Normal pov
"Argh my head what happened." The explorer groaned as he regained consciousness but he found that he was tied up but not by rope but some really strong tree roots, arms, legs and body were tied. He heard a noise and looked by the fire and so a boy Salem) going through his bag it was the same lad who was about to kill him earlier.
The boy seemed no younger than ten years of age, wild long white hair and dark skinned he had his back turned to him so he did see the color of his eyes but he remembered that they were green and looked like wild animals than human. His clothes were ragged and looked to have been through the ringer.
'Gulp! How do I get out of this!' The explorer thought nervously. 'He looks like one of those forest kids maybe he might not be that intelligent and offer a deal.' He thought than he saw Salem taking out his compass and some chocolates and ate them with delight and thus he formed a plan.
"Hey little boy." He called out causing Salem to look at him with a raised brow. "I noticed that you really like that brown thing. If you let me go and share some of your meat, I promise to take you to a land full of them." He said in a sweet and trusting voice hoping Salem could understand him and take the deal.
"Really!" Salem said in fake delight as his eyes sparked while on the inside his eyes were twitching but the explorer didn't notice but just who sort of adorable Salem currently looked.
"Well of course so please let me go I promise am a good man!" He grinned and Salem came close to him as the man cheered in his head that his plan worked but it turned into fear as Salem held a knife to his throat.
"You seriously thought that would work dumbass." Salem rolled his eyes at the man and removed his knife. He than went close to the fire and took a chunk of deer meat and began munching.
"Oh god this is the end of me." The man than began to cry as he never got to propose to the woman he loved.
"Relax am not going to kill you."
"W-what?"
"I said am not going kill you much less lay a finger on you. The only reason I tied you up was for insurance in case you were a threat." Salem explained much to the man's relief. "So, here's what's going to happen am going to ask the questions you answer TRUTHFULLY and I you don't do anything stupid I let you go and share some meat. Ya dig." He negotiated getting the explorer to nod franticly.
"First where are we?"
"We're in the blood feather forest." He answered and got a confused look from Salem. "This forest was named that because it was well known for inhabiting many ariel monsters which dominate most of the area." He explained.
"That explains a good number of things." Salem mumbled as winged monsters are the ones he ran into and fought the most since he was here. But he'll leave the forest mysteries for later. "What country we in currently and year."
What?" The strange questions were really got the man confused.
"Just answer it please." Salem slightly demanded. He really wanted to know just where and when he was in the current timeline of this world so that he can make a brief run down on how to go about things.
"It's the year 782 and your currently in the Pergranda Kingdom." This answer made the take-over mage's eyes widen for a brief moment but went back to normal.
"Finally, who are you, what do you do and why are you in this forest?" He asked his final question.
"Young lad isn't t ha-…" His sentence was block by Salem narrowing his eyes and released some of his magic power.
"You're not in a position not object anything here now talk." Now Salem wasn't really like this but constant, survival fights, food battles and lack of an actual living space had slowly been putting him on the edge. Off course he already checked the man's entire bag, checked his body (pause) and there was nothing suspicious jus books, maps, compose and basic camping stuff.
'HIS A MAGE!!" The poor man cursed his luck a but answered the questioned more nervously.
"M-my na-ame is G-George Ivory am a professor and researcher of magical creatures working at Hercules university located in the capital of Hercules. I was here with two of my colleagues and six mages to research a new of magical unknown creature but we got separated due to an attack of some c-crystal w-w-wyverns. Now I was just using the map to get back on the in the safe path." He said it all a little fast but Salem caught all of if it.
"Mhm." Salem just made a small noise and just went towards the man and cut him loose using his knife. "There you go now grab some meat and eat."
"Wait just like that?" George asked in surprise as he suspected the kid would either kill him or rob him and leave him for dead.
"Am not bandit plus I checked your bag your clean. Am sorry I tied you up like that but like I said you can never be too careful especially in the forest." Salem then handed the man a huge piece of deer meat for his consumption.
"Thank you, lad do you mind, if I season it with some spices?" Salem threw his bag at him but he overestimated his strength and underestimated the Georges as he was knocked down.
"Sorry man." Salem apologized but he didn't sound sorry just a little amused.
"Its okay." George took some ingredients from his bag which he carried as his companions carried the rest. So, he got to work will Salem finished eating the rest and rested on a brunch still keeping an eye on him. 'This kid clearly doesn't belong in this forest he speaks like he had gotten good formal education foundation so how did he end up here?' He looked at Sale as he ate.
"It getting late you do your camp thing while I go to sleep. Scream if you get attacked and don't try anything stupid or you know I'll make you regret it." Salem than got in his tree hole home leaving George outside.
Salem's pov
'Okay so not only am I in a time two years before the canon but am in another country I know nothing about hell didn't even know normal schools existed here much less universities.' I sighed my knowledge of the anime's geography was limited to Fiore as worldbuilding wasn't the fairy tail anime strong point. 'Man, what a drag.' I looked at the map and compass I still had hopeful they would help.
I drifted to sleep while still being alert of the professor.