I hadn’t felt that empty pit inside me for years. At first, I didn’t recognize the feeling. Ever since I first joined the academy as a present my older brother Benedict had crafted me a family signet ring that made all hunger cease and I needed less sleep than most people.
He had crafted himself one about a year into his scholarly pursuits. He was right, it did make a big difference making long sessions of intense study and practice manageable. Despite having this advantage, I found I was still in the bottom third of the class.
To my companions I could tell a few of them felt it for a moment then it passed or they were able to endure it better. For me every second it seemed to grow within my stomach. I’m not sure if this was a result of this skeleton creature specifically targeting me or if my reliance on my magic ring had made me susceptible to this type of attack.
When I saw the animated bones disappear from atop that balcony instantly the pit stopped growing. A few more seconds, and I don’t think I would have been able to walk. I felt as if my limbs had rocks lashed to them. I needed a few hours to sleep, but we were only halfway through the day.