play or daydream, sometimes too small to accommodate all those who wanted to stay inside, sometimes so big that it gave the impression of being able to contain the world. It had not always been comfortable, but it had certainly always guaranteed a happy moment, something that now seemed to be a privilege of childhood that had been taken away from her the moment she became a legal adult. She wondered if her friends still remembered those moments and considered them important too, or if she was just too nostalgic. She looked at all the gadgets they had brought with them to make their stay more comfortable, like the folding pot that boiled water, the small table, and a bunch of other things. She had always thought of camping as a more sober pastime while being in contact with nature, that is, where a limited use of objects was necessary. Maybe the reason was that they were inside a dungeon and therefore a quantity of different objects was needed. ¡°Two weeks¡ I¡¯ll probably get bored.¡± Bailey thought naively. The next few days were anything but boring. The Halfling learned to live in a place far from civilization and its comforts, where one had to adapt without a kitchen, bedroom, and especially a bathroom. They stayed three days in the dungeon looking for unicorns, in the meantime Bailey juggled cooking, assisting the troll with the equipment and surviving the incursions of insects and reptiles. On the afternoon of the third day, they had to go out temporarily due to a sudden change in the weather. The rain fell heavily in the White Warthog Forest, the colors of nature seemed to intensify and the river current increased so much that it formed bubbles on the surface, the sound of the drops falling on the tent was different from what Bailey heard from inside her house and it was not easy for her to sleep at night. It would not have been a problem for the troll to stay in the dungeon in the rain, but for Bailey''s safety, he chose to go out and thus avoid a possible cold. Bailey had to admit that going back to sleep in a real bed was comforting after two nights in a sleeping bag. It had not been a bad experience, but a mattress was always better than a canvas cocoon. They returned to the dungeon on the fifth day, when the weather gave them a break. When they returned, the path was completely different. It wasn''t a strange thing, it was a characteristic of those magical places to change their internal structure, Bailey knew it and Zirko had taken it into account; therefore, it was more than likely that they would not find the river where they had camped the first time. In their second attempt to find the unicorns, the forest seemed to have decided to further complicate the girl''s life. The further they went into the labyrinth, the more difficult it became to continue exploring it. Their life was not in danger, but it certainly put their physical and mental resistance to the test. If insects and reptiles had not been enough to make her give up, this time she had to deal with carnivorous plants disguised as splendid roses and even large monster mushrooms that spread stinging spores, even, one day she had to deal with aquatic elemental spirits that did nothing but spray water at her from the puddles of rain in which they had hidden. At several times Bailey, unaccustomed to that kind of effort, felt the need to return home, but as a Halfling she was stubborn and did not want to abandon the enterprise. << But didn''t you say this was a safe place?! >> exclaimed the exhausted girl, after escaping yet another carnivorous plant. << Look, so far we''re doing very well. Usually, the dungeons that form in places like that are much more dangerous. >> Zirko replied, fresh as a daisy. << Sure, as if nature hadn''t tried to eat or crush us until now." Bailey said displeased. For a moment she tried to sit on the cut tree trunk, but it slipped out from under her bottom. She growled through gritted teeth; she couldn''t take it anymore. << Wasn''t being a photographer supposed to be a calm job? >> <> << Seriously, why go photographing animals in their natural habitat, when you can do it from a zoo? >> << You are such a funny girl, you should go out of the city more. You would discover that being in contact with nature is a positive experience that leaves its mark on you. >> <> Bailey was serious when she spoke, but the troll didn''t seem to take her very seriously. They took a hilly road that overlooked a large lake that stretched like a silver spot in the middle of the dark green of the forest, the ground there was soft and moist, it felt like walking on a waterbed. Another day they came to a point where the dungeon overlooked a local dam, from which at that moment a lake monster had emerged, swimming slowly on the surface for a breath of air. Zirko stopped to take some photos of the beast, managing to capture the image with a clarity that made it seem like it was only a step closer when in reality it was far away. ¡°He really likes his job.¡± she thought looking at him. ¡°I wish I could say the same about mine. I wonder if it¡¯ll be fun when I find piles of backlog.¡± She took a deep breath, trying not to think about returning to the office. Just then she noticed something unusual. << Hey, look at those weird markings." Bailey said to Zirko, pointing to a tree. There were grooves on the trunk that looked like scratches and a dust-like substance was shining inside. Zirko examined them and his ears perked up again, he grabbed the camera that was hanging from his neck and took a couple of shots, while Bailey watched him curiously. << A unicorn passed by here. >> he began excitedly. Bailey began to look around, expecting to see the legendary horse appear at any moment. << It trimmed its horn, that''s why there are those peculiar marks. Look, there are hoof prints on the ground. Maybe there''s more than one. >> <> << They do, but it is so rare to see them in groups that they are thought to be solitary animals. >> << So, is it possible that we will see more than one? >> << Who knows, it would be a great move. >> << Are you saying this from a professional or monetary satisfaction standpoint? >> << Professional satisfaction. >> << You don''t say that with a convincing face. >> << Okay, even monetary. But that''s the last thing on my mind right now. If we can get to the lake, maybe we''ll have a chance to see them. >> Bailey was excited, she hoped she would have this stroke of luck. How many people in the world could boast of having been able to see a herd of unicorns? She began to descend the path towards which the footprints were heading, happy to finally be approaching the unicorns; behind her, Zirko warned her to be careful. She stopped only when he could no longer see the footprints, she looked around moving the dry leaves or peeking behind the bushes, and now and then she even checked the tree trunks for signs of horn. At that moment she heard the typical creaking of wood, she turned around thinking of a unicorn, but what her gaze met was that of a large, slightly opaque eye, enclosed in a wooden frame. Trees, everyone knows, can''t walk... unless you''re talking about a forest elemental. An old pine tree had decided to uproot itself from its bed because it was annoyed by the presence of strangers in its forest, the roots moved like large feet towards Bailey while the two large eyes didn''t stop looking at her and the mouth camouflaged in the trunk slowly opened revealing a thick set of teeth made of chipped wood. Bailey had heard of that type of monster, but she had never seen one before... but she had heard terrifying stories about people seriously injured or killed. Two of the largest branches became arms and hands that slowly bent over her, she knew she had to run away but fear at that moment had blocked her legs, and even though in her head she was screaming to go away, she couldn''t. Zirko caught her just in time, carrying her into his arms despite the added weight of his backpack. He hissed at the monster tree like a cat and they ran away from the creature, too slow to chase them. << Mother troll! We had a narrow escape! >> Zirko exclaimed, stopping only after he had distanced the monster. << You were lucky, lil¡¯ crumb, those creatures are quite dangerous. Luckily that one was too old to chase us. You must be careful when exploring a forest dungeon because you could¡ >> Zirko stopped talking, only realizing at a certain point that Bailey, still in his arms, was shaking and crying silently. Zirko knew that the girl was thirty years old, but her childish appearance, at that moment shocked by fear, broke his heart and he tried to reassure her. The journey had been far too long, he decided that he would go on another day if they hadn''t found the unicorns, they would have abandoned the enterprise. The health of his traveling companion was more important than a photo with a wanted subject. One late afternoon Zirko and Bailey managed to reach the lake, accompanied by a light, cold drizzle. The lake was flat as a table and blue-gray, on