(Opening Scene: The library remains quiet but charged with unspoken tension. Headmaster Theron, his mind clearly occupied by the implications of Zane's involuntary magic negation, addresses the group.)
"We must understand the extent of this ability," Headmaster Theron declared, his gaze fixed on Zane. "If you possess the power to negate magical attacks, even instinctively, it could be a significant asset… or a considerable risk if uncontrolled."
He instructed Master Elmsworth and a team of skilled instructors to prepare a controlled testing environment in one of the secure training halls. Over the next few hours, they subjected Zane to a barrage of different magical energies – elemental blasts, conjured illusions, binding spells – all directed at him in a safe and controlled manner. Zane focused with all his might, trying to replicate the instinctive negation he had displayed in the library. But nothing happened. His eyes remained their usual shade, and the magical attacks harmlessly struck the protective barriers erected around him.
Frustration mounted. Zane felt a growing unease at the unpredictable nature of this potential power. Headmaster Theron and the instructors observed with a mixture of scientific curiosity and growing perplexity.
"It seems to be tied to extreme duress, Zane," Headmaster Theron concluded, a thoughtful frown on his face. "A purely reactive ability. This makes controlled study… challenging."
Meanwhile, Doctor Finch was taken into academy custody, his attempted assault a serious breach of conduct. The weight of his actions and the loss of Bartholomew hung heavily over him.
Days passed with no further incidents. Zane and Astrid continued their initial coursework, the events in the library casting a long shadow over their interactions with other students and faculty. The mystery of Zane's negation ability remained unsolved, a latent power waiting for an unknown trigger.
Then, during a training exercise focusing on defensive spells, a mishap occurred. A miscast binding spell from another student, intended for a training dummy, veered wildly off course and shot directly towards Astrid, who was momentarily distracted. The spell was powerful, designed to constrict and immobilize with crushing force.
Panic flared in Zane's chest. Time seemed to slow as he saw the glowing energy hurtling towards Astrid. Without conscious thought, his eyes blazed with that familiar deep purple light. A wave of dark energy pulsed outwards from him, invisible but potent.
The binding spell, moments from striking Astrid, contorted in mid-air, its glowing energy flickering violently. Then, with a soft pop, it simply vanished, dissipating into nothingness just feet from its intended target.
Astrid gasped, her eyes wide with shock as she realized how close she had come to serious injury. Headmaster Theron, who had been observing the exercise, stared at Zane, his earlier perplexity replaced by a stark understanding. The trigger for Zane's negation ability was not just extreme duress to himself, but also mortal danger to those he cared about.