After walking for a few minutes, we found a tavern. The door was locked, so I kicked it down. Svi, Noc, and Flarem stood back as my foot smashed through the wood. I kept kicking it, creating a decent sized opening in the wood. We all bent down, making our way through the entrance.

"I'll go and cook. I'll come back out soon. The three of you can sit down."

Svi, Noc, and Flarem nodded, taking a seat at one of the worn tables, the chairs creaking as they sat. I traveled to the kitchen, starting to cook. I took pork and green beans, cooking them together. I cut it up, plating them. I went out, setting the plates down for everyone. Svi stared, mouth gaped open slightly. Noc was slightly pink, eyes wide. Flarem had a huge smile, every part of him screaming with an ecstatic feeling. I quickly ran to the kitchen, fetching glasses of water, then returning. I sat down, everyone eager for me to allow them to eat.

"You guys can start eating."

"Thanks. Your food is amazing," Flarem complimented, staring adamantly at his plate.

"If your cooking was human or a humanoid demon, and you didn't exist, I'd date your food," Svi claimed, which was an odd statement.

"I-I'm not sure how to reply to that. Thanks?"

Everyone started eating, so I did, as well. Svi was to my right, Flarem to my left, and Noc in front. I finished first, belching loudly. They all stared at me, so I looked away. I moved my eyes toward the wall, not wanting to make eye contact. It was embarrassing, especially when everyone sighed in unison. Noc ended second, less than half the food left. He looked satisfied. Flarem concluded next, everything gone. Meralf came out, eyeballing Noc's plate.

"Why'd you come out, Meralf?"

"First, your cooking is as good as ever. Second, I can't let it go to waste," Meralf explained. He turned his head to Noc, anxious to eat more. "Can I take the rest of yours?"

"Yeah. I can't eat any more. It was good, though."

Meralf snatched his plate, consuming it quickly, then turned back to Flarem. Flarem looked down at his hands, seeing Noc's plate, and appeared sick.

"Are you okay, Flarem? You don't look good."

"Too much... Meralf made me overeat... I feel bloated," Flarem whined. Meralf came back out, shrugging.

"Whoops. I really don't feel good... Hehehe."

"Why'd you eat so much?" I questioned, as he clearly wasn't doing too hot.

"Why'd you cook such amazing food? I couldn't resist. Also, I ate it so fast that I didn't realize."

Flarem came back, placing his forehead on the table. He was groaning. I patted him on the back, then looked to Svi. She was upset, a little more than a quarter finished.

"You three eat too fast..."

"You eat slowly. You could take bigger bites," I suggested. She looked up at me, offended. She cuts her food into really small pieces, possibly for the sole reason of being a woman.

"It would look piggish. You're a man, so you can get away with it..."

"You drink like a man..."

She looked extremely annoyed when I said it, but it's true. I thought back to the past. Svi chugs, and I've seen her beat men in drinking contests. It was amazing to watch, as they all mocked her, then she beat them easily. Their looks of defeat were brutal, as men never expect a woman to beat them. She can't beat me, though. I'm not sure if I should brag about that...

"Well... Drinking is different!" Svi shouted.

"If you say so..."

Svi looked furious, so I ended it by kissing her. It's my cure-all. She blushed, going back to eating. It looked like she was going faster, almost choking a few times. I was nervous for her, but I didn't want to make her distraught. Svi can get out of hand...

"Are you going to throw up, Flarem?" I questioned, as he looked really sick.

"No... Maybe... Probably not..."

Noc scooted his chair away from Flarem, moving closer to Svi. Svi finished, pushing the plate away from her. Like usual, she didn't bother eating all of the vegetables, if any at all. I ate them for her, as I didn't want it to go to waste. She stood up, taking the plates to the other room before I could remind her they didn't need to be cleaned. Though she took her plate away after I took the final bite, I had food in my mouth, and I refuse to speak while chewing.

