A New Companion

Having finished the inheritance process, a dark-faced Sam greeted Albert and Snowie.

She had brought along sufficient supplies for the group, however, these were lost during the earlier clash and the subsequent escape from the dragons' pursuit.

Albert and Snowie shivered in fear as they watched the ravenous beast in human skin walk up to them. At this point, if they didn't look for food soon, *they* might become her next meal.

"S-S-Sam, heheh, erm, you look well... Let's leave and find something to eat, okay?" Albert stuttered to her.

The girl just looked at him intensely.

Then licked her lips.

The man jumped backwards in fright and turned completely pale. His breaths came short, panicking. Would he have to release his seal at a time like this? What a terrible waste of time and effort, especially after successfully making it through crisis after crisis!

Then Sam smiled, and said, "Sure. Let's go." She turned around and headed towards the cave entrance which was now already unsealed.

Albert didn't even bother to ask what she had received from the inheritance. Some things were more important, such as eating for her and survival for him. Snowie jumped onto Albert's shoulder, not daring to go anywhere near the goddess of gluttony walking in front of them.

Then they heard a young girl's voice and the pitter-patter of footsteps, "Wait! Wait for me! Beep."

They turned around to see, true enough, a short-haired, big-eyed girl with long lashes. She looked to be about 7 or 8 years old with very light blonde hair, slim and small-sized. In short, an incredibly adorable little kid!

But as the kid drew near and Sam's gaze landed on her, the "Beep" girl felt a sudden wave of paralysing terror and froze. She felt as if the devouring monster before her would eat up every bit of her, regardless of the fact that her body was made entirely of high-grade metals!

Trembling in terror, she said the first words that came to mind: "I know where to get good food. Beep."

Sam smiled. "Okay..."

But the smile just made the rest feel like they had seen an Ancient Dragon smile as they walked into its waiting, hungry mouth.

"Follow me! Beep. If we walk that way..." The small girl pointed to the south-easterly direction, "...We should find some food in around 800 metres!"

It turned out that the "Beep" girl's name was Bipib, a self-given name based on her most outstanding characteristic. And it turned out that she was not a girl; when she was called a "young girl", she took strong offence and went to great pains to explain herself.

"How can you infants call me young! Beep. When I was programmed, you weren't even a twinkle in your parent's eyes! Your great-great-great-great ancestors weren't even born! Your planet was still a desolate wasteland! Hmmph! Beep." She waved her hands enthusiastically and spoke with great gusto to trash talk them.

Then she continued, running forward to stand proudly in front of them, hands on her hips. They were along their way to a nearby den of wolves, where they were promised a good meal of smoked snow-wolves.

"And I'll have you know! It's discriminatory and incredibly archaic to assume that I'm a girl just because I have a beautiful face and voice!" She wiggled her nose haughtily as she spoke these words.

Albert, on behalf of the already-impatient Sam, quickly consoled her, saying, "Sorry, sorry Bipib! We didn't know you're a boy! We'll address you correctly from now--"

"NO!! Beep." Bipib turned livid, swinging her small fists round angrily as she spoke. "I am not a boy!!! Beep. How dare you assume my gender! I'll sue you!!!"

Then she folded her arms cutely and pouted, saying, "I'll have you know! I'm a proud battleship! I sexually identify as an X-312i Deathstar Class Planet Destroyer Battleship! Don't mistake me for a lowly binary organism! Hmmmph! Beep."

Albert sweated and hurried onwards in the direction Bipib had pointed out to them, ignoring the preposterous words coming out of the girl/ boy/ battleship's mouth.

Right now what was more important was to settle their ticking time bomb.

* * * * *

"Ph-ew!" A satisfied Sam with a bulging stomach lay on her back, the bones of a dozen wolves lying scattered nearby.

To their surprise, Bipib turned out very, very useful. The battleship was able to morph into various kitchen appliances, including a roasting pit and oven!

Sam drooled as she patted Bipib on the lid (of the oven) adoringly, saying, "Can I keep you...?" and "Good battleship/ oven..."

Albert could only face-palm once more. This was getting out of hand...

But Snowie didn't complain. At least there was food to be had, despite it being a slightly objectionable source of food for the wolf-god occupying the cat's body... In the end, survival was more important right? It had been nearly an entire 12 hours since they last ate, what would they do if they - *gasp* - starved to death??!

As they lay there satiated, resting in the cave that was formerly the den of the wolves, Albert spoke.

"From here on, I don't think the dragons will cause us any trouble."

Sam and Snowie ignored him, lazing around.

So he could only cough in embarrassment and press on, pretending that he was talking to himself.

"...Because they obviously were herding us to this area which they could easily enter in their human forms. But they didn't. Which means that there is a reason they want to help us, which then in turn means that they have no intention to harm us."

It was quiet for awhile, except for the purring of a cat who was sitting happily beside the warmth of the oven - the girl/ boy/ battleship/ oven.

"Affirmative. The dragons were carrying out instructions based on my master's will for an heir, carried out by Madam Espanastasi. Beep." The oven spoke boomily due to the design of its large, square body that was able to roast 20 wolves simultaneously. The front door of the oven clanged open and closed as Bipib spoke.

"Who's that?" Albert tilted his head to the side to look at the oven's "face" and clanging "mouth".

"Information classified until full inheritance is unlocked. Beep."

Albert shrugged. It didn't really matter.

All in all, looked like they should be able to complete their journey to Turin and onwards to reach Rome within just a few more days...

He sighed in relief, then remembered the vampire princess who had gotten away using illusions.

He let out another long breath of air. He was glad that the girl hadn't incurred the wrath of the Eternal Night Mother by killing Celica...

He looked up at the ceiling of the small cave and whistled happily as he looked forward to finally reaching his destination.

My love, you'll be avenged...

Soon.

Soon, he would see the world burn.