Dawn of Adventure
Page 1
Dawn of Adventure: Pride and Prejudice (Part 1)
Part of the Resurrection of the Masters a LitRPG Series World
Andrew Bardsley
Copyright © 2020 by Andrew Bardsley
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Books by Andrew Bardsley
The History System Chronicles
Book One in the Series: The First Era
Book Two in the Series: The City god
The Ether World Series
Book One in the Series: Into the Ether
Book Two in the Series: The Inscribed Angle
The Dark Part of the Soul
Book One in the Series: The Unknown god
Dawn of Adventure: The Dungeon Master's Quests: Journey into Glory a LitRPG Series
Book One in the Series: Origins
Book Two in the Series: Dungeon Master
Book Three in the Series: Dungeon Battle
Book Four in the Series: King of the Realm
Book Five in the Series: Legendary Weapons
Book Six in the Series: The Empire Under the Sun
Book Seven in the Series: Battle for Freedom
Additional Book Set in this World
Dawn of Adventure: Pride and Prejudice (Part 1)
--
The Hope of Eternals Enduring, Infinite, Boundless, Timeless Love: Space-Time Romance Science-Fiction
Resurrection of Adventure: The Return of the Master's Quests:
Book One in the Series: Dirty Rotten Magic
Book Two in the Series: Dirty Rotten Quest
Book Three in the Series: Dirty Rotten Heist
Book Four in the Series: Dirty Rotten Seizure
Book Five in the Series: Dirty Rotten Royal Court
Book Six in the Series: Dirty Rotten Valkin
Book Seven in the Series: Dirty Rotten Monster Horde
Book Eight in the Series: Dirty Rotten University
Book Nine in the Series: Dirty Rotten Realm
See Author’s page
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07LGBBBYD
See Author’s Web site
https://authorandrewbardsley.com/
Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a high level of power and a fortune must be in want of a wife.
However, little know the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood. This truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is considered the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.
--
The older but still battle-ready Legendary Alchemist Bennet was sitting quietly in his manor’s workroom. In front of him was an array of glass tubing that was bubbling colorful liquid through. He was on the final stage of a distillation of a potion he had been developing. This was the first time he had peace this morning to try and complete the delicate operation. That required all his focus.
The heavy door smashed open, causing the fragile equipment to shudder on the table. Nearly falling over and putting him back to square one of the potion-making. Looking up with an annoyed look on as this could have been ever so disastrous. The older man saw his beautiful blond-haired wife. She still looked as young as the day he had met her all those years ago. Like an immortal creature that never aged. Nobody would ever believe that she had borne five children with how elegant her curving body still was. She was wearing a flamboyant, colorful outfit announcing her profession as an entertainer. All very tasteful as she looked as she put significant amounts of effort and his money into her appearance. He knew that she did, but it was always to good effect.
The legendary level Alchemist quickly wiped the frown of his face. The expression his wife had, on her beautiful face like it had been sculptured by one of the great masters, told him that what she was about to say to him was important. From long experience, he knew that it was better in the long run if he played along with her. This didn’t mean that he could not have some fun at her expense. This was all part of the game of their relationship that was integral to both their happiness. She would act her part, and he would react in his own inevitable way with wit and sardonic observations.
“My dear Alchemist Bennet,” said his lady to him from the doorway with a bright smile, “have you heard that Netherfield Dungeon has been conquered at last?”
Alchemist Bennet replied that he had not. As if it was unimportant to the man. He looked back at the bubbling flask in front of him. He was trying not to show too much interest as he knew that he would slightly perturb his darling wife.
“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.” Then practically danced into the room close to him. Acting as if she was a small child receiving gifts on a holiday. She put her arm around his waist, laying her head on his shoulder. This intimate gesture, while pleasant, was distracting to what he was attempting to do.
Alchemist Bennet made no answer. He kept on moving the lazy flame under the bubbling potion. Finally, he acknowledged that he was going to be distracted. However, still, he did not want to mess up the process of producing the elixir with his wife’s unwanted interruptions. He wondered if he could do both to attend to his wife and make the potion. He flickered his eyes at the wondrous beauty beside him and smiled.