Flarem looked at me, then to the door that connected the kitchen to the tavern, where Svi traveled. He looked filled with pity toward Svi. I felt the same. She's used to chores... She always cleaned everything when we lived together, and the habit hasn't left her. Svi's going to be a good wife when I finally get around to marrying her.

"Is she washing the dishes?"

"Most likely. I've got a good woman," I said proudly, a wide smile on my face. Flarem wasn't agreeing with my opinion.

"She's cleaning when it's not needed... It's not very smart..."

Meralf came out, giving a slight grin.

"Svi's definitely a good woman. You're a lucky man."

Flarem came back, looking unimpressed with Svi and me. It's weird to see his expression change so greatly between Meralf and Flarem's control. One second, a smile, then it warps to a blank face a second later.

"Svi's smart. It's just that she's used to cleaning... That's a good thing."

Flarem sighed, Noc watching us without an expression.

"I still don't get how she's a good woman. She isn't thinking."

"She has good traits. Svi's caring, good at keeping a house tidy, skilled with weapons and poisons, stealthy, beautiful, and clingy. More exist, but you get the point. Svi's thinking. It's just that her thoughts are to clean for us... That's not a bad thing," I replied, strangely struggling to find traits about her. It's hard to think on the spot.

"Shouldn't she have something else on her mind?"

"It's good if she's living as if we aren't in a bad situation. It gives a feeling of normality."

"I guess."

Flarem backed off, moving his forehead back onto the table, more groaning heard. Noc looked at him with worry, stealing Svi's spot next to me.

"Why'd you move, Noc?" I asked, his face too blank to read.

"Uncle looks like he's going to hurl. I don't want to be in his line of fire."

Flarem looked up, appearing sad.

"You don't have to move. I'm fine. I just feel bloated. It'll go away."

"I'll change seats when you get better. I'll be next to Dad until then."

Flarem looked disappointed, his face falling back onto the table.

"I feel like crap... I shouldn't have eaten more. Now Flarem and I have to deal with this..."

I couldn't see his eyes, so it was hard to tell who was speaking. Luckily, he mentioned Flarem.

"Are you Flarem or Meralf currently?"

"Did Meralf just take over?" Flarem asked, confused.

"Yeah."

"I said that I'd switch more often. It's fun to speak when I want. Can you see our eyes?" Meralf questioned.

"No."

"Why'd you say no? Was Meralf out again?"

"You guys are complicated now," I said, wondering who he currently was.

"Are we? I should buy an enchanted ring that makes my eyes blue. It'd be funny."

"Never do that."

"Never do what?"

"Move your head up, Flarem. I can't tell who you are," I told as I needed to see to tell them apart.

"It's Meralf again. Flarem didn't hear what you said."

I got annoyed, thwacking Flarem and Meralf's head. Flarem looked up, baffled and annoyed.

"What's your problem, Nocri?! That hurt!"

"I can't see your eyes! If you're going to constantly switch, let me see them!"

Meralf came back out, laughing.

"Flarem thinks you're randomly harassing him. He was confused, then you hit his head. Anyways, I'll be in his mind if you need me."

Flarem came back, the laughter ceasing, and an annoyed look appearing. Noc was watching, looking humored.

"Fine. I'll let you see my eyes. Better?"

Flarem held his eyes open with his fingers, bending over the table to look directly in front of me. They quickly turned gold with a smirk, then transformed to blue again. My head hurt.

"Yeah. It's necessary to let me see them if Meralf is constantly going to come out."

"Fine," Flarem said. Gold filled the blue.

"Fine." Blue took over the gold.

"Good, I guess," I muttered, a slight headache having formed. Noc looked to me, tugging on my sleeve. I tilted my head to see him.

"What's up, Noc?"

"You can't tell the difference between Uncle and Meralf without seeing their eyes?"

"No. Why?"

