10:38L'honneur a l'honneur a l'honneur a l'honneur.
11:15L'honneur a l'honneur a l'honneur a l'honneur à l'honneur.
12:38It broke her mind, and she took her own life. I never believed it. Before she died, she used the
12:44last of her magic to send me one message.
12:47If I die, enter the Phoenix Cradle. Save them.
12:52From that day on, the Crown Trials were no longer about honor. I had to win.
12:59All right. Let's turn the Academy upside down.
13:02Blood fell into the bonding array, and two names surfaced in my mind.
13:09Aurelia, the Storm Phoenix.
13:15Rhea, the Flame Phoenix.
13:18For ten years, a mysterious Beastmaster roamed the continent, never showing his face.
13:23He appeared at night, hooded and bearing no noble crest.
13:26He refused every lord's reward.
13:28Wherever a beast horde struck, he appeared.
13:31Because of him, countless villages slept soundly.
13:34Children said he came riding on moonlight, so they called him the Moonshadow Rider.
13:38For ten years, Aurelia, Rhea, and I crossed wastelands, snowy ridges, swamps, and borderlands.
13:45Later, one look was enough to cut through an entire beast horde.
13:49Now, the next Crown Trials were five days away.
13:51It was time to go back.
13:52That night, we stayed at an inn below the Academy.
13:55I was about to blow out the candle when shouting broke out downstairs.
13:57Innkeeper, bring out your best wine and meat.
14:00Clear every room upstairs.
14:01I'm sorry, but we're full tonight.
14:04I can't ask my guests to leave.
14:06Do you know who we are?
14:10Oh, riders from Avall Academy.
14:13Forgive me, I'll speak to the guests upstairs right away.
14:16They're from Avall?
14:17Even better.
14:19Before the innkeeper could knock, I threw on my cloak and went downstairs.
14:23Several young people in Academy uniform stood around with wine jugs, laughing loudly.
14:28I heard Lord Seles wants to replace Ira.
14:31Ira was at least impressive with Aldrich.
14:34Ten years with Lord Seles, and she hasn't improved at all.
14:36Lord Seles has already entered the Phoenix Cradle.
14:39Even Aldrich wouldn't stand a chance against him now.
14:41About Aldrich, no one's heard from him in ten years.
14:43He's probably dead somewhere.
14:44Good.
14:44When he woke up back then, I said a few things outside his door.
14:47He knocked me flat.
14:48That guy was vicious.
14:49An old friend, then.
14:55You're the ones trying to take my room.
14:57They didn't even look up.
14:59We're riders from Avall Academy.
15:01We came down to hunt magical beasts.
15:03Of course we get the best rooms.
15:06Moonshadow Rider already cleared out every beast nearby.
15:09So what are you here to hunt?
15:10The roast pig on your plates?
15:11They flew into a rage.
15:15You're asking for it!
15:16An unseen beast aura bore down on them.
15:19Alaric.
15:20Good.
15:21You remember me.
15:23If you love using those badges to scare people, you can do without them.
15:26I turned and headed upstairs.
15:27No rooms for you here.
15:28You better hurry back to the Academy and tell Seles something for me.
15:31Alaric Vale is back.
15:35The Crown Trials came once every ten years and always drew a crowd.
15:39But this year, Arid Academy felt especially tense.
15:43Seles looked grim.
15:45Ira stood beside him, staring me down.
15:47Once I reached the arena, Seles finally spoke.
15:50Alaric, what are you doing back here?
15:52The rules don't say you can only enter once.
15:54The Academy never expelled me either.
15:57However you look at it, I have every right to be here.
15:59Seles' face darkened with every word.
16:01I tilted my head.
16:02Seles, are you scared?
16:03He took a deep breath.
16:05You don't even have a bonded dragon.
16:07I'm not scared of you.
16:08Of course you are.
16:09This time, my bonded beast won't betray me.
16:14Seles' face went cold.
16:20Don't flatter yourself.
16:22I've entered the Phoenix Cradle.
16:24You can't beat me.
