[EngSub] 100-Compatibility

Top Short Drama

#shortdrama #minidrama #microdrama #verticaldrama #shortwebseries #bitesizeddrama #romanceminidrama #revengeshortdrama #ceoromancedrama #billionairedrama #microepisodes #addictiveshortdrama #trendingminidrama #shortfilmseries #familydramashort #topshortdrama #4kverticaldrama #snackabledrama

Transcript

00:00:00Because of our 100% compatibility, Cassian Ashford, Prince of the Phoenix, was forced to become my familiar.

00:00:10But after we bonded, he still had no interest in me.

00:00:13Every day I tried to find new ways to please him.

00:00:16I believed that if I sacrificed enough, he'd eventually fall for me.

00:00:21Until today, when I was once again trying to kiss Cassian.

00:00:25An urgent message suddenly appeared in my communication crystal.

00:00:28Your compatibility with Prince Ashford was calculated incorrectly. He is not your 100% match.

00:00:33I froze. No wonder Cassian had always been so distant.

00:00:37Are we kissing or not? I have somewhere to be.

00:00:43No. Go take care of your work.

00:00:45Are you sure?

00:00:48Yes.

00:00:50He looked me up and down. In the end, he said nothing.

00:00:54He silently fastened his black uniform and prepared to leave.

00:00:57The moment he was gone, I contacted the Academy's companion registry through my communication crystal.

00:01:03What happened?

00:01:05We are very sorry, Miss Bennett.

00:01:08While reviewing our old compatibility records, we discovered an error in the score between you and Prince Ashford.

00:01:14He is not your 100% match.

00:01:17We have been bonded for two years, and you are only finding this out now?

00:01:21We sincerely apologize.

00:01:23The corrected reading still places his compatibility with you at 80%.

00:01:27In theory, your bond should not be affected.

00:01:30You said in theory. What about in reality?

00:01:34In reality, your true 100% match is someone else.

00:01:37Who?

00:01:40We do not know yet. Part of your record was lost. We are doing everything we can to recover it.

00:01:45Have you told Cassian?

00:01:48Not yet. He blocked us.

00:01:51Right. I remembered now.

00:01:53Cassian had been furious when the Academy assigned him to a low-level funeral.

00:01:58He had locked down the entire companion registry.

00:02:01Do not tell him yet. I will figure something out.

00:02:06Thank you, Miss Bennett.

00:02:08The clerk sounded relieved.

00:02:09This world belonged to familiars.

00:02:11Their inborn power had put almost everything in their hands.

00:02:15The phoenixes, however, stood above them all.

00:02:17Cassian was the prince of the phoenix.

00:02:20Offending him was practically asking to die.

00:02:22I had fallen into this world about five years ago.

00:02:26Humans here were limited to low-ranking work.

00:02:28To find my way home.

00:02:30I worked as a low-ranking assistant in the Academy.

00:02:33Then the Academy's companion registry suddenly found me.

00:02:37Said I was the perfect match for the powerful phoenix prince.

00:02:40It took me one second to accept the familiar bond.

00:02:44Cassian had access to every restricted record in the Academy.

00:02:47If I stayed with him, I might find a way home.

00:02:50But Cassian didn't like me.

00:02:52In this world, everything in here is golden and familiar.

00:02:55But no phoenix prince had ever been registered as a low-level human for men.

00:03:00He became the first.

00:03:02All because of the fucking 100% match.

00:03:05After our soul bond, Cassian buried himself in his duties and rarely came home.

00:03:10To repair our relationship, whenever he was home,

00:03:13I used every trick I knew to make love to him.

00:03:16Hoping a baby might bring us closer.

00:03:19But Cassian hated being pressured.

00:03:22I threatened to announce that he couldn't get it up if he refused me.

00:03:25He gave in.

00:03:27Until today, when the truth finally came out.

00:03:30Cassian could never love me.

00:03:32He's a man who had no interest in romance.

00:03:35Only 100% compatibility could open his heart.

00:03:37Thinking back over the past two years, I shuddered.

00:03:41When Cassian learned the truth, would he burn me to ash?

00:03:44After the companion registry contacted me,

00:03:47I'm never going to text Cassian again.

00:03:49I stopped urging him to come home.

00:03:51The message window linking our accounts became unnaturally quiet.

00:03:55For once, Cassian contacted me first through his crystal.

00:03:58I sent a private healer to examine you at home.

00:04:01What? I am not sick.

00:04:03The steward said you've been spacing out and stopped shopping.

00:04:06Not because you're sick.

00:04:07I am fine. Completely fine.

00:04:10Alright.

00:04:11Before, I would already have blurted out that I loved him,

00:04:14missed him, and wanted him.

00:04:16This time, I sent nothing else.

00:04:18Meanwhile, the crystal kept flashing.

00:04:20Only much later did five words finally appear.

00:04:26So soon. There is really no need.

00:04:29Everything is fine at home.

00:04:30You can focus on your work.

00:04:34You do not need to keep worrying about our little household.

00:04:37Cassian sent no reply.

00:04:38He must have been moved by how considerate I was.

00:04:41Hopefully, when the truth came out,

00:04:43he would remember this kindness.

00:04:46But I never expected.

00:04:48Half an hour later, Cassian came back home.

00:04:51He looked travel-worn,

00:04:53as if he rushed back just for me.

00:04:55He pressed his palm to my forehead.

00:04:58Temperature normal. Breathing normal.

00:05:00Aura normal. No sick.

00:05:06I told you.

00:05:07I am fine.

00:05:09Then why have you stopped shopping?

00:05:12Your favorite store releases new magical tools every Monday.

00:05:15You used to buy half the store.

00:05:17Well,

00:05:18I wanted to save you money.

00:05:20You do not need to.

00:05:23No matter how much you spend,

00:05:24I will earn it back.

00:05:26I didn't bond with you to save money.

00:05:28But I could hardly tell him the truth.

00:05:30In the silence,

00:05:31Cassian suddenly lifted me

00:05:33and carried me toward the bedroom.

00:05:37You always said

00:05:40you wanted me to wear this uniform for you in bed.

00:05:44We will do it today.

00:05:46Once.

00:05:46And only once.

00:05:47No, no.

00:05:51You must be exhausted from work.

00:05:53I'm not an asshole

00:05:54who demands you the moment you come home.

00:05:56Rest first.

00:05:57Are you hungry?

00:05:57I will cook for you myself today.

00:06:00I fled into the kitchen.

00:06:02Before closing the door,

00:06:04I caught sight of Cassian still standing there.

00:06:07A little later,

00:06:08he came to find me in the kitchen.

00:06:10Something urgent came up.

00:06:11I have to go back.

00:06:14Okay.

00:06:16I will return as soon as I handle it.

00:06:18Do not rush.

00:06:19Take care of your work.

00:06:21You rarely cook.

00:06:23I must eat this meal.

00:06:24I looked at him

00:06:25and came up with an idea.

00:06:27I will bring it to you

00:06:29when it is ready.

00:06:31Running back and forth

00:06:32is too tiring.

00:06:33All right.

00:06:35Cassian agreed at once,

00:06:37catching me off guard.

00:06:39Perhaps because I was human,

00:06:40he had never liked me

00:06:41going near the royal place.

00:06:43I had only suggested

00:06:44it to brush him off.

00:06:45Who knew he would actually agree?

00:06:47The moment he left,

00:06:48I asked the chef

00:06:49to prepare a meal.

00:06:50Once it was ready,

00:06:51I took my time

00:06:52heading to the academy's royal wing.

00:06:54The building was imposing,

00:06:56carrying the same

00:06:57suffocating pressure

00:06:58as Cassian in his phoenix form.

00:07:00I stopped by the garden

00:07:01outside the royal wing

00:07:02and called him.

00:07:04The usual place.

00:07:06Send your aid to pick it up.

00:07:07Come inside.

00:07:08I will tell the Sentinese

00:07:09to let you pass.

00:07:10This is the most restricted

00:07:11royal compound.

00:07:12Outsiders are forbidden.

00:07:13It is fine.

00:07:14I would like to see

00:07:15who dares stop you.

00:07:16But I always waited

00:07:17at the garden before.

00:07:18Come in.

00:07:20Perhaps I imagined it,

00:07:22but his voice seemed gentler.

00:07:23But I truly didn't want

00:07:24to go inside.

00:07:25We were getting divorced anyway.

00:07:27Why even bother?

00:07:28Cassian's decisions

00:07:29did not allow refusal.

00:07:30I could only force myself

00:07:31to enter.

00:07:32I drew plenty of strange looks

00:07:33along the way.

00:07:34A place like the royal wing

00:07:36was their territory.

00:07:37A human here

00:07:37looked entirely out of place.

00:07:39One leopard even stopped me.

00:07:42Hey, how did you get in?

00:07:44Do those Sentils

00:07:45want to lose their pastes?

00:07:51Someone told him

00:07:52I was Prince Ashford's master.

00:07:54Only then did he

00:07:55look me over repeatedly.

00:07:59Just her?

00:07:59I didn't miss the contempt

00:08:01in his voice.

00:08:01That was how ashamed

00:08:03everyone was of Cassian's bond.

00:08:05As I reached the door

00:08:06to his office,

00:08:07I heard an argument inside.

00:08:09Cassian,

00:08:09you promised to have

00:08:10dinner with me today.

00:08:11How did you forget again?

00:08:17It was Lydia Hart,

00:08:18a pretty nightingale.

00:08:19She was also the daughter

00:08:20of Cassian's instructor.

00:08:22Only after bonding

00:08:23with Cassian

00:08:24did I learn

00:08:24that if his perfect match

00:08:25had never appeared,

00:08:27Lydia was the person

00:08:28he would most likely

00:08:29have chosen.

00:08:30They were genuinely

00:08:30well-matched

00:08:31in family and status.

00:08:33Cassian quietly listened

00:08:34while Lydia lost her temper.

00:08:36Then his head moved slightly.

00:08:38He looked up

00:08:39and met my eyes.

00:08:42You are coming.

00:08:49I need to make

00:08:50one thing clear.

00:08:52This is not what you think.

00:08:53I am sorry.

00:08:54I interrupted you.

00:08:56What was there to explain?

00:08:57If anyone was wrong,

00:08:58it was me.

00:09:00I heard you had

00:09:00dinner plans.

00:09:01What a coincidence.

00:09:04I cooked plenty.

00:09:06You two can share it.

00:09:07So nothing goes to waste.

00:09:11I will leave you to talk.

00:09:13Oh, and Cassia,

00:09:15if you are busy,

00:09:16you do not need

00:09:16to come home tonight.

00:09:17I'm not leaving

00:09:18the light on for you, okay?

00:09:19I did not look at him.

00:09:21I turned and ran.

00:09:24Once outside,

00:09:25I sent the registry

00:09:26a message

00:09:26through my communication crystal.

00:09:29Who is Cassian's

00:09:30real 100% match?

00:09:31We still do not know.

00:09:33His date is being restored,

00:09:34but we can confirm

00:09:35that he has it.

00:09:36Well,

00:09:36I could probably guess

00:09:37who she was.

00:09:38Hurry up.

00:09:39Your office is painfully slow.

00:09:40Put in some overtime.

