Posts from Ritnaran Lekras (Heroist) Auto-translated

Ritnaran saw the familiar spring again, covered with spring frogs. There were plenty of branches there.

Well, he had experience with "banishing" frogs. He simply repeated it. And then he decided to gather a lot of branches and hurry home

And yet, one of them managed to nip at his leg, though not too painfully. The old man waited for him calmly, not inside the hut, but near it: he and Lazarus had prepared everything for a bonfire. He had apparently left the meat at home for now, so as not to attract predators.

-Here are your rations, - said the wizard, rubbing his bitten leg. With these words, he handed over everything he could gather to the old man. - Now, I think we can start the meal?

He lit a fire, and smoke billowed in all directions. Then the old man went into the hut for meat, leaving Ritnar and Lasar to watch the fire. Some time passed, and the young man pointed at the fire:
--Look!
And indeed, the sight was mesmerizing. The smoke billowed in beautiful shapes, forming strange patterns. Now a gray anomaloparachudozavr appeared before them, then a spring frog, then some plants that Ritnar had seen on the island, and then there was a killer wave, similar to the one that had tormented his fate...

-Magnificent... - said the wizard. - Narcotic vines... Either this old man isn't an ordinary Robinson Crusoe, or the first option is correct...

An old man approached and stared at the smoke for a while, holding the meat on his shoulder. "Wow! Where did you find these?" he finally said. "I should read about them."

-Pff... that's what I thought. - The Mage looked meaningfully at the smoke. - Near the spring, where else would it be? And we already thought that you conjured it up. Maybe we should start eating? At the same time, I'll ask you a few questions, if you don't mind.

--Against it, but go ahead and ask--the meat was skewered and sizzling nicely over the fire. Probably no tavern keeper would refuse to take a look at this scene, but it was thoroughly obscured by smoke.

-Alright, listen. - the mage began his interrogation. - I don't care who you are, practically nothing about you. But I need to know what could help me get off this island. How long ago did you have your shipwreck? Have there been any ships here? Have you tried to leave the island? And if so, why are you still here?

“Everything has its time,” the old man said, turning the meat. “Understand, dascalos, some things are better understood on a full stomach, and it helps to have a visual aid. But right now, our stomachs are empty, and I don’t have the proof with me; it’s back in the hut.”
Lazar blinked in surprise.

"Proof?" the wizard said, surprised. No, the first part of the old man's statement was clear to him. He had expected such a response. He often noticed similar, incomprehensible things in the elders of the Temple. He could even assume that the old man was much "more powerful" and mysterious than he seemed. But "proof" completely threw him off.
"Okay..." Ritnaran could only say.

The Anomaloparachudozavr was ready; the old man sprinkled it with some dried spice, presumably local, and gave each of us a piece, immediately popping it into his mouth, not paying much attention to manners. Apparently, during his time here, he had forgotten them...
Lasar also took a bite and smacked his lips appreciatively.
--Very delicious.

-I agree, it’s really delicious. - the mage agreed.

The meat resembled game, perhaps duck, but it was more tender and also much less fatty. The old man quickly finished his portion and waited for the others to do the same. The Anomaloparachudosaurs had already begun to gather nearby: they could smell the food, but the smoke kept them from approaching.
--It's time for us to go, -- the old man concluded.