<< 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.

  << I couldn't ask for anything better! It's a good thing you're a virgin, otherwise the puppy would never have come near you. >>

  << 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? >>

  << I will update my portfolio and propose it to magazines and naturalistic publishers. I would prefer to remain a freelancer, but I have had a bit of a difficult period and now I need a permanent position. >>

  << 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.

  << I wanted to ask you if possible… you could give me some lessons. >> 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. >>

  << I know, you already told me. But… I would like to at least try. To experience firsthand what it means to photograph animals like you do. I would like to understand the importance of it, in short. >>

  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. >>

  §§§§§§

  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, 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.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  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. >>

  << I must have got at least one right. >>

  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. 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. >>

  << I see it… and I beg you to be careful. >>

  << 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? >>

  << I thought you knew. It's a Skvader thing that almost everyone knows about. >>

  << 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! 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.

  << I screwed up! That's the problem! >> 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.

  [1]The skvader is a fictional animal created in 1918 by the Swedish taxidermist Rudolf Granberg and kept in the Norra Berget Museum, Sundsvall, Sweden. Half hare and half chicken (or rooster), the animal also boasts the high-sounding Latin name of Tetrao lepus pseudo-hybridus rarissimus L. Although it is not a real mythological animal, it was fun to include in this story. (Editor's note)

  [2]In common cine-photographic jargon, a telephoto lens is understood to be a lens for shooting from a distance, with a focal length significantly greater than the normal lens (that is, greater than the diagonal of the frame). It is also called medium-telephoto, telephoto or super-telephoto, based on the greater focal length.

  [3]The chupacabra or chupacabras (from the Spanish chupar, "to suck" and cabra, "goat", therefore: "goatsucker") is a legendary creature belonging to contemporary mythology (cryptid) whose main characteristic is that of attacking and killing domestic animals, usually goats, drinking their blood and leaving them bleed to death.