Away from prying eyes, Robert tested his fairy transformation. The symbiote changed along, shrinking with him. Not exactly shrinking because the transformation was instantaneous now. But the result was already worth the investment. No more naughty naked fairy.

Zaifyr gave him instructions on how to make the symbiote flatten itself against the body, working as a protective bodysuit. This way, he could wear other clothes or even armor over the symbiote. Unfortunately, it couldn't shapechange into other clothes. It had a limited ability to remember shapes. Robert felt like he could make the symbiote mimic the Academy uniform but it would forget how to look like a formal suit.

He wanted to go home and use the tempering baths. He had to start soon or he wouldn't have time to use all the reagents before next Monday. But he had one more stop to make before he could leave Pittersville. The animal shelter.

It was a place both lively and gloomy. The animals reacted differently from the confinement, ranging from depressed to maniacal.

"Welcome, sir," a volunteer wearing an apron approached as he entered. "How may I help you?"

"I am looking to adopt a dog, Camille," Robert said, using the name embroidered on the apron.

"What breed or gender of dog do you want, sir? We require identification proof of residency for all adoptions."

"Sure. I live in the Samson arcology. Here are my documents."

Camille verified them and copied some data to a form. "Samson Security?" She gave him a good look over. "You look like one of those special agents, in that suit. You're just missing the shades."

"Yeah," Robert laughed. "I'm missing only the shades."

Camille blinked four times too fast. Robert wondered if she was flirting with him.

"Only the shades?" She asked, examining his employee ID card once again.

"Pretty much," Robert smiled, playing as the mysterious gentleman.

She returned Robert's identification. "Thank you, Mr. Blaze. This way, let's see if we can find you a new family member."

Robert took the card by the edge but somehow her fingers brushed his.

They walked down a corridor full of cages. The dogs were excited to see Camille and curious about Robert.

"Do you have a dog already, Mr. Blaze?"

"You can call me Robert. No. Not a dog. But I have a Taulusian roommate."

"Whoa! The Taulusian are really expensive!" Amanda said with some admiration.

Robert grimaced. "Unfortunately. People have the wrong idea about them. Honestly, if I could stop the commercialization of Taulusians, I would."

"I totally understand the sentiment, M–Robert. They shouldn't be treated as properties," Camille said as she crouched to check on a rather quiet puppy.

Robert pondered but decided to rip the band-aid. "Especially because they are people."

Camille looked over her shoulder. Robert's scowl shocked her. "Yes, I agree."

He shook his head and schooled his expression. "No, Camille. I'm not talking about animal rights, though I believe in that cause. The Taulusians are intelligent. They have feelings, thoughts, even their own language. They are people. From another world. If you want, I can bring my friend here and show you."

Camille gave him a look of disbelief. She stood up and dusted her apron. "You don't seem to be the kind of person to play a prank."

"I'd never," Robert said firmly. "Do you want to hear their tale?"

Camille nodded. Robert took five minutes to explain the gist of it. He left the part about Freddy absorbing a Prime Vestige out. The world wasn't ready for that can of worms yet. By the time he finished, the young woman was in tears. Some of the dogs howled empathetically.

"Poor puppy!" She said.

"Yes, he's a big soft puppy. And a refugee."

"Well, let's find him a friend, then!"

"I want exactly that. The most friendly, human-loving, and empathic dog you have. Smart too. I don't care about breed or pedigree. It could be a mutt picked off the streets yesterday."

"Then I have the perfect dog for you. We call him Poochline!"

They went down a corridor to find a down-on-his-luck mix of golden retriever with another breed. His fur was the usual golden-brown but his build was bulkier and he had this mix of two blue and two white stripes on his back, resembling a small country flag. Perhaps that's why he was called Poochline.

"Pooch!" Camille called.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Woof! (me)" Poochline responded.

"Who's a good boy?" Camille purred.

"Woof! (me)" Poochline replied with excitement.

"Who needs more stars on their shield?" Camille teased.

"Woof! (me)" Poochline replied with much less enthusiasm.

"He's such a good boy, isn't he?" Camille asked Robert.

"Yes, but... Wait, what was that thing about stars on their shield?"

Camille smirked at Robert and secretly winked at you, the reader. "Nothing, it's a secret."

Robert was very confused.

*

*

After examining his mental patterns, Robert decided that Poochline was the dog he wanted. He just had to be careful not to be killed by this golden retriever mix and end up in another world. But that notwithstanding, and the adoption official, Robert would suffer no "Lack of Poochline", though.

"You won't take poor Poochline and use him for some secret agent stuff, right?" Camilla asked in a teasing tone.

"No. I'm going to scan his mental patterns so I can use it to brainwash monsters into loving humans."

"Oh! Ha, ha!" Camille laughed as if Robert had told the best joke ever. "Poochline will save the world!"

"Woof! (me)" Poochline responded.

"Oh, look at the clock," Camille said, staring at the clock on the wall. It was ten in the morning. "I think it's closing time!"

Robert deadpanned, unwilling to display any reaction. His danger sense was registering a mild threat from afar.

Back at the Academy, Amanda sneezed. "It must be all this pollen," she rationalized.

Back at the animal shelter, Camille sent a message through an Ethertech tablet. "There. I called the afternoon shift to come in earlier. Say, are you hungry?"

"I haven't had lunch yet," Robert replied.

