Damon was woken up by the deep growl of his own stomach. His eyes remained shut, but the world around him came into sharp focus through his shadow. He didn't need to glance at the system notification to confirm it—his hunger had reached critical levels, somewhere around 85%. The sensory input was overwhelming.
He saw it all: the glowing outlines of souls moving through the dorm halls, students heading for their classes, and maids quietly tending to their duties. Each movement cast rippling shadows that his senses latched onto, flooding his mind with information. It was painful, like trying to drink from a firehose, but it was better than the last time.
Before, he could only clutch his head and scream as his brain begged for mercy. Now, he found himself adjusting, as if his body were forcing itself to adapt to the madness.
That calm shattered the moment he opened his eyes.
