David and Spock put their schoolbooks in their book bags and tidied up a bit. David put his things in a small pile next to the door and with that, Spock led the way down the long winding hallway to the meal place.
As they entered, David pulled out a pair of smaller glasses with an ocular piece attached at the hinge. He pulled the ocular piece down and enjoyed the effects; bright light which allowed him to see better in the dining room's dim light. However, Spock bade him to take it off.
"It is not appropriate, David. We will light the asenoi and it will provide sufficient light. If you require it after the lighting, I believe then it would be suitable."
Reluctantly, David pulled it off, frowning. He was not sure if this mysterious asenoi would give off enough light for him to be able to see well enough. His doubts were thrown off for a moment as Spock's brother and father came into the room.
Spock's father, Sarek, took his appointed place at the head of the table. David squinted a little to get a look at him. He looked very intimidating to the small boy. Sarek was a young man for a Vulcan, considering that they often live to over 200 years of age and he would be approaching his sixtieth birthday soon. His angular face and sharp brown made him look quite young and his hair had been cut in the traditional Vulcan style. His delicately pointed ears and up slanted eyebrows gave the air of intelligence and there was a sense of power about him.
Spock's brother could not have been any different. A mere adolescent according to the Vulcans, the boy was strong and exuded the same powerful sense that David had associated with Sarek. There were several things different about the young man that David couldn't help but notice. Sybok's hair was much longer than either Sarek's or Spock's and it was not as neatly combed. His face had the same shape as Sarek's but he was more relaxed and his frown was not as great as Sarek's. Sybok's eyes were hauntingly intense and it seemed to David as though the older boy was searching his soul. David, now feeling a little uncomfortable, relaxed his eyes and spoke quietly with Spock as Sarek lit the asenoi. True to Spock's word, the light was quite sufficient for even David's needs. He glanced at the fire-pot where the asenoi created a pulsing light pattern. It changed colors randomly, going first from a deep red to a bronze, to yellow, and then back to the red.
Amanda brought in the evening meal and they began the third meal in comfortable silence.