the white pebble banks grew thick bushes of Lake Lisca and Stiancia, the sound of the water breaking on the shore was melodious, it reminded Bailey of the sea that, at that moment, her ears perceived as a nostalgic song that she had not heard in years. They walked along the banks for a long time before Zirko suggested stopping for a well-deserved break. << I''ll take care of putting up the tent, you just rest. >> the Troll told her. She just nodded, too tired to give a verbal response. Zirko occasionally tried to start a conversation, but he failed to get her to chat even once, finally giving up on it until dinner time, when they only opened their mouths to eat a light but comforting vegetable soup. << Tomorrow afternoon we leave the dungeon. I don''t think we''ll find any more unicorns. >> The troll announced at one point. Bailey didn''t react outwardly to the news, but inside she was shocked. It made sense if they couldn''t find the unicorns, but she quickly realized that the real reason was because of her, and that made her feel guilty. If only she had more strength, she would have tried to convince him to continue... but she was too tired to do that, and honestly, she couldn''t wait to go back to her apartment, or more precisely, hide inside it again. << Anyway, thank you for accompanying me. >> Zirko began. Bailey looked up in surprise. << It was nice to have some company for once. I''m always alone when I have to work, so¡ it was a nice change. >> The girl nodded faintly, wondering whether he was telling her this to keep her from feeling melancholy or whether he was being honest¡ either way, she thought about how difficult it must be to do such a job on your own. << What are you going to do next? >> Bailey managed to ask him. Zirko, surprised by the question, took a few minutes to answer. <> Zirko spoke with a sort of serenity, but Bailey noticed an unusual expression¡ almost insincere. Then the troll took out two beers that had been hidden until then and proposed a toast. << What do you want to toast? >> the girl asked, perplexed. << Whatever pleases us. >> ¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì The next day Bailey woke up unusually calm. That morning, she didn''t feel tired from the trip or the headache from the strong beer, she left the tent calmly as if she were going to work and stopped to listen to nature waking up while, over the top of the mountains, the sky began to light up with the light of dawn. There had been other times when she had woken up relatively early, but the sunrise seen from the shore of a lake was a special experience. She sat near the shore and watched the view, with the water gurgling and the birds starting to sing gently. It was strange that right there, in a place she had never been before, she felt at peace with herself for the first time in a long time. She thought she didn''t want to leave there anymore. Rather than go back to the city to continue a job she didn''t like and lead an unsatisfied life, she was ready to become a hermit and live in the middle of nature among monster trees, carnivorous plants and annoying insects. ¡°Now that could be a blog post I could write.¡± She thought not very seriously. She continued to admire the view in silence. Then suddenly, like a vision, she realized that unicorns were cautiously approaching on her right. There were four of them, three adults and a colt, with snow-white coats, silky manes that flowed over long necks with light curls scattered throughout and long, shining horns on their foreheads. Majestic. That was the only word Bailey could think of to describe them. Even though it was the horn alone that set them apart from other equines, few creatures could rival their regal presence. She didn''t dare move so as not to scare them, she tried to call Zirko in a low voice, trying to turn towards the tent but failing. The colt, whose horn was shorter and less shiny than the adults'', approached her with curious eyes. It came close enough to touch her legs with its muzzle, Bailey could smell its scent that reminded her of a mix of berries and vanilla. ¡°What do I do? What do I do?¡± she repeated anxiously. At one point the little horse began to rub against her shoulder, perhaps to get a reaction from her, but the adults didn''t seem worried but continued to stare at her intently with their pearl-grey eyes. ¡°Come on little one! What do you want me to do?¡± the girl said to the colt. It was then that the little one rested its muzzle on her lap, half-closing its eyes with a serene expression. Bailey, taken by surprise, could not help but be moved, it seemed to her as if she had a child in her arms who was sharing a simple act of sweetness with her. As the tears flowed, she slowly brought her hand closer to the colt''s head, unsure if she could dare so much. Usually, that kind of reaction leads to consequences, but she was so enraptured by such tenderness that she did not even think about it. Soft... warm... Bailey had never petted anything so innocent in her life, was it perhaps due to the magic that unicorns were imbued with, or was it their natural innocence? The little unicorn seemed to enjoy it because it sighed satisfied, and Bailey also felt equally content. After enjoying a nice free cuddle, it trotted back to its parents and the whole family quietly and silently returned to the forest, just as they had come. Bailey began to breathe again, excited by the experience. Only then could she turn around and see that Zirko had managed to photograph the whole scene, smiling incredibly satisfied. << It was¡ fantastic! >> he told her, equally moved. Chapter 3: Something New << So? What do you think? >> Zirko''s question to Bailey was easy, but the girl couldn''t find the right word to describe the photos he showed her. In the rectangles arranged next to each other on the computer screen, Bailey was hugging the baby unicorn, and behind them the surface of the lake that shone faintly creating a kind of magical frame. The troll had also dedicated a couple of shots to the adults in a statuesque pose near the shore, their light coats that gave the impression of creating a reflection in the photo itself and that could even make one think they had been retouched, given how immaculate they were. They were beautiful. But ¡°beautiful,¡± in her opinion, did not sufficiently enhance the result that had left her speechless. The encounter with the unicorns was incredible and it seemed impossible to think that a photo could adequately immortalize that moment... and instead the troll had succeeded, obtaining a more than exceptional result. All those shots deserved a place on the walls of his studio, who knows which of the few empty spaces left would become the place of honor for his new conquest, if it had been up to her she would have put them all. For Zirko it had probably been another work trip, but for Bailey it had represented something else. Back in Glimmerpeak, after having managed to find the exit from the Dungeon, she had come to terms with what she had gained: she had been exhausted, she had been bruised for a few days and she had even caught a bad cold... but in all of this, she had been above all satisfied, not so much for the money that she had even forgotten was included in the offer, but for the experience. She was happy to be able to say that it had not been a waste of time and that all that effort had been worth it. Luckily, she hadn''t listened to her sister when she told her it was crazy to embark on such a trip with a stranger. << They''re¡ gorgeous. >> Bailey finally managed to reply, after pondering which adjective to use. The troll smiled happily and wagged his tail like a puppy. <> << Can we avoid talking about this? It''s embarrassing¡ >> << Embarrassing or not, I''m glad I hired you. >> Bailey blushed brightly, glad to have been of some help. She thought about the 1000 auros he had given her as compensation, she would most likely never spend it, preferring to keep it as a souvenir. << What will you do now? >> <> << With photos like that they will hire you. In fact, they might even compete for it. >> << Damn, I hope so. >> << Speaking of photos¡ while we''re on the subject¡ >> Bailey began to twirl her hair nervously, her flush of contentment now one of shame. Zirko encouraged her to speak, curious to hear what she had to ask him. Not that it was easy with the embarrassment she felt¡ and with that seductive face staring back at her. <> the girl managed to say, trying to cover her face with her blond curls. << Huh? Do you want to learn how to take nature photos? >> Zirko asked her, not sure he understood correctly. Bailey nodded. She felt incredibly stupid. << It''s not an easy job, you saw it yourself. >> <> The boy drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the desk, his eyes scanning the photos in front of him as if searching for the answer to his final decision. << Ok, I''ll teach you something. >> << Really? Is that okay with you? >> << Sure. I see no reason not to. I''ll gladly lend you a hand. >> Bailey