(Opening Scene: Astrid and Zane stand united in their disagreement with Headmaster Theron's proposal of separation. Eclipse remains coiled on Zane's shoulder, observing the tense exchange.)
As Astrid and Zane voiced their concerns, a strange stillness fell over Eclipse. His golden eyes, usually so vibrant and intelligent, began to darken, the gold receding until they were pools of absolute, unsettling black. A faint tremor ran through his obsidian scales, almost imperceptible, but Zane, intimately connected to his familiar, felt it keenly.
Then, a voice, cold and alien, echoed in the deepest recesses of Zane's mind. It wasn't the familiar mental whispers of Eclipse, filled with protective instincts and occasional shared emotions. This was different, ancient and commanding.
Hold her, Zane. The mental directive was absolute, leaving no room for question. It resonated with a power that Zane had never before experienced from his familiar. The voice felt… other.
Zane's breath hitched. He instinctively understood that this wasn't truly Eclipse, not the familiar he knew. Something was different, something had shifted within their bond. Without conscious thought, compelled by the unfamiliar authority in his mind, Zane reached out and took Astrid's hand once more, his grip firm.
Astrid looked at him, surprised by the suddenness of his action. Before she could question him, a wave of unfamiliar energy washed over her from Zane's touch, different from the usual subtle interplay of their magic. It felt… charged, almost volatile, yet undeniably compelling.
The change in Eclipse was not lost on the others. Lady Elara gasped, stepping back instinctively at the sight of the serpent's pitch-black eyes. Prince Lysander stared with a mixture of fear and morbid fascination. Xander's brow furrowed in confusion, sensing the shift in the familiar's aura. Headmaster Theron watched with a growing sense of unease, the situation taking an unexpected and potentially dangerous turn.
Zane held Astrid's hand tightly, a strange sense of urgency overriding his own apprehension. He didn't understand what was happening to Eclipse, or the source of the commanding voice in his mind, but the directive was clear, and he obeyed.