- 5 hours ago
The Phoenix Was Never Weak
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00At the sacred contract ceremony, Alara and I chose divine beasts. In my last life, I chose the obsidian baby
00:05dragon. Alara chose the dying phoenix. When my dragon took human form, the entire academy cheered for me. Only Alara
00:12stood behind the crowd. Jealousy drained the color from her face. Her phoenix collapsed inside its circle. Its feathers were
00:18burned black. It could not even cry once. I walked over to help her. She pulled out a tiger instead.
00:24Then she stabbed through my heart.
00:26Why are you always luckier? My blood poured into the magic circle. Dark gold light swallowed everything. Alara laughed while
00:34I died. If I get another chance, I will choose the black dragon. When I opened my eyes again, I
00:39had returned to that ceremony. Professor Thorn stood before us. Choose your contract, beasts. Before I could move, Alara rushed
00:46onto the dragon circle. Her voice rang across the hall. Professor! I choose this obsidian dragon! This time, I moved
00:54first.
00:54That useless phoenix is yours. I almost laughed aloud. So she had returned too. She thought she stole my fate.
01:02She never knew the truth. That black dragon was never luck. It was a beautiful parasite. In this life, Alarxa
01:09could feed him instead. I let her enjoy the trap. Congratulations on your choice.
01:14Then I walked to the phoenix circle. Then I walked to the phoenix circle. The bird inside barely breathed. Its
01:19tail feathers were broken. Black poison leaked from its wounds.
01:22It opened one golden eye, then pecked my hand hard. Blood ran down my skin.
01:28Professor! It hates Alalia! What if it refuses her?
01:32I ignored every mocking voice. I grabbed its neck feathers. Then I lifted it from the circle. It flapped weakly
01:39in fury, then fainted in my hands. I carried it back to my dorm. It looked half dead, but one
01:45truth mattered. A phoenix does not die easily.
01:49In my room, I cleaned the phoenix wounds. The poison was deep and black. Ordinary potions barely worked. It woke
01:56before midnight, then dragged itself to the corner. Every feather warned me away. It's hissed whenever I moved.
02:03I know you hate this contract. When you recover, I will help you break it. You can leave freely.
02:08The phoenix did not touch the potion. It shoved the bottle back with its beak. Trust would take more than
02:15medicine.
02:15A few days later, Alara entered arcan class proudly. A tall black-haired man followed her. The obsidian dragon had
02:21transformed. His name was Draven. He looked handsome and dangerous.
02:24Alara held his arm tightly. My beast can already take human form.
02:29Where is your broken bird? Do not let it die. I did not answer her. I stood and faced Professor
02:35Thorne.
02:35Professor, I request permission. I want to study the ancient arcane codex.
02:40The whole class gasped. That codex needed no contract beast. It required pure personal magic. The training process was painful.
02:49Most students feared even opening it.
02:52You cannot tame that dead bird, or you finally know it is useless!
02:56Her laughter only proved she had learned nothing. Rebirth had changed nothing. She was still stupid. She did not notice
03:03Draven's eyes. No bonds soft his gaze.
03:05To him, she was food. Like a magic supply bag.
03:09That night, I checked the phoenixed again. The wound still refused to heal. Only one medicine could save it.
03:14Sunfruit from the Forbidden Peak. A place for shadow trolls hunted.
03:18Listen carefully. Sunfruit can heal you. I only need your eyesight. You fly above the cliffs. You help me find
03:23it.
03:23It still refused to move. So I wrapped it in my cloak. Then I carried it up the mountain.
03:31The Forbidden Peak was freezing. Black mist covered the cliffs. I finally found the sunfruit tree. It grew from a
03:38broken ledge.
03:39Golden fruit burned like small suns. I climbed down with bleeding hands. The phoenix stayed hidden in my cloak.
03:45I grabbed one fruit. Then the cliff shook.
03:49A shadow troll crawled upward. Its mouth opened into black mist.
03:55I dodged its poison twice. Then I realized the truth. It was not hunting me. It wanted the phoenix.
04:00High-level magical beasts were its food. The troll lunged toward us. The phoenix closed its eyes.
04:06It waited for death. I will not feed you to monsters.
