“Mum, stay inside, lock the door and don’t answer it for anybody. I have a key I’m coming to you now. I’ll be there soon, I love you” whimpered Lara.

“I’m scared”

“I know, me too mum. We all are” Lara paused, gulping for breath. “We have no clue what’s going on, but I’m coming to you now and we’ll get through this together, just like last time” Lara’s voice was strained, trying not to show the emotion, silent tears rolling down her lightly freckled face.

“I’m putting the phone down now mum and coming right over. Be there soon”

Lara had been plugging away on her spreadsheets, straight into the detail as usual. Her job as an actuary demanded deep analysis and unbroken concentration. Weighing up risk was her key skill, she lived and breathed it personally and professionally.

Lara had worked away many years of her life, some of her friends pushing her to be more extrovert and ‘adventurous’. But, she was happy. She had book club, had Saturday afternoons at the gym, a high income with no dependents also meant she could travel and see the world… before the event. Lara had always preferred to be blended into a crowd, rather than centre of attention. Occasionally she wished this could be different and often wondered… what if she had made different choices, what would her alternate self be doing now?

Rushing down the stairs from her picturesque thatched cottage, Lara grabbed her car keys, scratching her antique mahogany side table, and burst out the door. No time to lock it, forget everything inside. Something major is happening, her ‘go bag’, already on her back, was all they needed.

Lara had assembled the bag after the last event. It had their IDs and documentation, a large amount of cash, some spare clothes and a survival kit she’d fashioned after reading books on the subject, alongside the two wilderness courses she had completed in the wake of the first event. She was ready and would not be caught out like last time. A career in weighing risks and coming up with appropriate strategies. She had her lessons learned from before, hunting knife ready in the glove box. It was time to leave.

Reversing quickly, wing mirror cracking on the driveway post, she was on her way racing towards the nearby village of Finchingfield. 11 minutes and she’ll be with her mum, Lara counted them down, 2 minutes to go.

“NO! What, Why?” Lara screamed, staring through the windscreen in disbelief.

A military roadblock, how were they here so fast she thought, and worse why were they blocking off access to the village.

Lara pulled to a slow roll, two armed military personnel beckoning her to stop as they approached the vehicle. Discretely placing her bag into the footwell, Lara rolled down her window.

“Officer, what’s happening? I need to get to my mum” Lara pleaded. “She’s elderly and needs help” her eyes wild with fear.

“I’m sorry ma’am, we’re under strict instruction to turn all traffic around from this area.” The soldier replied sternly.

Sensing Lara’s frustration and panic, he tried to ease her “Don’t worry, please, we have a military presence containing the situation” he said, unsuccessfully trying to calm his voice. “Everything will be fine”.

He couldn’t look Lara in the eye when adding those last, slightly too delayed, words to his sentence.

“Am I allowed to park and wait at the layby just back down the road” Lara said, defeat in her voice.

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“I’d suggest you follow the road back to the village of Thaxted Ma’am”

“Right. OK” replied Lara, full of resolve as she gritted her teeth.

Lara was swiftly on her way back down the road, turning the corner and parked in the lay-by, hidden from view of the soldiers. Lara had grown up around these villages, she knew where all the walking trails were, knew the fields, and even better she knew how to navigate them.

Throwing her bag onto her back, changing into her running shoes and slipping the knife into the spare drinks holder of her backpack she headed towards the turnstile, surrounded by overgrown bramble bushes. She had one mile left to drive, but this walk edged its way through woodland and fields, almost doubling the distance to just under two miles. Probably a good thing she mused as it would keep her well out of sight of the small military unit blockading the road.

“One foot in front of the other. Slow and steady wins the race, you don’t want to twist an ankle and never get there” Lara huffed to herself as she pounded her runners through the damp and boggy walking trail.

About half a mile from the village, gunshots began to echo across the sky. It felt as if Lara’s stomach had dropped to the floor. “Mum” she whimpered, momentarily pausing mid-stride.

One large exhale, her eyes ablaze with resolve, Lara pushed forward imaging the fear and loneliness her mother must be feeling. She had to get her safe.

Emerging from the lush green countryside of Essex and onto the connecting road that led straight towards her local tea rooms and health centre, Lara stumbled. Distracted by smoke beginning to billow from nearby buildings, their thatched roofs spreading flames like wildfire, ethereal blue streaks danced in the skies above.

Her progress ground to a halt, the bridge that crossed the river running through the heart of the village was littered with corpses. There were three soldiers and two civilians, bodies strewn across the road, surrounded by pools of blood. Deep cuts slashed clumsily across their bodies and extremities.

Lara was sick, her eyes blurred from the burn of the smoking rooftops, coughing on her hands and knees, she looked forward towards the village green. There were three short and stocky goblin-like creatures wielding rusted blades steadily walking towards a lone man holding a long sword.

It was at this point Lara noticed two dead creatures on the green, missing limbs. Their green skin soaked darker with dark wet yellow blood. Sharp, unfriendly teeth protruded from their open mouths, long thin noses decorated with thick slate rings.

The man was breathing heavily, haggard from battle, blood trickled down his strong jaw. The creatures began to giggle, taking large broad slashes aimed lazily at the man who’s sword started to wane in his hands, too heavy to continue to hold.

“Lara Hollingworth” whispered a voice, as Lara’s mind turned blank and the world stood still.

Lara did not reply.

“I am the Voice of this world and you are awakened” the voice commanded with finality.

“You have been assigned the role of Sorceress”

Having already seen and felt too much to know this was not a dream, Lara would figure out the details later, she just needed to get back onto her feet and make it across the village green, no turning back.

Darkness began to cloud her mind, rolling inwards to replace the nothingness. White words took form, etching themselves onto her soul.

*******

— LARA HOLLINGSWORTH —

— Role: Sorceress, Level 0 —

— Specialism: none. —

— Weapons: none. —

— Abilities: 2 —

— Proficiencies: 2 —

* Ability 1: A burst of flame. Fire a short bolt of flame from the palms of your hand. Cooldown: 30 seconds. Stamina drain, moderate.

* Ability 2: Arcane shield. Protect yourself with a temporary shield that can take moderate damage. Appears for 2 seconds, cooldown: 10 seconds. Stamina drain, minor. Shield regenerates over time, if it breaks a full restoration will take 60 seconds and have moderate stamina drain.

* Proficiency 1: Resistance to the elements (take less damage from elemental forces),

* Proficiency 2: Aptitude to rune magic (learn rune spells up to 3 levels higher than your base level).

********