00:09:42Try a 9-to-5 shift.

00:09:43What is a 9-to-5 shift?

00:09:46Never mind.

00:09:46You would not understand.

00:09:47I was about to put away

00:09:49my crystal

00:09:49when another message appeared.

00:09:51By the way,

00:09:52Miss Bennett,

00:09:53your portion of the record

00:09:54should be restored very soon.

00:09:56The moment it is ready,

00:09:57we will send you

00:09:58the identity

00:09:59of your 100% match.

00:10:01KTX, bye.

00:10:02What does that mean?

00:10:03Don't ask.

00:10:05That evening,

00:10:05I peacefully enjoyed

00:10:06having the house to myself.

00:10:09Unexpectedly,

00:10:09Cassian came home again.

00:10:11I truly had not

00:10:12left a light for him.

00:10:14The sitting room

00:10:14was pitch black.

00:10:15His tall silhouette

00:10:16stood before me

00:10:17in the darkness.

00:10:18I rubbed my eyes

00:10:19and yawned.

00:10:23Why did you come back?

00:10:25This is my home.

00:10:26Am I not allowed to return?

00:10:31That's not what I meant.

00:10:35Vanessa.

00:10:36Yes?

00:10:39There is nothing

00:10:39between Lydia and me.

00:10:41There never was.

00:10:42People always said

00:10:43I would choose her,

00:10:44but it was never true.

00:10:46I have only ever

00:10:47seen her as a fellow.

00:10:49She invited me

00:10:50to her birthday dinner.

00:10:51I thought it was

00:10:52a group thing,

00:10:52so I said yes.

00:10:53I forgot,

00:10:54so she came looking for me.

00:10:56It's fine.

00:10:57You forgot her invitation.

00:10:59Did you apologize?

00:11:00I don't know much

00:11:01about female familiar,

00:11:02but girls are girls.

00:11:04Make it up to her.

00:11:05She'll be fine.

00:11:07And you?

00:11:13Me?

00:11:14I am perfectly fine.

00:11:16I truly was not

00:11:17being sarcastic,

00:11:19but Cassian suddenly bent

00:11:21and swept me

00:11:22into his arms.

00:11:24He became shockingly

00:11:25fierce and eager,

00:11:26still wearing

00:11:27the dark uniform

00:11:28I had always wanted.

00:11:29He pinned me

00:11:30to the bed.

00:11:31Its cold metal

00:11:33fastenings

00:11:33scraped my bare skin

00:11:34and sent tremors

00:11:36through me.

00:11:38In the darkness,

00:11:39he unbuckled his belt.

00:11:41I recovered enough sense

00:11:42to stop him

00:11:43before he entered me.

00:11:44Wait.

00:11:45Put on a condom first.

00:11:47A condom?

00:11:48Yes.

00:11:51When did you buy that?

00:11:54Today.

00:11:55I couldn't admit

00:11:56it was because

00:11:57he'd suddenly

00:11:57tried to sleep with me

00:11:58when he came home

00:11:59at noon.

00:12:01Worried he might try again,

00:12:03I rushed out that afternoon

00:12:04and bought one.

00:12:07Did you not always

00:12:08want a child?

00:12:11Well,

00:12:12I changed my mind.

00:12:13I am still young.

00:12:15Children can wait.

00:12:17I had once

00:12:18considered using a child

00:12:19to secure my place

00:12:20beside him.

00:12:22To find a path home,

00:12:24I had been willing

00:12:25to give up anything.

00:12:26But that path

00:12:27clearly led nowhere now.

00:12:28My priority was

00:12:29to reduce every tie

00:12:30between Cassian and me

00:12:31so his fury

00:12:32would not consume me

00:12:33when the truth came out.

00:12:34I took out a condom

00:12:35and shoved it

00:12:36into his hand.

00:12:38You have been

00:12:38very strange lately.

00:12:40Have I?

00:12:41Yes.

00:12:43Today,

00:12:43no matter how I kissed

00:12:44and touched you

00:12:44whenever we had sex,

00:12:46you used to call me

00:12:47your only one

00:12:48over and over.

00:12:49You even bothered me

00:12:50while I worked

00:12:50and demanded

00:12:51to see my chest.

00:12:53Now you only

00:12:53call me Cassius.

00:12:55What happened?

00:12:56Cassian,

00:12:57I want to break

00:12:57our familiar bond.

00:13:00Why?

00:13:01Maybe we simply

00:13:01do not belong together.

00:13:03Our identities,

00:13:03our backgrounds,

00:13:04our status,

00:13:04none of it fits.

00:13:05Our compatibility

00:13:05proves that we fit perfectly.

00:13:07But compatibility readings

00:13:08are not always right.

00:13:10They are only numbers.

00:13:11We are living people.

00:13:12We cannot force ourselves

00:13:13to stay together

00:13:14for a number.

00:13:15Force?

00:13:20So that is

00:13:21what you think?

00:13:27I need to be alone

00:13:28for a while.

00:13:29With that,

00:13:30he went out

00:13:30to the balcony.

00:13:32The moon was bright,

00:13:33with only a few stars

00:13:35around it.

00:13:36Cassian had forgotten

00:13:36to hide his phoenix tail.

00:13:38Its long feathers

00:13:39hung limply behind him.

00:13:41When I was little,

00:13:42I had raised a cockatiel.

00:13:43When it was happy,

00:13:44its crest stood tall

00:13:45and its tail flicked

00:13:46from side to side.

00:13:48When it was upset,

00:13:49all its feathers

00:13:49drooped like this.

00:13:51Cassian was unhappy.

00:13:52Perhaps I had asked

00:13:53to end our familiar bond

00:13:54too suddenly.

00:13:55He had not been prepared.

00:13:57For a phoenix prince,

00:13:58an exemplary bond

00:13:59was a part of his

00:14:00public reputation.

00:14:01Suddenly dissolving

00:14:02his soul bond

00:14:03would bring pressure

00:14:04from every side.

00:14:05After calming himself,

00:14:09Cassian asked again,

00:14:10You are certain

00:14:11you want to end

00:14:12our familiar bond?

00:14:13Yes.

00:14:14But there is no hurry.

00:14:15I can work around

00:14:16whatever schedule

00:14:17you need.

00:14:18We do need to wait

00:14:18a few days.

00:14:19My father's birthday

00:14:21is in a few days.

00:14:22Please come to the family

00:14:23gathering with me

00:14:23so he does not worry.

00:14:25We can discuss this

00:14:26after the banquet.

00:14:27No problem.

00:14:28Leave it to me.

00:14:29Cassian did not look angry.

00:14:31Wonderful.

00:14:31I sighed with relief.

00:14:33Just as I began

00:14:33congratulating myself,

00:14:35Cassian murmured,

00:14:35So everything you said

00:14:36before was a lie?

00:14:38What?

00:14:42Nothing.

00:14:43Sleep.

00:14:44Good night.

00:14:45Cassian turned

00:14:46and left the bedroom.

00:14:48The companion registry

00:14:50soon sent me the record

00:14:51of my new match.

00:14:52Like me,

00:14:53he was human.

00:14:53His name was Julian Reed,

00:14:55a brilliant human researcher.

00:14:57Almost as tall

00:14:58and well-built

00:14:59as Cassian.

00:15:00In a world ruled by familiar,

00:15:02his intelligence

00:15:02had earned him

00:15:03extraordinary status

00:15:04and wealth.

00:15:05A communication link

00:15:06was listed

00:15:07at the end of the record.

00:15:08That meant he already

00:15:09knew I existed.

00:15:10The office would only

00:15:11release a communication link

00:15:12when one party

00:15:13was willing to meet

00:15:14their match.

00:15:14But I did not contact Julian.

00:15:17I was still bonded

00:15:18to Cassian.

00:15:19I did not want

00:15:20to create more trouble.

00:15:22Besides,

00:15:22sooner or later

00:15:23I would leave this world.

00:15:24There was no reason

00:15:25to hurt another one.

00:15:27That weekend,

00:15:28Cassian came to take me

00:15:29to the family banquet

00:15:30as promised.

00:15:37I need you to bear

00:15:38with this today.

00:15:39We have to pretend

00:15:39we are deeply in love.

00:15:41Do not worry.

00:15:42I will only have eyes

00:15:43for you.

00:15:46There is one more thing.

00:15:47My brother is coming

00:15:48home today.

00:15:49You have a brother?

00:15:50Why have you never

00:15:51mentioned him?

00:15:52We have the same mother

00:15:53but different fathers.

00:15:54He is the son she had

00:15:55with her first husband

00:15:56before she married my father.

00:15:57He is human.

00:15:59Human?

00:16:00Yes.

00:16:01My mother was human.

00:16:02Strictly speaking,

00:16:03I am only half phoenix.

00:16:05Bloodline mattered

00:16:05enormously in the magical world.

00:16:07In the eyes of its creatures,

00:16:09a half blood ranked

00:16:10even lower than a human.

00:16:11I had heard the controversy

00:16:12surrounding Cassian's

00:16:13heritage before.

00:16:15Even so,

00:16:16hearing him admit it

00:16:16so frankly surprised me.

00:16:18It was impossible

00:16:19to imagine the pressure

00:16:20and pain.

00:16:21A half phoenix

00:16:22had endured to be

00:16:23accepted as a prince.

00:16:24But Cassian did not

00:16:25seem to care.

00:16:27We reached the family manor.

00:16:28Cassian's father,

00:16:30the phoenix king,

00:16:31headed the academy council.

00:16:33Many prominent figures

00:16:34attended his birthday banquet.

00:16:35I linked my arm

00:16:36through Cassian's

00:16:37and ignored

00:16:37the assessing stares.

00:16:39Cassian,

00:16:39is this your

00:16:40100% familiar bond?

00:16:44What does a perfect match

00:16:45feel like?

00:16:46Tell us.

00:16:48Exactly.

00:16:49100%

00:16:50is incredibly rare.

00:16:52My mage and I

00:16:52scored 70%

00:16:53and even that

00:16:54is considered high.

00:16:55Tell me about it.

00:16:56I once matched

00:16:57at 68%

00:16:58and my mother

00:16:58nearly lit

00:16:59every candle

00:17:00in the chapel.

00:17:01Then I had better

00:17:02keep it to myself.

00:17:03I would hate

00:17:04to make you jealous.

00:17:05Oh, please.

00:17:06What kind of friends

00:17:07do you think we are?

00:17:08Still,

00:17:09we envy you.

00:17:10I heard perfect matches

00:17:11have unusual physical reactions

00:17:13when they first meet.

00:17:13Yes.

00:17:14Supposedly,

00:17:15your heart stumbles

00:17:16and light flashes

00:17:17before your eyes.

00:17:18You recognize each other

00:17:19without ever seeing the score.

00:17:20Was that true?

00:17:21I had never heard it before.

00:17:22When I remembered

00:17:23my first meeting

00:17:24with Cassian,

00:17:25none of that had happened.

00:17:26If Cassian had felt

00:17:27nothing either,

00:17:28would he not realize

00:17:28our compatibility record

00:17:29was wrong?

00:17:30I hurriedly looked up at him,

00:17:31but his expression was calm

00:17:33without a hint of surprise.