"There are a few differences. Meralf has a more confident look, while Uncle looks timid. Uncle sounds a little higher pitched as well. Meralf has a slightly deeper voice. Meralf has a slight drooling problem, so he gulps occasionally. He also fidgets either his hands or feet, never both. Uncle taps his left foot on the ground at least once per minute, which is a strange habit," Noc detailed, acting as if it were obvious. Flarem looked upset.

"I don't look confident?"

Noc looked over, cold-faced.

"No."

"Oh..."

Meralf came out, pride on his face.

"I'm surprised you noticed all of those differences, mini Nocri. Also, the drooling is new to me. I think it's from my hunger, but Nocri doesn't want me speaking about that," Meralf praised, smiling. Noc showed slight displeasure on his face.

"I don't like that nickname... Just Noc."

"Why? I like it. It's another thing that differs me from Flarem. On another note, why am I the only one without a title? Nocri's your dad, Svi's the mom, and Flarem's your uncle. Why don't I get anything?"

I was nervous for how Noc would reply. Meralf did think of himself as one of us, so I guess he wanted to feel included. Noc could've crushed him, though. He's cold without realizing it.

"It makes me seem as if I'm not relevant, instead just a smaller version of Dad. I like Noc, and Dad came up with the nickname," Noc explained. I felt good since he liked the name as much as he did. Meralf smiled with his response but clearly wanted the second half answered.

"Noc it is."

"For the second part of your questions, it only makes sense for you to be an uncle, but it'd be weird for two people to be Uncle."

"Make it sound quirky, then. You can come up with it," Meralf proposed. Noc looked up, trying to think. Meralf waited, his hand on his cheek. I wasn't sure of what Noc would come up with, but it'd certainly be interesting.

"I know. You'll be Elcnu. It doesn't sound how uncle would backward, but I think it works. It fits you."

Meralf looked thrilled, almost appearing like Flarem. While I watched him, the gold started to drain from his eyes. I immediately felt worried.

"Hey, Meralf..."

Meralf turned to me curiously.

"What is it?"

"Pay attention to your magic creation," I pointed out. Meralf looked grim, and I wasn't sure what was going on.

"Are my eyes blue?!"

"Yeah. Like Flarem."

Meralf picked up a glass, looking at himself in the reflection.

"My magic isn't being created at the same pace... It's still created, but it's much slower. My eyes..."

"Are you still feeling angry?"

Meralf gulped, thinking.

"Not as much as I was before... I can't get to the golden eyes level!"

"What happened?"

"I think I'm happy... I usually had a lot on my mind, even when I was joyous. A good amount of my bad thoughts are gone, so I'm not creating as much magic," Meralf told, dire.

"Isn't this a good thing?"

Meralf looked panicked, staring at his reflection.

"No. No, it isn't. My magic isn't as strong. I need to get to the golden level to be around as strong as you without the eyes. I-I need to go. I'll see you back at the inn."

"Wait! Don't leave yet!" I shouted as we were all supposed to hang out.

"Sorry. I need to think."

Meralf stood up, running out of the tavern. Noc looked sad, turning to face me.

"Did I do something wrong, Dad?"

"No. Nothing. In fact, Meralf is happy."

"Why does he see happiness as a bad thing?"

"It's not that it's bad, just that he isn't feeling anger. He sees a lack of anger as bad. He might have been angry with himself for causing himself to be ostracized from everyone," I proposed.

"And he's better because I included him."

"It seems this is a likely cause. This was the difference between his gold and blue eye states. He's been slowly losing strength these past two days. Yesterday, when he told me about his actions and magic, and today, by connecting with Flarem and you accepting him."

"Was he gold when you met him? It seems that some of those angers were created recently and dissipated recently," Noc noticed, thinking about it deeper.

"Yes, he was. Maybe he's been caring less and less about those angers. Maybe he's accepting."

Noc considered it for a second, then nodded in agreement.

"Why's anger a good thing?"

"Our powers are run on it. Meralf thinks it's good, as he's strong with it."

"You're angry whenever you use magic?" Noc questioned, showing concern for me.

