Without the earlier intrusion of the soul's voice, the study was much quieter.
As for the commotion from Puer and Rasma fighting outside, it was even less disruptive than the can of herring Uncle Mason had opened downstairs.
There was no telling whether his uncle's can had been preserved particularly well or particularly badly.
Kallen stood, picked up the incense on the desk, took out his lighter, and lit it.
Actually, snapping his fingers and using a Purification Art would have been simpler. He had refrained because he could not bear to lose the scent of home here.
Watching Kallen, Dis asked, "Still smoking?"
"I quit. I occasionally have one when something's troubling me."
Kallen placed the lighter and the cigarette case from his pocket on the writing desk, like a child handing over evidence of his wrongdoing.
"Does much trouble you?"
"Less and less. The clearer I become about what I want to do, the less time I have left for worrying."
"Kangna is a good child."
"Puer raised her."
"Puer is a 'child' herself. She knows how to raise one?"
"Perhaps she matured quite a bit after coming home."
Fortunately, Puer was fighting outside right now. Otherwise, hearing a grandfather and grandson both younger than her appraise her like this would very likely have made her fur bristle with embarrassment and anger.
"I approve of you raising that dragon as a child. There's nothing wrong with that. But what about your own children?"
"Grandpa, it's still early."
"Are you not getting along?"
"We're getting along very well."
"Have you married?"
"Not yet."
"What delayed it?"
"Not long after we returned, she awakened her family's bloodline. Then I started working for the church and got rather busy. I've been busy ever since."
Dis fell silent for a moment before