I had a lot to think about after my discussion with Belua. I had decisions to make, but I found myself more distracted than usual by Torill. I was impressed that she had somehow managed to bring me home.

I had shifted to my demihuman form in my sleep, probably when Belua changed me in her realm, so that likely made things a little easier. I was still roughly eight feet tall, and heavy as hell because of the density the System had gifted me with for my milestones. I really wanted to know how she'd explained things to the guards at the gate too.

For that matter, I was curious how she managed to get me into my room. I made a habit of activating the lock every time we left. I didn't mind the idea of her sharing my bed for as long as she wanted, but I hadn't even discussed keying her to my lock, however that was accomplished.

I had a lot to discuss with her, questions to ask, advice to seek. None of that occupied my mind for more than a moment. Her body, pressed against mine, awakened a hunger that had nothing to do with food. Torill's eyes fluttered open, and the two of us wordlessly agreed to put off talking.

The combination of the energy enhancing blessing from Belua's realm, and the new Concept running through my body meant we spent quite a lot of time not talking. So much time that there was a knock on the door.

I growled loudly when I heard Ivo's voice transmitted through the circle on the door. We had apparently missed breakfast, and the two men were confused that we hadn't received a new target yet.

I was of a mind to ignore the interruption, but Torill climbed out of bed and placed her hand on the door. I was very disappointed when she activated the circle to tell the man that we would meet him in the hall in a few minutes.

After she pulled her hand away from the door she turned around put her hand on her lips and sternly told me, "We can't do this all day, and I feel bad for taking advantage of you like this."

I opened my mouth to argue that I certainly didn't feel like she was doing anything of the sort, but she held up a finger.

"Angel, take a moment to focus, listen to me, this is important."

She already had my full attention, but I closed my eyes for a moment and focused my mind. It was more difficult than I would have predicted to shove aside the one thing that had been occupying my mind since I woke up. I sighed, and nodded, keeping my eyes closed seemed to help.

"Okay, I'm listening."

"Non-System related Concepts attached to your body are much less rigid than the ones attached to your soul. They tend to fluctuate wildly in their definition. It is as though they actively try to fit themselves to you, to find an expression of themselves that suits you so well that they can truly become a part of you. Part of getting rid of them is putting harsh limits on how much you let them influence you. This is particularly difficult when the Concept you are trying to avoid is influencing something you are already prone to do."

I didn't respond verbally, but nodded silently as I pushed myself into meditation when she seemed to be done speaking. Hunger in all its various forms was a Concept so suited to my body that I wasn't sure how I had managed to avoid picking it up naturally. Though I suppose that was something that would have taken quite a lot more time.

It was easy to put a limit on the hunger that I'd experienced this morning. I could even use the method Torill had shown me before of setting one Concept against another. I was too kind to be hungry in that way if the target of my hunger didn't show interest. The result was an instant cessation of the influence that I had pushed to the side. I almost broke my meditation to sigh in relief.

Hunger for sustenance was harder. I was hungry, I didn't need a Concept influencing me to feel that way. I couldn't figure out how to limit something that was simply a fact. I shook off my meditation to say as much.

"Yeah, that's a problem. Well, the biggest danger is other people perceiving that Concept as a part of you. Remember, Concepts are created and powered by the perception of the masses. If you want to get rid of a Concept naturally, you need to act in a way others perceive to be the opposite of what you desire to be rid of. That is the only way to remove a Concept from your soul that I know of. It is very slow, and can take more than one lifetime to work. Thankfully you don't have to worry about that, we just need to avoid empowering it until you feel safe enough to have me help you offer it to a spirit. As I said before, removing it will weaken you for a while. I still want to know what danger is coming by the way. But we'll deal with that later. For now focus on limiting your displays of hunger in front of others."

I took a deep breath, and pushed my mind inward. It took some time to come up with a solution. When I did, the solution was easy. I mentally pushed on survivor, I told myself that being seen as a hungry beast would probably provoke fear in people. People had a habit of destroying the things that scared them. The Concept flared at the thought, I felt it push against hungry. It seemed to surround the Concept with itself, any influence it sent to me would have to pass the gates of my will to survive first. I knew that I didn't need to worry much about it after that.

