Disclaimer: Campione! was written by Taketsuki Jou, I get nothing out of writing this fanfic save personal satisfaction (and possibly reviews).

Author's Notes: Detail and event corrections made to chapter one (prologue and chapter two refined). I had initially thought that Napoli/Naples was close to Cagliari (it is not!), which cause some delays for this chapter for research. I admit to having difficulty writing this chapter. While it was easy to write Erica from Liliana's point of view... writing Erica in her view was a lot more challenging.

This was last Updated/Corrected Dec 24, 2012.

- - - 7th - - -

Pet na Campione-sama!

- - - 7th - - -

Chapter Three: Erica: "Opportunities..."

- - - 7th - - -

"That girl still needs to refine her social graces." I muttered to myself as I forwarded the address of Inn to Lily's phone.

But that coarseness of hers was something that suited her quite well. Like the finely honed blade she only does what she needs to... on the surface that is.

I wonder what kind of story she'll be able to write after her time with this young man.

"Miss Erica, we've arrived." Arianna said after she had recklessly floored the brake just before our car could skid wildly out of the Inn's driveway. And although the car has suffered several light collisions with street signs, guard rails, some fences, trees and the likes, the vehicle had somehow remained intact, and she has not hit any other cars or some unlucky pedestrian.

"Thank You, Arianna. Please arrange some rooms for us and ask an employee or two to help carry him in." I gave her simple instructions. Although usually a near excellent maid like Arianna would know exactly what to do without being told; I did so with my hand holding my phone in her view, this was a subtle message that I wanted some privacy so she can take her time.

"Leave it to me!" She happily replied, although I'm not sure if she caught the hidden message.

I watched her leave and inspected the young Japanese man that Lily had brought over with her and lost. Well I felt a little responsible for distracting her. But this also brought me a great opportunity.

My business isn't in Napoli, but to Cagliari. I had received intelligence report from a rather reliable source that Lily was on her way back. I just can't seem to resist messing with her head every now and again. So although I was supposed to book a flight to Cagliari, I had decided to cancel and wait for her. Imagine my surprise when she walked out with this young man in tow.

Romance was not something I thought of when I saw them. Although I probably would have teased her with something along those lines regardless. That would have been the case, had I not sensed the presence of that grimoire in his possession. Then Lily told me that he has the ability to see divine beasts and gods even from the plane. I cannot let this young man just go without at least trying to ask for his cooperation. I will need those eyes of his for my mission.

Yesterday, I had met with my uncle, Paolo Blandelli, the leader of the Copper Black Cross, and formally requested him to assign reconnaissance duties of Sardinia to me. Our seers have informed us that two gods have descended upon Italy.

My mission is to find and gather information on gods for our Lord, Salvatore Doni. I would not have needed to hurry though, Lord Salvatore was currently away. Although if he heard that there was a god waiting he might hurry a little.

But there was a reason for my 'enthusiasm'. My esteemed uncle had to relinquish his old title, 'Diavolo Rosso', to formally claim the role of supreme commander of the Copper Black Cross. It was a title he had received for his prestigious service in the conflict against the Black Prince; and I did not want it to fall a crude man like Gennaro Gantz. No, that's not quite right. For my beloved uncle, who had raised me as the woman I am today, I had to become worthy of inheriting his title... soon.

I picked up the grimoire that this young man was transporting. I had found it on the ground with his unconscious body. Oddly his things were in disarray, but he did not seem to have been mugged. If anything it seemed like he had an experience with the gods in area. This probably wouldn't have come to mind if Lily had not revealed his ability to me; instead I'd probably conclude that he fainted out of hunger because of his unnatural metabolism.

The grimoire felt different compared to when I first sensed it's presence. Had this young man used it against a god just before he fainted? It didn't seem likely, but I'll keep the thought in mind.

"... beautiful." I quickly turned to the Japanese thinking he had woken up. Only to find to find that his eyes were closed shut.

"Oh? Are you dreaming of me? Erica Blandelli, permits it. Be grateful! But don't dream of anything strange! Or I'll have to punish you." I had mostly said that as a joke. Even though there was no one else around to hear it, or rather it was because there was no one else around that I could say it.

