n

n

nI poured thirty whisked eggs into two skillets that had warmed up and showed Nushi how to constantly scrape them off the pan. Keri was helping cut up some vegetables with Kali, and Veronica was standing behind them both, waiting patiently.

nSome of the girls had wandered into the kitchen and asked if they could help, and I was more than excited to have them. Since I was going for the entire house, it seemed I was going to need more hands, and the girls were more than willing and excited to help.

nAfter Nushi was good, I went through the three ovens and flipped the meat, and then stood back up, looking over everyone. Then when I was satisfied that everyone was busy, I turned to Mex and Nixi and then walked over to join them at the table.

n

"I am always surprised to see you in the kitchen; not a lot of men I know would be caught dead in here. Yet, you are the one telling the girls how to cook? Fascinating stuff,

" Mex said with intrigue, and I resisted rolling my eyes because I could see that he meant what he said.

n

"Yes, but we aren't here to talk about his cooking skills! Kazz, you have something that you want to ask of me, but I will save you the trouble. My daughters and I will serve you once you have defeated Dao,

" Nixi explained, and mine and Mex's eyebrows crawled up our foreheads.

n

"Daughters? What are you talking about? Since when did you start calling Clesh and Nushi, your daughters?!

" Mex asked with great confusion, and I was alarmed.

n

"There is no point in trying to hide it. If you are to fight Dao, then he might as well know; the women are getting tired of hiding, and you mother wants to slap you around,

" Nixi said, but then right on cue, the five other Grandmothers walk into the kitchen, with the red-headed Perita in the lead.

n

"Slap? No, slapping is for people that need to snap out of it. My son, Mex, is a broken Demon, but, in his case; Is that really such a bad thing? If I have learned one thing from this man in the short interactions that we have had, it is that we are the ones acting strange. Why is being mean and cruel right? Because that's all, we have ever known?

" Perita asked as she and the other women moved into the kitchen and started to help with the meal.

nI had just been about to get up and check on the meat and to see how Nushi was doing with the eggs, but the women took control of things. I relaxed and looked over at Mex, who was grinning like a schoolboy as he stood up.

nI was surprised to see him go over and hug each one of the women, his mother last, and the two of them held on to each other for longer.

nOnce the two of them pulled apart, and Mex had wiped his eyes, he looked over at me with a big smile.

n

"Sure, I might be the Broken Demon, but Kazz isn't broken. We have all had a chance to know Kazz and be treated by him the way that I believe is right. Each one of us knows that Kazz looks at us and treats us like we are no different than him, even if we still don't fully agree,

" Mex said as he shifted his gaze to Nixi.

"Even Lani warmed up to him a bit; I saw it! Kazz forgave her right away, even after she tricked him! Then he apologized for killing the villagers!

"

nNixi whirled on me and glared at me with only a single-worded question.

n

"Why?

"

nThe automatic reaction that wanted to come out was because they were people, just like me, but that wasn't how they saw themselves. They viewed themselves as monsters, and in most cases, they weren't wrong, but I knew that it couldn't be so black and white.

nThe girls were monsters too, and they were far scarier for the most part than the demons, but I still treated them the same.

n

"Do you ever stop to think when you are getting angry?

" I asked plainly.

n

"What? Of course not! Why would I?

" Nixi asked in frustration.

n

"What if the roles were reversed?

" I asked, and Nixi narrowed her eyes on me.

n

"So you were the one yelling at me?

" She asked, but I shook my head.

n

"No, more than just that. You can see what effect your anger has on others; now, what if you were the one on the receiving end of this? I know you know what it feels like; you came from Gardania, so there would have been much stronger demons than you that probably treated you poorly. Didn't you ever think that the amount of force they used was too much? Maybe that you would have gotten the point if they would have just talked normally to you?

" I asked, boring my own stare into Nixi, and I watched her eyes lose focus.

nI could tell that she was slipping in and out of what I was sure were countless injustices during her long life. I wanted her to remember them so that my point might sink in farther when I made it.

n

"What of it? What will wishing do? It won't change anything! I wished those things every time!

" Nixi said with rising heat.

n

"That is exactly the problem and the answer. My father used to have a saying, wish in one hand, and ** in the other. Which one will get fuller faster?

" I asked with a grin.

n

"Of course, the ** will fill up fasters! That is a stupid saying; I already know that!

" Nixi railed, pounding her fist to the table.

n

"Then why wish for the change if you know it's not going to do anything? If wishing won't do it, then what will? Change. And then you will ask me how do you change everyone else? You don't; you can only change yourself and lead by example, no matter what the rest of them do. I treat you guys this way because I want you all to treat me the same way,

" I explained, and the room went silent.

n