was thrilled. She jumped for joy like a child and as such she couldn''t wait to start this new experience, she was sure she would learn a lot of interesting things on that job and who knows if she too, one day, would not have photographed some special creature. Zirko promised that they would speak soon, recommending her to be ready as soon as he had finished organizing a suitable program for the ¡°lessons¡±. Before leaving, Bailey asked him for one last favor, to which the boy did not hesitate to answer immediately: << Of course. You have every right. >> ¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì Outside Glimmerpeak the landscape was all hilly, with woods and small lakes scattered all around like in one of those landscape paintings that are in grandparents'' houses. In the summer many people flocked to the trattorias and agritourism to enjoy the clean air and the green of the trees or decided to spend Sunday under the sun, sitting on the soft grass among which ladybugs and singing crickets hid, perhaps following a regenerating walk among the hills. Ruthpond Woods was not very large and there was nothing special, but it was still a great spot for those who went trekking or birdwatching, and in the case of Zirko and Bailey it was the perfect place to start experimenting with nature photography. The girl felt much more at ease there, perhaps because it was close to home and the atmosphere did not intimidate her, the treetops were not so thick as to cover the clear sky above her, giving her a feeling of freedom that she had missed in White Warthog. The paths were clear and dry, but being in a hilly area the height difference made them slippery, which led to possible comical falls that the Halfling seemed to have made a subscription to. Furthermore, compared to the forest and its dungeon, Ruthpond seemed empty in comparison, there were not many animal sounds, and at a certain point, she wondered if there were any. This time they did not need to bring who knows what and how much equipment, just a few objects in particular, plus a packed lunch so as not to have empty stomachs. When they reached a fork in the road, where there was a slightly weathered sign, they deviated from the path to enter the trees. They continued for a few minutes in the middle of the bush before stopping near a small clearing where the troll, after rummaging through his backpack, pulled out a small camera. << This is for you. >> he said, handing it to Bailey. The machine was small and light, had a brown and creamy white case and on the front, you could read the slightly faded name of the manufacturing company. On the back, the surface of the digital screen was still shiny and without cracks, on the right side there were seven small buttons reminded it a bit of those of a game console and on which white symbols were drawn. << You can''t learn to take pictures without a camera. >> << Wow! You want me to use a real professional machine? >> << It is a model that I think is suitable for a beginner like you. Its basic functions will be useful to start practicing and understand the basics. >> << Aren''t all cameras the same? >> << No lil¡¯ crumb, every model is different and only if you learn to use them well, you can get great results. But that''s a topic we''ll address another time, when you''ve had more practice. >> << Well¡ okay then. I just hope I don''t break it. >> << Don''t do it because it cost 600 auros. >> << What?! That''s half my salary! >> << I''m kidding, it''s an old model that''s not worth that much anymore. Treat it well anyway, though. If you want to learn, you must take care of it. If you want to continue¡ >> << Of course I want to. Start the lesson, professor. >> The two positioned themselves in the middle of the bushes to hide among the leaves so as not to be noticed by the subject of the day. Zirko explained that they would try to photograph a Skvader[1], a local rabbit known for its short, feathered wings and small, pointed horns. Now a protected species, it was once hunted for its tender meat and then-valuable fur; some stories even reported that its horns were used to create supposedly invigorating medicines. Zirko considered it a suitable first subject to teach Bailey the basics of nature photography, as it was an easy-to-find and, above all, harmless animal. << Lesson number 1: Before you go looking for an animal, you have to know its habits and habitat. You can''t go looking for it randomly, you only waste time and money. Instead, by studying properly, you can track it down easily. Or at least, have a better chance of succeeding. >> << Did you do this with unicorns? >> << Exactly. Although in that case, the magic factor in the dungeon was decisive. >> << And how do you know that a horned rabbit will pass by here? >> << See those yellow mushrooms? They are very fond of them. We will likely see some of them pass by to eat them. >> << Well, and when will they pass? >> << And who knows? You must be patient, like with unicorns. So, get comfortable and start waiting. >> That day Bailey met his first professional enemy: patience. Calmness wasn''t exactly one of her best virtues and in that kind of situation, it wasn''t exactly an advantage. Time seemed to stand still as she lay there huddled in the leaves, startled now and then by the curious lizards that tried to climb on her, and she had to adjust herself several times to be comfortable, her legs stiff and begging for mercy. Zirko, on the other hand, was completely at ease, still as a rock and unfazed by the little animals that crawled above him. Sometimes she had to make sure he was alive, because no one could stay still unless they were dead.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Finally, a Skvader decided to make its appearance: it was gray, with wings like those of a rooster and small red horns just above its eyes. As soon as Bailey saw it, she began to take pictures in bursts, clicking the shutter button like a madwoman. << Stop! Stop! >> Zirko exclaimed, gently taking her hands. << Look, it doesn''t work like that, you have to be more careful. >> << What should I be careful about? I just must take pictures, right? >> Zirko gave her a smack on the forehead, scolding her. << If this were enough, anyone could do my job. It is true that for safety you have to take a lot of photos, but not in this way. >> <> He immediately started checking the photos: of the 15 he had taken, not even one was safe, all of them were out of focus or blurry. The girl hadn''t noticed that she hadn''t focused. << And this brings us to lesson number 2: always check your focus. >> << Got it¡ >> << Remember, focus is a technical aspect that affects the quality and expressiveness of a photograph. Whether you use manual or automatic focus, you must be able to decide which part of the image must be sharp to obtain the desired result. >> << Oh my God, that sounds difficult. >> << With practice it will become very easy to figure out. >> ¡°This makes me think that my sister is not exaggerating when she says that my photos suck.¡± Bailey thought perplexed. They remained in the bushes for another couple of minutes, before Zirko suggested that they abandon their hiding place and go look for the Skvaders somewhere else, after joking that the girl might have terrified any potential specimens nearby with her crazy photography. The air had become warmer and the sun''s rays filtering through the trees now shone with a much brighter light, which seemed to awaken the inhabitants of the small forest that was now teeming with sounds such as chirping, buzzing and even grunting. Returning to the path they met other visitors intent on enjoying the beautiful day such as a couple of elderly centaurs engaged in trekking and a solitary cyclops returning from an unsuccessful hunting trip. They arrived at another clearing where the yellow mushrooms so beloved by the winged rabbits had grown in abundance, but unlike their previous location there were no bushes to hide in, so Zirko mounted a very long lens called Telephoto on the camera[2]. With that special lens, things seemed closer. Also, thanks to the particular technomagical structure with which it was built, with a special option it could automatically adjust the focus and even detect the presence of possible obstacles that could ruin the shot such as insects or dust. It was undoubtedly very convenient. ¡°Now this is professional stuff!