This morning would be more entertaining now, he could get some fun out of this if he played his part. He knew his wife would as she was always playing some part or another, as was her nature.
He thought, why is my life so complicated?'' Maybe I should have handfasted with somebody lest flamboyant. But as naturally, when he considered this, he thought back to how interesting his life had been with this woman. She may have her faults, but she was not dull at all. Overall he liked a bit of drama in his life. Not too much, but a bit.
“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently now, right speaking in his ear as if he was deaf. She was pressing hard up against him to get his attention. This always worked for him; she was irresistible. His potions certainly help with adding to her charisma. For a second, he wondered if she was using one of her spells to get the attention she wanted from him.
“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it. If you just get it over with my dear.” The elixir was starting to change color as the lazy flame warmed the potion. In a few minutes, the delicate part of the process would begin. The alchemist wanted to get his wife out of the room before he needed to concentrate. He knew from long experience that nothing would stop her talking until she had told him all she wanted.
This was invitation enough for his wife. She was a Master Entertainer and never needed to be given more opportunities to talk. She viewed all the world as if it was her own personal stage for her to be the center of attention. Often her family and close friends were the only audiences to the dram
a of her life, but then that was all she seemed to want.
“Why, my dear, you must know, the lady Long says that Netherfield Dungeon and Manor house are being resided in by a young man. He is of legendary power from the north of the kingdom. That he came down on last Moonday in a chaise to see the place and battled their way to the dungeon heart. Now he is to take possession; some of his servants are to be in the dungeon by the end of next week. Setting up to his liking.”
“What is the name of this great conqueror thats has taken over our small county dungeon?”
“Bingley. He is a legendary barbarian adventurer of great renown.”
“Is he handfast or single?”
“Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of great power and fortune; four or five thousand a year in gold bars. What a fine thing for our girls!” This was said with a bubbling excitement from the Lady entertainer.
“How so? How can it affect them?” said the Alchemist as he looked at his elegant wife. She still looked the same as the day she married him with such a bright smile of pure excitement. This elixir he was making was for her as she had requested something, again, to keep the age at bay.
His eyes flickered around his laboratory, taking in the dark solid scuffed wooden surfaces of the benches. This was his own particular set of rooms in the vast mansion. His own sacred retreat from the drama of family life. With all its strange blown glass equipment and magical devices. Most of Bennet’s family money went into the stocking of this workshop. Then a fraction of the products of his work went into keeping his wife young and looking spectacular for all the world to see. His five daughters also enjoyed the products of his legendary skill. At their young ages, because of his potions and exercise regimes, they were all masters of their chosen fields of adventure.
Deciding that the conversation would go on longer than he had initially thought, he moved the potion to a stasis field for keeping. After safely storing the flask in the wooden box that froze the brew in time with white light. He now could focus on having some fun at the expense of his dramatic wife. The legendary Alchemist turned back to his ever so delicate looking but vain wife and pulled her into an embrace. Hold her tightly to her tight to his chest. Feeling her breath and maybe a heartbeat.
“My dear Alchemist Bennet,” replied his wife with a smile at his verbal games, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his handfasting, one of our daughters.”
“Is that his design in settling here? I'm sure he just conquered the dungeon for our girls,” said the Alchemist with a cheeky smile. As he was playing with his wife’s single, sometimes all-consuming focus on gaining an advantageous marriage for their daughters.
“Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But he may likely fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes,” she said as she looked up into his face with fluttering eyes. An old trick he was used to. But he still enjoyed it as if it was the first time she had seduced him to her opinions.
She moved out of his arms and then walked over to the dark wood and metal locked strongbox's door. In the corner of the wood-paneled room. This box contained all his highest powerful concoctions. Securely stored behind the magical ward strongbox defense. Looking at the heavy wooden chest, she smiled with an idea plainly written on her face. She turned back with the same smile that made the alchemist sigh inwardly. He guessed that he was about to lose something of great value.
He said as he tried to appease her vanity, “I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better. For as you are as handsome as any of them, Bingley may like you the best of the party.”