"Athena." he muttered.

That name caught my attention. Could he be referring to Athena, the Greek goddess of war, knowledge, and civilization.

The Copper Black Cross has been informed that one of the gods was a wind diety. It had revived Melqart, then fought him. Melqart was badly injured and had retreated to recover, but he was only able to do so after shattering the wind god into his avatars. If I consider the giant animals that this young man have said to had seen, and cross referenced a wind god that might have one or two of them, there were too many results. However, if I were to consider a god that had all of them... there was only one god that came to mind.

The Ancient Persian God of Victory, Verethragna.

So why did he mention the name of the Greek Goddess of War?

Then it came to me. The owls! As the goddess of wisdom, the owls, become her symbol.

Lily claimed that he had seen also a swarm of locusts. If I were to take it seriously... that tells me that Melqart, had incarnated not only with attributes of a divine king god, but also those of the demon Beelzebub. So then if I were to take the information about the owls seriously... adding his mentioning of her name, then it's reasonable to assume that Athena is the other god that arrived in Sardinia, before Melqart's revival. And she was probably watching this conflict closely.

But then... what was the connection between her and this Japanese?

- - - 7th - - -

A few hours pass, but this guy still hasn't woken up. I tried not to sigh as I watched his inexpressive sleeping face. There were so many things I wanted to ask him; as I need a clearer idea of his unrecognized ability. But like I've said, he has been sleeping the day away.

If he had been a normal person, I wouldn't hesitate to rough him up a little until he woke up. But according to the information Lily has passed onto me, he was the type that could sleep through anything.

So annoying! Why won't you wake up already?! I'll stab you! As punishment for making Erica Blandelli wait, I'll really stab you!

It was a harmless thought. An empty mental threat. Or so I thought. Because before I could continue those thoughts, a phone book, that had been on the side table beside the bed, came flying towards my face.

I nearly screamed as I just barely dodged the makeshift projectile.

Not sensing any intent to kill, curiosity at what came at me won over self preservation. I turned towards the direction the heavy book had flown, and I just barely saw it as it disappeared down the hole it made in the wall; landing somewhere inside with a loud thud. Turning back to the firing point, I found the young man sitting on the bed as he looked around the room with a hint of confusion in his face.

I decided to overlook that he suddenly attacked me with the book this one time, but only because I was able to dodge it. While I doubt he was also some sort of telepath, he was odd (and possibly useful) enough to merit some extra patience from me.

"Good you're finally awake." I spoke in Italian.

He cocked his head, and stared at me like expressionlessly; although I have a distinct feeling he thought I was an idiot.

"Could it be that you don't speak Italian?" I regret speaking those words (in Japanese this time) just they left my mouth. Now that I think about it, Lily spoke to him in Japanese at the airport. Her accompanying him might have been for also for translation and not just as a guide or guardian.

He nodded, and (yet again) looked at me expressionlessly.

It took some effort, but I managed not show how annoyed I was with him at the moment and stuck to Japanese. "Well... never mind. I'm Erica Blandelli. Liliana has asked me to take care of you for a short while."

He sat up straight on the bed and bowed. "Pleased to meet you, Erica-san. I am Kusanagi Godou."

For an oddball, at least he has (some) manners.

"Why don't you wash your face. I'll have someone bring in some food."

He nodded, got up, and sluggishly headed towards the suite's bathroom. I left the room for a moment to ask Arianna to bring one of everything from the lunch menu for our temporary charge. Then I decided to call Lily.

It took only two rings before she answered.

'What is it, Erica? Did something happen to Kusanagi Godou?' she asked a little worriedly.

"Nothing so dramatic. Everything's fine. I thought you'd like to know that he's finally up."

'Finally? Oh wait... You had found him unconscious. That's good to hear then. Has he eaten yet?'

"Arianna is getting him some food as we speak. I told him to freshen up before that."

'I see...' Liliana's suddenly words felt heavy.

"Is something the matter?"

'what were the exact words you used?'