¡± Bailey thought fascinated. The first Skvader scampered among the mushrooms as soon as he finished preparing, sniffing the air excitedly. On the troll¡¯s advice, the girl waited for the right moment before taking the photos¡ the so-called ¡°artistic moment¡±, as he called it. Taking a photo was easy, but taking a really good one was difficult, especially if you wanted to capture that special moment that could best represent the uniqueness of the subject. Bailey risked a couple of shots, just a few to be sure she was doing a good job. Seeing that she was more relaxed, Zirko let her do it without interfering too much. Then he walked away to scout the area, leaving her alone to get familiar with the camera. << W-wait! What if I get something wrong? >> Bailey replied. << It''s okay to make mistakes, don''t worry, you''re just starting. Do what you can and don''t worry about the mistakes. >> he replied. Bailey felt a little uncomfortable being alone in the forest, but despite the suspicious noises, she did not let herself be distracted, determined to learn. This time she was careful, making sure to take pictures only when necessary. Even though the ¡°professor¡± had told her not to worry about making mistakes, she wanted to be perfect, convinced that doing a good job right from the start would allow her to make a good impression and not disappoint expectations, even if in reality there was nothing of the sort at stake. At one point, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something moving under the roots of a nearby tree. Upon closer inspection, she realized there was a nest of Skvader pups under there, so small that they could fit perfectly in the palm of her hand and with their wings still short and without feathers. Bailey couldn''t help but soften at the sight of these furry bundles, intrigued by her presence so much that they came out of their den camouflaged among the roots and stared at her with their curious little eyes. If she could, she would have started screaming with tenderness and would have thrown herself to catch them and spoil them with cuddles. Unable to resist that concentration of tenderness, she approached cautiously, lying down on the dirt in front of them and trying, with sweet and rather ridiculous noises, to bring them closer in the hope of being able to pet them. In the meantime, she tried to take a video of it with his phone, both to have a memory of that meeting and to prove that it had happened. << Oh my God, you are adorable little fries. My sister will die of envy when I tell her about you. >> << Bailey, what are you doing? >> The girl heard Zirko behind her, returning from his solitary walk. She didn''t turn to look at him, focused on immortalizing the encounter with the bunnies both in her head and on her phone. << Be quiet and come and see. There are some Skvader fluffles. >> <> << Of course I''m careful, I won''t hurt them. >> << It''s not them I''m worried about, but you. Back away as slowly as possible. >> Bailey didn''t understand what the troll was saying and only at that last warning did she turn to him, finding that he had a more than worried expression. He wasn''t looking directly at her, his eyes were fixed upwards. She looked up and realized that a large herd of Skvaders were perched on the branches of the den tree. Up close, the flying rabbits were about the same size as a cat, some had chipped horns that were almost as long as her pinky, and there were fresh or healed wounds on their heads, their eyes gleamed sinisterly in the light shadow of the leaves, staring at her with an attention closer to that of a predator ready to attack than to prey that was keeping a careful distance. They were much less "innocent" than the specimens she had taken photos of. << Don''t make any sudden movements, they are incredibly protective of their young. >> Zirko explained softly. << If we show them that we don''t want to do anything, they won''t attack us. >> << Didn''t you say they were peaceful animals? >> Bailey asked him, alarmed. << Normally yes, but when it comes to their babies they become ferocious beasts. >> << Why didn''t you say it before? >> <> << Me, on the other hand, not! >> The pack began to flap their wings nervously and hiss like felines, revealing small, sharp teeth. << Don''t scream, you''ll only make them angry. Come to me, we have to get out of here. >> Bailey crawled backward as slowly as she could, not speaking and barely breathing. She mentally begged the rabbits to be good and stay calm while she ran. As bad luck would have it, one of the kit decided to follow her, bounding toward her in little hops that at another time would have been cute. ¡°No! No! Go back home!¡± Bailey told it. << Shoo! >> she exclaimed too loudly. A mistake that was enough to unleash the pack. The Skvaders glided over them, making very high-pitched squeaks. Their wings didn''t allow them to fly, but they certainly helped them glide fast and far. Zirko picked Bailey up, grabbed her camera, and started running while repeating some Trollish word that sounded like a curse word. It was a good thing he had long legs because Bailey would have had a hard time escaping from that horde of furious rabbits. Halflings had many virtues, but they lacked legs that were suitable for quick escapes like that. By the time they finally managed to lose them, they were almost out of the forest, safe from their wrath. As they caught their breath, Zirko suddenly started laughing like a maniac. << Mother Troll, I haven''t run like this since that time I was chased by a pack of Chupacabras[3]! I was missing some excitement at work. I wonder how much they''ll laugh at home when I tell them about it. How are you, Bailey? >> If Zirko was laughing¡ Bailey instead, after looking at him frowningly for a second, burst into tears like a desperate. Alarmed, the boy thought she was injured and when he couldn''t get her to explain what was wrong, he picked up the phone ready to dial the number to call the emergency room. <> Bailey exclaimed, stopping him. << It was my fault we were about to lose our skin! I was just supposed to take some pictures! And instead, I managed to piss off a bunch of horned rabbits! >> << What are you saying? It''s not true at all. Little crumb, you''re making a big deal out of a problem that doesn''t exist. I understand that you were scared, but I assure you that you didn''t do anything wrong. Believe me. You have no reason to be so upset.>> << But we could have gotten hurt¡ >> << In the end we would only have gotten a few bites, besides it wouldn''t be the first time I''ve been bitten by an animal at work. I must taste good because it happens to me often. >> << What if something bad happened to you? What if the Skvaders had rabies and passed it on to you? How would you be able to work? >> Zirko realized that the poor girl was having a serious anxiety attack. Even though he wanted to know why she was reacting like that, he concentrated instead on helping her calm down. He spoke to her in a reassuring but firm tone, made her drink some water and then, once she had regained a little control, he helped her to gradually regulate her breathing with exercises. He stayed by her side the whole time, trying to reassure her with both his presence and his words, but without pressuring her. Maybe he was being too careful, but he couldn''t help it. As someone who had suffered from anxiety for a long time, he knew how terrible that state was. ¡°Are you reacting this way to what happened now¡ or to something in the past?¡± Zirko wondered. ¡°A reaction like this doesn¡¯t happen just out of fear.¡± << I''m sorry¡ >> said the girl at one point. She was shaking from head to toe and sniffling repeatedly; there was only a drop of water left in the bottle. << I-I''m really m-mortified¡ I don''t know what to say¡ >> << Hey, it''s okay. You don''t have to justify anything. It''s normal, after the scare you got. >> For a moment Bailey looked like he was going to correct what he had said, but she pulled back at the last second, clutching the bottle tightly in her hands. Then her eyes stopped on the camera that Zirko had thrown to the ground to take care of her and her gaze turned sad again. She was probably thinking that photography wasn''t for her, he could bet his life it was it and he honestly didn''t like the idea that she might give up before she even learned about the beauty of nature photography. << In this job you don''t always get what you want, but even if you don''t immediately achieve the desired result, it''s still experience for the future. >> << You say that because you are an expert. >> << Every expert was once a beginner: you become good only if you continue to cultivate your talent with consistency, time and practice¡ and a pinch of fun. I assure you that after the satisfaction has a whole other taste. >> Bailey wasn''t convinced, accustomed as she was to precision. But as long as Zirko was with her, he would do everything he could to teach her the importance of the words he had just said to her. << You know what I say? We both need a good drink. What do you say? >> << Just because I''m a Halfling doesn''t mean drinking helps me. >> << So it''s a no? >> << ¡I didn''t say that. >> << Then I hope you like beer, because I know a pub that serves one that is out of this world. >> << Yes¡ maybe that''s not a bad idea. >> Zirko didn''t want to win Bailey''s sympathy with alcohol, but he knew a good drink in company took away the bad mood and then helped to gain confidence. Until the girl would have told him openly, he would not leave her alone with whatever problem tormented her. << It didn''t go badly, though. >> he began