Dawn of Adventure

by Andrew Bardsley

Before Jane could finish, the first rays of sunlight of the dawn hit the edge of the grotesque life-sucking webbing in the dead valley. Where the yellow-golden rays of sun hit. The pulsing light on the web increased in frequency and brightness. Jane and Lizzy watched in surprised horror as the energy started to flow from the green-lit hole in the valley outwards. When the first rays of sun hit the first entrapped creature, it began to shake as if a magical lighting spell was pulsating its body. Then as the shadows retreated from the valley, more animals were in the light of dawn. Their bodies, too, started to tremor and pulsating in jagged motion as if life was being pumped into them. But this seemed to be a dark perversion of life.

  Lizzy stood up to get a better look at the monsters in the webbing. She could see that the creatures started to slowly pull though the web of slime surrounding them. They were grasping the ground as they moved forward in slow, jerky movements. For a second, she saw tens, then hundreds of creatures all crawling toward one focal point. This was her sister Jane as if the miasma had now identified its true enemy.

  She said with urgency, “Jane, you need to leave now.”

  “I can’t, Lizzy. As I could lose all the progress I’ve made destroying the miasma,” she said in a firm voice to her sister.

  Lizzy's only reply to her sister was to send a burning hot fireball toward the first creature. That was pulling its body through the gooey web along the dead green ground. The ball of fire hit the large orc warrior that was covered in the miasma slime. When the burning hot flame hit the creature, its body burst into flames with a dark black smoke reaching toward the sky. She was expecting some kind of reaction from the animal but nothing happened. No cry of agony caused by the burning hot flame she would have expected from any other creature. It just kept coming, in dead silence, as its body burnt with the dark billowing smoke. With a shock she watched for a second as the body of the burning monster just moved closer.

  Behind the burning body, hundreds of creatures were now moving forward. As they went, they pulled along the slime webbing with its pulse of power. She looked for the information from the goddess's blessing about the health of the creature, but there was none.

  What do I have to do to kill these zombie-like monsters? She thought with anxiety.

  In desperation, she wanted to test a different spell. So with speed, she cast ‘Hail storm.’ With the magic emanating from her hand into the sky, a dark cloud started to form above the lead creature crawling toward the women. From the bubbling mass of swirling black and white storm clouds, ice balls began to fall. At first, the balls of white transparent ice were only about the size of a hand. When the area under the cloud was deluged with the hail. The crawling creature started to be bombarded with the rock-like magical weapons.

  To Lizzy, when the balls of ice hit the monster. It looked as if they were being hit by hundreds of punches all at once. But unlike normal monsters, this was not stopping the crawling monster. The hail would typically be taken off its health and killing the creatures. All that was happening in this field full of horrors. Was that some of the monsters had lost chunks of flesh or limbs. But they were still moving inevitably closer to the two women. Pulling themselves across the ground, however, they could.

  “Dam, what does it take to stop the monster,’ she shouted in frustration.

  With a flash of an inscription on her wizard robe, she changed the spell slightly. Now with the spell she had cast, she found that she had to nearly triple the power input into the magic. The clouds above her head got thicker and darker as the swirling mass increased. Then the rain of hail changed. Instead of it being the size of her hand, it was now the size of her head. The large balls of solid ice rocked downward toward the oncoming creature. The first was now only about ten meters away.

  The pounding hail hit the creatures as if they were at the bottom of a rock slide. Bodies were pounding into the ground as the massive balls smashed into them. Lizzy smiled with satisfaction, but soon this was taken from her as the mangled bodies of the incoming monsters just kept moving forward. Large parts of their bodies were missing, but they managed to grasp the ground as they pulled their bodies to the women.

  Jane shouted, “Cut them into pieces. I think that’s the only thing that will stop them.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Moving the magical energy through her pathways in different conjunction in her body, she cast another spell ‘Tornado Ice Blizzard.’ The pounding hail stopped falling. Then the entirety of the dark storm cloud starred to twist around the center point of her spell. Soon from the center of the cloud, a funnel of dark and white ice particles started to swirl downwards. Within the funnel, she could see the flashing shards of ice that were the cutting power of the tornado.

