(Opening Scene: The horrifying aftermath of the guard's death hangs heavy in Astrid's chambers. The remaining guards are frozen in terror, Lady Elara is pale with shock, and Astrid stares in stunned disbelief at Eclipse. A faint ripple distorts the air in the corner of the room.)
A swirling vortex of shadow began to coalesce in the corner of Astrid's chambers, the tell-tale sign of a void walk in progress. The air grew cold, and the familiar earthy scent of Zane's magic filled the room, cutting through the sickly sweet odor of Eclipse's venom.
Zane materialized from the swirling darkness, his eyes immediately scanning the scene. His breath hitched as he took in the tableau: the petrified guards, Lady Elara's horrified expression, Astrid's wide, shocked eyes, and in her lap, Eclipse, his obsidian scales glistening with deadly black venom. His gaze then fell upon the still, contorted form of the fallen guard, the remnants of his decaying armor a gruesome testament to Eclipse's power.
A wave of cold dread washed over Zane. He had felt a sharp spike in Eclipse's magical signature, a distinct flare of the potent, lethal venom he knew his familiar possessed but rarely used. The urgency of that magical pulse had compelled him to Voidwalk instantly, a desperate need to understand what had transpired.
"Eclipse!" Zane's voice was a low, urgent rasp, his eyes fixed on the venom-coated serpent. He took a step towards Astrid, his concern for her overriding the shock of the scene. "Astrid, what happened?"
His sudden appearance, materializing from the shadows, startled the remaining guards, who flinched back further. Lady Elara stared at him, her shock slowly morphing into a mixture of fear and accusation.
Astrid, still reeling from the guard's swift and horrifying death, looked at Zane, her voice barely a whisper. "Zane… he… he tried to contain Eclipse…" She gestured to the fallen guard, her eyes filled with a terrible understanding of the familiar's protective instincts.
Zane's gaze followed hers, and the grim reality of the situation settled upon him. Eclipse had defended Astrid with lethal force. And now, the consequences would undoubtedly fall upon them all.