at one point. Bailey was about to ask him how it didn''t go so well, when she realized the troll was checking the photos she had taken. << The focus still needs to be fixed and the zoom is too close to the subject, but there is an aesthetic sense. >> In disbelief, she took the camera from him to check it out for herself. The photos looked like a disaster to her¡ and yet, looking at them, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little proud of what she had done. Zirko encouraged her, telling her not to give up at the first obstacle. << Will you upload the photos to your blog? >> << Should I? >> << Why not? It''s a good way to show what you''re doing. >> << But they''re ugly. >> << Hey, I''ve seen people post worse stuff on maginet. And your photos don''t fit the category. Anyway, I would. You could present it as the first step in your journey as a photographer. >> The first step. Bailey pondered those words all day, undecided whether or not to upload her shots. Would anyone really find her journey into this new hobby interesting? At the end of the day, when it was already dark, before officially declaring the day over by going to bed after having gorged on a massive dose of chamomile tea, she finally decided to perform this courageous act. She turned on the computer and uploaded the photos to her blog, leaving the opening words ¡°a busy day.¡± After posting them in the gallery, she didn¡¯t think of doing anything else with them, just leaving them there as they were. But then, when she looked back at the photo of her with the baby unicorn that the troll had kindly allowed her to post with his permission, followed by a detailed description of the story behind the shot, she thought it would be better to explain the story behind it, just like she had done in this case. She then began to tell about her new experience, typing on the keyboard with a determination that had not been seen for a long time and a concentration aimed at remembering the sensations felt during that long and exciting day, even daring to add a pinch of her fears. She didn''t think about how many visitors or views she would get, writing in her journal gave her a newfound sense of peace.

Chapter 4: Nightmare on the river That day, Glimmerpeak was hit by a cold snap, much to the delight of many of its residents. The weather had been unusually warm that year, or at least mild; giving the impression of a long autumn that had refused to shake off. Regardless of the reason for this anomaly, the only certain thing was that they would not be getting the usual snowfall that year. When it got really cold, the canal of Glimmerpeak Harbor and Silverfinn Fjord would freeze lightly, forming a white layer that only passing ships could break through, unless it got thick enough to require the intervention of icebreakers. That day few ships were sailing the canal, mostly tourist boats and ferries going about their usual routine of transporting people along the outer coast of the Kungarsland peninsula. While people were working at the port, others were enjoying a walk in the Little Drop neighborhood, admiring the gray winter sea that was sometimes more pleasant than the summer one. Zirko was too focused on work to enjoy the day, busy dividing the photos of the various animals he had taken into various folders. In his apartment-studio you could only hear the constant clicks of the mouse and the jazz music playing on an old tablet balanced on the desk, on the computer screen the photos scrolled quickly, ending up in various digital cards divided by location and date, while around the desk there were several cups of coffee with some sugar left inside. The siren of a ship distracted him momentarily from his work, he turned towards the window for just a second, before almost immediately resuming what he was doing. Zirko Gr?nsten was one of the few trolls living in Glimmerpeak. He had moved there because of his boyfriend''s job and that year they would celebrate their fifth anniversary there. If they had had a choice, they wouldn''t have settled in a place so close to the sea as Little Drop, it is known that trolls don''t like water and tend to stay away from it since their biological structure is similar to that of rock, but the rent had turned out to be convenient and they had been able to save quite a bit of money. Speaking of which, it was a good thing that his dear Beryl''s job rewarded him with a good salary, otherwise it would have been hard for both of them to continue living together, since the last two years his job as a photographer had had quite a few ups and downs, especially after some personal problems that he tried not to think about even today. Zirko loved his job, he couldn''t imagine himself doing anything else, not after all the hard work he had had to endure to be able to make his dream come true. As one of his mothers jokingly said, it was probably what kept him alive. He stopped for a moment to check his email, which hadn''t received any updates in the last three minutes since he''d last looked. He scratched his desk nervously, adding new grooves to the surface. He was expecting a very important communication that day and was constantly checking to see if it had arrived, he''d even lost a night''s sleep over it. Working helped distract him, even though he was doing very little at the moment. He reread the encouraging messages his family and his boyfriend had left him that morning, trying to reassure himself with those words that wished him a positive outcome and lots of luck. Finally, a new notification. He almost fell off his chair in shock. He opened it, the title of the email read ¡°EarthBreath Spontaneous Application Result¡±. He hesitated for a few minutes before opening it, worried about reading the content. Then he took courage and read the reply. [Object: Result of EarthBreath spontaneous application. Dear Zirkonio Gr?nsten, We are pleased to inform you that, following the selection process, we have decided to offer you the position of photographer at our magazine EarthBreath. During the interview and review of your portfolio, we were deeply impressed by the quality and care that characterizes your work. Your creativity, attention to detail and ability to convey an idea in a clear and original way are exactly what we were looking for to strengthen our team. In particular, the projects you showed us impressed us with the versatility and depth of your works. It is clear that behind each work there is skill, passion and extraordinary dedication. We are thrilled to have you on board and can''t wait to start collaborating together to reach new goals and create something unique. You will receive further details regarding the contract in the coming days. Congratulations again on your journey and the work done so far. We are sure that your experience will be an added value for EarthBreath. Best regards.] Zirko began to scream with joy: they had hired him! He started jumping around the room like a child at Christmas who had just discovered that he had received the toy he had wanted so much. It was not only the hiring itself that was important, but also ¡°who¡± had hired him was a factor that contributed to making his joy immeasurable: ¡°EarthBreath¡± was one of the most famous nature magazines in the country, if not in the world. Its way of covering the historical, geographical and cultural aspects of the world was considered unparalleled and gathered readers from all over the globe, who were attracted not only by the contents told inside but also by the photos that embellished each page in a sort of paper art gallery. Zirko had always wanted to work for them, but he had never applied before because he did not consider himself up to the task, but after seeing the positions open for new candidates ¨C including, of course, those of photographer ¨C he had decided to take the risk. A gamble that had paid off handsomely. ¡°I have to thank the little Halfling; she brought me luck.