16:25His magic was far stronger than ten years ago.
16:27He's using our power.
16:30Then come out for some air.
16:32Slotting out half the sky as thunderclouds rolled in.
16:35All across the arena, bonded beasts cowered in terror.
16:38Ira alone stayed aloft, her pupils shrinking.
16:40So that's why you gave me up so easily.
16:43You'd already found yourself a new divine beast.
16:46Then I drew on Aurelia's power and met Eira head on.
16:49Storm and silver flame collided.
16:51The shockwave sent whole sections of the crowd flying.
16:56Seles' magic had grown far stronger.
16:59Ten years ago, I might not have stopped him.
17:01Too bad he was still ten years behind the crew.
17:04I smiled and poured on more magic.
17:06She froze, then retreated without Seles' command.
17:10Seles stumbled.
17:11Realizing what she'd done, he snapped.
17:16What are you backing off for?
17:17If I keep this up, I'll die.
17:20Ha!
17:20So?
17:21That just means you're weak.
17:23You retreat in the final and still call yourself a silver dragon?
17:26His voice carried across the arena.
17:28Everyone heard him.
17:29Eira shot back coldly.
17:31With Alaric, I was the strongest on the continent.
17:35The moment I bonded with you, I became mediocre.
17:39Whose fault is that?
17:41Once she started, she couldn't stop.
17:43You entered the Phoenix Cradle.
17:45So what?
17:46You still can't beat Alaric.
17:47I must have been blind ten years ago to think you had more potential than him.
17:52The same thought hit us both.
17:54Was she out of her mind?
17:55That lizard really does bite every hand that feeds her, huh?
18:01Seles lowered his head as his aura darkened.
18:03When he looked up, an unnatural red glowed in his eyes.
18:09Eira, you're just a bonded beast.
18:12What gives you the right to judge your master?
18:14He raised a hand.
18:15A massive spectral drake swept in.
18:17It was Cassian's bonded beast, the Obsidian Drake.
18:20It wasn't much of a fighter, but its defenses were formidable.
18:24A perfect counter to Aurelia's storms.
18:27Seles caught the beast seal it sent down.
18:28The smug look returned to his face.
18:32My father's in seclusion in the Forbidden Grounds.
18:35I can command his beast now.
18:37Let's see you beat me.
18:38I raised my hand, my voice carrying across the arena.
18:42Want to make this a numbers game?
18:44Fine.
18:45Ria, come out and play.
18:46A clear phoenix cry pierced the clouds.
18:50Crimson gold fire rained through the sky.
18:53Ria's flame phoenix apparition spread its wings, burning away the thunderclouds.
18:57Ria took human form beside me, her red hair blazing and crimson gold eyes shining with excitement.
19:03Finally, my turn?
19:05She looked around eagerly before finally noticing Seles.
19:08That's my opponent?
19:09He doesn't look very fireproof.
19:11Seles froze, then screamed.
19:13Impossible.
19:14One soulbind with a divine beast is already the most a beastmacker can withstand.
19:18How the hell do you have two?
19:23I'm a genius.
19:24Those limits don't apply to me.
19:26I wasted no more time.
19:27Drawing on Ria's flames, I charged Seles.
19:30The obsidian drake was powerful, but it belonged to his father.
19:33Seles couldn't draw out its full strength.
19:35I toyed with him, taking his attacks apart one by one.
19:38I even had time to glance at rattled Eira.
19:42I caught the look on her face when Ria appeared.
19:45Only then did it finally hit her.
19:48She wasn't a divine beast.
19:50I drove Seles back step by step until he completely lost control.
19:55Eira instinctively started to retreat.
19:57He spun around and blasted her with the drake's power.
20:00Eira's pupils contracted.
20:01She snapped into dragon form and tried to block it.
20:05Her silver scales shattered.
20:07One wing snapped.
20:09Eira screamed, returned to human form, and dropped to one knee.
20:13Spiderweb cracks spread from her waist across her body.
20:16She stared at Seles in disbelief.
20:19Seles glared down at her, his voice cold with rage.