00:17:34You also feel

00:17:35an overwhelming need

00:17:37for physical closeness

00:17:38with the other person.

00:17:39Every voice stopped.

00:17:41Cassian lowered his head

00:17:42as if he were looking at me.

00:17:45His friends groaned

00:17:46that they had never expected

00:17:47this side of him.

00:17:48They had no idea

00:17:49my back was already slick

00:17:50with cold sweat.

00:17:51Why was he looking at me?

00:17:52Had he discovered

00:17:53the number was wrong?

00:17:54What was he thinking now?

00:17:55Burning down that useless

00:17:56companion registry

00:17:57one thing at a time.

00:17:59If he burned down the office,

00:18:00he could not burn me too.

00:18:01While my thoughts ran wild,

00:18:03the banquet officially began.

00:18:04The host stepped forward

00:18:05to speak.

00:18:06I invited all of you here

00:18:07because I have something

00:18:08extremely important to announce.

00:18:12My wife died young.

00:18:14Before she married me,

00:18:15she had a son.

00:18:16After her death,

00:18:17the boy was orphaned.

00:18:18I brought him into my home

00:18:19and raised him alongside Cassian.

00:18:21After all these years,

00:18:22we are father and son

00:18:23in every way that matters.

00:18:24Today, I formally declare him

00:18:25a true member

00:18:26of the Ashford family.

00:18:27The hall fell silent.

00:18:28What the old man had done

00:18:29in his youth

00:18:30was still legendary

00:18:31throughout magical society.

00:18:32He was the Phoenix King

00:18:33and head of the Academy Council.

00:18:35Yet, he fell in love

00:18:36with a human widow

00:18:36who already had a child.

00:18:38He ignored everyone's objections

00:18:39and insisted on marrying her.

00:18:41Now, he even intended

00:18:42to claim her son

00:18:43by her first husband as his own.

00:18:45Had he lost his mind,

00:18:46the same thought

00:18:47was written across every face.

00:18:48Only Cassian looked

00:18:49as if he had known all along.

00:18:51Does it not bother you?

00:18:53Why would you say it?

00:18:54He is human,

00:18:55but he will be your older brother.

00:18:57My mother was human.

00:18:58So are you.

00:18:59His answer was so open

00:19:01and untroubled

00:19:01that it surprised me.

00:19:02As he had all those years ago,

00:19:04the old man ignored

00:19:05every objection.

00:19:07Come here, Julian.

00:19:08Let everyone meet you.

00:19:09At that name,

00:19:10my mind went blank for a moment.

00:19:11I slowly lifted my head

00:19:13and saw him.

00:19:16Julian Ashford.

00:19:17My true 100% familiar.

00:19:21Julian's gaze crossed

00:19:22the crowded hall

00:19:23and landed on me

00:19:24at the same moment.

00:19:25The instant our eyes met,

00:19:26my heart contracted violently.

00:19:28Every cell in my body

00:19:29seemed to scream

00:19:30that I wanted him,

00:19:31but it lasted only a moment.

00:19:32Because I was human,

00:19:34I was not a familiar ruled

00:19:35by the need to mate.

00:19:36That was the human advantage.

00:19:38We could control our desires.

00:19:40Julian glanced at my arm

00:19:41linked through Cassian's.

00:19:42His expression remained

00:19:43perfectly calm.

00:19:44Like me,

00:19:45he knew how to control everything.

00:19:47Cassian's father

00:19:47took Julian around the hall

00:19:49to meet the guests.

00:19:50Soon,

00:19:51they reached us.

00:19:52Julian greeted Cassian first.

00:19:54Three years

00:19:55and you look even taller.

00:19:57Have you reached 6'3 yet?

00:19:58Just under.

00:19:596'2.

00:20:01You spent three years

00:20:02shut away with your research

00:20:03and never thought to visit home.

00:20:04I am here now,

00:20:05am I not?

00:20:06And this is...

00:20:08Vanessa Bennett,

00:20:09my familial bonded master.

00:20:11I invited you to our ceremony,

00:20:12but you were too busy to come.

00:20:14My fault.

00:20:15I will drink three glasses

00:20:16as punishment.

00:20:17Fine.

00:20:18Since you offered,

00:20:19I will make sure

00:20:20you drink properly tonight.

00:20:22Your master will not mind,

00:20:23will she?

00:20:24Drink all you want.

00:20:25Do not worry about me.

00:20:26After three rounds of wine,

00:20:28the faint, pleasant scent

00:20:29of Julian deepened

00:20:30with the alcohol

00:20:31and stirred a sexual hunger

00:20:32in my body.

00:20:33I used the washroom

00:20:34as an excuse

00:20:35to step outside for air.

00:20:36Fresh air filled my lungs

00:20:38and finally cleared the haze.

00:20:40After I sat alone

00:20:41for a moment,

00:20:42a voice came from behind me.

00:20:44Vanessa,

00:20:45may I call you that?

00:20:49It was Julian,

00:20:50mindful of the boundary.

00:20:52He stopped three yards away.

00:20:57I kept wondering

00:20:58why my match never contacted me.

00:21:00After seeing you today,

00:21:01I understand.

00:21:02The companion registry

00:21:03made a mistake.

00:21:04I thought Cassie and I

00:21:05were 100% compatible.

00:21:08I understand.

00:21:09It would not be the first time

00:21:10they got something wrong.

00:21:11But Cassie still does not know.

00:21:14Please do not tell him yet.

00:21:16He does not know?

00:21:18The companion registry

00:21:19is still trying to decide

00:21:20how to tell him.

00:21:22Their service is terrible.

00:21:24Clearly, none of them

00:21:25have ever survived

00:21:26corporate crunch.

00:21:27Exactly.

00:21:28If I were their boss,

00:21:29I would put them

00:21:30on a 9-to-9 schedule.

00:21:31At that speed,

00:21:32even 24-7

00:21:33would not save them.

00:21:37Wait.

00:21:40You fell into this world too?

00:21:43What is happening?

00:21:44Is this real?

00:21:46Am I dreaming?

00:21:48When did you arrive?

00:21:49Five years ago.

00:21:50What about you?

00:21:52A little earlier.

00:21:53I was born into this world.

00:21:55Man,

00:21:55that is not a little earlier.

00:21:57That is much earlier.

00:22:00Fair.

00:22:01If I had known you were one of us.

00:22:03So,

00:22:03how are you holding up here?

00:22:05I hate this cursed magical world.

00:22:07I want to go home.

00:22:09We almost can.

00:22:11What?

00:22:12I became a magic researcher

00:22:14to find a way back.

00:22:15I have made real progress.

00:22:17Barring an accident,

00:22:18the portal should be ready soon.

00:22:22No way.

00:22:24Are you a god?

00:22:25You have to be a god.

00:22:27It is only a little research.

00:22:29I have it handled.

00:22:30Julian flashed a hand gesture

00:22:31only someone from our world

00:22:33would recognize.

00:22:34An instant sense of kinship

00:22:35rose between us.

00:22:38I was the youngest researcher

00:22:39ever published

00:22:40in one of the top journals

00:22:41before I came here after all.

00:22:43That was you?

00:22:44I think I saw the news about you.

00:22:47I remembered a very young

00:22:49academic prodigy.

00:22:50After his story appeared in the news,

00:22:52most people cared more

00:22:53about his handsome face

00:22:54than his research.

00:22:55I had even sent the article

00:22:56to my best friend

00:22:57and written,

00:22:58look,

00:22:59my perfect type.

00:23:00Now that same golden boy

00:23:01sat before me,

00:23:02discussing how to take us home.

00:23:04The more we talked,

00:23:05the more excited we became.

00:23:06Neither of us noticed

00:23:07the figure who had appeared

00:23:08behind us.

00:23:09Vanessa.

00:23:11So this is where you are.

00:23:14Vanessa and I are both human.

00:23:16We started talking

00:23:17and lost track of time.

00:23:18Father is waiting for you inside.

00:23:20You should go to him.

00:23:22You are right.

00:23:24By the way, Vanessa,

00:23:26you are welcome to visit

00:23:27my academy lab

00:23:28whenever you like.

00:23:30The moment he left,

00:23:31Cassian wrapped an arm

00:23:32around my shoulders.

00:23:33His hand closed tightly

00:23:34over the place.

00:23:35Julian had brushed.

00:23:36What were you discussing?

00:23:38You looked happy.

00:23:39It's only about his research.

00:23:43Are you going to visit his chamber?

00:23:45Maybe.

00:23:46We will see.

00:23:47I clenched my jaw

00:23:48and tried to remain composed.

00:23:50For the first time,

00:23:51I understood what was terrifying

00:23:52about a familiar like Cassian.

00:23:54He was still holding

00:23:55his human form.

00:23:56Yet, I could almost feel

00:23:58his fire moving over my skin,

00:23:59searching for somewhere

00:24:00to brand me.

00:24:02His possessiveness had erupted,

00:24:03but I did not think

00:24:05it came from love.

00:24:06It was a male creature's

00:24:07instinct.

00:24:10I had to visit Julian's academy lab.

00:24:13I needed to see the portal

00:24:14that could take me home.

00:24:16The moment Cassian left

00:24:18for duty the next morning,

00:24:19I slipped out.

00:24:22Julian showed me

00:24:23the results of his research.

00:24:24They gave me enormous hope.

00:24:27In that atmosphere,

00:24:28time flew.

00:24:30Only at dusk

00:24:31did I notice

00:24:32the countless

00:24:32missed communication

00:24:33crystal calls

00:24:34and messages from Cassian.

00:24:37Casper's looking for you?

00:24:39Yes.

00:24:41Did you not say

00:24:41he was never very warm

00:24:42toward you?

00:24:43Who knows what has

00:24:44gotten into him lately?

00:24:46Maybe his male possessiveness

00:24:47finally woke up?

00:24:49Julian extinguished

00:24:50the lamps in the chamber

00:24:51and we left together.

00:24:53The moment we went downstairs,

00:24:55we ran into Cassian.

00:24:56I did not know how long

00:24:58he had been standing there.

00:25:00Your escort said

00:25:01you were here.

00:25:02I did not believe him.

00:25:04I did not expect

00:25:05it to be true.

00:25:06I am sorry.

00:25:08I did not check

00:25:08my communication crystal.

00:25:11Cassian looked

00:25:11at Julian beside me.

00:25:12He seemed about

00:25:13to ask something,

00:25:14but in the end,

00:25:15he said nothing.

00:25:17Are you finished playing?

00:25:19Can we go home now?

00:25:20He held out his hand to me.

00:25:22I silently walked over.

00:25:23My mind was still

00:25:24on the portal experiment

00:25:25I had just seen.

00:25:26Then Julian said,

00:25:27Vanessa,

00:25:28it is a shame

00:25:29I cannot take you home tonight.

00:25:30Come back tomorrow.

00:25:32I will show you

00:25:33something even better.

00:25:38She will not be here tomorrow.

00:25:40I would not be so certain.

00:25:43The air instantly

00:25:44turned vicious.

00:25:47Come to think of it, Cassian,

00:25:48you once invited me

00:25:49to visit your home

00:25:50in a letter.

00:25:51Why not tonight?