¡± He thought, while congratulatory messages from his family continued to arrive on his manaphone. He believed in personal commitment more than in good luck, but he liked to think that when you met certain people, they could bring changes to your life, both for better and for worse. Well, Bailey was a person who had brought him positivity. He just had to convince her to open up to him a little more¡ it was clear as day that the girl was afraid of relating to people. Zirko sent her a message to inform her of the news, and a few minutes later she responded, full of exclamation points and happy-face emojis. << Does this mean you won''t give me photography lessons anymore? >> << Forget it, I''ve gotten a taste for being a professor. And since you''re also a great assistant, I plan on taking you around with me again for work. >> Another set of happy face emojis, Bailey loved using those figures. They both agreed to meet up and celebrate the event, if everything went well, it would have resulted in a celebratory dinner. He turned off the phone and got ready to go to the gym, he had to vent all the excitement of the moment. Before leaving, his eye fell on the newspaper left the day before by his boyfriend, which warned of the presence of a small pack of Kelpies outside Glimmerpeak, most likely out of a dungeon, and to be careful not to get close to the Bl?nkande river. Zirko grimaced; he had never liked those animals. ¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì << Why are you giggling Bailey? Did your boyfriend call you? >> << No, a friend of mine shared some good news that he was given. He invited me to celebrate with some of his other friends. >> << Is that the troll you told me about? >> << Him exactly. >> << Ah, then I understand why you''re happy¡ >> << You fool, that''s not the reason. And anyway, he''s gay, so I have no reason to flirt with him. >> << Ugh, why are the cute ones always gay? Oh well, let''s go to lunch then; at least I''ll "console" myself with that. >> << Is it already 1:30 pm? >> Bailey looked at her watch in surprise, time had flown by. Usually, at work, it was the opposite, and it didn''t seem to ever pass, maybe the reason was that she was in a good mood that day. Her office had a cafeteria that guaranteed good meals at least a couple of times a week. She and her colleagues at the switchboard would come in later than the rest of the employees, which was a good thing because they could avoid the rush hour queue and get their food right away. There were various options on the menu, that day she opted for a dish of K?ttbullar that she had already tried and enjoyed. . She sat down near one of the windows that looked out onto the office courtyard, a gardener was finishing mowing the lawn, and a few employees were walking along the stone paths to talk on their manaphones or to smoke. The tops of the branches of the hedges that adorned the outside were sticking out from the edge of the window, swaying slightly in the wind. At that moment, a little bird clung to one of the branches, perhaps resting its wings after a long flight, the sun was shining against the rounded shape of the bird, creating a situation that to Bailey seemed like a perfect pose. She took out her phone to take a picture of it; for a moment she was tempted to change her mind and opt instead for the camera. She almost always carried it with her now like a precious heirloom. She knew she didn''t have much chance of taking special photos of animals in the city, but even just using it to capture characteristic views of less frequented neighborhoods or the beauty of the sky at various times of the day had turned out to be fun. She could have done it then, but she didn''t want people asking her questions and prying into her personal affairs. He took aim and waited a few minutes¡ and then ¡°click¡±! The picture was taken. << Are you still obsessed with that new photography hobby of yours? >> asked her colleague, whose name was Katrina, a blue-eyed cyclops, blonde like her but with a super tanned complexion. << It''s proving to be¡ relaxing. >> Bailey replied timidly. << And is photographing animals so interesting? >> << You can discover many things in this job, it is not as trivial as it seems. >> << But I don''t know how you go looking for dangerous beasts... I wouldn''t do something like that even if they paid me. >> ¡°You should try it before you say something like that.¡± Colleague Katrina didn''t seem very convinced, but Bailey didn''t try to change her mind, knowing the type. One thing was certain: she was truly more serene. Since she had been accompanying Zirko on his photo shoots, which had only been a couple of trips, her good mood seemed to gradually return. Even though they had mostly stayed near Glimmerpeak, even a weekend away from home was proving to be a panacea for her physical and mental health, the places she visited had always turned out to be fascinating and she wasn''t referring to those usual tourist destinations that everyone knew, but rather to small hidden gems in her region, sometimes better than those famous places that everyone usually aspired to. With that excuse, she learned to know better the territory in which she lived, as well as the art and almost-lost history of her own culture. But try explaining that to someone who, like her colleague, wasn''t interested in listening to her. ¡°In a way, it¡¯s close to what I wanted to do.¡± Thought the girl, remembering for a moment her old dream of being a tour guide. ¡°By the way, I wonder if I¡¯ll find any job offers¡¡± she thought, still hopeful of being able to see her vocation come true. The switchboard operator job was just a temporary one; she didn''t intend to keep it forever, at least not until she found a better offer, and she always hoped it would come soon. In the meantime, as far as Zirko was concerned, she was trying to open up more with him and to pluck up the courage to help him during his trips... but she didn''t know how to do it without feeling too nosy. << Sorry, there''s something I don''t understand. >> said the colleague at a certain point. << Don''t you usually go and take these photos in the middle of nature? >> << Yes, that''s right. >> << But the places you told me you went to aren''t exactly "wild". They''re all places where one can go for a picnic or to go and relax. It doesn''t seem like a very exploratory experience to me. >> Bailey paused for a second, weighing the words he had just heard. To be honest, she had had the same impression¡ the places they had visited were certainly beautiful, but none of them had proved to be of the same level as her trip to the unicorn forest. The same story for the wild animals that Zirko had made her photograph in those places, as none of them could be said to be on the same level as the majestic creatures he had immortalized. She doubted that, after the first photo sessions, he had already tired of teaching her the tricks of the job and that he was procrastinating so as not to make her feel bad. She could have betrayed a certain insecurity, but she quickly regained her composure so as not to show that she was disturbed by it. << It''s normal; I still have to get the hang of this job. And then the Dungeons don''t open every day. >> << You say? Yet, I had read on maginet that there has been an increase in dungeon formations. >> << Yes, but none of these are good for my practice. My friend told me and I trust him, I mean, he knows better than me which are the good places to take pictures. >> <> << How funny you are, look I''m dying of laughter. >> << And what are you going to do this weekend? Are you going to go out with him again? >> << I''m going out with my sister. She wants to spend an afternoon together now that she''s finally free from work. >> << Won''t your photographer friend get jealous if you don''t dedicate a weekend to him? >> <> In truth, the one who was getting jealous was her sister Amaranta, who was offended by the fact that they had missed several afternoons of shopping, movie nights, and lunches in new restaurants since she had started that hobby. She had never seen her seek her attention since usually it was her, like a good little sister, who had followed her to be considered. It was funny when the roles were reversed. But even though she was looking forward to spending an afternoon with her big sister, she couldn''t shake the feeling that perhaps the troll didn''t want her as an assistant anymore. ¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì¡ì The next day Bailey was ready for some quality time with her sisters, but as bad luck would have it, the cold virus had decided to hit Amarante hard, forcing her to stay in bed after a much-needed weekend of rest. Bailey offered to be her nurse, or at least help her around the house, but Amaranta categorically refused, telling her that she didn''t want her to get sick too. Since the plans had changed, the Halfling decided to make her own plans. The Bl?nkande was one of the many rivers that crossed the territory and often in some of its stretches hopeful fishermen would lie in wait, hoping to catch pike, trout and other varieties of fish that inhabited those waters. A few kilometers from the city there was a fishing inlet that in the summer was always crowded with lovers of that sport, while during the winter it remained deserted and rarely did you met someone who, taking advantage of the solitude, appropriated it to transform it into a base for a solitary camping. Bailey liked to go to those places, sometimes just to be on her own, sometimes to start fishing like when she did it with her father. She sat on a wooden bench to enjoy the silence, the wooden cabins where the fishermen lay in wait were covered in webs and near the bank lay the remains of a broken stool that someone had not bothered to throw away. She started texting her sister, exchanging silly jokes and plans for the coming week, as well as a few personal secrets. << I''m glad you''ve started a new hobby. It''s been a long time since I''ve seen you this happy. >> Amaranta had written to her. <> she then added. Bailey grimaced unconvincedly; it would be the fourth year that they had wished her something like that. But she wouldn''t believe it until something actually happened that would really change her life for the better, also because every time she had hoped for it, the opposite happened. ¡°Where will the improvement I need come from? From my work or from photography?