It was either I grow up a bit now or be stuck as a child forever.

[Which is probably... a lot coming from a sixteen year old, actually. It might show a little more than Noah wants it to show — he started adventuring to kill his brother's murderer at fifteen, after all — but if that's the case he's completely oblivious to it. To him, being forced to grow up and strike out on his own is absolutely normal. What kid wouldn't pick up a weapon and wander the countryside to kill, put in his shoes?]

More importantly, [even though he's still proud of himself for being acknowledged as having grown this far, but he doesn't outwardly dwell on it,] I'm pretty sure all the... er... the human meat from months ago is gone. I hope it is, even if it would come in useful now.

[Don't want people eating that.]

There's some steaks in here... [pauses, thinks,] I don't think there's a morally decent way for us to get human meat to drop in the pool, but maybe it would be attracted to blood? If it doesn't come up for the meat, I can cut my arm or something open with shadow magic while I'm down there.

...If I get eaten, though, it's your fault. [Said jokingly, of course. ...Kind of.]