04:09The troll's claws fell toward us. I summoned an enchanted short blade.
04:13Then stabbed through its jaw. The troll crashed down heavily.
04:16I threw through the phoenix away quickly. The troll's corpse crushed my leg. Pain exploded through
04:22my bones. I almost passed out instantly. Before darkness took me, I saw the phoenix pecking sunfruit.
04:29It looked like it had abandoned me. When I woke again, my broken legs still throbbed. A small piece
04:34of sunfruit lay nearby. The phoenix stood on the troll's head. The fruit in its beak stopped me cold.
04:39You did not leave? It flew to my side, then pushed the fruit against my hand.
04:43Sunfruit magic burned through me. My broken bone healed quickly. I crawled from beneath the corpse,
04:48then picked the phoenix up. Its burns had faded. New red tail feathers had appeared. They shone like
04:54living flame. Back at the academy, Alara blocked my way. She looked terribly pale. Her skin seemed
05:00older. Still, she sneered at me. You healed it, so what? It is still a dirty feather duster.
05:07The phoenix exploded from my arms. Its claws slashed across her face.
05:11Ah! Draven! Kill that broken bird!
05:16Draven walked toward us. I stepped back with the phoenix, but Draven did not attack. He touched my
05:22wrist instead. His fingers slid across my skin. You have very deep magic. We should practice together
05:28sometime. My whole body went cold. I knew what he wanted. He wanted my pure magic core. Alara dragged
05:34him away in panic. She feared he would look again. The phoenix dug its claws into my sleeve. Its golden
05:40eyes
05:40burned with anger.
05:43That night, I studied the ancient arcane codex. The phoenix slept near my magic ring. It seemed
05:48to like my aura. A few days later, Alara broke into my research room. She looked 10 years older.
05:52Her cheeks were hollow. Her eyes had sunk deeply.
05:55Where is Draven?
05:56Draven! He is your contract beast. Why ask me? She thought I was mocking her. Before she could
06:01scream. A black shadow passed the window. She ran after it immediately. I closed my eyes again. Then a
06:07cold scaled tail. Wrapped around my waist. I opened my eyes. The phoenix was gone. Draven stood behind
06:11me half shifted. His black dragon tail held me tightly. Greed sharpened every word.
06:15I am stronger than that bird. Why did you not choose me? He changed back into human form. Then leaned
06:21toward my
06:22neck. Our magic waves match perfectly. Link with me. You need not suffer through that codex. Pushed
06:27him away hard. I knew his purpose too well. He wanted to speed his evolution. He wanted my magic as
06:32fuel. Draven smiled like a noble prince. That bird cannot even release magic. I will become the only
06:38abyss drag. My voice turned ice cold. You are bound to Alara. Get out! Alara's magic is filthy. She is
06:45only my stepping stone. In this academy, only your magic deserves me. Then the door opened. Alara had
06:50returned. Bite marks covered her neck. Her magic was nearly drained dry. Every word reached her. But
06:55she did not blame Draven. She pointed at me instead. You shameless thief! I helped him transform!
07:01Now you seduce him? Her screaming drew many students. They saw Draven in my room. They saw his tail near
07:06my waist. Whispers began immediately. Draven looked perfectly calm. Then a bright red flame appeared.
07:10The phoenix vanished from the table. A tall man stood beside me. His hair burned like sunset. His eyes were
07:16dark gold. He dismissed Draven with one glance. I am legions. Then he turned to me.
07:20Tell them. Is my contract with at Alia perfect? I knew he wanted dignity. I gave him the dignity
07:25he demanded. Ignis smiled at Draven. Our contract is flawless. You heard her. Leave our room.
07:33When everyone left, only Ignis and I remained. He stepped closer. A warning burned in his voice.
07:38Do not look at that ugly lizard. You were a bird yesterday. Do not be so arrogant. His ears turned
07:46red.
07:46Then he grabbed my waist. I am the most beautiful beast here. You are not allowed to regret me.
07:54I used a barrier spell. Then locked him outside my room. Ignis shouted all night.
07:58The next morning, I removed the barrier. A small phoenix lay at my door. He looked exhausted and
08:03pitiful. His new tail feathers were burnt shorter. He noticed my gaze immediately.
