The Hungering Maw had reared its head once more. Arwin stared at the ground of the Infernal Armory, a burning pain building in his gut calling for his attention but not yet strong enough to summon it. He’d let himself forget about the hunger that lurked within him. He’d hoped that the problem had been as good as solved. Lillia’s cooking had been able to keep it satiated for so long that he’d figured that, along with the occasional supplemental snack of a more powerful item, would be more than enough to ignore it. He could feel the curse in his gut now, throbbing stronger with every second that passed. It would be hours before it got strong enough to pose him a real threat, but the Hungering Maw had made itself known once more and would not be silenced again so easily. Arwin’s ears rang as he fought to process everything that had just happened. The news wasn’t all bad. He’d gotten more than just the return of his curse. He’d gotten the final step he needed to take to cure it. The third step of his challenge — not counting the hidden one that he’d gotten by eating Twelve’s sword — had made itself known to him. Milestone 3: Master the Hungering Maw. Your control over yourself grows, and so does your hunger. Find a way to completely bring the Hungering Maw under your control before it consumes you. Reward 3: Unknown Title; Class Upgrade Unfortunately, the Hungering Maw wasn’t as eager for Arwin to test his ideas out as he was. “I’m fine,” Arwin said, forcing a smile across his features. “And this will help me get fine-er.” “If you need to get fine-er, you’re not fine. Is your magic-eating thing acting up?” “Yes, but this will help it,” Arwin said. He could almost instinctively tell that the Hungering Maw wasn’t going to accept just anything as a sacrifice. He needed to make something more — which was where Reya came in. “If you’re sure. Just tell me what to do, then. I’ll do my best.” “I need to test a theory out,” Arwin said, briefly explaining the jist of what had happened with Twelve in his vision and how he needed to make an Awakened item that had been imbued with someone’s soul. Reya thought over everything for a few seconds before nodding her understanding hesitantly. “I think I’m with you. I’m ready to start… but I don’t know how you’re supposed to get my soul into anything, though. Does this mean I’m not going to get to go to the afterlife?” “What? No. I’m not taking your actual soul. That would be some really vile magic. Not even Twelve did that. I think this is more of an imprint. Like you’re smacking your soul into something hard enough to leave an impression of it… but probably a little more elegant than that.” Arwin paused, then frowned. “Wait. Did you just agree to let me take your soul?” Reya shrugged. “Haven’t seen it, so figure it can’t be worth that much.” “We’re going to have to have a serious discussion about your self worth later,” Arwin said. “But, for now, just… think soul-thoughts.” “What are soul thoughts?” “I don’t know. Whatever you feel your soul is,” Arwin said, walking over to a single ingot of Brightsteel sitting on a stone pedestal beside his hearth. The Infernal Armory had already lit it with black flame in wait for their work. “Think about your soul — and send some of your magic into me while I try to make something. It might take a few tries.” “Kay,” Reya said, hopping down from the anvil and walking over to stand beside Arwin. “Just don’t make a weapon.” He’d been planning on making another dagger for old times’ sake. It had felt rather apt. “Wyrmhunger,” Reya replied. “She’ll get jealous. I promised her I wouldn’t use any other weapons.” “Noted,” Arwin said. “What about a bracer? Similar to the one Olive has.” “That sounds awesome!” Reya exclaimed. “Don’t get too excited. I don’t really know what abilities it’ll have. It might end up being pretty terrible since I’m not putting any random monster components into this yet. I just want to see if I can get an imprint of your soul.” “It’s okay,” Reya said cheerfully. She put a hand on the hilt of the red dagger at her waist, and it trembled in response. “That’s what you said about the first dagger you made me too, and look how that turned out.” A pang of pain pressed into Arwin’s stomach. He shoved it into the back of his mind. The Hungering Maw didn’t rule him, and it most certainly would not be stopping him from finding a way to control it. If it was scared, then he was on the right path. “Right,” Arwin said, turning to the hearth and hoisting the ingot of metal. “Let’s do this.” “Ready when you are. Do you think my soul will taste good?” “I suppose we’ll find out,” Arwin said wryly.