- 2 days ago
My Secret Serpent Mate1
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:04I finally got the rarest magic core for you.
00:08You've worked hard.
00:22After rebirth, I abandoned the mighty phoenix as my magical pet.
00:26Instead, chose an almost dead little black snake in my past life.
00:30I'd hunted rare ingredients for phoenix.
00:32Pouring every resource I had into his growth, he cheated with my sister behind my back.
00:37Finally, to make their little love story easier, they killed me together.
00:40This time around, I wanted to see how that perfect couple managed without me as their stepping stone.
00:44The same pact ceremony.
00:46The same standout, undeniably that golden phoenix.
00:49Even caged with a suppression collar, he held his head high, like the rest of us were beneath him.
00:53As expected, the ceremony elder assigned him to me.
00:56The phoenix tilted its head back and rolled its eyes, just like in its previous life, its face full of
01:02disdain.
01:02That was when my sister Evelyn walked in, cradling a limp little black snake in her palms, tears rolling down
01:08her cheeks.
01:09My sister was too weak.
01:10Phoenix fell in love with her pitiful appearance immediately, which made me look like the villain standing between them.
01:15The ceremony elder shifted awkwardly and turned on Evelyn.
01:18Your power isn't strong enough. Even if the phoenix is drawn to you now, you won't be able to handle
01:24him.
01:24She didn't react, instead pretended to be scared by my gaze, bit her lip with tears down.
01:29Lila, I know I have no right to compete with you. It's just, I've never seen a golden phoenix before.
01:35I didn't have the patience to listen to her feigned weakness.
01:37I reached out and lifted the limp black snake from her hands, smiled at the ceremony elder.
01:42I've taken a liking to this one. The phoenix clearly doesn't want me. Why not let her have him? I'll
01:48take the snake.
01:48The others thought I'd lost my mind. They pulled me aside.
01:51You're the strongest here. This black snake has a mixed bloodline. He's basically worthless.
01:56But I knew the truth about that phoenix. He was no prize.
01:59In my last life, my past life, scene had played out exactly the same way.
02:08The phoenix ignored me. I felt the sting of being rejected for the first time in my life.
02:13And instead of thinking clearly, I thought, he's so hard to get. I'm obsessed.
02:17As the archmaster's student, I was supposed to be an example to the others.
02:21I told myself I had to tame the phoenix, strengthen the spirit-packed academy.
02:25So I threw everything I had at him.
02:27Every student got a limited ration of elixirs. So I took assassin missions, hunting rogue creatures,
02:33the kind that had lost their minds and turned feral, to earn extra elixirs.
02:36I came back bleeding every time. The phoenix pretended not to notice.
02:40He only came near me when I pulled out elixirs, took what he wanted, and walked away.
02:45Ten years. I spent ten years helping him break through his limits and take human form.
02:50When he finally did, he was stunning. Tall, sharp-featured. But the warmth stopped there.
02:55He always treated me like I was his errand girl. I told myself it was fine.
02:59Creatures with strong bloodlines had pride. One day, he'd recognize what I'd given him.
03:03One day, we'd fight side by side, and I wouldn't have to face those feral creatures alone.
03:07Then one day, I saw him kiss my sister passionately. She was laughing, dancing around him.
03:13A fellow student rode past on her white tiger, saw them in the distance, and shook her head at me.
03:17Liar, you really need to stop asking Evelyn to look after the phoenix when you go on contracts.
03:23When did I ever ask her that?
03:25She says it every time you leave.
03:27I saw stars. I'd been out there risking my life, and she was back here cheating with my things.
03:32Doesn't she have her own creature?
03:34That little black snake died in its second year.
03:37Then it clicked. I'd spent ten years sewing a wedding dress for someone else.
03:54It wasn't some gentle, forgiving heroine turned on Evelyn. It enraged the phoenix.
03:59As punishment, he lured me to the back forest under false pretenses, then broke open the wards keeping it sealed.