I smiled widely at Torill. "I got it! I think it's pretty well contained now."

"Good, let's go meet the boys for breakfast!" Her expression morphed to the smiling countenance that she had every time we left my room.

I wondered for a moment what Concept she was trying to counter, but I banished that thought. It would do her no good to have someone thinking about how she might be anything but happy. She was acting like the person she wanted to be, and with how things worked, it was best if I pushed myself to see her that way.

Torill must have guessed my thoughts, because her smile faltered. "Look, I can tell you about it sometime, but please try to focus on other things for now."

I grinned at her. "Yeah, sorry, I already decided not to think about that too hard. You don't need to tell me. I am happy to think of you as my beautiful smiling lady either way."

Her smile returned. "Your lady, huh? Well fine, we'll belong to each other for now. But remember that you'll be leaving here eventually, and I can't."

I managed to keep my smile from falling, I reached out and took her hand. "I know, but I'll take you with me in my heart."

"Don't be so sappy, I don't want to hurt you. If you are getting too attached we might have to put a stop to this." I felt her squeeze my hand, I could tell she didn't want to stop. She'd probably be just as sad to see me go as I would be to leave.

I had both Angela's memories of casual relationships, and my instincts to help me hear that without flinching. I still barely knew Torill, she'd been clear about the limits on our relationship from the start. There was absolutely no reason for me to feel hurt by that reminder. I still was, but I reminded myself that there was no good reason for it.

I couldn't lie and tell her that it wouldn't hurt, so I tried to reassure her in another way. "I need to experience as much in this life as I can! Remember that my lives won't work like yours, a little hurt is a small price to pay."

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"Ah, yeah that weird soul, right. Well, as long as you don't blame me."

"I don't blame you at all, let's just get going, they are waiting for us." I opened the door, putting an end to the conversation. It wouldn't pay to dwell on things.

We made our way to the guildhall in silence.

Ivo, Pierce, and surprisingly, Nefen were all seated at the table. They were obviously waiting on us.

"Ah the illustrious duo had finally seen fit to grace us with their presence."

Nefen sounded annoyed, I frowned, he hadn't told me that he wanted to meet in the morning. He had only asked that I find time. That attitude felt entirely uncalled for, I couldn't stop myself from gruffly saying as much. He seemed a little shocked to hear me growl at him. He looked away, and seemed to shrink down a bit. Using just the right cues to tell my instincts that he was submitting.

"I apologize Angel, you are correct. I was simply annoyed at having waited for you, I should not have been so rude."

I sighed, I doubted he was afraid of my growl, he could likely destroy me with his magic. But he was acting like he was, just to calm me down. I felt ashamed of my reaction.

"It's okay, I'm sorry I growled, I've had a few experiences lately that have left my emotions a little raw." Torill's hand tightened in mine, I squeezed hers in return. "So why did you wait around for me? Don't you need to be out hunting the wendigo?"

"Samuel is off looking for it now, that creature is proving to be unnaturally evasive. I can see why the great mother saw fit to task you with cutting down the monster population. I am uncertain how long we could keep the guild under the decree otherwise. I won't take up much of your time, I simply want to discuss things with you privately. Samuel and I have come to the conclusion that our distraction with the wendigo has done the guild a disservice. So we have decided that one of us will stay behind for a little while every morning to offer what advice we can. I have already spoken with the others, I would like to see you and Torill in Samuel's office separately."

Torill smiled brightly. "Oh! I'll go first, you have some breakfast, and talk with the boys!"

She let go of my hand and practically pranced into the office. Nefen followed more sedately, and closed the door behind them.

As soon as the door closed Pierce spoke up.

"So what's the deal? You said we'd have a target every day. But we haven't felt a thing. Did mother change her plans?"

My face heated up when I felt a response through my mark. It wasn't words, but I received the idea that she didn't want to interrupt my activities with Torill. We would have a target when I was ready.

"I talked with her last night, and she decided to wait for us to be ready before assigning us a target. That's it."

Ivo snorted, he probably got enough of an idea from my emotions to figure out why we were running so late.