¡± she wondered. He had been looking for some happiness for so long that she didn''t know where to look anymore. The words her colleague Katrina had spoken came back to her, which twisted her heart with anxiety at the thought that she, as a person, could be annoying to someone. She didn''t pretend to be nice to everyone, but became a burden to someone without knowing why made her feel bad. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Damn Katrina, she does nothing but grumble and complain about everything.¡± she thought frustratedly. ¡°Zirko knows what he¡¯s doing, and he¡¯s certainly not tired of me. Now I¡¯ll call him and ask him for clarification, so I can calm down.¡± Bailey clutched the phone, trying to summon every ounce of courage to make that important call, telling herself that everything would be okay. It was at that moment that she received a message from Zirko himself asking where she was. Surprised, she replied with a photo of the place. ¡°Do you want to go fishing with me next time?¡± she asked him jokingly. She immediately regretted it, thinking that the message was too stupid. And while she was pondering whether to delete it or not, losing track of time, after about twenty minutes, she heard the roar of a motorbike approaching. She hated the noise of big-engine motorbikes; they were annoying and ear-splitting¡ and she was amazed to discover that it was Zirko who was driving the one that had just arrived. << Zirko? What are you doing here? >> <> Bailey jumped as the troll picked her up, checking her over from head to toe. << Of course I''m fine, what kind of question are you asking me? >> << Seriously, did you come here because you like to take risks or because you have no clue what''s going on? >> << ¡maybe the second option? >> Zirko started to say something, but his ears pricked up stiffly and his eyes stared at the surface of the river with an obvious expression of fear. Without another word, he lifted her into his arms, and they took refuge on top of the wooden gazebo erected nearby. << Can you stop carrying me around like I''m a bag? You know I can walk too, right? And will you explain to me what''s going on? >> << Little crumbs, didn''t you hear what they said on the news these days? Kelpies are infesting the area. >> << Kelpie? I haven''t heard of them in a while. >> << If you had looked more closely at the papers or the mirrorvision, I assure you that you would have heard a lot about them. The whole area is off-limits until they get those beasties out of the way. >> << Well¡ I didn''t know. These days I haven''t felt like hearing what was happening in the world. At work they''re killing me and at home I just want to relax. >> << And thank goodness they had developed an app to report dangers in the area. Luckily, I was in the area for work and you sent me that message so I could find you right away. >> Bailey was touched that Zirko had been so concerned about her. She felt like his concern was the same as her sister''s since he acted in a very similar way. <> she told him, trying to defuse the situation. << On the contrary, for me they don''t even deserve a photo, Unfortunately, the magazine asked me to take a couple for an article. I don''t like those beasts; they pretend to be "cute and cuddly", but they are huge bastards. And now that they have targeted us, they won''t leave us alone any time soon. >> ¡°Targeted? I don¡¯t like the sound of it¡¡± thought Bailey. The girl looked around, trying to figure out where ¡°whoever¡± had aimed at them. It was then that she realized that there were a pair of strange, opaque, water-like eyes that seemed more dead than alive, peering intently at her. << Are they¡? >> << Yes, exactly them. There''s no point in trying to run, they''d catch up with us right away. Let''s wait for help, you''ll see that they''ll solve the problem.>> Bailey clung to Zirko''s arm as they waited for the rangers to arrive to resolve the problem, remaining perched on the gazebo roof safe from the dangers of the river. Bailey didn''t know these creatures well, but she knew that they were exactly what Zirko said: dangerous creatures. The surface of the river was flat until the Kelpies moved, shaking it slightly. The animals somehow knew that someone was hunting them and for this reason they did not emerge completely, only their heads poking out of the water like a crocodile on alert. The troll was impatient and kept yelling at them to come out and take a picture, insulting them repeatedly. Bailey was surprised to see him so nervous, especially after all the times he had told her that a wildlife photographer must be the patient and quiet type, and she couldn''t help but ask him what the real reason was why he disliked Kelpies so much. << The first reason is because they are in the water and I am not a great swimmer¡ >> he began, slightly embarrassed at first. << ¡ And the second is because I almost died once. >> he finished, in a more aggressive tone. << Are you serious or are you trolling me? >> <> << How did they do it? You didn''t get close, did you? >> << Of course not, I kept my distance. It''s just that I hadn''t considered that they are smart and can do anything just to eat. Unfortunately, being attacked by animals is part of the job. >> << Wait, what are you talking about? Can you be attacked? In this job? >> << Well, think about when we went looking for unicorns and that elemental came at you, or that time with the Skvaders. Sometimes, a nature photographer can run into these kinds of situations. Didn''t I mention that to you? >> Baily knew that nature could be risky, but that it was also dangerous for taking pictures¡ it seemed exaggerated to her. Or maybe she was still too inexperienced on the subject to understand the true gravity of the situation. The Kelpies finally decided it was time to emerge. The water foamed as the group of five black stallions trotted along the shore, dragging slime and aquatic plants behind them. The Kelpies had a very unusual appearance: although they had the features of a horse, they had larger eyes and were arranged on their faces like those of a toad or a frog, their manes were thin tentacles that moved on their heads of their own accord and what looked like hooves were three stubby webbed "fingers". Their bodies were not covered in hair, their consistency and appearance seemed very similar to those of a jellyfish so much so that if you looked closely, you could see that they were slightly transparent, and it was possible to see their internal organs. The most disturbing part of their appearance was their mouths, which when closed looked the same as that of an equine... but as soon as they opened it, it resembled that of a canine, with many crooked and sharp teeth. ¡°My God, it almost looks like they¡¯re smiling¡ it¡¯s impressive!¡± thought Bailey. Zirko took as many pictures as he could to not miss the best poses, continuing to grumble in the meantime. Bailey clung to him as the five stallions circled the gazebo that in the meantime had chameleonically transformed into realistic horses that, as beautiful as they looked, did not change their disturbing gaze. ¡°Good thing they can¡¯t climb.¡± The girl thought reassuringly. From how interested they were, she could bet they would try to do it. At a certain point, they began to hear a kind of neighing mixed with another cry, the Kelpies pricked up their ears and slowly began to proceed towards the sound, showing interest. Zirko explained that it was a call emitted by the females during the mating season, a method to be able to bring them back into the dungeon from which they had come out and thus be able to free the area from their presence. He then noticed that some rangers had hidden nearby to control the situation, with special techno-magical weapons in hand to use in case of emergency and walkie-talkies from which they exchanged continuous updates. Bailey was relieved, but before she could think that it was over, something unexpected happened. << Hey, what''s that guy up to? >> No one had noticed that at that crucial moment a person had appeared. The guy, a man in his forties dressed like a classic tourist on vacation, with a T-shirt with the name of his hometown written on it, a roomy backpack on his back and a map in his pocket, was standing there with his mouth open in the middle of the street while he recorded what was happening on his phone. The guy was speaking in a low voice in his own language, they couldn''t understand what he was saying but it was obvious that the Kelpies were involved. The rangers stationed there tried to tell him to go away, but the tourist ignored them all to continue recording his special travel memory, not