00:25:52It is not convenient.

00:25:54What a pity.

00:25:55I was curious to see

00:25:56the place where Vanessa

00:25:58and you live.

00:25:59Do you not have a home

00:25:59of your own?

00:26:00Must you inspect

00:26:01someone else's?

00:26:02As it happens,

00:26:03I do not.

00:26:04Have you forgotten?

00:26:06Both my parents are dead.

00:26:08I did not expect him

00:26:09to reopen such a painful wound.

00:26:11Vanessa,

00:26:11does he always treat you

00:26:12this way?

00:26:14You do not get

00:26:15to call her Vanessa.

00:26:19Forget it.

00:26:19I was joking.

00:26:20Cassian,

00:26:21you guard your master

00:26:21so fiercely.

00:26:22What will you do

00:26:23if someone steals her one day?

00:26:24That day will never come.

00:26:27I love Vanessa

00:26:28and she.

00:26:29Cassian hesitated.

00:26:30Loves me.

00:26:31He did not even dare

00:26:32add the word deeply.

00:26:35I envy you.

00:26:37Still,

00:26:38the companion registry

00:26:39contacted me recently too.

00:26:42I also have a perfect master.

00:26:44Julian kept his eyes on me.

00:26:45It was an open challenge.

00:26:46Cassian stepped sideways

00:26:47and blocked me

00:26:48with his tall body.

00:26:49Julian Reed,

00:26:50I would not mind

00:26:51killing you here.

00:26:52The situation

00:26:53was slipping out of control.

00:26:54I finally came back

00:26:55to my senses

00:26:56and tugged at Cassian.

00:26:57Let us go home.

00:27:01I finally managed

00:27:02to drag Cassian away.

00:27:04Inside the carriage,

00:27:05he said,

00:27:06Vanessa,

00:27:07you should not have met him

00:27:08behind my back.

00:27:09Why not?

00:27:11You are my master.

00:27:13Yet you spent

00:27:14an entire day alone

00:27:15with another male

00:27:16in a sealed room.

00:27:17Even the magic

00:27:18in the air around us shifted.

00:27:19I could feel

00:27:20Cassian's emotions.

00:27:21He was close

00:27:21to losing his mind.

00:27:22He was doing everything

00:27:24he could not

00:27:24to picture Julian

00:27:25having sex with me.

00:27:27But we are ending

00:27:28our bond,

00:27:28are we not?

00:27:29We agreed to discuss

00:27:30it after the banquet.

00:27:32You truly want

00:27:33to leave me?

00:27:34For him?

00:27:35Not for him,

00:27:37but I have my reasons.

00:27:38I answered

00:27:39as if it were obvious.

00:27:40At first,

00:27:41I had wanted to leave

00:27:42because our compatibility

00:27:42score was wrong,

00:27:43but now,

00:27:44I could go home.

00:27:45Since Cassian

00:27:46did not love me,

00:27:47I wanted to free him

00:27:48before I left.

00:27:48Cassian said nothing else.

00:27:50I assumed

00:27:50he was already considering

00:27:51how to announce

00:27:52the dissolution

00:27:52of our bond.

00:27:55But the moment

00:27:56we got home,

00:27:57he dragged me

00:27:57into the bathroom.

00:28:00Washing you.

00:28:02Another male scent

00:28:03is on you.

00:28:03It has to come off.

00:28:05Those clothes

00:28:06can be burnt.

00:28:11I can wash myself!

00:28:18No.

00:28:19I cannot trust you

00:28:20to remove all of it.

00:28:21Cassian stubbornly

00:28:22scrubbed every inch

00:28:23of me while the shower

00:28:24soaked his shirt.

00:28:25Something was wrong

00:28:26with him.

00:28:27His pupils had narrowed

00:28:28and heat shimmered

00:28:29around his body.

00:28:30Jealousy seemed

00:28:31to have driven him

00:28:31into mating heat early.

00:28:33His body was demanding me.

00:28:37When the bath

00:28:38finally ended,

00:28:39he went to get clothes

00:28:40for me.

00:28:42I recognized them.

00:28:44It was the outfit

00:28:45I had planned to wear

00:28:45when I wanted him

00:28:46to have sex with me

00:28:47on the day.

00:28:48I learned our score

00:28:48was wrong.

00:28:50Cassian put it on me

00:28:50without allowing an argument.

00:28:54So this was how terrifying

00:28:55a familiar could be

00:28:56in the early mating heat.

00:29:01There had not been

00:29:02much fabric to begin with,

00:29:03and after hours

00:29:04of rough sex,

00:29:05even less remained intact.

00:29:06Thinking it was over,

00:29:07I pushed him.

00:29:09Go change.

00:29:10Your clothes are soaked.

00:29:11That cannot be comfortable.

00:29:14Cassian went to change,

00:29:15but he returned

00:29:16in his austere black uniform,

00:29:18complete with leather straps

00:29:19around his thigh.

00:29:20They held his wand

00:29:21and dagger.

00:29:22Still wearing it,

00:29:23his face expressionless,

00:29:24he dragged me back

00:29:25to bed again.

00:29:27He seemed to be crying.

00:29:28You are hiding

00:29:29something from me.

00:29:31Tears fell hot

00:29:32against my skin.

00:29:33That was when I learned

00:29:34even if Phoenix's tears

00:29:35could burn.

00:29:37You are so happy

00:29:38talking to him.

00:29:40If it is not him,

00:29:41there will be another

00:29:41familiar, will there not?

00:29:43Can we stay together, please?

00:29:45He kept going

00:29:46until I lost consciousness

00:29:47from the pleasure.

00:29:50When I woke the next morning,

00:29:52Cassian was still home.

00:29:53He was calmer

00:29:54than he had been

00:29:54the night before.

00:29:55Kneeling on one knee,

00:29:57he helped me

00:29:58pull on my stockings.

00:29:59I rubbed my aching waist.

00:30:01The atmosphere

00:30:02was a little awkward.

00:30:03After all,

00:30:04I had enjoyed

00:30:05the sex, too.

00:30:07I was about to speak

00:30:08when Cassian's

00:30:09communication crystal

00:30:09suddenly rang.

00:30:10His royal aide

00:30:11was calling.

00:30:14Your Highness,

00:30:15something happened.

00:30:16Keep it under control.

00:30:17I am coming now.

00:30:19No, it is not

00:30:19about the court.

00:30:20It is your

00:30:21compatibility record.

00:30:27Cassian finally received

00:30:28the completed

00:30:28compatibility report.

00:30:31He gripped the two

00:30:32sheets of parchment

00:30:32until his knuckles

00:30:33went white.

00:30:34The entire companion

00:30:35registry had been cleared.

00:30:37Its staff stood in a

00:30:38trembling line,

00:30:39hardly daring to breathe.

00:30:40Twenty minutes earlier,

00:30:41the restoration of

00:30:43Cassian's record

00:30:43had finished.

00:30:44Unable to reach him

00:30:45directly,

00:30:46a new apprentice

00:30:47had sent the report

00:30:48to his aide.

00:30:49The error the entire

00:30:50office had fought to

00:30:51conceal had landed

00:30:52directly in Cassian's hands.

00:30:54Now even his most

00:30:54trusted officer knew.

00:30:55I was still Cassian's

00:30:57100% match,

00:30:58but he was only

00:30:59my 80%.

00:31:00At the same time,

00:31:01Cassian saw my report.

00:31:03It clearly named

00:31:04Julian as my

00:31:05perfect familiar.

00:31:13The elderly director

00:31:14sat in a wheeled chair

00:31:15and said with a

00:31:17shaking voice,

00:31:17Your Highness,

00:31:18every mistake

00:31:19was mine.

00:31:20I will pay

00:31:20with my life.

00:31:22Leave it in.

00:31:23I have questions.

00:31:26Ask anything.

00:31:28Where did I lose

00:31:29those 20%?

00:31:34Must I say it?

00:31:36This concerns

00:31:37your privacy.

00:31:40Say it.

00:31:44Well,

00:31:44after comparing

00:31:45every aspect

00:31:46of the bond,

00:31:46we found that

00:31:47your sexual

00:31:47compatibility

00:31:48is the problem.

00:31:50What exactly

00:31:51is wrong with it?

00:31:52Your stamina

00:31:54is more than

00:31:54her body can wandle.

00:31:56If you go all out,

00:31:57you're going to

00:31:57make her pass out.

00:31:58You have been

00:31:59bonded for two years.

00:32:00Did you truly

00:32:00never notice?

00:32:01Driven mad by jealousy,

00:32:02he had stopped

00:32:03holding back during sex

00:32:04for the first time

00:32:05the previous night.

00:32:06He kept pleasuring me

00:32:07until I passed out.

00:32:08Cassian thought

00:32:09I had simply fallen

00:32:10asleep from

00:32:10exhaustion.

00:32:11He had no idea

00:32:12about it.

00:32:13Anything else?

00:32:14Nothing.

00:32:15That single problem

00:32:15accounts for all

00:32:1620 points.

00:32:20Then why does

00:32:21he reach 100%?

00:32:22I have never seen

00:32:23a report this strange.

00:32:24His magical signature

00:32:25and Mrs. Bennet's

00:32:26follow an almost

00:32:27identical pattern.

00:32:28They appear to come

00:32:29from the same kind

00:32:29of people,

00:32:30which push the reading

00:32:30to 100%.

00:32:31Are they related

00:32:32by blood?

00:32:33No, no.

00:32:34Nothing like that.

00:32:35They simply came

00:32:35from the same place.

00:32:37Cassian turned

00:32:37toward me.

00:32:38My thoughts raced.

00:32:39If he asked

00:32:40whether Julian

00:32:41and I were

00:32:41from the same world,

00:32:42how could I

00:32:43explain it away?

00:32:44But he did

00:32:45ask nothing at all.

00:32:46My heart sank.

00:32:47He knew.

00:32:51Cassian and I

00:32:52returned home.

00:32:53He sat in silence

00:32:54on the balcony.

00:32:58So this is why

00:32:59you wanted to

00:32:59dissolve our bond.

00:33:01You found a human

00:33:02with a higher

00:33:03compatibility score.

00:33:0580% is still

00:33:06very high.

00:33:07Please do not

00:33:07be unhappy.

00:33:10I am sorry.

00:33:13What are you

00:33:13apologizing for now?

00:33:14I hurt you

00:33:15during bed last night,

00:33:16did I not?

00:33:17Are you still sore?

00:33:19Yes.

00:33:20Yes, but I am fine.

00:33:22You are very handsome

00:33:23when you lose control.

00:33:26I will be more careful

00:33:27in the future,

00:33:28if you are willing.

00:33:30If you are not,

00:33:31that is all right.

00:33:34You are free.

00:33:36It will be difficult,

00:33:37but I will control myself.

00:33:39I could not resist

00:33:40kissing his hair.

00:33:42The soft, warm feathers

00:33:43trembled against my lips.

00:33:45His phoenix tail

00:33:45was still visible

00:33:46behind him.

00:33:47Now its feathers

00:33:48lifted and swayed

00:33:49from side to side.

00:33:50He buried his face

00:33:51against me.

00:33:53That useless

00:33:54companion registry

00:33:55is wrong.