"That's good, because I don't want to be greedy, but that was a lot of levels for one fight. The great mother is generous with her rewards."

My ears perked up, and I almost salivated at the thought of leveling. I needed them if I decided to take on the mana beast, and I probably would. I hated the thought of hunting my own kind, but Belua seemed to think that it would bring disaster if I wasn't the one to do the deed.

I put my sudden eagerness for levels down to my instincts; they certainly wanted the prize on offer.

I had to go to the kitchen for breakfast, but it didn't take long to use the tools available to heat up some of the food that was stored. I felt like I was starving, and I shoved quite a lot of cold food down my gullet before taking the freshly heated food to the table to eat. My hunger was unending, but when I sat down with my plate, survivor flared, and I ate like a normal person.

I even took the time between bites to tell the men about how I needed to practice fighting with life mana. Ivo pointed out that I should likely ask Nefen for tips about how it would best be used. He also asked if Belua had told me what our target would be.

Earthen Devourers are making their way towards your grove, or the mana beast's entrance. I know not which. They must be stopped. Life is a good choice for them, though you may need to use something else to get them out of the ground. You will have your death attuned targets after the men head home.

Belua didn't usually send such clear messages through the mark. I had gotten the feeling that they cost her something. She didn't answer when I asked about that.

I told the guys what our target was, and asked if they knew about them.

Ivo smiled. "Worms, they aren't so bad, depending on their size."

"The earth ones are weak to titanic blows, as long as we can get them to surface, I can crack them open like eggs." Pierce seemed doubly eager to be out hunting. "So when do we leave?"

"After I talk with Nefen I think."

They let me eat in silence after that. I reflected that earth attuned worms probably wouldn't do much to supplement my diet. So I got seconds. Torill took almost a half hour to finish her talk with Nefen.

When the door finally opened the men, eager to speed us on our way to go hunting practically pushed me into the office.

Once I was inside, I saw Nefen seated behind Samuel's large desk. He looked comically small. He also looked severely disappointed.

He waved a hand, and the door closed, I heard the lock click.

"I hear you are currently paying for some questionable choices. I would like to know what went through your head."

I ducked my head, and spent a good amount of time trying to describe how useful monster cores were to me, without being too specific. I made no assurances that I would avoid eating more cores in the future. But I did say I would be more cautious in choosing them. I realized my mistake in choosing the core that resonated with me. I would never eat one that pulled at me like that again.

The half goblin clicked his tongue when I finished speaking.

"You are aware that contamination like that can drive a man mad, correct?"

I nodded, "Many things in my life seem to carry that risk, my class being what it is. I don't think this is any worse than that. I have the contamination under control, my experience with my class makes that no problem. The reward for consuming cores is simply too important."

He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well I am here to advise, not make your choices for you. I would recommend you think long and hard about the risks. But you seem fully aware of them, so the choice is yours."

I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

"Don't look at me like that, I'd absolutely order you to cease your foolish behavior, but it is not my place. You are perfectly free to make bad choices." Nefen folded his hands in front of him. "Now, speaking of bad choices. I hear that Torill had to help with some death core disposal. Now I have no idea what possessed her to destroy the cores with her spirits, instead of simply coming to me for some bags, but I'll see that it doesn't happen again. Dangerous though they are, death mana crystals are very useful in a number of important fields. It disturbs me greatly to see them go to waste. You will see that it does not happen again."

He threw a pack at me, I caught it reflexively. It was full, but it felt light. "Put the crystals in the bags, only one crystal per bag, unless they are small. Small crystals are five to a bag. I trust you know the difference. Make sure to tie it tightly, and the crystal's emanations will be contained. Do not lose those bags. They cost ten gold each, and I will have to take it out of your pay."

I nodded, and gripped the pack tightly. I would leave them in my room, and make sure to only take what I needed when I left. I had no idea how I'd deal with them as I switched between forms, but I would figure something out.

"Any questions?"

I shook my head.

"Be on your way then, I have been held up here long enough. I do wish you luck in your hunt today."

The door behind me clicked and opened, and I retreated. I found myself much more eager to hunt some hungry earthworms, than to face an angry Nefen.