04:04The creatures trapped inside started pouring out, and among them was one that had fallen into complete madness.
04:10A leviathan. The phoenix joined forces with my sister to shoot me down the cliff.
04:14In the end, I died in the beast head, and I could only watch Evelyn snuggle up beside it.
04:19So this time around, I wasn't going to be anyone's sacrifice.
04:22I just wanted to see what this couple would do next.
04:24The phoenix held onto Evelyn tightly, refusing to let go.
04:27The elder side and spirit-packed academy'd the pact circle drawn.
04:31Once a creature bonded with someone, they were bound to that person's commands.
04:35Harmed the bonded partner, and the creature suffered for it.
04:38The bonding ritual's energy agitated the black snake.
04:41He wound himself around my arm with everything he had.
04:44Evelyn got the phoenix, and was clearly thrilled.
04:46Then she looked at the snake clinging to me.
04:48You and that serpent really do seem meant for each other, Lyra.
04:51She was very smug. Had she also been reborn?
04:53Watch your tongue, Evelyn!
04:55If Lyra hadn't stepped in for you, you'd never have gotten the phoenix!
04:58If I were you, I'd be on my knees thanking her.
05:00Oh, stop! She's crying again!
05:02Always crying!
05:04You'd think she was the tragic one.
05:05The phoenix paced anxiously while Evelyn sniffled.
05:14Anxious didn't help him. Evelyn had almost no power at this stage.
05:18The creatures shared energy with their bonded partners.
05:21But Evelyn's reserves were basically empty.
05:24Probably the first time in either life that the phoenix had been on the losing side of a situation.
05:29Good. He'd adjust.
05:31This was the consequence of choosing weakness and cheating.
05:35The black snake, finally convinced I wasn't abandoning him, went limp and passed out in my arms.
05:41Back home, I finally got a good look at the snake.
05:45He was tiny. Couldn't have been more than a few decades old.
05:48Barely passed the threshold of maturity.
05:51But he was strange. Different from the serpents I knew.
05:54Water serpents had snake-like tails.
05:56This one had a tail more like a fish, with a fin. Mixed bloodline. Serpent and something older. Seafolk, maybe.
06:04I had a natural spring in the courtyard.
06:07The moment he hit the water, he came alive. Diving and surfacing. Pulling in energy from the current.
06:13I laughed.
06:15Relax.
06:16I fed a golden phoenix for ten years. I think I can manage one little snake.
06:20He froze, and stared at me with those tiny green eyes. Then he spat water at my face.
06:25I flicked him on the head.
06:27Heal up. You're not going anywhere.
06:29The next morning, I woke up wrong. I turned my head and found a face three inches from mine.
06:35Dark lashes. Warm skin. The kind of face that belonged in a painting. Long lashes that trembled slightly.
06:43Objectively gorgeous. Didn't stop me from nearly jumping out of my skin.
06:47He'd gotten into bed without waking me. Whoever this was, his power was well above mine.
06:52He stirred, opened gold slit eyes, and looked at me. I scrambled to the corner.
06:58Who are you? This is Spirit Pact Academy grounds. Don't try anything.
07:03He sat up. I noticed he was wearing the clothes I'd set aside for when a creature took human form.
07:08A dark fitted robe with a subtle pattern. He wore it well. He was tall. He'd had to curl up
07:14to fit in my bed.
07:15Under those long lashes were a pair of gold vertical pupil eyes. The answer was obvious.
07:21Snake.
07:22He smirked, reached out, and flicked me on the forehead.
07:25Rude. I have a name. It's Kieran.
07:44Kieran, it turned out, had been fleeing an enemy when he crossed paths with my tutor. He'd taken the form
07:50of a small, injured serpent. My tutor, true to form, had taken him in.
07:54Kieran clearly hadn't been injured because he was weak. Please tell me your enemies aren't about to show up here.
08:00We're bonded now. You're the master. I'm your mate. So I suggest you train hard and try not to slow
08:07me down.