08:08Stop looking. When my tail fully grows back, I will be ten thousand times grander than Alora's black
08:13lizard. Before I could answer, Professor Thorne arrived in distress. Ignis caused serious trouble.
08:20A new student had died inside the black forest. Everyone believed Ignis killed her. I inspected
08:26the body first. The magic core was drained, but the wound felt wrong. It carried abyss dragon residue.
08:31Then I went to see Ignis. He was locked in an anti-magic cage. His red feathers were pressed down.
08:37He looked furious and ashamed. I did not kill anyone. She was already dead when I arrived.
08:44I did not even know her. Alora stood nearby and shouted. He killed her for magic. He transformed
08:49too quickly. He must have used dark magic. I saw him near the body. Dreven added only one sentence.
08:56The academy believed them instantly. Professor Thorne turned the accusation toward me. Your beast refused
09:01discipline. He did not train with you. You even studied the codex alone. Ignis stiffened at those
09:07words. I challenged Dreven first. So you saw Ignis near the body. You did not see him kill her.
09:12If someone found the body before him, could Ignis accuse that person too? Alora screamed again.
09:18You defend a murderer! Or are you trying to steal Draven? I ignored her completely. Ignis is my contract
09:24beast. I will take responsibility. Give me time. I will find the real killer.
09:32After everyone left, I turned to Ignis. Why follow the victim? He looked away.
09:38I smelled abyss magic. Then I found the corpse. His voice grew quieter.
09:43You went to the codex because I could not help you. I paused for a moment. I told you before,
09:49when your wounds heal, you can leave the contract. I studied the codex early. That was only preparation.
09:56Ignis's temper broke. You plan to abandon me? Then why risk your life to find sun fruit
10:01for me? Why feed me your magic? When did I agree to leave? His anger was real. So was his
10:08hurt. I did
10:08not know what to say. For the next few days, I investigated Draven secretly. I heard Alara crying
10:14at night. I almost drew my wand. Then her voice turned weak. Then it disappeared. Draven was draining
10:20her. In my last life, Dragon had used my magic. So he never hunted students. This life, Alara's magic
10:26was not enough. So he started killing others. I warned Alara once. Your magic cannot keep up.
10:34Force the contract apart. Before he empties you completely. Alara only glared at me.
10:40You are jealous! Draven is becoming a Lord Dragon! Your phoenix is trapped in a cage!
10:45I pointed at her withered neck. He is feeding on you. She still refused to believe me. I returned
10:53to Ignis. He was still angry. But when I reached through the bars, he lowered his head under my
10:59hand. He let me touch his feathers. I found two more murders. They happened while you were locked
11:04up. This proves you are innocent. Hope sparked through the bond. Professor Thorne released him
11:09that evening. But when I found Ignis, his body was cold. His red feathers had dimmed.
11:17He fell into deep sleep. Professor Thorne lowered his voice. Try using your contract link.
11:23I laid Ignis on my bed. Then placed my hand on his head. My magic entered him carefully. His soul
11:29answered mine. The bond between us grew brighter. But the deeper I went, the more inseparable we became.
11:35If we broke the contract later, the pain would tear both souls. When I opened my eyes, I Ignis
11:40was already awake. His gaze was fixed on me. You used your magic willingly. Then never mention
11:46leaving again. I wanted to question him. His body snapped tense. Fire rose around him defensively.
11:53I turned. Black smoke swallowed my vision. Before I fainted, Ignis leaped in front of me.
12:00When I woke again, Alara was the first person I saw. For a second I almost did not recognize her.
12:07Her golden hair looked like dry grass. Her skin had cracked from magic loss. Her eyes were empty
12:13and desperate. She grabbed my hand tightly. I will give Draven back. You contract with him.
12:21Please. I pulled away. Are you insane? Before she could explain, Draven appeared behind her. Fear filled
12:30her whole face. Lord Draven, I am persuading her. Trash. He kicked her aside. Then his expression
12:39softened toward me. Alia, you returned too, did you not? I finally remembered everything. He pulled me
12:47close by force. In the last life, I burned Allura to ash for you. We were meant to be together.