realizing the gravity of the situation. The forest rangers, who were distinguished by their emerald green uniforms on which their corps crest was sewn in gold thread, came out of their hiding places and tried to persuade the tourist to leave, but with the language barrier in between (and the Kelpies that could attack at any moment) it was practically useless and the man continued straight towards the beasts, with his hand outstretched to touch them. << That idiot! He wants to touch them! >> Zirko exclaimed. << Of course he wants to do it! Anyone wants to touch them! No one doesn''t fall for it! >> << We must help him somehow! Can''t we just pull him away? >> << And risk pissing off those beasts? That''s the worst move you can make. When you take away their food, they go berserk. >> << Actually, it would bother me too, if someone took my dinner away from under my nose... >> << Little crumbs, it doesn''t just bother them¡ they get angry like chimeras. >> Suddenly the man was within reach of one of the monsters, who let him touch his muzzle with a sort of expression of fake sweetness. It was at that moment that the tentacled mane wrapped itself around the tourist''s arm who began to scream and kick, while the beast allowed itself a sort of victorious grin. He dragged him towards the river while the others of the pack followed him hungrily, the rangers tried to intervene and it was then that the creatures reacted, trying to bite or kick, resuming their true appearance. The soldiers of nature resorted to their weapons, a kind of long sticks on whose claw-like tip was set a stone that emitted electricity, to defend themselves and try to save the victim. The stones, with specific commands, emitted a strong light that irritated the delicate eyes of the Kelpies who neighed in annoyance, but, despite this, this was not enough to make them flee. In the meantime, someone had asked for support, but who knew how long it would take for help to arrive. Zirko couldn''t sit idly by. He had to do something, too. Bailey hadn''t noticed, but the troll had a hunting knife with him, and it was thanks to that, as well as a huge amount of luck, that he was able to cut off the mane of the beast that leaped into the air, wet and soft, like a handful of seaweed. The Kelpie''s cry of pain was sharp, but that was not enough to make the photographer pity him, who continued to consider it aberrant. The water horse kicked and neighed furiously, his fake hooves stamped on the ground leaving very deep furrows, threatening to attack Zirko several times who, even though he was in a dangerous position, did not try to escape. << What the hell are you doing?! Get back here! >> Bailey yelled at him impatiently. <> he replied, without shouting. << What do you mean challenge him?! Are you crazy?! >> << No, I''m just trying to survive. If I run away, he''ll definitely kill me. This way, I''m showing that I''m not afraid of them. >> Studying animals before photographing them had allowed Zirko to learn a lot about their behavior. Among the many information acquired, he had memorized that it was possible to survive predator attacks if you avoided sudden movements and turning your back, which would have been interpreted as a sign of weakness. Staring them in the eye to demonstrate supremacy was a behavior that occurred in the animal kingdom itself; you could almost say it was the first act of challenge to see who between the two "contenders" was superior. Who would have ever said that one day he would find himself putting that advice into practice? Luckily it was proving effective, the Kelpie was posing threateningly but never attacked him directly, perceiving the act of intimidation towards them through the fixed gaze. This could go on for so long, the troll had only one way to get out of this mess in one piece. Slowly he took his camera and activated the flash, cautiously he pointed the lens at the creature and when he was sure it was staring at him, he pressed the shutter. The light, much brighter than that emitted by the rangers'' sticks and closer to the beast''s eyes, sent it into a tailspin, it was so disturbed that it fell backwards to the ground moaning as if it had been impaled or something, its body changing from that of a horse to its real one in continuous succession. The other members of the pack were taken by surprise and ran away by throwing themselves into the river, thus abandoning their disoriented companion to it fate. Only then did Zirko run away, returning to the gazebo and leaving the rangers to finish the job, now that there was only one Kelpie left to manage. The worst was over. The next hour was a busy one, with ambulances, police, and the Rangers gathered on the riverbank, writing down the whole story. With all that commotion, no other creature would have dared to approach, and that was fine with Bailey, especially now that she was able to come down from her shelter. Even though they told her she could relax, she couldn''t help but stare at the water in fear, and that anxiety would probably stay with her for a long time to come. << Look on the bright side, now you know how to defend yourself from a Kelpie, if you get attacked again. >> << Thank you, but I hope I don''t have to repeat the experience. >> << Yes, there are two of us¡. Did I tell you I hate Kelpies? >> << At least five times with this one. >> Bailey looked at the photo Zirko had taken of the animal. Even though it had been taken only to disorient it with the flash, it had still come out a good photo¡ even if it was a disturbing close-up of the beast¡¯s scowling face. << What will become of that Kelpie? Will they put him down? >> she asked the troll, after the animal had been loaded into a van and driven away. <> <> << Look, I''ve seen enough stupid people in my life to say that they might even try something like that again. Unfortunately, it is common for some people to try to take pictures and videos of wild animals, without considering their safety. >> << A nature photographer, on the other hand; try to take that into account. >> << Yes, that''s exactly it. It''s not just for their own safety, but also to respect nature. After all, we are the ones who are invading their territory. >> Bailey thought very carefully about those words, finding them very profound. ¡°Respect for nature¡± ¡ was certainly an important aspect to take into account. She admitted that she had not considered such a thing in the few trips she had made with Zirko, perhaps because she had not yet really immersed herself in the nature aspect of the work and had limited herself to watching from the side what he did with the same eye as a spectator watching television. ¡°Admit it Bailey, you were more of a tourist than a photographer.¡± She thought to herself. ¡°Do you really want to learn this job? Then it¡¯s time to get involved.¡± << Zirko¡ do you think I''m good at photography? >> << Well, yes. I told you that you have a good aesthetic sense. >> << No, seriously. Do you really think I can do this? >> << In what sense? >> << I''m really interested in this thing, but you haven''t taken me to the dungeons anymore in search of fantastic creatures to immortalize with the camera. So far, we''ve gone to normal places, where we''ve only seen birds, rabbits, even mice... although dungeons have appeared left and right, and I want to know why you don''t take me there, even though you say I''m good with photos. >> Bailey didn''t dare to look the troll in the face as she confided her thoughts, but she felt the weight of it and because of it her hands were shaking. << Bailey, I''m not taking you to dungeons because they are dangerous places, and you are still very inexperienced. >> the troll replied, after a few minutes of silence. The girl jumped when he called her name, now accustomed to being called little crumbs. << Don''t take it personally. I''m not belittling you, but we all have to take it one step at a time when we start something new. If I took you straight to another dungeon, I would certainly put you in danger, while instead I want to get you used to the outdoors first. I told you in the first lesson too: you have to learn one step at a time. >> << So¡ it''s for security reasons. >> << Sure, that''s what I care about the most. I also didn''t go on expeditions to places I wasn''t used to at the beginning, I had to do some apprenticeship before I could venture into the wild nature. >> << So you started in the countryside too? >> << No, more underground, but that''s because I was used to it. Anyway, I''m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but I waited to make sure you were ready for longer journeys first. >> << I¡ I¡¯m sorry. I thought you didn¡¯t consider me suitable. >> << And it''s also my fault for not having explained my intentions before. But promise me that you''ll tell me if there''s something that doesn''t make sense to you, rather than keeping it inside.>> <> << Little one, you are good with photos but not so good at hiding emotions. So I repeat: talk to me when you need to confide. >>