Supreme Magus novel Chapter 15

After resolving the morning snack incident, Selia prepared the working table for the remaining game.

"The birds you caught are called blinkers, because they get scared easily and are very quick to fly away. Usually you need luck and skill to take them down from a distance. Whatever magic you performed, it made a clean kill. Aside from the broken neck, both the feathers and the body are unscathed."

Lith accepted the compliment with a small bowing.

"It’s just a matter of finesse in using air magic, nothing special."

Selia’s curiosity was far from being satisfied, but she decided not to pry further.

"Scalding is easy and quick. You only need to throw the poultry in the cauldron for about 45 seconds. Is better to gently stir the water in the process, to clean the birds from dirt and external parasites. It also helps loosening most of the feathers. Never scald too long, or the meat could start to boil. Not to mention the risk of rupturing the organs, ruining the meat."

Lith took charge of the scalding process, waving his right hand to take control of the water in the cauldron, stirring it and adjusting the force of the current according to Selia’s directions.

"Dammit, kid. You are really starting to make me regret to have never given a damn about magic or learning it."

"You don’t know how to use magic?" Lith was astonished.

"No, and before today I was proud of it. I consider chore magic a simple parlour trick. Why waste my time learning how to do things with it when I get faster and better results by using my hands?" Selia shrugged. "Now get the blinkers out of the water, time to get serious."

Beside the scalding and the plucking that replaced the skinning process, gutting poultry resulted really similar to his previous experience with the squirrel, except he had also to remove to crop, the neck and the oil gland. _{frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓}

Once they finished, Lith’s eyes enjoyed the results, noticing that aside from the blinker’s skin being a little more porous compared to a chicken’s, it was just a roast away from what he would purchase back on Earth.

"How do I cook it?"

"Still hungry even after two squirrels?"

"Yes, very." The previous meal was just an appetizer, he was far from satisfied. "Please, let’s use the outdoor campfire. I need to get used to not using a fireplace."

Selia slammed her hand on her forehead. "Right, right. I almost forgot about your family issues."

After instructing him how to choose the right spot for a campfire, she showed him how to improvise a kebab with wood sticks. The final lesson was about how high to set the kebab to avoid burning the food and how to recognise when it was ready to be eaten.

After memorizing everything, Lith imbued his eyes with fire magic, activating the Fire Vision spell, that granted him an improved version of thermal goggles.

He then started to weave together fire and wind magic, keeping the heat stable with no hot or cold spots, while using air currents to cook every nook and cranny of the meat evenly.

Such fine control required for him to move both his hands and feet, to watch his meal from different angles and adjusting the mana flow.

His movements were akin to a combination of martial arts katas.

Selia was about to mock him about how performing a victory dance for a single blinker was a little extreme, when the delicious smell reached her nose.

The blinker was getting roasted with a speed visible to the naked eye, the skin turning into a crispy crust, releasing the fat that was masterfully spreaded evenly.

The smell was so good that her stomach started grumbling, despite she had consumed her breakfast less than two hours ago.

Lith lifted the skewer with spirit magic and after lowering the temperature to avoid burning himself while eating, he started wolfing down the meat ripping it apart with his bare hands.

First the drumsticks, then the breast and lastly the wings.

It lacked salt, and the meat wasn’t as tender as a roasted chicken since they had not let the meat undergo any maturation. Nonetheless it was the best meal Lith had ever had.

"I can’t believe it, I cannot feel the hunger anymore." Lith fell to his knees from the happiness, his eyes wet on the verge of shedding tears.

But that moment passed quickly.

"I need more! I can’t allow the hunger to cripple me again." Lith looked at the sun, there were still a couple of hours before noon, he had still time for more hunting.

"Master Selia, I need a favour. I need a place to hide my own game, the one I am not willing to share."

"Just call me Selia, hunters do not waste time with honorifics, we are practical people."

She waved her hand dismissing the need for a title.

"As for your request, I don’t make favours, only deals. What about this: from tomorrow onwards you will come here every day and clean my house, and maybe from time to time cook something for me with that silly dance of yours.

In exchange, I will keep your personal meat safe and sound, and whenever you cook for me, we will share the meal evenly. Deal?" Selia offered him her hand.

It was still a rip-off, but it was his only option.