(Opening Scene: The infirmary air remains thick with unanswered questions surrounding Eclipse's reappearance and his previous transformation. Headmaster Theron has called for further investigation. The Black Crown rests subtly on Zane's head.)
As the discussion turned towards understanding the Black Crown, Zane shifted slightly, a note of unease in his voice. "Headmaster, with all due respect, I would advise caution regarding the crown. When it appeared… it felt… wrong. Powerful, yes, but also… malevolent. I wouldn't recommend anyone touching it without extreme care." He glanced at Xander, a specific warning in his gaze.
Xander, ever the inquisitive mage, leaned forward, his initial apprehension seemingly overshadowed by his thirst for knowledge. "But Zane, it's a key piece of this puzzle. We need to understand its properties, its connection to your magic and to Eclipse. Perhaps a controlled examination…"
"Controlled or not," Zane interjected, his voice firm, "there was a darkness emanating from it. I wouldn't risk it." Despite his warning, a part of him understood Xander's need to investigate. Knowledge was power, and they were facing something they didn't understand.
With a sigh, Zane focused his will, and the Black Crown shimmered into visibility on his head, its matte black surface absorbing the infirmary's light. The air around it seemed to subtly distort.
Xander's eyes widened, drawn to the artifact. He reached out a hand, his fingers twitching with curiosity. "Just for a moment," he said, his gaze fixed on the crown. "I just want to feel its energy."
Before Zane could reiterate his warning, Xander swiftly reached out and gently lifted the Black Crown from Zane's head. The moment his fingers made contact with the cool, smooth surface, a visible change came over him. His bright blue eyes went utterly blank, the light within them extinguished as if a switch had been flicked.
A stillness fell over Xander, his breath catching in his throat. His body remained upright, but his face was devoid of expression, his eyes staring unseeingly ahead. For a heart-stopping moment, he seemed to be completely disconnected from the world around him.
Then, just as suddenly, his eyes snapped back into focus, the familiar blue returning, but now wide with shock and a hint of terror. Without a word, his hand trembling slightly, Xander thrust the Black Crown back towards Zane. It hovered for a moment before gently settling back onto Zane's head, disappearing once more from view.
Xander recoiled, taking several steps back, his hand raised as if to ward off an unseen threat. "Darkness," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Just… absolute darkness. It was like… like falling into a bottomless void. There was nothing. No thought, no feeling… just… absence." He shook his head, his usual composure completely shattered. "Never again. You were right, Zane. That thing… it's dangerous."
The unsettling experience left a heavy silence in the infirmary, Zane's warning now carrying a chilling weight of firsthand experience. The Black Crown was clearly more than just a magical artifact; it was a gateway to something profoundly unsettling.