  When the tornado met the ground on the first creature, the tornado flashed red for a second. She saw red splattering in the ground around the funnel.

  That’s better, thought Lizzy with relief that she now had an effective weapon to use on the monsters.

  Pouring her magical energies into the spell, she started to move the whirling dark tornado around the battlefield. This resulted in the closest bodies of the creature disintegrating in a mist of red as the funnel hit the bodies.

  Extending her magic to its limits, Lizzy had destroyed all creatures within a hundred meters. She looked across the rest of the valley. To her dismay, she could see that there were still thousands of animals of all types, moving in their slow creep toward Jane. Looking at her magical power, she realized that she had already used up most of the energies available to her.

  She looked around her and wondered if the rest of the party would be along to help them. Indeed they must have seen the spell storm cloud by now and been along to help.

  She said, “Jane, I don’t think that I have enough energy to destroy the rest of the creatures in the miasma. Can I get you to produce a shield.”

  Jane said with a tone of regret, “Sorry, but I need to concentrate on finishing the miasma. Surely when it's gone, the monsters will all just die.”

  “I sincerely hope you're right,” said Lizzy as she cast the ‘Tornado Ice Blizzard.’

  Wanting to use her magical power reserve that she had left sparingly. She went for the most numerous and closest groups of monstrosity. Soon flashes of red color could be seen in the twisting column as it widened its way across the battlefield.

  As time went on, she could help wonder what was happening to the rest of the party. But she could do nothing to get help, and to her dismay, her power was running out. Switching tactic slightly, she took out all the closest monster. When the area of a hundred-meter around her and Jane was cleared. Of the cawing monsters, she sat down in a meditative pose.

  Several of her robes' inscriptions burst into white light as the text flashed against the dark robe. From the ground, white mist pulses of energy moved into the lines of power on her robe. Then the energy moved into her body as her channel of power moving it to her magical power reservoir. She felt the warming glow of the magical energies fill her body as if the internal sea that had been emptied was being filled by a large river. Concentrating on the energy flow from the environment, she gave herself a few minutes to fill up on power. Then opening her eyes, she saw the crawling monster only a few feet away from her and Jane.

  I cut that close, she thought as she immediately cast the tornado spell.

  This immediately had the effect of turning the surrounding area red with the haze of blood. As the sticky red blood and slime dripped off her robe and body, she had to wipe it out of her eyes to see clearly to target the oncoming creatures. Her eyes flicked to Jane as she saw her once white healing robe was now dark crimson with blood. She, too, was clearing the mess from her face with a look of disgust.

  Lizzy moved the twisting vortex of the spell further away. This started to deal with the monsters that were within close proximity.

  Jane shouted with excitement, “Just about finished. Lizzy, remove your shield now.”

  Lizzy concentrated on th
e shield surrounding the hole in the center of the valley. The opening was flashing with green light as if a green fire was blazing in its depth. She unwound the magical thread of her shield spell that then flashed white as it faded. When she had completed this, she saw the white healing flows of energy from Jane increasing. The white light flowed across the valley, burrowing into the hole as if it was a heavy cloud. Then from up out of the hole, tens of grasping limbs of some monstrosity reached out into the daylight. Where the white cloud met, green flaming limbs battles of attrition took place. Lizzy could see Jane's face straining with the increased power she was attacking the center of the diseased miasma.

  The grasping limbs were turning to dark, dusty particles, but in turn, the white mist of her power was being eaten up as well. The two forces were swirling in a mass of turbulent energy as the two fought for dominance over the other.

  Jane shouted with a pleading voice, “Link your power with mine.”

  Lizzy didn’t falter as he quickly grabbed Jane's bloody hand with her own. Then she opened up her power conduits and flooded her sister with her remaining power.

  Jane muttered with a happy smile, “I knew that I would need somebody I could trust.”

  Then with Lizzy’s power, the white mist that was the healing power started to get thicker. From all sides, it attacked the green limbs of the miasma. Within a few minutes, the battle was over as all signs of the green light disappeared from the hole, and the limbs were all dark dust.