That was an odd question. "Well I told him, 'Why don't you wash your face. I'll have someone bring in some food.'."

'Where are the two of you right now?'

"He's in his room, and I'm making this call by the balcony of the inn. Why do you ask?"

I heard Lily sigh.

'You did peruse the information I transferred to you right?'

"More or less."

'Then you should realize that the likely hood of him stripping or appearing naked if you leave him with access to a vast water supply is rather high, right?'

"Huh?" Did it say that?

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAA."

Just then I heard Arianna scream; followed by the sound of a few dishes falling on the floor.

'I guess I was too late.' I could hear a hint of delight in Lily's voice as she said that.

I raced back to the room to see what had happened. And just like Lily had said, he was almost completely naked.

His body was surprisingly slender, with almost no sign of fat. His muscles weren't built, but one can't easily say that he was scrawny either. I had fought back the rush of blood that routed towards my face as I noticed the evidence of his manhood was completely bare for both Arianna and I to see.

"Is everything alright, miss Blandelli?" one of the Inn's female staff started to come over.

I shut the door, for the employee's sake, and gave an excuse for the ruckus. "Just a little misunderstanding. She was just surprised."

"Very well. I'll have someone clean that up for you." I'm pretty sure she did not believe me, but she had no reason to act on it and just did her job.

"Thank you." I smiled as I watched her walk away. And once she was gone, I half dragged Arianna into the room shutting the door behind us.

"What are you doing?" I could feel my annoyance in my voice.

He looked down at his feet for a moment. Then said, without any hint of shame, "Standing."

"Yes, but why are you naked?"

He blinked, and I start to get this feeling that in his mind I'm a rather stupid person for asking that.

"I'm wet."

"Yes... But why are you wet?"

"Shower."

"I told you to wash your face."

"... I did."

I felt like slapping myself. He did wash his face. But why did he also washed everything else?

I could hear Lily over the phone failing at trying not to laugh so hard.

"I'm glad you find this amusing, Lily."

'My sincerest apologies!' She did not sound the least bit sincere. 'But rather than arguing with him, why don't you just get him a towel and ready his clothes for him.'

That was probably for the best. Now that I think about it, in the knowledge that Lily transferred earlier, his sister had specifically mentioned that he was not a person who possessed common sense... nor a sense of shame.

I had taken on this task too lightly.

Come to think of it, it's a little strange that Lily didn't react in the way I had expected her to with regards to anything remotely lewd. Was it because he was more like an over grown child?

After I had filed those thoughts away, I passed Lily's instructions to Arianna, who visibly blanched then blushed, but obediently complied. We then left the room, not to give him privacy, but to cool our heads, and for me to end the call with Lily.

"So when should we expect you, Lily?"

'If everything goes within schedule... I'll be there by dinner at the earliest.'

She didn't sound confident about the time, so I decided to just go ahead and ask her.

"And at the latest?"

'... roughly, tomorrow afternoon.'

Either way, plenty of time... If I don't snap.

"Alright. Just leave taking care of this young man to me and concentrate on your work."

'Don't you mean to miss Arialdi?'

"Touché! But I doubt that Arianna would have the courage to do this job without me giving her instructions."

'I suppose so...' I hear some murmuring at the other side of the call. 'I've got go.'

"Alright."

- - - 7th - - -

I imagine that Lily had the same complex feeling and expression I have, after seeing this young man eat more than enough food for three people (three large people)... and that included desserts. I couldn't help but be envious at the fact that he could eat as much as he wanted and not get fat. Where does it all go?

I gathered the unnecessary thoughts and put them aside for now. I needed to somehow get through to him and make him understand that I wanted his help. But after the face washing fiasco. I realize that have to be more careful of what I say to him.

"So Kusanagi-san, what brings you to Italy?"

He finished chewing his current mouthful and answered, "Errand."

"What kind of errand?"

"Return to owner."

"You mean that?" I asked as I pointed at the unknown grimoire, that I had left outside his bag, hoping to somehow speed up the conversation.

He nodded and resumed eating.

"Where does the owner live?"