12:56Allura and that stupid bird are weak. If she had not moved first, we would already be bound.
13:01I would have evolved into a bis dragon. My answer cut clean through him. I will never bind with you
13:07again. He still tried to look noble, but his patience was thinning. Allura snatched up a dagger.
13:12She pressed it to Ignis's neck. He lay wounded and bloody. Only weak flame showed he lived.
13:18If you do not break the contract, I will stab your bird!
13:25If Ignis died, Draven could force a soul binding. High dragon language could overpower me. Whether I
13:30agreed or refused, Draven would still take me. Only one thing remained possible. I could save Ignis.
13:37So I closed my eyes. Inside my soul's sea, I found the glowing magic thread. It connected me to Ignis.
13:44The moment I touched it, the thread trembled like a harp string. Pain split through my mind.
13:50Allura held my shoulders down.
13:51This is all your fault! If you told me Draven's truth, I would never have taken him!
13:57I forced my voice through pain. You were greedy and blind. You wasted your rebirth.
14:03Ignis woke from pain then. He realized what I was doing. You are trying to throw me away again.
14:09I could barely breathe. Then Draven grabbed my throat. His other hand pressed my forehead.
14:14Inside my soul's sea, a black dragon claw appeared. It tore the magic thread apart. Emptiness opened inside
14:21me. At the same time the cage exploded. Ignis went still when he saw me. His body expanded impossibly fast.
14:28Draven grabbed me and fled upward. Black dragon wings shattered the roof. Dust and stones filled
14:33the air. Then a huge red fire wing slammed toward Draven. He released me to dodge. That wing wrapped
14:40around my waist. It pulled me back through dust. Then placed me safely on the ground.
14:48Alara groaned. Alara groaned. Not far away. An iron pillar had pierced her stomach. Blood filled her
14:54mouth. Aliyah, save me. I was wrong. I should not have stolen Draven. Use healing magic.
15:04Her words ended in terror. I followed her gaze upward. Above us, dark gold eyes filled the sky.
15:11Ignis towered over the ruins. Nine massive wings of rebirth fire unfolded across the night. The whole
15:17sky turned daylight red. I had heard the oldest legend. An immortal ancient phoenix existed.
15:23Now, the legend stood above me. Regret hit Alara too late. Then she began screaming.
15:29Why are you ancient phoenix? If I had known I would have chosen you. I would have spent every magic
15:40drop.
15:41Why did I choose wrong again? Ignis did not even look at her. He lowered his noble head towards me.
15:49Before he could speak, Draven's dragon tail attacked. Abyss smoke covered the strike. Ignis picked me up by
15:55my collar. This time he moved me away first. He placed me on a safe ledge. Then he released one
16:00clear cry. Fire shook the whole academy. A black dragon and red phoenix collided above the storm.
16:08Thunder and flame tore the sky. Soon, Draven crashed downward. He smashed into the academy square.
16:14The ground split into a crater. His dragon horn was broken. His scales were burned black. He no longer
16:20looked noble. He looked like an ugly crawler. But he still refused defeat. He crawled toward dying Alara.
16:27Then opened his huge mouth. Alida screamed once. Draven swallowed her whole. Her remaining blood and
16:33magic vanished. Even that did not satisfy him. His vertical pupils turned toward me.
16:41In the last life, you helped me evolve greatly. This life, sacrifice yourself too.
16:48I will remember you forever. I ran toward Ignis. Then hid beneath his burning wing. Draven understood.
16:55He could not win. He opened his broken wings. He tried to flee toward Shadow Forest. Ignis's flaming
17:02tail feathers extended. They wrapped around Draven's body. A desperate dragon roar echoed once. Then
17:09rebirth fire consumed him. His body turned into ash. Even his soul burned away. I found Alara's magic ring
17:15later. It was covered in dirty black blood. She schemed through two lifetimes. In the end her greed
17:20devoured her completely. Ignis folded his burning wings. Black ash fell from his feathers. He lifted his
17:26head proudly. He held his head high and waited. He seemed to be waiting. Waiting for praise. Professor
17:31Thorne arrived with mages. Students gathered behind him in shock. I gave Ignis the freedom he had earned.