08:07He taught me a breathing and absorption technique developed for serpentkind. Most days I sat in the spring practicing, while
08:13Kieran sprawled in the tree above me, watching with half-closed eyes.
08:17The breeze moved his hair and caught the light on his skin. Evelyn appeared at my gate, peering in. I
08:22sighed and got out of the spring.
08:24Kieran dropped from the tree and draped a dry robe over my shoulders without being asked.
08:29Who is this? You remember him? The little black snake from the bonding ceremony? You said yourself we seem meant
08:35for each other.
08:43The flicker of something crossed her face.
08:46What do you want? This is training time. I was hoping we could raise the phoenix together.
08:52Kieran's hand tightened on mine. I glanced at him. He was watching me, clearly unhappy.
08:56I'm not your backup plan. Figure it out yourself.
08:59How is it not your responsibility? You took the black snake and left me with the phoenix. You don't get
09:05to just walk away.
09:06Half a year's gone by and I've given him every elixir I had. There's nothing left for my own training.
09:12And I was in the lower ranks. I can't go hunting rare ingredients. I'd die out there.
09:16You bonded with the phoenix first. You should be helping.
09:19I cut her off mid-sentence, sent a gust of air to push her back through the gate, and led
09:23Kieran inside.
09:24Little sister, don't mistake everyone for a fool. I'm not spending my resources raising your creature for you.
09:30If you can't afford to keep him, dissolve the bond. Let someone else take him. I'm sure the elders would
09:35be happy to.
09:36She wouldn't do that. Her ambitions were too big.
09:47After weeks passed, I broke through to a new level of power, what those in the Spirit Pact Academy called
09:54Fourth Circle Stage.
09:55At the same time, the archmaster arranged for me to escort a rare spirit fox to the Spirit Pact Academy,
10:02alongside Elder Celia, who was about three centuries older than me and acted like a kid half the time.
10:09I sweet-talked her through the hand over to the creature registry, and she settled for it. Before she left,
10:15she pressed her hand over her mouth to hide a smile.
10:18Your little serpent is very clingy, you know.
10:21I didn't understand until I started up the mountain path, and saw a silhouette leaning against a tree in the
10:26distance.
10:28He didn't move.
10:29When I got closer, he reached out and grabbed the back of my neck.
10:33Lyra, am I not good to you? Why are you trying to give me away?
10:36What are you talking about?
10:38That girl came to the courtyard today, said you sent her to check on me.
10:41Did you change your mind about bonding with me?
10:43You hit Fourth Circle and now you're done with me?
10:46Same playbook, different life.
10:49Before I could explain, Kieran's pupils contracted to thin lines.
10:53He bent his head and pressed his face into my neck.
10:56His tongue brushed the skin there.
10:58Light, quick. I shivered hard.
11:01Smells like fox.
11:03Lyra, did you already find yourself a replacement?
11:05Doesn't matter. Once I eat that fox, I'll be your only option.
11:10Y-you hit me for her?
11:12That fox belongs to my archmaster.
11:14You touch her and I will end you.
11:27Kieran stopped fighting me and let himself be pulled along.
11:30Most students weren't training, so the residences were quiet.
11:34A few people raised their eyebrows when they saw me coming.
11:37Short greetings, and then they told me.
11:39Evelyn had gone to the back forest with the phoenix.
11:42I frowned.
11:43I wasn't in the phoenix's way anymore.
11:45Why were they sneaking off to the forest?
11:48We found them mid-argument.
11:49Or rather, Evelyn was arguing and the phoenix, who still hadn't taken human form, was responding in scratched letters on
11:57the ground.
11:57Don't look at me like that. I've done nothing wrong.
12:01I didn't force you to come to the Spirit Pact Academy.
12:04You said this place would help you grow.
12:06I've given you every elixir I had and you're still not satisfied?
12:10You want me to go out hunting rare ingredients? I just started training! You'd be sending me to die!