00:33:56We are 100% compatible,

00:33:58there is no question.

00:33:59The first time I saw you,

00:34:01my heart shook

00:34:02and my blood boiled.

00:34:03My body and soul

00:34:04recognized you

00:34:04before any record did.

00:34:09If you felt all of that,

00:34:11why were you always

00:34:12so cold to me?

00:34:14I am sorry, Vanessa.

00:34:16There was a reason.

00:34:18Let me take you somewhere.

00:34:19Then you may understand.

00:34:23Cassian took me

00:34:24to a cemetery.

00:34:25His mother was buried there.

00:34:26The woman in the portrait

00:34:28wore a gentle smile.

00:34:29Cassian had inherited her eyes.

00:34:33After her first husband died,

00:34:35mother wandered

00:34:36without a home with Julian

00:34:37until she met my father.

00:34:40I had never seen

00:34:41two people more devoted

00:34:42to each other.

00:34:43Later,

00:34:44the companion registry

00:34:45found they were only

00:34:4680% compatible.

00:34:47But to me,

00:34:48they were 100%.

00:34:52My mother was human though.

00:34:54A fragile human.

00:34:57His enemies could not kill him

00:34:59so they killed his weakness instead.

00:35:02They killed my mother.

00:35:04My mouth opened

00:35:05but I could not say a word.

00:35:06I could not imagine it.

00:35:08A man who had loved

00:35:09as deeply as Cassian's father

00:35:10must have fallen

00:35:11into bottomless despair

00:35:12after losing her.

00:35:14Cassian bent

00:35:14and placed the flowers

00:35:16he had brought

00:35:16before the head crystal.

00:35:18Many more flowers

00:35:19surrounded it.

00:35:20Some were fresh

00:35:21while others

00:35:21had already withered.

00:35:23People clearly

00:35:23visited her often.

00:35:24My father planned to die with her.

00:35:27Then he turned

00:35:28and saw Julian and me

00:35:29staring up at him.

00:35:31He could not bear

00:35:32to leave us

00:35:33so he stayed alive.

00:35:35When my compatibility result

00:35:36came out,

00:35:37I swore I would never let

00:35:38mother's tragedy happen to you.

00:35:40Understanding slowly came to me.

00:35:42So that is why

00:35:42you kept me away

00:35:43from royal ceremonies

00:35:44and rarely appeared

00:35:45with me in public?

00:35:46Yes.

00:35:47Hiding you was the only way

00:35:48I could protect you.

00:35:50Then why did you block

00:35:51the companion registry?

00:35:53I did not block them.

00:35:55I deleted their

00:35:56communication crystal links.

00:35:58I had already found

00:35:59my perfect master

00:36:00so there was no reason

00:36:01to keep them.

00:36:02I never intended

00:36:03to bond again.

00:36:04But you were still distant

00:36:06whenever you came home.

00:36:09Have you forgotten

00:36:10how sharp a familiar

00:36:11senses are?

00:36:12His arm was covered

00:36:13in terrible wounds.

00:36:14If I ever released

00:36:15all my power

00:36:16your scent would soak

00:36:16into me.

00:36:18Every enemy I met

00:36:19would learn exactly

00:36:20who you were.

00:36:22This was the only way

00:36:24I could control myself.

00:36:26Without my knowledge,

00:36:27Cassian had hurt himself

00:36:28to stop himself

00:36:29from having sex with me.

00:36:30The sight made my heart ache.

00:36:32Yet Cassian apologized

00:36:33to me.

00:36:34I am sorry.

00:36:36Why are you apologizing?

00:36:39My behavior made you

00:36:40misunderstand me.

00:36:41I am truly sorry.

00:36:44Do not.

00:36:45I was wrong too.

00:36:46That 80% was painfully

00:36:48difficult to explain.

00:36:49I thought again

00:36:50of the little bird

00:36:51I had raised.

00:36:52In its eyes,

00:36:52I had been its whole world.

00:36:54Yet I had still

00:36:54loved other birds.

00:36:55I could not stop myself

00:36:57from holding Cassian tightly.

00:36:58He lowered his head

00:36:59and kissed me.

00:37:00In that moment,

00:37:01I did not want to think

00:37:02about anything.

00:37:03Not compatibility scores.

00:37:05Not choosing

00:37:06between two matches.

00:37:07I only knew

00:37:08we were bound together.

00:37:09He was both my conscience

00:37:10and my instinct.

00:37:13Julian worked faster

00:37:14than I expected.

00:37:16One a week later,

00:37:17he told me the portal

00:37:18was ready to take us home.

00:37:19The news came so suddenly

00:37:21that I did not know

00:37:22what to do.

00:37:22Looking at the portrait

00:37:24from my bonding ceremony

00:37:25beside the bed,

00:37:26I felt unexpectedly

00:37:27reluctant to leave.

00:37:28But when I thought

00:37:29of my parents and friends,

00:37:31I hardened my heart

00:37:32and replied to Julian,

00:37:33I will pack.

00:37:34Meet you in the academy lab.

00:37:36In truth,

00:37:37I had almost nothing to pack.

00:37:39But I needed to leave

00:37:40Cassian a letter

00:37:41explaining everything.

00:37:42It took me half an hour

00:37:43to write.

00:37:45No reply from Julian

00:37:47appeared in my communication

00:37:48crystal during that time.

00:37:50I did not think much of it.

00:37:52When the letter was finished,

00:37:53I put on the clothes

00:37:54I had been wearing

00:37:55when I first entered this world

00:37:56and left the house

00:37:57feeling light.

00:37:58But halfway there,

00:38:00my communication crystal lit

00:38:01with an incoming call.

00:38:02It was Cassian's royal aid.

00:38:05My lady,

00:38:07you can finally answer.

00:38:08Where are you?

00:38:10Me?

00:38:11I am in the Central Market Square.

00:38:13Why?

00:38:15You are safe.

00:38:17Why would I not be?

00:38:18Damn it.

00:38:19If you are safe,

00:38:20the prince is in danger.

00:38:22What happened?

00:38:24The rebels used a false image of you

00:38:25to lure the Phoenix King's son

00:38:27into a trap.

00:38:28Why did he not contact me first

00:38:29and make sure?

00:38:30Every communication crystal

00:38:32in and around your home

00:38:33was blocked.

00:38:33No calls entered

00:38:34and no messages arrived.

00:38:36There was no time

00:38:37to go home and check,

00:38:38so the prince went

00:38:39to save you first.

00:38:40I tried your communication crystal

00:38:41countless times.

00:38:45This is the first call

00:38:46that connected.

00:38:49I looked down

00:38:50at my communication crystal.

00:38:51Only then did Julian's replies

00:38:53pour in like snow.

00:39:01I had never realized

00:39:02that my real choice

00:39:03would come here.

00:39:05One step forward

00:39:05was the road home.

00:39:07Behind me,

00:39:07Cassian's fate was unknown,

00:39:09just as I had

00:39:10when I first accepted our match.

00:39:11I needed only one second

00:39:13to choose.

00:39:14Give me Cassian's location.

00:39:17As I hurried toward

00:39:18the abandoned academy workshop,

00:39:19I remembered the little bird

00:39:20I had raised as a child.

00:39:22People always favor

00:39:23the first pet they ever loved,

00:39:24even when they know

00:39:25other birds may be prettier

00:39:27and more affectionate.

00:39:28They still cannot forget the first,

00:39:30because it gave them

00:39:31their earliest companionship

00:39:32and warmth.

00:39:33Cassian was the same.

00:39:34He was the first person

00:39:35who had ever looked at me

00:39:36with rain-bright eyes.

00:39:38How could I bear

00:39:39to let those eyes go dark

00:39:40because of me?

00:39:41The workshop had been

00:39:42abandoned long ago.

00:39:43I did not know

00:39:44where Cassian was.

00:39:46I reached for every sense

00:39:47I possessed

00:39:48and prayed silently.

00:39:49That 80% familiar bond,

00:39:51please guide me to him.

00:39:52In an instant,

00:39:53every cell in my body

00:39:55seemed to open.

00:39:56It was as if I had gained

00:39:57a phoenix's senses,

00:39:58allowing me to catch

00:39:59every trace of scent

00:40:00and magic in the air.

00:40:02There,

00:40:03I ran faster

00:40:03and moved with new agility.

00:40:05I slipped past patrols

00:40:07of rebel mages

00:40:07and found Cassian

00:40:08wounded inside a storage hall.

00:40:10He had held off

00:40:11the rebel mages alone.

00:40:12Though injured,

00:40:13he had managed

00:40:14to break free.

00:40:16Vanessa,

00:40:17you are safe.

00:40:19Thank the stars.

00:40:22If you were safe,

00:40:23you should have stayed home.

00:40:24If I had not come,

00:40:25would you still be risking

00:40:26your life to search for me?

00:40:30Then I was right to come.

00:40:32His royal aid's messages

00:40:33through the communication crystal

00:40:35could not reach us here.

00:40:37If the rebel mages

00:40:38could block the communication crystals

00:40:39around our home,

00:40:40they could block them here too.

00:40:43People outside

00:40:44were searching for Cassian.

00:40:47They were checking every room

00:40:49and would soon reach ours.

00:40:50At that moment,

00:40:52an explosion thundered outside.

00:40:54Decommissioned clockwork guardians

00:40:55marched out of the darkness

00:40:56in a line

00:40:57and exploded one after another.

00:40:59The sudden attack

00:41:00threw the rebel mages

00:41:01into chaos

00:41:01and forced them

00:41:02to stop searching.

00:41:03In the darkness,

00:41:04I saw the man

00:41:05directing the constructs.

00:41:06It was Julian,

00:41:07Cassian said.

00:41:09Our help is here.

00:41:13Julian is your help?

00:41:14Our mother once worked

00:41:15in this workshop.

00:41:17Julian grew up here

00:41:18and knows how to control them

00:41:19better than anyone.

00:41:20When did you two plan this?

00:41:22We did not.

00:41:23I only told him

00:41:24that you and I

00:41:25were trapped here

00:41:25before the communication crystals

00:41:26went dying.

00:41:27He is setting them off

00:41:28to draw the rebel mages away.

00:41:30As Cassian spoke,

00:41:31Julian reached the window

00:41:32below us

00:41:33and unrolled

00:41:33a flying carpet.

00:41:34Go.

00:41:35Go to Julian.

00:41:36Let him take you home.

00:41:37Now!

00:41:40How did you know?

00:41:42If I could not work that out,

00:41:43how could I deserve

00:41:44to be a Phoenix Prince?

00:41:45Then come with me!

00:41:48I am a Prince.

00:41:50I cannot leave

00:41:51while the Academy

00:41:52and everyone inside it

00:41:53are under attack.

00:42:01I am happy

00:42:02you came for me today.

00:42:06But be good.

00:42:08Your safety matters

00:42:10more than anything.

00:42:10Cassian held out his hand

00:42:12and pushed me

00:42:12toward Julian.

00:42:13Fire flooded my vision.

00:42:15That was the last time

00:42:16I saw Cassian.

00:42:18I had been back

00:42:19in my own world

00:42:20for a month.

00:42:21I spent most days

00:42:22sitting on the balcony

00:42:23and staring into space.

