So guessing for the explanation:
1) Magus was able to surf into Eliot because he replaced the beams spell effect. Just how beams work. It had to be Eliot because Pandora lied to him. Or maybe he's related to an alternate Universe Eliot.
2) The hair changed color because magic is a Drama Eldritch Entity and made it happen.
Also Ashely is observant and level headed. I mean there was a calm spell involved, but still.