Instead of answering, he stuck a hand into his pocket and took out a folded note. He handed it to me and continued eating. What was written was a pleasant surprise. In both Italian and Hiragana was the name 'Lucretia Zola' along with the address of her home in Sardinia.

Now this was lucky.

One of my plans were to ask him to sight see in Sardinia, I'll take him to the scenic locations to avoid Lily getting too suspicious and treat him to a lot of food to keep him interested in following me.

Then suddenly I had a small realization.

Lucretia Zola! The great witch of Sardinia?!

I see now why Lily has taken on this task. Knowing Lily, she wouldn't have come forth to volunteer aid out of kindness. Not that she isn't kind. But still she wouldn't go to this much trouble out of the goodness of her heart. Let's see... this was probably Karen's idea. I highly doubt that the acquaintance that Lily mentioned was Signora Lucretia herself. If she had been, there wouldn't been a need to escort such a troublesome person during such a time.

Still this might be a good chance for me as well.

"Erica, join?"

His sudden question took me a back.

"Karen-san said that she's famous."

"Yes! She is!" It seems that Karen and Lily had already made up some story. And while ruining Lily's story wasn't any concern, risking so would make me suspicious as well.

"I'd love to come along!" I said as I flashed him a smile.

Getting his consent to accompany them seemed easier than I thought. Although, I couldn't quite squeeze in the things that he could see into the conversation. This still bought me more time at his side to assess his ability. This way should also make me less suspicious to Lily. Covering up my primary objective with a more obvious secondary objective, should throw her off for a while.

"Pizza."

"Hmm?"

"Exchange."

"Huh?" Then realization dawned on me. He was asking for a bribe! Why the no good scoundrel!... He's actually smarter than he seems.

Well it's just a pizza.

"O-" but before I could voice my agreement to the terms.

"Orecchiette, Tortellini, Gnocchi, Lasagna, Baccala, Mortadella..."

... he uttered an Italian dish after Italian dish, Italian Dessert after Italian Dessert, Italian cheeses, breads, chocolates, and even a great number of drinks; and in an almost perfect Italian accent (does he love food that much?!).

"Alright! I get it. I'll let you eat anything you want!"

He nodded and uttered, "Contract established."

I fought back a sigh, a headache, and a sense of loss. Did I just get tricked into this or was food just that great a incentive for him? Well I can't take it back. I'll just have to learn from this.

I guess I'll have to cut down on shopping for the next few months.

- - - 7th - - -

Lily arrived just in time to join us for dinner. As per my agreement with that guy, and to block any resistance from Lily, I ordered only finest Italian dishes the inn could offer and in generous portions.

"You're finally here, Lily! Did you get everything done?"

"Thankfully everything went according to plan and schedule." Lily said as she took the now free chair beside Godou, the very same one that Arianna had gladly vacated.

After I had copied and passed the information that Lily gave me to Arianna, I left him in her supervision before he thinks of more ways to drain my purse. But I suppose Arianna was still shaken from the incident earlier.

I had doubts that Lily, in her current state, could tolerate him. It was easy to tell that Lily was fatigued, jet lagged, and had expended a lot of her magical energy.

"It appears that you went all out for my guest, Erica. Thank you." I could hear the heavy reluctance in her words of gratitude. "Be sure to forward the receipt to me later so that I may reimburse you."

"That won't be necessary, Lily."

"I hate owing you anything. So at least let me get rid of my financial debts."

"That's not quite it. This feast, along with subsequent ones, will be sponsored by yours truly."

"Huh? What do you mean."

"This guy had tricked me into coming along with you. That is, of course, in exchange for a lot of Italy's finest foods and drinks."

"Kusanagi Godou, is this true?"

We both turned to Godou, who was half way done with a Neapolitan pizza. He looked at Liliana and slowly nodded.

"Why?"

He swallowed his current bite then answered, "Lucretia Zola."

"Huh?"

"He realized that I wanted to meet her when her name came up in conversation. Then he tricked me into treating him to a lot of food in exchange."