00:42:25Just as Cassian once had,

00:42:27Julian came over

00:42:28and leaned against

00:42:28the doorframe.

00:42:29Still worried about him?

00:42:32Yes.

00:42:34The Royal Guard

00:42:34arrived in time

00:42:35after we left.

00:42:36You should trust Cassian.

00:42:37The Royal Guard

00:42:38had been searching

00:42:39for their Prince

00:42:40from the moment

00:42:40communication went dark.

00:42:41I know, but...

00:42:43How could I not worry?

00:42:44He had defied

00:42:45his instincts

00:42:46and sent me to Julian.

00:42:47So I would defy mine too.

00:42:49I would always choose Cassian

00:42:51without condition.

00:42:53We are having dinner

00:42:54with your parents tomorrow.

00:42:55Do not let them think

00:42:56I starved their

00:42:57precious pregnant daughter.

00:42:59Julian, are you angry with me?

00:43:02Why would you ask that?

00:43:04I only married you

00:43:05so this child

00:43:06could be born

00:43:06with an official father.

00:43:08When I think about it,

00:43:09that is unfair to you.

00:43:11It is unfair.

00:43:12Imagine using a genius

00:43:14like me for this.

00:43:15But what can I do?

00:43:16I am your 100% match.

00:43:19I volunteered.

00:43:20Besides, this little one

00:43:21saved both your lives.

00:43:22This was Cassian's child.

00:43:24The last time Cassian

00:43:26and I were intimate,

00:43:27we didn't use protection.

00:43:28Only when I learned

00:43:29I was pregnant

00:43:30did I understand

00:43:30why I had suddenly

00:43:31gained a familiar senses

00:43:33and agility

00:43:33on the day

00:43:34I went to save Cassian.

00:43:35It was the baby.

00:43:37Our child had used

00:43:38every ounce of strength

00:43:39to help me.

00:43:41I had considered

00:43:42countless ways

00:43:42to make sure my family

00:43:43would accept the baby.

00:43:44In the end,

00:43:45Julian offered to become

00:43:46the child's father in name.

00:43:48Julian was young

00:43:49and accomplished.

00:43:50My parents liked him

00:43:52very much.

00:43:52He also took

00:43:53genuinely careful care of me.

00:43:55He even gave up

00:43:56some of his research time

00:43:57to study prenatal care.

00:43:59Life passed peacefully.

00:44:01The baby was easy.

00:44:02I had no morning sickness

00:44:04and my body

00:44:05actually became stronger.

00:44:07Cassian's extraordinary

00:44:08constitution must have passed

00:44:09to the baby

00:44:10and strengthened me too.

00:44:11When I was seven months pregnant

00:44:13I even went hiking

00:44:14with my friends.

00:44:15But I walked too quickly

00:44:17and accidentally

00:44:18became separated

00:44:19from the group.

00:44:20The mountain was silent

00:44:22except for the rustle of leaves.

00:44:23An enormous python

00:44:25slid out of the brush.

00:44:26Fear struck me so hard

00:44:28that my mind stopped working.

00:44:29What now?

00:44:31Could I run

00:44:31or should I gamble

00:44:32on fighting it?

00:44:33Cold sweat ran down

00:44:35my forehead.

00:44:36Then,

00:44:36at that exact moment

00:44:37the python seemed

00:44:38to see something

00:44:39behind me.

00:44:40It shrank back in terror,

00:44:41turned,

00:44:42and fled toward its den.

00:44:44The wind carried

00:44:45a familiar scent.

00:44:46My blood suddenly

00:44:47boiled beyond my control.

00:44:49And my heart thundered.

00:44:50I slowly turned.

00:44:52Cassian stood behind me

00:44:54in that black uniform,

00:44:55his arms open.

00:44:58I am sorry.

00:45:00I took too long.

00:45:02I often felt sorry

00:45:04for my baby.

00:45:04She did not have

00:45:05many peaceful days

00:45:06before her first birthday.

00:45:08Samono was always

00:45:09arguing at home.

00:45:10Listen to me!

00:45:11I am his legal father!

00:45:12Look at her wings,

00:45:13her tail feathers,

00:45:14and those golden eyes

00:45:15and say that again.

00:45:15If I had not left

00:45:16that portal device for you,

00:45:18you would never have

00:45:18seen Vanessa again!

00:45:19You do not get to call

00:45:20her Vanessa,

00:45:21homewrecker!

00:45:23I have a marriage

00:45:24certificate with her.

00:45:25You are the other man.

00:45:27I have one too.

00:45:28Mine is older.

00:45:30Why are you still here?

00:45:31Is everything settled

00:45:32on the other side?

00:45:33Does the royal court

00:45:34have nothing

00:45:35for its prince to do?

00:45:37It is settled.

00:45:38The rebellion

00:45:39was put down.

00:45:40Thank you for your concern.

00:45:42Father misses you though.

00:45:43When will you visit him?

00:45:45Next week.

00:45:46Once I finish my experiment,

00:45:47I will bring him

00:45:48a bottle of scotch.

00:45:49The baby suddenly cries.

00:45:52Dad is here!

00:45:53Dad is here!

00:45:54The two men

00:45:55glared at each other,

00:45:57clearly about to fight

00:45:57over their titles again.

00:45:59I quietly picked up

00:46:00the baby

00:46:01and moved away

00:46:02from the battlefield.

00:46:03What lovely sunshine.

00:46:05Ever since Cassian

00:46:07crossed worlds

00:46:08to find me,

00:46:08our quiet suburban home

00:46:10hadn't been quiet at all.

00:46:12He and Julian

00:46:12competed over everything.

00:46:14When our daughter

00:46:15cried at two in the morning,

00:46:16they both rushed

00:46:17to her crib.

00:46:18Cassian used

00:46:19Phoenix magic

00:46:19to warm the bottle

00:46:20while Julian

00:46:21checked the temperature

00:46:22and complained

00:46:23that magic

00:46:24wasn't accurate enough.

00:46:25They even raced

00:46:26to change diapers,

00:46:27but their biggest fight

00:46:28was over the word

00:46:29Dad.

00:46:31Every afternoon,

00:46:32they took turns

00:46:32waving toys

00:46:33over the crib

00:46:34and repeating it,

00:46:35each determined

00:46:36to hear it first.

00:46:37Late one night,

00:46:38a loud thud

00:46:39came from the living room window.

00:46:41A small nightingale

00:46:43squeezed through

00:46:43the cracked glass.

00:46:45Her feathers were burned,

00:46:46and she could barely

00:46:47stay in the air.

00:46:51Another admirer,

00:46:52little brother?

00:46:52You really have women

00:46:53following you

00:46:54across worlds.

00:46:57Using her beak,

00:46:58she slowly typed.

00:47:00I'm Lydia.

00:47:01I can't change back,

00:47:02and I can't go home.

00:47:05What happened?

00:47:07The royals sent me

00:47:08to call you back to work.

00:47:10The portal failed.

00:47:12I can't turn human.

00:47:13The way back is gone.

00:47:14For how long?

00:47:16I don't know.

00:47:17Please help me.

00:47:18Her beak slipped

00:47:19from the screen.

00:47:20A second later,

00:47:21her eyes closed

00:47:22and she fell

00:47:23from the table.

00:47:24Cassian caught her

00:47:25before she hit the floor.

00:47:28Move.

00:47:30He took a red fruit

00:47:32from his leather pouch.

00:47:36That's too strong for her.

00:47:37She needs normal bird food.

00:47:38He touched a spoonful

00:47:39to her beak.

00:47:40She swallowed once,

00:47:41then began wheezing.

00:47:42Stop, both of you.

00:47:44I took the bird

00:47:45from Julian

00:47:45and shut the kitchen door.

00:47:49After a few drops,

00:47:51her breathing settled.

00:47:53You're safe.

00:47:53I'll take care of you.

00:47:55A few minutes later,

00:47:56Julian came back

00:47:57carrying an ornate

00:47:58gold birdcage.

00:47:59I ordered this online.

00:48:01It even has a velvet swing.

00:48:02The nightingale's feathers

00:48:04immediately puffed up.

00:48:05She hopped across

00:48:06and pecked at the screen.

00:48:08I am not a pet.

00:48:12Fine.

00:48:13You're a tenant.

00:48:14Just don't poop

00:48:14on the carpet.

00:48:16At six the next morning,

00:48:18a sharp scream

00:48:19came from down the hall.

00:48:23Get her off me!

00:48:25It was the first time

00:48:26I had ever seen

00:48:27Julian so worked up.

00:48:28The nightingale

00:48:29flew after him,

00:48:30pecking at his hair.

00:48:32Then she landed on my phone

00:48:33and typed

00:48:34pervert.

00:48:37I went in to brush my teeth.

00:48:38How was I supposed to know

00:48:39you were using the sink?

00:48:40You're a bird!

00:48:42Birds are naked all the time!

00:48:43Lydia nearly lost it.

00:48:44She hammered at my keyboard

00:48:46so hard the keys rattled.

00:48:47Julian called her

00:48:48the bathroom tyrant.

00:48:50She squawked back,

00:48:51probably calling him

00:48:51a pervert.

00:48:52Still,

00:48:53Julian came over

00:48:54every afternoon.

00:48:55I need to check

00:48:55why she can't shift.

00:48:57The examination

00:48:57took less than a minute.

00:48:59Then he spent

00:48:59the next four hours

00:49:01sitting on the rug

00:49:01with her daughter,

00:49:02teaching him peek-a-boo.

00:49:05Fixing me

00:49:06is just your excuse

00:49:07to play dad.

00:49:08At least being stuck

00:49:09as a bird

00:49:09made you useful.

00:49:12Hey!

00:49:13No!

00:49:14Ah!

00:49:14Ouch!

00:49:15Ouch!

00:49:16I dabbed a warm cotton ball

00:49:18against the nightingale's

00:49:19injured wing.

00:49:21Suddenly,

00:49:21she pecked at the screen.

00:49:22He came straight here

00:49:24after ending the rebellion.

00:49:25He forced the portal open

00:49:27before his wounds

00:49:27had healed.

00:49:29Vanessa,

00:49:29be careful.

00:49:30She might scratch you.

00:49:31His sleeve slid back.

00:49:33I saw.

00:49:34Burned scars ran

00:49:35past his elbow.

00:49:36Caspian?

00:49:37What happened

00:49:38to your arm?

00:49:41It was nothing.

00:49:42Just turbulence

00:49:43during the portal jump.

00:49:45The nightingale pecked

00:49:46at the screen again.

00:49:47He burned his own

00:49:47to force it open.

00:49:50You nearly died.

00:49:52Before he could answer,

00:49:53Julian walked

00:49:54into the kitchen.

00:49:55Well,

00:49:55legally speaking,

00:49:56the prince is still

00:49:57just an unregistered resident.

00:49:59Ow!

00:50:00Get this psycho

00:50:01off me!

00:50:02By Saturday,

00:50:02we were at the

00:50:03photo studio.

00:50:05Cassian and Julian

00:50:06stood on either side of me.

00:50:08Our daughter giggled

00:50:08in my arms,

00:50:09wearing a tiny bow tie,

00:50:11while the bird

00:50:12perched on my wrist.