"Yes, but it's always minor. Thinking about peeves can give me enough. To get to the golden eyes state, I was under a lot of stress. As I went up each level, it got out of hand until I couldn't see myself as me. It was like I was a monster, and I mostly had vengeful thoughts. It was terrible."

"Elcnu's constantly under stress?"

"He must be," I told, worried for him.

"I don't want him to be like that."

"I don't, either,"

While Noc and I were staring at each other, Svi came in. She was carrying three bottles of wine, waving to show me. Noc and I were sad but looked at her. Svi noticed something was wrong, sitting down beside Noc.

"Where's Flarem? Are the two of you alright?"

I turned to Svi, giving a slight smile to reassure her.

"Meralf is in control. He became happy, the anger leaving him. He left, probably to reestablish his anger."

"He wants anger?"

"He wants strength. Can we drop the subject? We'll see how he is tomorrow," I said, wanting to focus on enjoyment as long as we could. We aren't always going to be able to do this stuff.

"Sure. Anyway, I retrieved some wine!"

"Pass me a bottle."

Svi handed me one, opening one herself. I opened the one she passed, pouring it into Noc's glass. He finished the water, so it was empty. I slid the glass over to him.

"Svi and I agreed that you could have a glass every once in a while. It's not enough to get you inebriated."

Noc looked at the glass, sniffing it. He pushed it back, turning away from it. I was drinking straight from the bottle Svi handed me when Noc pulled on my shirt. I stopped pouring the liquid down my throat, looking at him.

"I don't want you to drink that."

Svi stopped drinking, as she was doing the same thing as me. She set the bottle on the table, staring at Noc.

"Why?"

"I don't want you to become drunk. Please don't drink it. I don't like alcohol," Noc begged, saddened.

"I won't drink it if you don't want me to."

I threw the bottle backward, as I didn't care if it smashed. It shattered against a wall, Noc shaking. His face showed fear, teeth clenched shut. Tears streamed out of his eyes, Noc stayed silent and appeared paralyzed.

"Are you okay, Noc?!" I exclaimed, staring at him with worry.

"I don't like that sound..."

Noc was quiet, almost impossible to hear. Svi looked unsure, unable to think of a solution. I tried to stay calm, as didn't want to raise the weight of the atmosphere.

"I didn't know. I won't break glass near you."

"It was shoved in my feet," Noc wept, tears streaming from his eyes. He looked depressed when thinking of the past.

"The glass?"

"I was forced to walk on it, the pieces stabbing into my feet. My toes and heels were covered in scars, slices cut from the tips of some of my toes. I don't like broken glass, nor do I like the sound."

Noc was distressed, silent tears sliding down his cheeks. I stood up, walking to where he sat. I hugged him, patting his back.

"It's okay. That won't happen ever again. Do you want to go to the inn?"

"Yes."

"Then, let's go."

I picked Noc up, holding him how I was Svi. His hands were on his lap, feet dangling. Svi came over, standing beside me. We walked back to the inn, Noc wiping his tears. After, we went back to our room. I set Noc on one of the beds, trying to keep him calm. I tucked him in, as it was getting late.

"You should go to bed. I don't want to see you with bags under your eyes."

"Okay. I'm tired. Goodnight."

Noc closed his eyes, sleeping almost instantly. He looked peaceful, so I didn't want to disturb him. I walked to The other bed, taking off my shirt and lying down. I was above the blankets, as I wasn't in the mood to go under, yet. Svi came over, stripping off her chains. She lay beside me, holding onto my arm.

"Svi."

"Yes, Cri?"

"We're leaving tomorrow morning. We've been in this town long enough, and we should get on with our mission."

"Sounds good."

Svi moved over, resting herself on me. She was feeling my shoulders, my arms around her back. We were kissing on and off for a while, taking breaks to breathe. I removed her shirt, so we both removed the rest and went under the blankets.

"I love you, Svi."

"I love you too, Nocri."