Ray leads Zinnia down south of where the broken down tower was, it was about a fifteen minute walk. They come to a stop and Ray looks around then tells Zinnia to crawl through this small horizontal crack on this rock.
She looked at him weirdly and was going as if he was insane for a second.
"Look I know this doesn't look pleasant but I can assure you that there are no bugs there and it's clean. It took a while to get all the dirt out. I want you to go first so you can get a good look"
Zinnia went ahead trusting Ray, he goes in after he makes sure they weren't followed, 5 minutes pass and they get to the spot. It was a very beautiful landscape, water as blue as the sky and a huge variety of flora.
"Ray, what is this place? It's so beautiful, why haven't you told anyone about this area?"
"This place is not known because it's supposed to be a hidden grotto, I think that is what is called. When I moved to the tower I found some books that spoke of places like this."
Ray found it where he now puts his money.
'If it was hidden that means somebody wanted that place to stay away from someone's hands'
"In this area, all the creatures of this forest come and rest. They don't attack each other or get violent here. To them it's a sacred place, so I don't come here often, also I don't track how many times I'm here and I don't usually have the time to be here either"
"Woah, the hostile animals and monsters become docile, this is so interesting"
"I actually found it by accident when I was exploring, I thought I was going to get killed by some timber wolves when I was being chased up and around this mountain. But then I found a cave leading here but it's more dangerous on that side. Well I guess we should get started"
[Quest: Learn Swordsmanship From Zinnia Initiated]
[0/2 steps completed]
"Let's see what you got from the Mayor, two daggers and a longsword. I don't know how to use two daggers at once but I can teach you with one. Let us start with the sword first, watch me"
She took her sword with both hands and started swinging it up and down in the same place.
"Look at my posture, Ray, you have to keep it straight and forward. When you are swinging, start by swinging it in one direction and have a firm grip on the sword's hilt. Let's start with you doing what I just did."
"Alright"
Ray tried to copy what Zinnia did, he got the posture right but swinging the sword in one direction was difficult. He thought if he went faster it would have a better chance of going in one direction but it flew out of his hands and hit a rock.
"Sorry I messed up, let me try again"
This time Ray kept an even firmer grip on the sword and reminded himself, 'She didn't rush her swings, when she brought the sword up it was much slower than bringing it down'
Now realizing why he is messing up he is going to try to get to do it the exact way. Zinnia is watching him concentrate on what he wants his actions to be. Ray in multiple attempts tried and tried.
He calmed a bit more and brought down the sword with precision and a bit of force and brought it back above his head.
'I did it, that felt great'
As he was going to swing again, it was as sloppy as the other attempts he made.
"I just had it"
"Okay, just try to remember that feeling, that's what my brother always says"
As Ray keeps practicing his motions and Zinnia gives him pointers and switches up where he swings with two hands, then one hand. A few hours had passed and they were both exhausted.
[Endurance: 3/16]
"I can barely feel my arms, is this supposed to happen?"
Ray was out of breath and fell to the floor onto his back.
"Yes, it is for when you start off but then you get used to it."
She walked up to the pond and washed her face with some of the water.
"This water feels so cold and refreshing, it makes me want to live here."
Looking up she notices that the sun is right over her head and realized it was almost time for her to help her parents at work.
"Shoot I'm going to have to leave but tomorrow I'm going to teach you more stuff."
[½ of quest completed]
"See you tomorrow Ray!"
"See you!"
Zinnia crawls back through the way they came and rushed off to her place.
Ray moved to a nearby tree and laid in its shadow and slowly drifted into sleep.
[endurance: 6/16]
[endurance: 10/16]
[endurance: 13/16]
[endurance:16/16]
[Entity trying to take control]
[Resisted]
…
*Yawn*
'Hmm… oh yeah I need to keep practicing'
For the rest of the day, Ray practiced his swings. He kept his calm and swung his sword like Zinnia. Now he could do it consistently but it still took a lot of his stamina to do it.
'It's getting late, I need to go before nightfall. I don't want to be lost trying to get back'
While Ray was packing up to leave he hears something happening on the other side of the pond.
'What are those things doing and why are they fighting the other creatures here?'
As he takes a closer look he could see two animals that he hasn't seen before. They were three or four times the size of the timberwolves, fur as red as apples, and many sharp teeth. These creatures were rampaging and killing most of the animals that can't defend themselves.
The floor started shaking, making Ray fall to the ground, the water started to rise and a huge serpent-like monster came out of the lake. Black and red scales could be seen on the creature. The other creatures stopped in their place and bowed to this being.
The giant snake turned towards the red furry beasts and grabbed them from what Ray thought was its tail.
[Lake Guardian Tarlou has emerged]
'Is this why no animal attacks each other?'
The serpent brings the two monsters to its face and stares them down, something happens and makes the two animals shriek in pain and then stop. It placed them back down and the two red beasts started running to the exit of this place.
Then this enormous snake-like creature turns to Ray and then sinks back into the pond.