00:50:13Okay.

00:50:15Which one of you

00:50:16is the father?

00:50:20I am.

00:50:23Look at the baby's face.

00:50:27Now look at mine.

00:50:30The photographer glanced

00:50:31between them.

00:50:32The answer was obvious.

00:50:34Hey, hey!

00:50:35Biology isn't the issue.

00:50:37Legally,

00:50:37I'm her father.

00:50:38A piece of paper

00:50:39doesn't make him

00:50:40your daughter.

00:50:41In this world,

00:50:42it does.

00:50:42He has my blood.

00:50:44He has my last name.

00:50:47Fine!

00:50:48Everyone get in the frame!

00:50:49One big family shot!

00:50:51We squeezed together

00:50:52for a tense flash.

00:50:54Now,

00:50:55just the baby

00:50:55and the legal parents,

00:50:56please.

00:50:58Cassian's golden eyes dimmed.

00:50:59He stepped away

00:51:00from the set.

00:51:01The nightingale

00:51:02immediately flew

00:51:02into the air.

00:51:03She circled the studio,

00:51:05chirping at Cassian

00:51:05and Julian.

00:51:07Lydia.

00:51:07She ignored him

00:51:08and flew faster.

00:51:10Lydia,

00:51:10stop!

00:51:11Come here,

00:51:12Lydia.

00:51:12it's okay.

00:51:19Lydia!

00:51:21With a short pop,

00:51:23the golden light

00:51:23flashed across the room.

00:51:25The nightingale vanished.

00:51:29He fought a war

00:51:30and crossed worlds

00:51:31for Vanessa.

00:51:32What gives you

00:51:33the right to take

00:51:34his daughter?

00:51:36What the...

00:51:37Then his eyes rolled back

00:51:39and he fainted.

00:51:42Lydia stumbled

00:51:43as she landed.

00:51:45Julian caught her arm

00:51:46before she fell.

00:51:49I thought you hated me.

00:51:51I do.

00:51:53That doesn't mean

00:51:54I'll let you

00:51:54crack your head open.

00:51:56You still stole

00:51:57Cassian's wife.

00:52:01Okay, okay.

00:52:02The photographer woke

00:52:03a few minutes later

00:52:04with his assistant

00:52:05beside him.

00:52:23The camera flashed

00:52:25before anyone

00:52:26could argue again.

00:52:27Back home,

00:52:28Lydia tried to

00:52:29shift into a bird.

00:52:30Nothing happened.

00:52:32You can use the guest room

00:52:33until we fix this,

00:52:34I told her.

00:52:36Does the bathroom

00:52:37door lock?

00:52:38She asked.

00:52:39I learned my lesson.

00:52:41Over the next few days,

00:52:43I started choosing

00:52:43Cassian on purpose.

00:52:45When our daughter

00:52:46sneezed out a shower

00:52:47of sparks,

00:52:47both men rushed forward.

00:52:50Cassian?

00:52:52Julian stopped

00:52:53with his hands

00:52:54still raised,

00:52:55ladder.

00:52:55I tripped over

00:52:56a grocery bag.

00:52:57They both reached for me,

00:52:58but I caught

00:52:59Cassian's hand

00:53:00that evening.

00:53:01Julian sat on

00:53:02one end of the couch

00:53:03and Cassian on the other.

00:53:04Without thinking,

00:53:05I sat beside Cassian

00:53:07and rested my head

00:53:07on his shoulder.

00:53:09Julian said nothing.

00:53:10A week later,

00:53:11the photo album arrived.

00:53:12He sat at the kitchen counter,

00:53:14turning through the pages.

00:53:15Then he gave a short laugh

00:53:17and slid one picture

00:53:18toward me.

00:53:21Vanessa,

00:53:22look at this.

00:53:25The photographer

00:53:26told you to look

00:53:27at the camera

00:53:27at least ten times,

00:53:29but in every picture,

00:53:30you were looking at him.

00:53:33Julian's teasing grin

00:53:34faded for the first time

00:53:35since he arrived.

00:53:36He looked tired.

00:53:37Back home,

00:53:37there were no

00:53:38magical compatibility tests.

00:53:40Our 100% only happened

00:53:42because we both

00:53:42came from Earth.

00:53:43To the registry,

00:53:44our magic looked the same.

00:53:46It proved we shared

00:53:47a past, Vanessa.

00:53:49It never proved

00:53:50we were meant

00:53:50to love each other.

00:53:53So forget the registry.

00:53:55Forget the number.

00:53:57If no machine

00:53:58was telling you

00:53:59who belonged together,

00:54:01who would you choose?

00:54:02I knew what my answer

00:54:03would do to him.

00:54:04Still,

00:54:05I could not give him

00:54:06a different one.

00:54:07Julian,

00:54:08I'm sorry.

00:54:15Don't apologize.

00:54:16Honestly,

00:54:17I don't think I was ready

00:54:18to hear you say

00:54:18his name either.

00:54:19A floorboard creaked

00:54:20behind us.

00:54:21Cassian stood in the doorway,

00:54:23our daughter asleep

00:54:23against his chest.

00:54:24His eyes moved

00:54:25from Julian to me,

00:54:26then paused

00:54:27on my clasped hands.

00:54:28He had heard enough

00:54:29to understand.

00:54:30He didn't argue

00:54:31or ask what I was

00:54:32going to choose.

00:54:33He lowered his gaze,

00:54:35shifted our daughter

00:54:35closer,

00:54:36and left.

00:54:37The room stayed silent

00:54:38behind him.

00:54:39I sprinted down the hall

00:54:41and shoved open

00:54:42the bedroom door.

00:54:43Cassian was tossing

00:54:44his black combat uniform

00:54:45into a duffel bag.

00:54:47Stop!

00:54:49What are you doing?

00:54:52Ever since I arrived,

00:54:53you've been drowning

00:54:54in guilt.

00:54:55You look at him

00:54:56and feel indebted.

00:54:57You look at me

00:54:58and feel trapped.

00:55:00I won't let my presence

00:55:01destroy your peace.

00:55:02Are you deciding

00:55:03my life again?

00:55:05Look at me, Cassian.

00:55:06I have never regretted

00:55:08you coming back.

00:55:09Not for one second!

00:55:10Cassian's breath hitched.

00:55:11He wrapped his arms

00:55:12around my waist

00:55:13and buried his face

00:55:14in my neck.

00:55:15The next morning,

00:55:16Cassian pulled out

00:55:17a kitchen chair

00:55:18and set our giggling

00:55:19daughter in Julian's lap.

00:55:21What kind of mind game

00:55:22is this?

00:55:25Vanessa and I bonded first.

00:55:27I am the first husband.

00:55:28You may stay,

00:55:29but you answer to me.

00:55:33You're ranking husbands?

00:55:35Order is essential.

00:55:37The master bedroom is mine.

00:55:39And his first word,

00:55:40Dad,

00:55:41belongs to me.

00:55:42Men jumped out

00:55:43of their chairs instantly.

00:55:45Within two days,

00:55:47getting our daughter

00:55:47to say Dad again

00:55:49had become

00:55:49their full-time job.

00:55:51Cassian sat on

00:55:52the nursery rug

00:55:52and turned one of his feathers

00:55:53into a tiny firebird.

00:55:55Say Dad.

00:55:57Then you can have

00:55:58the bird.

00:55:58Julian entered

00:55:59with a stack of flashcards.

00:56:00Bribering is not

00:56:01language teaching.

00:56:03Watch my mouth,

00:56:04sweetheart.

00:56:05Dad.

00:56:06Our daughter looked

00:56:07from the firebird

00:56:07to the car and clapped.

00:56:09She likes mine better.

00:56:10She's laughing at you.

00:56:11By lunch,

00:56:12they had abandoned

00:56:13every sensible method.

00:56:14Both men were lying

00:56:15on the carpet,

00:56:16making animal sounds

00:56:17and pointing at themselves

00:56:19and pointing at themselves

00:56:19between each noise.

00:56:20Lydia and I

00:56:21watched from the sofa.

00:56:23If they keep this up,

00:56:24they're going to turn

00:56:24into babies

00:56:25before she learns to talk.

00:56:27Cassian may already

00:56:28be there.

00:56:29What did he do?

00:56:31She offered him

00:56:32a wet cracker

00:56:33and he opened his mouth.

00:56:34I looked toward

00:56:35the nursery.

00:56:36Cassian was chewing

00:56:37with a pained expression

00:56:38while our daughter

00:56:39happily pushed

00:56:40the rest of the cracker

00:56:41against his lips.

00:56:42A powerful phoenix prince

00:56:43defeated by a soggy biscuit?

00:56:46She fed it to me.

00:56:47I was not going

00:56:48to reject her.

00:56:49Our daughter crawled

00:56:50toward the coffee table

00:56:51and pulled herself upright.

00:56:52Everyone went quiet.

00:56:54She looked at Cassian.

00:56:55Then she looked at Julian.

00:56:57Her mouth opened.

00:57:05Cassian and Julian

00:57:06reached her at the same time

00:57:08and bumped shoulders.

00:57:09Our daughter blinked at them,

00:57:11twinkled her nose

00:57:12and sneezed.

00:57:13That was all.

00:57:14The competition continued

00:57:15for the next few days.

00:57:19You're both spoiling her.

00:57:21She needs to play

00:57:22by herself sometimes.

00:57:23She is playing.

00:57:26She's sitting on your chest.

00:57:28That is where

00:57:29she chose to play.

00:57:35And you've checked

00:57:36that bottle four times?

00:57:37Five.

00:57:38Her safety matters.

00:57:41Neither of them

00:57:41listened to me.

00:57:42Then, late Thursday night,

00:57:44our daughter became

00:57:45unusually quiet.

00:57:46Cassian paced the nursery

00:57:47with her against his chest.

00:57:49When I touched her cheek,

00:57:51she felt warm,

00:57:51but so did he.

00:57:53Julian came in

00:57:54with her bottle

00:57:54and frowned.

00:57:57She's breathing too fast.

00:58:00She has a fever.

00:58:03Phoenix children

00:58:04run hotter than humans.

00:58:05Not this hot.

00:58:06A small flame

00:58:07shot from her mouth.

00:58:08For one second,

00:58:10no one moved.

00:58:11Hospital.

00:58:12Now.

00:58:13We hurried into

00:58:14the emergency room

00:58:15with our daughter

00:58:16bundled in Cassian's arms.

00:58:18She has a high fever

00:58:19and she just breathed fire.

00:58:20She did what?

00:58:22Please check her temperature.

00:58:23We can explain afterwards.

00:58:25All right.

00:58:26Let me see her.

00:58:27Cassian pulled back

00:58:28the blanket.

00:58:28He froze.

00:58:29So did the rest of us.

00:58:31Our daughter was no longer

00:58:32a baby.

00:58:33She became a bird.

00:58:34The nurse slowly

00:58:35lowered the thermometer.

00:58:36Sir,

00:58:37we are not a veterinary clinic.

00:58:39She was a human baby

00:58:39when we left home.

00:58:40It sounds impossible.

00:58:42We know.

00:58:43The animal hospital

00:58:44is three blocks away.