12:17I almost felt something. In my past life, he'd given me nothing for ten years.
12:23Not a glance. Not a word. Not a gesture.
12:26Now he was writing letters in the dirt. The contrast was something.
12:30Evelyn, I've been looking for you.
12:32The phoenix scrambles to erase the letters when he heard us.
12:36Evelyn pulled herself together fast, though not fast enough.
12:40What do you need, Lyra?
12:52I patted Kieran's arm. He gave me a long-suffering look, then dropped to one knee and let me settle
12:58onto it like a chair.
12:59His hands locked around my waist, steadying me.
13:03Evelyn's gaze locked onto Kieran and didn't move.
13:05I'm not here about anything in particular. Just wondering why you paid my companion a visit.
13:10The phoenix's feathers flared, angry. Evelyn hadn't expected me to know so fast.
13:15No, you've got it wrong. I was just coming to find you.
13:19He rested his chin on my shoulder.
13:21She lied to me. She said you stole me from her. That I was supposed to be hers.
13:25And what did you do?
13:26She came into your territory without permission. She was weak. I didn't even use my power. Just pushed until she
13:33left.
13:33I patted his cheek. I stood and faced Evelyn directly.
13:37If I remember correctly, you didn't want Kieran in the first place. He was badly injured.
13:42If he'd ended up with you, he probably wouldn't have survived his second year.
13:46That's not true! I would have taken care of him.
13:49The phoenix's crest was fully raised now. She caught herself.
13:53You're trying to drive a wedge between me and the phoenix.
13:56I stepped forward and put my hand on her shoulder.
13:59You played your game, little sister. Don't act surprised when I play mine.
14:04Next time you pull something like this, you will get my punishment.
14:08She blanched. The council didn't forgive moves against another member's bonded creature.
14:12She couldn't risk it. On the way back, I was in a good mood.
14:17Kieran was quiet, though. Wouldn't transform and carry me even when I asked.
14:21Once we were back in the courtyard, he grabbed my arm.
14:24You seem familiar with the phoenix.
14:38I didn't hide it. We have a history. It ended badly for me. Wanna hear it?
14:43He turned away, shifted into serpent form, and wound himself around my neck.
14:47No. I'm better than that bird by every measure. You're not going back to him.
14:53I won't have another mate. I promise. Days later.
14:59Lyah, your growth rate is pathetic. Sharing energy with you is a form of suffering.
15:07My Arch Master said, I'm one of the most talented young members in a generation.
15:12All those rare materials and elixirs I found went into me this time. Not into the phoenix.
15:17Ten years passed. I moved steadily from fourth circle to sixth circle.
15:22Even the most mean Elder Celia praised me.
15:25You are really a genius, Lyra. We all expected the phoenix to elevate the whole Spirit Panda Academy.
15:31But ten years in, there's still no sign of him breaking through.
15:36I'd expected this. Sustaining creatures took enormous resources.
15:40And the Spirit Pact Academy never had reserves.
15:44The phoenix couldn't break through.
15:45And in my past life, I'd seen exactly what happened when his patients ran out.
15:49I'd thought about removing him.
15:51Every time I tried to bring it up with my Arch Master or Kiran, it was like the words hit
15:55a wall.
15:56And acting unilaterally, killing the phoenix before anyone understood why, would have destroyed the Spirit Pact Academy from the inside.
16:04All I could do was watch him and contain him.
16:07Past that, I had no choice but to wait.
16:10My past life hadn't survived this year.
16:12I didn't know if this one would go differently.
16:14But also I got чуть-in the other way.
16:14I had no choice but to only win the Comm czyli.
16:16Who knew the power of God and the other people.
16:18I was like, I hate it.
16:18I was like, I'm supposed to get this out of my life.
16:18I've done this before.
16:18I had no choice but to be in conflict.
16:18Plus, that was the only way to be in conflict that God الأ's coming.
16:19But again, I had no choice but to be in conflict,
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