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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.
<< I don't know if I should try to participate with groups. You know I don't like those who take missions too seriously. >> 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.
§§§§§§
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.
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“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.”
§§§§§§
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 Grönsten – 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 Grönsten. >>
<< 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.
<< I am a nature photographer. My job is to go into nature and photograph it, flora or fauna. These you see are all my “works”. >>
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:
<< I thought we were supposed to go to a dungeon. >>
<< 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.