(Opening Scene: Sunlight filters through the leaves of a secluded section of woodland just outside Oakhaven. A month has passed since Zane and Astrid registered for the Lumina Academy entry test. Astrid, clad in practical training attire, watches with a patient expression as Zane attempts to manipulate shadows that cling stubbornly to the ground.)
"Focus, Zane," Astrid instructed, her voice calm but firm. "You need to visualize the shadow as an extension of your will. Command it to rise, to take form."
Zane grunted with effort, his brow furrowed in concentration. He could feel the familiar pull of the darkness within him, the same energy that manifested as the Null Blade and allowed him to Voidwalk. But shaping it, controlling it with finesse, was proving to be a significant challenge. The shadows at his feet writhed sluggishly, but refused to lift or solidify in any meaningful way.
Throughout this past month, amidst the training and the unfamiliarity of Oakhaven, Zane had also quietly tried to glean any information about his parents. He had discreetly asked Astrid if she knew of any families with similar… shadowy affinities, or any unusual disappearances from the surrounding villages years ago. Astrid, though helpful, had found nothing that matched the vague impressions Eclipse had offered. The "tethers" remained elusive, his past still shrouded in mystery.
"It's… not the same as the blade," Zane muttered, frustration creeping into his voice. He hadn't explicitly told Astrid that his powers originated from a place he called the void. He had simply described them as a connection to shadows, something he was still learning to understand himself. Astrid, despite witnessing the unusual nature of his abilities, had accepted his vague explanations, her trust in him unwavering.
Nearby, a fascinating aerial display was taking place. Zephyr, his wing now fully healed and strong, soared through the air with his usual majestic grace. Weaving around him was Eclipse, its shadowy serpentine form surprisingly agile in the open. They seemed to be engaged in a strange form of aerial sparring, Eclipse darting and feinting while Zephyr executed sharp turns and dives.
However, a closer look revealed a distinct dynamic. Eclipse seemed to enjoy using its shadowy form to startle Zephyr, momentarily solidifying in its path or creating sudden gusts of dark energy that made the falcon swerve. Zephyr, despite his speed and aerial prowess, often let out annoyed cries, clearly finding Eclipse's tactics less than sporting.
Astrid chuckled softly as she watched their interaction. "It seems your… companion… has a rather playful streak," she observed, a hint of amusement in her stormy eyes.
Zane glanced at the aerial antics, a small smile touching his lips despite his own frustration. Eclipse's behavior was often enigmatic, but there was a certain mischievous intelligence to its actions.
He turned back to the recalcitrant shadows at his feet, taking a deep breath. He needed to find a connection to this aspect of his power, a way to exert control beyond the instinctive manifestations of the blade and Voidwalk. The entry test was drawing closer, and he didn't want to rely solely on abilities he didn't fully understand. The mystery of his parents remained a heavy weight, a silent quest that ran parallel to his preparation for the academy.