"Care to grab a bite?' She suggested with a hint of hesitation, removing her apron. Once she saw Robert wouldn't object straight away, she became bolder. "You're buying, Mr. Secret Agent man."

"Sure, why not?"

"Let me just hit the restroom quickly and we can be off," She said, excited. Camille quickly vanished behind a door. "Do you have a car?"

Robert laughed. "No, I teleported here from Africa."

"Oh. I have never teleported before." She shouted from the restroom.

"What do you want to eat?" Robert asked.

"Dunno. Some cozy soul food."

*

*

"You can open your eyes," Robert told Camille as he dropped his dog down.

She did. The sky was dark but the street was lit by a hundred neon signs. Asian people walked around, talking about them in a foreign language.

The young woman looked around, awestruck. "What? Where are we? Why are all the billboards and signs in Korean?"

"You said you wanted to eat Seoul food, right?" Robert grinned, then feigned worry. "Or did I mishear it? Welcome to the United Korean Republic."

She stared at him with a slack jaw. "What? No! I said SOUL food. You definitely misheard."

"Woof! Woof! (he didn't mishear!)" Poochline woofed.

"I think I misheard." Robert lied.

Robert could see the gears in the girl's head turning. "Wait, when you said you TELEPORTED to the shelter, you meant, literally?"

Camille had walked out of the restroom as another person. Not only had she put on a lot of makeup but she had also changed her shirt to one that wasn't covered in dog fur. Robert took a handkerchief and blindfolded her as he grabbed Poochline in one arm and Camille in the other. Then he dove into the void and voilá. They were in the UKR.

"Yes. Literally." Robert replied, nonplussed. "Have you ever eaten kimchi?"

She hadn't but there was a first for everything. Camille wrapped her arm around Robert's elbow. "It's a dinner date!"

They went to a fancy restaurant that accepted American dollars.

"What should I order?" Camille asked, staring at the menu.

The restaurant catered to foreigners and the menu was in English but she had no idea about the food.

Robert called for help with a silent message spell.

"Yes, oppa?" The young waitress approached, wearing traditional clothes. She was very attractive and that was on purpose. The patrons' dates became way more protective with them around.

"We would like one of each item on the menu, plus an extra order of the chef's specialty. You can send non-alcoholic drinks that the bartender thinks harmonizes with the food."

The waitress didn't blink an eye. "As you wish, oppa!" She said with a smile. Then she winked at Camille and went away.

"Is she your type, Robert?" Camille asked as she leaned forward.

Robert shook his head. I don't believe in that. Having a 'type', I mean. I try not to judge people by their appearances. One's outward presentation can change and even worsen over time. What's here and here?" He tapped his head and chest. "Not so much."

"So, between ugly and smart, and pretty but dumb…"

"I'll take cute and smart, thank you." He replied looking straight into her eyes.

Camille misinterpreted that the way she wanted to hear. It wasn't because of malice or lack of awareness but because she was suffering from celebrity fever. Like if she had gone to a show and then the band invited her backstage and to the after-show party. Or when traveling to Vegas.

She giggled and blushed.

The food arrived in courses, small samples of each dish. The waitress put a card next to each of their plates. The cards had a list of the dishes and two face emojis. A smile and a frown.

"Take a small bite of everything," the waitress instructed. "If there's anything you like and want to repeat, mark it on the card. If there's any food you dislike, mark it as well."

They spent the next two hours eating and chatting. Camille told about her life and work at the animal shelter while Robert told stories of his life from before he became an Archhuman.

"Wow, the food is so spicy! But, you know, in a good way!" Camille said.

"Yes, it is very different from home," Robert agreed.

"I feel so hot!"

Camille said, fanning herself with a painted bamboo fan they bought along the way from a street vendor. Robert paid the man with an ornamental fish from the Gurglock realm. The fish could probably buy the whole cart, even dead as it was. Robert didn't fall for the bait.

"You aren't attending college, right?" He asked.

"Too expensive, and I'm too old now."

"Too old? You're what? Nineteen?"

She laughed. "I'll be twenty-one in two months."

"Happy early birthday!" Robert cheered.

Minutes later, the waitress came with a small cake. It had a sparkler already lit. "Happy birthday to you!" She sang.

Camille covered her face in shame. Robert laughed and took her hand as he gently pulled it away from her face. He started to sing along.

"Happy early birthday!" He cheered.

Eventually, she ate the cake. And then Robert ate… dessert.

*

*

They woke up with the sun rising and casting an orange light on the hotel suite room. Robert stood up and put on his symbiote, keeping it as a skinsuit that matched his skin color. It made him look like one of those ballet dancers pretending to be naked.

He checked if Poochline had enough food and water, played with his dog, and then went to the balcony to admire Seoul's dawn.

Camille stirred in bed. "Robert?" She called, her voice distressed. The young woman sat up holding the sheets to cover her modesty.

He returned. "I'm here, what's the matter?"

"Oh. I dreamed you had left me here in Korea."

"I didn't."

"I'm scared," she said, all sweet, vulnerable, and needy. "Can you hold me? Please?""

He climbed under the sheets.

A blue macaw landed on the balcony. "STUPID MATT! AND THEN THEY…"

Robert stopped having fun and turned. He made the foul-mouthed bird shut up with a glare and fly back to the cat-girl islands. He liked his privacy very much.