Lily looked bitterly at me, which I easily ignored. She clearly did not believe that, this impaired glutton had managed to trick me, Erica Blandelli, into paying for all his food until we met Lucretia Zola.

So it was time for a little performance. "I swear, on my Knight's Honor, that I speak the truth." I dramatically said with as much flair and emotion in my voice.

Lily frowned at that. She now had no choice but to take my word for it, she knew that I wouldn't use those words in jest and outright lying with an oath was below me.

"Very well. Try to wake up early, Erica! I want to be in Sardinia by midday."

"Not going to happen! I need my beauty sleep. And for today, so do you."

Lily, looked like she had wanted to protest.

"You used a lot of your magical power today didn't you?" I said in Italian; since Lily didn't want to involve this young man with the world of magic and I don't want her to think that I might be aiming for that. "It's dangerous right now. Two powerful gods and divine beasts running amok. You wouldn't want to suddenly run out of energy."

For a few more moments, Lily looked like she really wanted to oppose me. But she knew that I was right. Although her pride didn't want to acknowledge it; so she started ignoring me and began to eat.

To our mutual surprise, our foreign guest suddenly spoke. "Fighting?"

"No, we're just having a private discussion." I answered with a smile, although Lily looked like she wanted to disagree.

"Hmm." I'm not sure if he was actually concerned, but he quickly resumed sampling everything to his heart's content.

- - - 7th - - -

Despite being tired, Lily had supervised that guy before taking care of her own needs. If he had been willing to risk traveling alone with his... condition?... then he could wait until Lily herself had taken care of herself. But that overly serious and dedicated side is just like Lily. Although seeing her like this... I'm no longer sure if she's a knight or a maid.

After the novelty of her acting like a baby sitter to an oversized child had worn off, I stopped watching the pair and proceeded to my own room to get some rest.

- - - 7th - - -

The next day.

Lily, although looked quite well rested, appeared to be quite annoyed. Well it was probably my fault; but it's a trivial matter, I will not let it bother me. She was having a cup of cappuccino. Beside her was her foreign charge, eating what appears to be a rather plentiful snack.

"Erica, we leave for Cagilari in an hour. I assume you've already packed?"

Not even a good morning, huh, Lily?

It was actually Arianna that did it, but I answered, "You assume correctly." as I sat on the seat adjacent to Lily.

"Miss Erica, I've brought your Colazione." Arianna neatly placed my breakfast in front of me. Although, it was an inn and there enough people to serve us, Arianna had insisted on working rather than enjoying herself.

"Thank you as always, Arianna."

I started my meal with a sip of the caffe e latte. I was about to start on the bruschetta when I noticed that Lily was really quiet.

"What's the matter Lily? Did he see something again?" I privately talked to Lily in Italian.

I had meant it as a joke, but Lily's silence told me that I had accidentally guessed right.

"What did he see?"

"Nothing." Lily said curtly.

"It can't be nothing."

She sighed in resignation before answering, "Very well. Only the stallion, the goat and the ram remains."

I quickly understood it was the giant animals, that we've come to believe are divine beasts of one of the gods in the area. "... that sounds almost ominous."

"I agree."

If the wind deity that revived Melqart was Verethragna, then it's possible that he has already recovered most his forms. If that was the case, the chance that he'd fight Melqart again was very likely to happen soon. This could be bad.

"If something happens just flee with this guy." I told Lily.

Lily sharply turned to glare at me. "You expect me to run?"

"In this case, Yes! You promised to see him safe to his destination and back, am I right?" As a knight, Lily wouldn't like my suggestion any more than I would. But we had to set priorities at such a dangerous time.

- - - 7th - - -

Lily had booked us passage on ship to Cagliari, while I was a still a sleep. I did not ask why, and I certainly wouldn't complain. Although it was a waste of time this was now our fastest way to Sardinia, save taking a yacht (which none of us were qualified to pilot).

This ride would also give Lily some extra time to recover her magic power, which we both might need later.

Surprisingly, it was easy not to lose our baggage. And by that I don't mean our belongings. That young man was perfectly happy staying in the dining and restaurant floor of the ship. Even when he wasn't eating, he seemed content sit down and slowly drink anything besides water.

