"Are you sure I can't come with you?"
The professor looked back at his pupil, smiling sadly at her in response. They had arrived at the small village at the base of one of the legendary mountains only about a day ago, as soon as they got the go ahead from the weird duck man. It was nice here, quiet, sparse, but a bit lonely. There weren't many villagers here, and there probably were more Albies than humans living in the place.
"I'm sorry Olive, but I need you here to look after my research and my companions." As if on cue, a glowing firey Draculi brushed against the girl's legs, purring softly.
"But most of it is back protected in the lab...!" She protested, going quiet at the sorry look she got in response. She knew the professor wouldn't do this if it wasn't absolutely necessary, but it still stung to be left behind. She felt a hand ruffle her messy hair.
"Olive, I need you here just in case anything happens to me. You're my next in line, I need you to learn how to 'defend the fort' while I'm gone. Do you understand?" He knelt in front of her as she looked away with a huff, though she wasn't truly mad at him. How could she be? The man had always been good to her, better than her own parents ever had been. He talked to her like she was another person, not like a kid.
"Yes sir." She said, smiling weakly. Winter hated being called sir.
He smiled in response and ruffled her hair, a little rougher this time. "You know I'm not old enough to be a sir. Not yet."