17:36You are fully awakened now. The soul contract is severed. You are free, Phoenix.
17:43Ignis's eyes sharpened. He looked angry and hurt. For a moment, he seemed ready to argue. Then he
17:50raised his head. One Phoenix cry rang through the ruins. He became a pillar of flame, then vanished into
17:56the sky. I did not chase him. The healers fixed my small wounds. Professor Thorne came days later.
18:04Alia, choose a new contract beast. The academy will use every resource. This time, we guarantee power
18:11and a gentle temperament. At the new contract ceremony, first year students stood around me.
18:17Because I was the top student, I could choose first. I looked across rare beasts. Wind spirit cats,
18:23frost white owls, storm wolves, silver horned deer. Then my eyes stopped. A bald little owl sat in one
18:30circle. Then my eyes stopped. A bald little owl sat in one circle. Most of its feathers were missing.
18:39Its round eyes looked pleading. Professor Thorne wiped his forehead. He pointed toward a proud white
18:44hound. I think this storm spirit hound matches your magic perfectly. You should choose it. I considered
18:50for a moment, then pointed at the bald owl. I prefer that owl. It is hurt. It cannot even fly.
18:57It looks
18:58pitiful. The white hound's face changed. First shock, then fury. It turned and growled at Professor Thorne.
19:04Professor Thorne began sweating harder. Did your preference change? You always like beautiful feathers.
19:09Soft, fluffy, high level beasts. Do you not sense the hound? Your magic waves match very well.
19:16No matter how he recommended the hound, I kept holding the bald owl. I gave it a soft healing glow.
19:22Do not worry. I will heal you. You will grow beautiful feathers. I glanced at the hound.
19:32After all, I have experience raising bald tails. The bald owl sensed killing tent. It trembled in my palm.
19:40Just as I prepared to contract it, the white hound erupted in fire. Flames swallowed its false body.
19:46Ignis appeared before everyone. His red hair blazed brightly. His golden eyes glared at me.
19:52Your magic taste is terrible. Do you only like featherless rejects?
19:56If I knew that, I would have plucked my tail first. I set the owl safely down.
20:03Then I faced Ignis.
20:07Why did you come back? He looked away. His voice sounded forcibly proud.
20:11I never agreed to break our bond. That stupid dragon tore it apart. I did not.
20:18My silence made him nervous. His arrogance began cracking. A little grieviness hid in his eyes.
20:23I let the silence stretch. Then I could not stop smiling. Change back.
20:29Ignis froze.
20:31What?
20:34Change back.
20:36I do prefer soft feathers. You look terrible to hug as human. For one breath, he forgot how to answer.
20:43Then relief spread across his face. His ears turned red. He still complained while casting.
20:48Do you have any taste? This perfect human body is wasted. You only care about bird feathers.
20:56Absolutely unreasonable.
20:58Fire flashed around him. A small round firebird shot straight into my arms. He was warm,
21:03soft, fluffy, a little heavier than before. He buried his head against me. But his long tail
21:08feathers curled around my wrist tightly. Inside my soul, a bright magic thread appeared again.
21:13This time, it did not bind by force. It shone by choice. Ignis muttered against my sleeve.
21:19You are not allowed to choose bald owls again. Then do not disappear again. I stroked his feathers.
21:26His tail tightened around my wrist. I will not-
21:29Around us, the contract circle glowed gold. No one in the academy dared speak. Professor Thorny removed
21:35his glasses, then wiped them three times. I held Ignis closer. In my last life, I thought the black
21:43dragon was fate. In this life, I learned fate could be stolen, but truth could not. Alara stole the dragon.
21:51The dragon stole her life. Draven chased power. Power burned him into ash. Ignis had looked weak.
21:58Broken. Bald tailed and half dead. But the phoenix was never weak. He was only waiting to rise.
22:06And I was not unlucky anymore. I chose differently. I trusted myself. I protected what deserved protecting.
22:13This time, our contract was not a cage. It was a promise. A phoenix can burn through death. A mage
22:21can
22:21begin again. And when our magic thread lit up, only one truth remained. We had both chosen each other.
Comments