I had given Arianna most of the trip off and allowed her to wander on her own. While I stayed with this odd couple.

I didn't noticed this last night, but Lily looked oddly satisfied attending to her charge. I don't quite see what's attractive about him. While he didn't look bad, he was barely above average, but I'll have to take off twenty points for his non-expressiveness. He didn't seem very smart, but was actually willing to trick a woman out of her money.

'I almost want to punish him a little.'

As soon as I thought that, I noticed that Godou's aura change sharply. Almost as if he was suddenly ready to react to a threat. It couldn't be... right?

As my speculations overrode my cruel thoughts, Godou began to relax.

Lily seems to have noticed something, but had not asked him or me.

I decided to test theory. I imagined eating with him, bringing to the table some of the dishes here that he hasn't tried yet. I had half expected him to ask for more food, but Godou did and said nothing.

I then imagined punishing him, let see, stabbing should be fine.

As the image of me stabbing him became really clear in my mind, Godou suddenly grabbed the steak knife with his right hand and held it in a way that was definitely not for the purpose of eating. Immediately I stop myself and Godou too relaxed his guard.

"Erica!" Lily called out to me with a reprimanding voice. She must have felt the evil intent I had purposely leaked.

I immediately stopped myself, which caused Godou relaxed his instictual guard and replaced the knife back on the table.

I just smiled at Lily sweetly and left them alone.

- - - 7th - - -

My experiment with Kusanagi Godou had revealed that he was able to sense a direct threat to his being. If I took yesterday's phonebook attack into account, then this ability of his was active even in his sleep. I've at least confirmed that it wasn't mind-reading.

Still what kind of ability could allow a person without magical powers to see gods?

I probably don't have time to solve this mystery. But for now, Lily and I agree that it's genuine. And I plan on using it for my sake and the greater good.

- - - 7th - - -

The next morning, our ship had arrived as scheduled in Cagliari. That was when the unexpected happened. It began to rain. It shouldn't be raining in Sardinia at this time of year, and I'm pretty sure that the weather report had claimed it would be completely sunny today.

But one cannot deny that what we're experiencing right now was a strong downpour.

"Kusanagi Godou, do you see anything near us?" Lily asked Godou.

He looked up and around before saying, "The goat... is fending off the swarm."

"The swarm? The Locusts? What are they doing?"

"..." He was silent for a while, but he looked like he was watching something so intently. "Eating."

"Eating? What are they eating?"

"Everything."

I quickly put two and two together. "Lily, it could be that Locust are consuming the vegetation to restore Melqart's powers." I gravely told her in Italian.

"That very plausible. But what of the Goat?"

"It's still part of the god. Even as a separate entity, it must have recognized that the swarm is part of its enemy."

Lily looked convinced. "What do you intend to do?"

I smiled. "I'm going to investigate the identity of the god fighting Melqart. What about you?"

"I..." Conflict was apparent on Lily's face. On one hand, she was a proud knight, she had survived the summoning of a heretic god and had once been twenty feet away from Balkan's Devil. On the other, she's made a promise to see Godou safely to his destination and possibly keep the grimoire safe from rogue magicians.

But I would probably need her help. Even among the ranks of the Copper Black Cross there were few people that I could trust with my back. And I'd like to think that, even though she sees me as a rival, she thinks of me in the same way. So I offered her a suggestion.

"We could leave him and Arianna in a hotel. We'll quickly head for the divine beast, wait for the wind deity to reclaim it. And hope that close proximity will trigger your spirit vision. We'll retreat if things get bad."

I watched as Lily turned to her charge, her worried face turned into surprise. I looked at him and immediately noticed that his aura had changed again.

His vacant expression had turned sharp as if concentrating on something. He also stood taller and straighter, completely unlike the relaxed manner he had been keeping himself.

Then he started walking straight towards the direction where he had been watching intently.

"Kusanagi Godou! Where are you going?!" Lily called out as she sprinted after him.

But she didn't get an answer, which was strange. He always answered her, because she had made it a point to always call his name when she was talking to him.

