(Opening Scene: Lady Elara Montaigne, now visibly concerned by the terrified retreat of the initial practitioners, decides to summon someone with more experience and authority regarding magical creatures.)
"Guards!" Lady Elara called out, her voice firm despite the unease she now felt. "Fetch Master Elmsworth. Tell him it is urgent and pertains to a potentially dangerous familiar."
Within a few tense minutes, Master Elmsworth, his usual jovial demeanor absent, entered Astrid's chambers, his brow furrowed with concern. He glanced at the unconscious Prince Lysander, then his gaze fell upon Eclipse, who remained coiled calmly in Astrid's lap.
Master Elmsworth froze in his tracks, his eyes widening in a mixture of shock and stark fear. His complexion paled, and he took an involuntary step back, his hand instinctively reaching up to touch the side of his neck, just below his ear.
"By the elements…" he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "That… that creature…" He stared at Eclipse with an expression bordering on terror.
Lady Elara regarded his reaction with surprise and a growing sense of alarm. "Master Elmsworth? You seem…disturbed. Do you recognize this familiar?"
Master Elmsworth swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on Eclipse. "Recognize it? Lady Elara… that is a Shadow Serpent. And… and it belongs to Master Zane." He hesitated, a visible shudder running through him. "I… I had an encounter with it… some time ago. It… it did not end well for me." His eyes flickered towards Lady Elara with urgency. "You must be careful, Lady Elara. Stay away from it. Its power… it's immense and unpredictable." His voice was filled with genuine fear for her safety.
Astrid frowned, looking at Eclipse with a newfound concern. She had known he was powerful, but the sheer terror he seemed to inspire in experienced mages was unsettling. She also noted that Master Elmsworth's fear seemed directed at her aunt, not herself.
Lady Elara's apprehension deepened. The fear of multiple academy professionals, including the usually unflappable Master Elmsworth, spoke volumes about the potential threat Eclipse represented to those around it. "Master Elmsworth," she said, her voice firm. "Can you elaborate on your… encounter?"