This comment lit up her face; he knew that as strange as it may seem that she was sometimes envious of the youth and opportunities that had been given to their daughters. They had the promise of youth with great beauty. With a good upbringing, all the girls were full of power because of the years of investment in their classes. She had not been so advantaged in her early years. She had to develop her skill as an actor over the years, mostly by herself, until she met her husband. But then still, her ability to act was the talk of the neighborhood.
“My dear, you flatter me,” she said. Turning around to look at her husband. There was no modesty in her eyes as she knew that she was often mistaken, by strangers, for one of his daughters.
“I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty,” she said as if she was a martyr for the good of her daughters. “In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”
He snorted into his large bushy beard that was the only sign of his age. Unlike her, he was not focused on his looks as he grew older. He focused on knowledge of his beloved alchemy.
He thought of how his wife talked in such a self-righteous manner. But in his heart, he knew that she was caring for her daughter's welfare. If just that she thought that beauty was the way to happiness as it had been her path.
“But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Bingley when he settles into the neighborhood. You should give him one of your legendary healing potions.”
She moved over to her alchemist husband and placed her hand around his body. Like she was smothering him with her affections. He still had the build of a much younger adventure due to his continued adventuring to gain potion ingredients. When her arms were around his body, she quickly moved her hand into one of the many pockets on his old work coat. Then with a quick motion, she pulled out the small magical key for the locked strongbox.
Bouncing back out of his reach as he playfully tried to grab her. With a mysterious smile on her face, she moved back toward the strongbox and opened it. As he was shaking his head, she took a small flask from the top shelf of the box. The flack was brimming with a golden liquid that sparkled with magical power.
He said with a mocking tone that he knew he would niggle at his wife's mood. As when he acted indifferent to the family's welfare, he always annoyed her. “It is more than I’m engaged in doing, I assure you. It's a waste of money by practically throwing my potions away.”
“But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not,” she said with a concerning frown on her pretty face.
The Alchemist Bennet, when he was playing this game of subterfuge with his wife, could never tell when she was acting or serious. He sighed and knew that she was better at acting, any part, than he. He may have the raw power, but she knew how to manipulate him. All for the best in most occasions but sometimes into foolishness. But their relationship was one that had worked for the many wonderful years of their handfasting.
He said with a mocking smile. “You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Bingley will be thrilled to see you. I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his handfasting whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”
“I desire you will do no such thing,” she said with apparent anger written on her face.
Acted or not, he could not tell. ”Lizzy is not a bit better than the others. Just because she’s a master wizard to your liking, and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, who is a healer to boot, nor half so good-humored as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.”
The Alchemist flushed with embarrassment as this accusation was half true. He tended to favor his adventures and tougher daughter, Lizzy. She just fitted his personality better.
With a bit of mocking seriousness that he used to hide his guilt. He said, “They have none of them much to recommend them. They are all silly and ignorant like other girls, but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”
With apparent annoyance that did not seem to be pure acting. The actress and his wife said dramatically as if she was on the stage, “Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.” All this was said as if she had received a great wound in a battle from a fierce monster.
With a laugh, as he tried to grab the potion in her hand. She quickly managed to dodge as she had invested some of her points in agility. He said as she moved backward out of his reach, “You mistake me, my dear. I have high respect for your nerves. They are my old companions in many battles. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years, at least.”
“Ah, you do not know what I suffer,” said the Lady Bennet as she seemed to be on the edge of fainting from apparent weakness. He noticed that she did place the potion down safely, though. The cost of losing it would be more than she could bear. She was sensible in her heart, even though she may act differently.
“But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year gold income into the neighborhood,” she continued to bemoan. “It will be no use to us if twenty such legendary level men come. Since you will not visit them.”
“Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all,” he said with a sly smile as he grabbed the potion out of her reach. Then place it back in the locked box and firmly closed the door. When the door was closed, the magical wards flashed with power as the protection was back in place.
Alchemist Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice. That the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character completely. This was his game that kept their lives exciting as they played against each other.
Her mind was as challenging to understand. On the surface, she may seem to be vain and acted as if she had an uncertain temper. But she was focused on the business of her life. Which was to get her daughters a good handfasting. She viewed this to their advantage. This was the true depth of her soul that she did actually care about her family, but sometimes like her husband masked the depth of her feelings.