Could he not hear us? Was he able to sense the gods in other ways other than just sight? If so, then perhaps part of his senses was already locked in a divine space.

What a strange and interesting person you are, Kusanagi Godou.

"Arianna! Find a contact in the city. If I don't call you by dinner arrange a hotel room for yourself and return to Milan after you send word that I've failed to report in."

"I understand, miss Erica. Please be careful!"

I flashed her a smile and a wink.

Using magic I instantly switched out my clothes into the leather armor in the colors of the Copper Black Cross.

"Erica!" Lily looked at me with disapproval. But there was little point in hiding it from Godou, not that he was even looking.

"We have to keep him safe, right?"

Lily just clicked her tongue agitatedly and followed after Godou.

- - - 7th - - -

Our long walk in the rain ended when arrived outside the city. There we had entered the god's realm, a divine space. Everything looked the same, yet at the same time one knew that it wasn't.

Above us, Lily and I could see it now, was a giant goat. It floated in the air; just a little below the clouds. It seemed to hop here and there. And each time it did, shots of lighting rained down from its feet. The lightning struck the ground, the fields and the forest. To normal people, it might be a strange event where lighting kept striking the same area again and again. But to magicians, the lighting were precise attacks aimed at they mystical swarm of black locusts that have gathered to devour the vegetation in the immediate area.

After nearly half of the swarm had been decimated, it began retreating.

But the goat did not stop it's attack and it's lightning threatened to pass a congested road.

Lily and I called out our magical swords, II Maestro and Coure di Leone.

But before we could begin our attack, the grimoire that Godou had been carrying in his backpack had started making its presence known. Without us telling him, as if he knew, he took the bag off his back, and pulled out the magical artifact. We watched as he raised it towards the divine beast.

From the grimoire blue flames suddenly spewed out and shot towards the goat. It surrounded and fully enveloped the divine beast. The goat did not fight back, nor could it. The flames simply consumed it within seconds and both disappeared from our sight.

In the next instant, the grimoire in Godou's hand felt even more powerful. Could be it be a divine instrument that consumes divine power? Or was it something more?

The lightning had stopped and the rain looked like it would let up soon. It seemed safe and I had almost started to relax, when the presence of a god had suddenly made itself known.

It was a frightening feeling. Almost as if the earth's gravity was pulling harder and the air threatened to squeeze my whole being.

A strong gale, one that threatened to blow us off our feet, came out of nowhere.

The gale turned into a tornado, then became a young man with jet black hair that just barely touched his shoulders. He had an androgynous face that was of a very rare and high quality. His skin was like ivory. And his bright green eyes were like shining emeralds that carried an intense sense of pride. If I were to rate him for his outward appearance alone, he was definitely someone whose score would be off the charts.

"We meetest again." he said coolly towards us.

But I doubt that he was talking to me, or Lily. Then he could only be talking to Godou.

Godou stared at the god, neither flinching nor showed signs of retreat.

"Verethragna." He muttered monotonously.

I held the gasp that threatened to come out of my throat. I was right. The wind deity that had revived Melqart was Verethragna! But why does Godou know that?

"Oh! Thy hast discerned one's identity! Marvelous!" the god happily exclaimed. "And thy hath even learned how to use that piece of stone. As expected, thy art truly a natural warrior!"

The air suddenly felt even heavier. Could this god be planning on challenging a human?!

- - - 7th - - -

Chapter Three: End

- - - 7th - - -

Chapter End Notes: Ah yes... sorry, I had to cut this chapter here! Cliffhanging for Trololololz and all that. XD To be honest, I feel that I had not done Erica justice... but I enjoyed trying. I really enjoyed trying to imagine what goes on in her pretty little head. But I will no doubt retouch this later. (note: This chapter has been edited!) Because I'm sure I missed quite a few grammar bugs here and there (and there might be detail errors too). I had blended the light novel and anime image of Verethragna, mostly for the eyes. In the end, I'm mostly happy about this chapter... I'm only disappointed that I'm two days late of my self imposed deadline.