  --

  We walked over the crest of the hill arm in arm, laughing with relief at the victory we had just won against the miasma. Just as we passed and was moving down toward the campsite, I felt the effects of a strange field. Flicking my eyes to Jane, I saw that thankfully she had not sensed the field she was still chatting away happily.

  I can guess who put that field place, I thought, as it was just powerful enough to stop sound reaching the camp.

  When they reached the camp, everybody was surprised to see the blood-soaked cloaks that we were wearing. I let Jane do the explaining as I stood by and watched the expression of the faces of the nobles. Bingley’s face was full of adoration for Jane. While his sisters just seemed to be annoyed for no apparent reason. The most curious face was Darcy as he had an inscrutable.

  A message was immediately transmitted to my mother, and its contents as quickly complied as to what had just taken place. The excited and ever dramatic Lady Bennet at once traveled to the camp, accompanied by her two youngest girls.

  When she arrived, she had a short chat with Jane about her endeavors. Then with a smile at Bingley she said, ”Do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope.”

  “Whatever I do is done in a hurry,” replied he; “and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here.”

  “That is exactly what I should have supposed of you,” said Elizabeth.

  “You begin to comprehend me, do you?” cried he, turning towards her.

  “Oh! yes—I understand you perfectly.”

  “I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful.”

  “That is as it happens. It does not follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.”

  “Lizzy,” cried her mother, “remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.”

  “I did not know before,” continued Bingley immediately, “that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study.”

  “Yes, but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage.”

  “The country,” said Darcy, “can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society.”

  “But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever.”

  “Yes, indeed,” cried Lady Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. “I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town.”

  Everybody was surprised, and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Lady. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.

  “I cannot see that capital has any great advantage over the country, for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is it not, Bingley?”

  “When I am in the country,” he replied, “I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either.”

  “Aye—that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman,” looking at Darcy, “seemed to think the country was nothing at all.”

  “Indeed, Mamma, you are mistaken,” said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother. “You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must acknowledge to be true.”

  “Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four-and-twenty families.”

  Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eyes towards Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother’s thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas was doing well in their adventuring group.

  “Yes, she communicated yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir William is, Bingley, is not he? So much the man of fashion! So genteel and easy! He has always something to say to everybody. That is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter.”

  “She seems a very pleasant young woman.”

  “Oh! dear, yes; but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane’s beauty. I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane—one does not often see anybody better looking. It is what everybody says. I do not trust my own partiality. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardiner’s in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.”

  “And so ended his affection,” said Elizabeth impatiently. “There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!”

  “I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,” said Darcy.

  “Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.”

  Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say; and after a short silence Lady Bennet began repeating her thanks to Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy. Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her part indeed without much graciousness, but Lady Bennet was satisfied, and soon was determined to leave with the four girls.

  Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a dungeon dive followed by a ball at Netherfield.

&nb
sp; Lydia was a stout, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance; a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits, and a sort of natural self-consequence, which the attention of the adventures, to whom her uncle’s good dinners, and her own easy manners recommended her, had increased into assurance. She was very equal, therefore, to address Bingley on the subject of the ball, and abruptly reminded him of his promise; adding, that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it. His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother’s ear:

  “I am perfectly ready, I assure you, to keep my engagement; and we have finished our task in the mountain, name the very day of the ball.”

  The End of Part 1

  Thank you for reading this book. If you liked it please leave a positive comment as it helps me to continue writing.

  Additional book by Andrew Bardsley

  The First Era: The History System Chronicles

  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LDZSH9Y/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

  A man is transported to a new world, given magical power, and left to survive. He has a bit of help, from a mysterious system with a none helpful personality. This book contains LitRPG based element as part of the magical system in the world.

  Following is an extract from the Book:

  They were both standing on the platform by the palisade, looking across the plains. As the light began to fade both of them could see a group of creatures walking up the hill in a disorganized crowd. It was the goblins. There seemed to be no organization and even some fighting. When the crowd was about fifty meters from the palisade, one larger goblin started to shouting and hitting others, forming them up into rough ranks. Ahava felt a cold sweat on his brow, but Olga was giving off an air of excitement.

  The large goblin signaled to some goblins with drums. The drums started the beat. “Boom, Boom, Boom...”