"There shouldn't be any problem with my refusal, right?"
"Woof."
"Exactly. There's no way to dissolve a Symbiosis Contract, only suppress it temporarily. I know that's what they meant, but suppressing its effects is really idiotic. The fundamental connection of the Symbiosis Contract would still be there-if you die, I die-but the effects between the contracted parties would suffer permanent damage. Am I stupid?"
"Woof."
"Besides, once the contract's effects weaken, Kallen could enter into a second Symbiosis Contract, as long as he dared bear the risk."
"Woof."
"Yes, that Loya. She must have been thinking about this for ages. Hmph."
"Woof."
"We can't let her get her way, yes, of course. Even for the sake of my great-great-great-great-niece, I have to maintain this Symbiosis Contract and keep a good eye on Kallen!"
"Woof."
"I get it, I'm not stupid. With the talent, ability, and speed of development Kallen has shown, this is an investment that could absolutely have me waking up laughing. I've already used my symbiotic relationship with him to break free of the shackles imposed by Primordial Ancestor Allen. My 'soul' is free now, with no ceiling above to confine it.
"Mm, the little problem now is that I don't have wings, so I can't fly."
"Woof."
"You're saying I should wait a little longer? Wait until Kallen is strong enough, then have him pump water into me?"
Puer sat on Kevin's back as the cat and dog strolled across the lawn below the family housing building, chatting as they went.
Kevin scratched at the ground with his paw, first drawing a cat: a small circle with an oval behind it, two smaller ovals beneath, and four lines added to the little circle that served as its face.
"Oh, you're such a good artist. If you hadn't