00:58:45Outside,

00:58:45Cassian held the tiny bird

00:58:47close to his chest

00:58:48while Julian tried to call

00:58:49every specialist he knew.

00:58:51Phoenix chicks

00:58:52sometimes shift

00:58:52when they're sick.

00:58:53Then she'll change back?

00:58:54I asked.

00:58:56She should have already.

00:59:02This is lasting too long.

00:59:04Back home,

00:59:05we covered the coffee table

00:59:06with towels and cushions.

00:59:08Cassian sat beside our daughter

00:59:10and held one hand

00:59:11over her tiny body.

00:59:12A soft golden flame

00:59:14moved between his fingers.

00:59:15Follow my fire.

00:59:17Find your human form.

00:59:19The fledgling chirped

00:59:20and shook out her patchy wings.

00:59:22Nothing happened.

00:59:23Her fever is still rising.

00:59:25I fed her a few drops of water.

00:59:27Is this normal

00:59:28for Phoenix babies?

00:59:30Losing control

00:59:31of their form can happen.

00:59:32But I was never this small.

00:59:35Or this ugly.

00:59:40She really is

00:59:41unusually ugly.

00:59:47In a royal way.

00:59:49What does royal ugliness

00:59:50look like?

00:59:52Distinctive.

00:59:53She has a very

00:59:54distinctive face.

00:59:55Both of you,

00:59:56stop insulting my daughter,

00:59:57I said.

00:59:58The fledgling gave a weak chirp

00:59:59as if agreeing with me.

01:00:01For the next few hours,

01:00:03Cassian tried guiding her

01:00:04with his fire.

01:00:05Aunt's golden light

01:00:06flickered around her.

01:00:07The light vanished.

01:00:08She was still a bird.

01:00:10Julian checked the time.

01:00:11It's been four hours.

01:00:13Cassian's earlier confidence

01:00:15was gone.

01:00:19This isn't normal.

01:00:22If she's stuck as a bird,

01:00:24someone needs to teach her

01:00:25how to move like one.

01:00:27Before any of us could answer,

01:00:29she shifted into a nightingale

01:00:30and landed on the coffee table.

01:00:31She demonstrated how to fold her wings,

01:00:34drink from a shallow dish,

01:00:35and balance on the edge of a cushion.

01:00:37Or daughter watched closely.

01:00:39Then she lunged for Lydia's tail.

01:00:41Lydia flew out of reach.

01:00:42The fledgling tried to follow,

01:00:44lost her balance,

01:00:45and fell into my lap.

01:00:46She is violent, clumsy,

01:00:48and still very ugly.

01:00:51I used to think you and Cassia were engaged.

01:00:54I was actually intimidated by you.

01:00:57I was an elite academy student.

01:01:00You just got chased off a table

01:01:02by a sick baby.

01:01:04Speaking of Lydia as a baby...

01:01:06An old academy portrait

01:01:08showed a young Lydia in bird form.

01:01:10She had enormous eyes,

01:01:11thin feathers,

01:01:12and no visible tail.

01:01:13Delete that!

01:01:14But you look so distinguished.

01:01:16Lydia shifted back into a nightingale

01:01:18and flew after her.

01:01:19Julian raised the tablet over his head

01:01:21and moved around the sofa

01:01:22while she pecked at his hair.

01:01:24Our daughter gave an excited chirp

01:01:26hopped off my lap

01:01:27and flapped after them

01:01:28across the cushions.

01:01:29I kept one hand beneath her

01:01:31so she would not fall.

01:01:32For a moment, everyone laughed.

01:01:34Then Cassian looked at the timer

01:01:35on Julian's device.

01:01:37Six hours.

01:01:44She should have changed back long ago.

01:01:48Enough.

01:01:49Lydia landed on the sofa.

01:01:50Julian lowered the tablet

01:01:51and returned to human form.

01:01:52Cassian sat beside our daughter

01:01:54and touched the feathers on her head.

01:01:55A human virus caused the fever.

01:01:57Her human body is trying to fight it,

01:01:59but her phoenix blood

01:01:59is answering with more heat.

01:02:01The two sides are keeping her trapped

01:02:02in this form.

01:02:03Can you fix it?

01:02:06Not here.

01:02:09My fire can guide her,

01:02:11but it cannot settle both sides.

01:02:18What do you need?

01:02:19The ancestral flame

01:02:21in the phoenix royal city.

01:02:22It can stabilize her phoenix blood

01:02:24while the healers treat the fever.

01:02:29I can open the passage once.

01:02:31It won't stay stable for long,

01:02:33but we'll have enough time to cross.

01:02:35I'll take her.

01:02:38We'll take her.

01:02:42Vanessa,

01:02:43the royal city.

01:02:45She is my daughter.

01:02:46Wherever she goes,

01:02:47I go.

01:02:51And?

01:02:52Don't leave me behind.

01:02:55Julian activated the portal.

01:02:57Light opened across the living room,

01:02:59forming a narrow passage.

01:03:00Cassian reached for our daughter.

01:03:02The fledgling suddenly stopped chirping.

01:03:06Baby?

01:03:07She went limp in my hands.

01:03:14We rushed through the portal

01:03:16and emerged inside the phoenix royal spire.

01:03:18Royal healers were waiting.

01:03:19Cassian handed our daughter over

01:03:20before the passage had fully closed behind us.

01:03:23The head healer examined her,

01:03:26then looked at our frightened faces.

01:03:28She is weak,

01:03:29but she is not dying.

01:03:31This is her first phoenix regression.

01:03:34The fever confused her two forms.

01:03:39Can you change her back?

01:03:41No problem.

01:03:44They placed our daughter

01:03:46inside a warm crystal basin

01:03:47lit by the ancestral flame.

01:03:50Cassian knelt beside it

01:03:51and fed a steady line of golden fire

01:03:53into the crystal.

01:03:54Keep her phoenix heat even.

01:03:59Her human heartbeat is slowing.

01:04:01A little less fire.

01:04:11Mommy's here.

01:04:13Come back when you're ready.

01:04:16Golden light spread across the basin.

01:04:18The feathers slowly disappeared.

01:04:20A moment later,

01:04:21our daughter was human again

01:04:22and crying loudly.

01:04:34Before anyone could answer,

01:04:36a royal messenger entered

01:04:38carrying an armful of documents.

01:04:41Your Highness,

01:04:42the council is waiting.

01:04:43The throne,

01:04:44the rebuilding plans,

01:04:45and the border passages

01:04:46all require your approval.

01:04:53He can't return to Earth yet.

01:04:55Do you want to stay with him?

01:05:00Later,

01:05:01I found Cassian

01:05:01in the council chamber

01:05:02surrounded by ministers

01:05:03and stacks of documents.

01:05:05Lydia's question

01:05:06stayed with me.

01:05:07Do I want to stay here?

01:05:09I watched Cassian sign

01:05:11another order.

01:05:13I love him,

01:05:14but my life is on Earth.

01:05:17My parents,

01:05:19my friends,

01:05:19my work.

01:05:22Across the courtyard,

01:05:24Julian was warming a bottle

01:05:25while arguing with the royal device

01:05:27that refused to recognize

01:05:28his fingerprint.

01:05:31I looked at our daughter.

01:05:33What I could not leave behind

01:05:34was not an apartment

01:05:35or a job.

01:05:36It was the home

01:05:37the four of us

01:05:38had built together.

01:05:47Cassian walked over.

01:05:48Take her back

01:05:48to Earth tomorrow.

01:05:50What about you?

01:05:52The kingdom needs me

01:05:53for a while.

01:05:58You don't have to choose

01:06:00between your worlds today.

01:06:02Go home with Julian.

01:06:04I'll finish my work here

01:06:05and come back when I can.

01:06:06You're not sending me away?

01:06:09No.

01:06:10I'm giving you time.

01:06:17The next day,

01:06:18the portal opened

01:06:19in the center of the spire.

01:06:20I stood on one side

01:06:21with our daughter.

01:06:22Cassian stood on the other.

01:06:23Neither of us said goodbye.

01:06:26Keep the apartment warm.

01:06:28Make sure you eat.

01:06:29And don't let Julian

01:06:30give her cow's milk.

01:06:31I caught Cassian's hand

01:06:33before he could step back.

01:06:35You are coming back,

01:06:37aren't you?

01:06:38As soon as I can.

01:06:40That isn't a promise.

01:06:42I promise.

01:06:44Neither of us moved.

01:06:46Julian pulled him

01:06:47toward the passage.

01:06:48Come on.

01:06:50I have work here.

01:06:52You can come back tomorrow.

01:06:54What?

01:06:57Tell them before

01:06:58they start crying again.

01:07:01Well,

01:07:02the passage is stable.

01:07:04We installed

01:07:04permanent anchors

01:07:05on both sides.

01:07:06From now on,

01:07:07we can travel between

01:07:08Earth and the Royal City

01:07:09whenever we need to.

01:07:14How long have you known?

01:07:17About an hour.

01:07:28You two look like

01:07:30Orpheus and Eurydia

01:07:31saying goodbye

01:07:32at the gates

01:07:32of the underworld.

01:07:35Delete it.

01:07:37Absolutely not.

01:07:39Playing at your wedding.

01:07:45Julian kept his promise

01:07:46at our wedding

01:07:47the portal farewell

01:07:48appeared on the large screen

01:07:50behind the head table.

01:07:51All guests laughed.

01:07:53Julian sat in the front row

01:07:54with a satisfied smile.

01:07:55He was there

01:07:56as our daughter's legal father

01:07:58and part of our family.

01:07:59Beside him,

01:08:00Lydia laughed

01:08:01while wiping frosting

01:08:01from the baby's cheek.

01:08:07When the video

01:08:08finally ended

01:08:10Cassian and I

01:08:11stood before the officiant.

01:08:15By the phoenix flame

01:08:16and the laws of both worlds.

01:08:19I recognize the bond

01:08:20you have freely chose.

01:08:23Cassian took my hand.

01:08:25This time,

01:08:26there was no compatibility score

01:08:27and no registry

01:08:29deciding for us.

01:08:32We chose each other.

01:08:36The guests cheered

01:08:38when he kissed me.

01:08:39Then our daughter

01:08:40clapped her sticky hands

01:08:41and shouted toward

01:08:42Cassian and Julian.

01:08:44Dad!

01:08:47A tie.

01:08:50Acceptable.

01:08:54At the reception,

01:08:55I turned my back

01:08:56to the guests

01:08:57and tossed the bouquet.

01:08:58He did it!

01:09:01Lydia shifted

01:09:02into a nightingale

01:09:03and flew above

01:09:04everyone else.

01:09:07She caught the ribbon

01:09:08in her beak

01:09:11then immediately dropped

01:09:12under the bouquet's weight.

01:09:14Julian reached up

01:09:16and caught both Lydia

01:09:17and the flowers.

01:09:18He stared at the nightingale

01:09:20in his arms.

01:09:21Lydia stared back,

01:09:22still gripping the ribbon.

01:09:23Neither of them

01:09:24seemed to know

01:09:25what to say.

01:09:25Should we tell Lydia

01:09:26what catching the bouquet

01:09:27means on Earth?

01:09:28Let them figure it out.

Category

Transcript

Recommended