20:23You're dead weight.
20:25I have no use for a bonded beast like you.
20:28Eira tried to speak, but it was too late.
20:31Silverlight flashed.
20:33Eira, once the greatest bonded beast on the continent, died.
20:37She betrayed me for Seles.
20:39In the end, he was the one who killed her.
20:44I seized the opening and struck.
20:46Seles' beast seal shattered.
20:47He crashed to the ground and scrambled backward.
20:50Ria's flames stopped inches from his throat.
20:52The arena fell silent.
20:54The golden bell rang on its own.
20:57Aurid Academy's barrier had recognized its new crowned beastmaster.
21:01How?
21:03Father gave me every resource.
21:05I entered the Phoenix Cradle and I still lost to you?
21:08A filthy commoner!
21:10Because you never learned what it means to be a beastmaster.
21:13Your bonded beast, bloodline, and resources are just what's built on top.
21:17You are the foundation.
21:20Your father said this to me ten years ago.
21:22Now I'll say it to you.
21:24Taking what isn't yours won't make it yours.
21:27He shook, pounding the ground as he saw.
21:30I walked past him and left the arena.
21:33I was now the crowned beastmaster.
21:35The Phoenix Cradle opened deep in the mountains behind the academy.
21:39Anyone without the crown mark would die if they approached.
21:42I stopped at the barrier, took a breath, and stepped through.
21:48The barrier parted around me like mist.
21:51I hadn't gone far.
21:52Cassian rushed out from deeper inside.
21:55So Celes had told the truth.
21:57Cassian was in seclusion.
21:58The moment he saw me, his face twisted into a deep scalp.
22:02What are you doing here?
22:04Where's Celes?
22:05Your son lost.
22:07He's still crying in the arena.
22:09Cassian's face darkens as the obsidian drake's spectral form rose behind him.
22:14Get out.
22:15You don't belong here.
22:17Academy rules allow the crowned beast tecker into the Phoenix Cradle.
22:20The mountain has recognized me.
22:22Who the hell are you to throw me out?
22:24You left the academy ten years ago.
22:26You're no longer one of us.
22:27What right do you have to touch the Phoenix Cradle?
22:30I just beat your son in front of everyone.
22:32Keep blocking me, and I'll beat you too.
22:35Then I'll bury you here today.
22:37I raised a hand.
22:38Both phoenixes showed.
22:39That was one of the few times I showed Cassian any respect.
22:42The obsidian drake was a different beast in Cassian's hands.
22:46The drake's earth aura bore down like the whole mountain.
22:51I didn't take him lightly.
22:53Storm and flame tore through the drake's defenses together.
22:55The three forces collided, numbing my arms.
22:58Cassian fared no better.
23:00He grunted and stumbled back several steps.
23:03His face finally changed when he saw the two phoenixes behind me.
23:06Fear, rage, greed.
23:08You actually escaped.
23:10Aurelia stared at him coldly.
23:12Rhea sneered.
23:13You've kept what's ours long enough.
23:15Time to give it back.
23:17Before I could ask, Cassian turned and ran.
23:19I reacted on instinct, thrusting out a hand and sending flames after him.
23:24The flames formed a spear and pierced straight through his leg.
23:27Cassian hit the ground, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
23:30Aleric, if you kill me, the academy and the nobles will never let you get away with it.
23:37Who said anything about killing you?
23:39For someone like you, death would be a mercy.
23:43Want to learn the secret of the phoenix cradle?
23:45Follow us.
23:46I followed them into the deepest part of the phoenix cradle.
23:50There was no blessing.
23:51Only a sacrificial array piercing the phoenix's hearts.
23:55Countless chains was draining their life force.
23:57Aurelia's voice turned icy.
24:00This is the truth behind the crown.
24:03Safina discovered it.
24:04So she had to die.
24:06I raised a hand.
24:07Storm and flame converged in my palm.
24:10Then we ended here.
24:11After that, there was no more phoenix cradle at Orit.
24:14Only a new headmaster.
24:15Aleric Vale.
