(Opening Scene: Astrid kneels beside the unconscious Zane in the damaged arena, her expression a mixture of worry and awe. Zephyr circles protectively overhead, his sharp cries echoing in the stunned silence. Instructors, including Master Elmsworth, approach cautiously.)
Astrid gently cradles Zane's head, her stormy eyes scanning his pale face for any signs of injury beyond the apparent exhaustion. The air still crackled with residual energy from his attack, a faint scent of ozone mingling with the coldness that seemed to emanate from him.
Master Elmsworth and the other instructors stop a respectful distance away, their expressions a study in shock and contemplation. The sheer destructive force Zane had unleashed was unlike anything they had witnessed in the academy's history. The shadowy crown and the amplified Void Fragments were clearly a manifestation of a power far beyond the norm.
"Is he… alright?" Astrid asked, her voice tight with concern.
Master Elmsworth approached slowly. "He appears to be unconscious, Lady Montaigne. Exhausted, perhaps. That level of power… it would take a tremendous toll." He glanced at the remnants of the obliterated simulation, then back at Zane. "We had no idea…"
Other applicants, who had been teleported out, began to reappear at the edge of the arena, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and fascination as they looked at Zane. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Academy healers were summoned, their hurried footsteps echoing in the silence. They carefully examined Zane, their initial assessment pointing towards extreme magical exhaustion and a significant energy drain.
As Zane was being Levitateed onto a stretcher by the healers, Master Elmsworth turned to Astrid. "Lady Montaigne, your… acquaintance… possesses a power unlike anything we have encountered. The manifestation of that… crown… and the amplified nature of his abilities… it suggests a depth we have yet to fathom."
Astrid nodded slowly, still trying to process what she had witnessed. The raw, destructive potential of Zane's void powers, especially when pushed to the brink, was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. The brief glimpse of the crown hinted at a hidden aspect of his being, a connection to the void that went far beyond simple shadow manipulation.
"What will happen now?" Astrid asked, her gaze following the unconscious Zane as he was carried away.
Master Elmsworth sighed, rubbing his temples. "We will need to assess him, understand the nature of his abilities, and ensure he is stable. The remaining tests will proceed as scheduled for the other applicants. As for Zane… his evaluation may require a different approach."