Julian slowly walked towards the smoke and catiously surveyed his surroundings. While traveling on foreign lands, even if he is on the territory of an ally, he has develop a set of rules and skills which kept him alive on his every mission. So before going into the forest, he covered his brother down there by gathering huge leaves and used some vines as a belt. He even picked up a long, sturdy stick to defend and attack at the same time. He kept walking and walking for hours and it appears that his destination seems close but it felt still so faraway.
"Are you hungry?"
Just when he was thinking of what to do, he suddenly heard a voice behind him. He turned around and saw the surroundings change quickly. He was now in front of a bonfire and it was no longer day time. He saw an old man cooking a huge chunk of meat near the fire. He was silent for a moment, contemplating whether to reply or not.
"Are you hungry kid?? Better answer me now." the old man asked again.
"I am. I am hungry."
"Here you go then." The old man picked the meat he was cooking and gave it to Julian.
"If I take it, what will you eat??"
The old man just smiled and stopped talking to him. Julian understood the old man's gesture and started eating the meat with large bites. It was so good that he almost bit his tongue. The old man passed some kind of gourd to drink from. He then waited for Julian to finish his meal and just sat there silently. After he saw that Julian is almost done, he waved his hand above the huge fire, and the fire turned from a fierce one into a mild low flame. Julian was amazed at what he saw, but he just thought that the old man just did some kind of magic trick and he clapped loudly in recognition.
"What are you doing?"
"I am clapping for you."
"Why would you clap for me?"
"Well for that... that trick just now, uhm, its awesome."
Julian saw the bewilderment in the old man's facial expression.
" Well, what should I call you brother?"
"Brother?? I think you should call me Grandpa Winston for now and not brother... considering our ages."
_Right I am back to being a teenager._ "Well can I ask you what the date is now? I'm sorry something kinda happened and I was separated from my family."
"Oh.. it is the 30th day of Fiona year 3048 era of the Fifth Earth Prime."
Winston just said it once but everything he said echoed inside Julian's mind as if in replay. He was dumbfounded. He stood there in a daze.
"Old man, you must be joking right? Please, I really need to know what day it is now."
"I am not joking."
_What the f*ck is happening? Where am I? What the hell is Fiona and Fifth Earth Prime? Maybe I am dead and this is where you go when people die._
"I'm still dreaming. I'm still in the boat snoring like a pig. hehehehe" He tried waking up by slapping himself hard but it just verified that everything around him is real.
"Here use this. You must be feeling cold that you are starting to hallucinate." Winston gave him some clothes,a black pair of boots and some kind of ring out of thin air.
"Thank.. Thank you." Julian equipped the the ring on his right middle finger and saw that the ring is large for him. He picked up the clothes and the boots and analyzed that they were too big for him.
"Don't worry. It will fit you after you put it on."
Sure enough, everything adjusted to his size and he felt comfortable. Julian tried jumping, stretching and some other moves to ensure the durability and flexibility. He really looked like Heath Ledger from that movie A Knight's Tale just what his commander said years ago after wearing these clothes.
"Now I better send you on your way cause it's no fun anymore seeing you walk around me for a day like a crazy person. That ring bears my magic, so you really can't use it." A red horse suddenly appeared behind Julian which startled him greatly. "Take my horse, present my ring to the guards to the nearest town or city you can find. They will know what to do. Go in that direction and you will exit the forest, after that you navigate on your own. Oh right, use this also, this will also verify that I am the one who sent you."
Winston handed him a cloak just like the one he was using just now. He put it on and climbed on the horse. He stared directly to the old man.
"I still have a lot of question old man".
"You better look for answers out there, you will not find it here."
Julian said thanks once again and rode away, leaving the old man standing there alone. He sat down again and started cooking again.
"He was clearly a mage, so how can he not see". He wave his hands as if swatting a fly,he was now surrounded by many fire beasts guarding him like servants.