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Todos os capítulos de The Phoenix's Second Choice: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

11 Capítulos

Chapter 1

The searing pain of an arrow through my heart made my entire body tremble.Just when I thought I was going to die, consumed by hatred, the pain vanished.I opened my eyes and found myself back in the Phoenix Court's secret realm.My father, who had long since passed away, gently tapped my shoulder and whispered, "Althea, weren't you the one who insisted on forming a contract with the black serpent? Why are you just standing there in a daze?"Forming a contract?I was stunned. I'd come back—to the day of the Sacred Bonding ceremony."Father!" I began. But before I could say anything, Nyxar, the black serpent, suddenly bowed.His eyes, full of devotion, turned to my sister, Seraphine."Lord Pyralis," he said, "I feel nothing for Althea. I only wish to spend this life and the next at the side of the First Princess, Seraphine."Gasps echoed through the crowd. My father's face darkened.Everyone knew the black serpent clan carried a diluted bloodline, part dragon but not pure. By

Chapter 2

Everyone was stunned.My father stared at my sister, disbelieving."Seraphine, do you even understand what you're saying? Althea has already chose him. Besides, Nyxar is nothing more than a black serpent with impure blood. Binding with him will only bring you harm."Before my father could say another word, Nyxar pulled out a tiny box from his sleeve and presented it to Seraphine with both hands reverently.Inside lay a single, pearl-white pill."A humble gift," he said. "For the First Princess."Someone in the crowd recognized it instantly and gasped. "That's the Ouroboros' Orb!"I glanced over, then lowered my eyes.The Ouroboros' Orb was the Snake Clan's most legendary relic—a treasure so deadly to obtain, it was said to demand a life in exchange. But its power was unmatched: it could obliterate old meridians and forge new ones, catapulting one's spiritual strength to unimaginable heights.In our past life, I'd sacrificed fortunes—poured rare elixirs and divine herbs into Ny

Chapter 3

When I agreed so calmly—without resistance, without protest—both my father and Nyxar looked surprised.Only Seraphine offered a performance of concern, her voice laced with gentle hypocrisy. "Althea, I'm doing this for your own good. You can't twist his arm. Why don't you choose someone else? Another who suits you. If I form a contract with the black serpent, and you find a match of your own, Father can rest easy."My father looked at her with nothing but affection in his eyes. They had known all along that the day's guests were all from the serpent clan. And among them, apart from the black serpent, there was no one of note.I didn't bother arguing.Lifting my hand lazily, I pointed toward a direction at random."Him, then."Everyone turned to look.The one I'd chosen was a white serpent.In his human form, he was handsome—on par with Nyxar, even. But his spiritual energy was faint, nearly undetectable.If the black serpent was considered low-born, the white serpent was ope

Chapter 4

"Enough," my father said coldly. "It's getting late. Begin the Sacred Bonding."The four of us stepped into the ritual formation. Thunder cracked in the sky, and with the altar as a conduit, spiritual energy was drawn from each of us, carving the bond into our very bones.But the difference in strength between the Phoenix Court and the serpent clan was immense. Soon, both Nyxar and the white serpent began to falter. Drained of power, they both struggled to withstand the pressure."Princess... please, help me..." Nyxar collapsed beneath the force of the divine will, blood slipping from the corner of his mouth. He could barely speak as he begged.Seraphine was about to step forward when Father stopped her."Black serpent," he said, his tone cutting, "you should consider yourself lucky to even be matched with my daughter. If you can't endure this, then it's your fate, nothing more."Nyxar stared wide-eyed at Seraphine, the same woman who had blushed and accepted him moments ago. But

Chapter 5

Everyone froze for a moment.Then the entire crowd burst into laughter.Nyxar crossed his arms and gave me a slow, mocking once-over, his face full of disdain."And who are you to judge Princess Seraphine? If she isn't fit to be the heir, what, you think you are?"My father's expression darkened, anger flaring beneath the surface."Enough!" he snapped. "Althea, step aside—now!"He flung his sleeve, releasing a wave of spiritual force that swept both Franz and me out of the ritual space.Seraphine glanced over at me, eyes gleaming with challenge."Watch closely, Althea," she said with a sneer. "And see for yourself just how much stronger I am than a useless waste like you."Then she began the sacred Dance of the Hundred Birds.Power burst outward, rippling in waves from the center of the altar.In an instant, the sky darkened. A multitude of birds descended, thunder rumbling in the distance, as if dusk had fallen in broad daylight.Seraphine moved with practiced grace, her w

Chapter 6

The entire place fell into dead silence. Every gaze turned to me.My father thought I was causing trouble again. Seeing my sister fail to receive the inheritance pushed him over the edge. Fury burst from him like a storm.He unleashed his divine aura, and I was forced to my knees."Althea," he growled, "You've disappointed me beyond words. I've let you off too many times before, but this—this time, your sister was meant to inherit the Phoenix Court's legacy, and you interfered again and again. Today, I'll discipline you on behalf of your mother."He raised his hand.A heavy wave of spiritual force condensed into a slap aimed straight at my face.I stared up at him, calm, unflinching.From the side, Nyxar actually looked concerned."Althea, just apologize," he said hurriedly. "Do you really want to be struck?"But as the blow came close, he backed away, unwilling to be caught in it. He chose himself, as always.What I didn't expect was for Franz to suddenly lunge forward and s

Chapter 7

I laughed out loud. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks. I wept for the utter absurdity of my past life. For how much I had given, and how little it had ever been worth."Never would've what?" I said. "Never would've driven an arrow straight through my heart for Seraphine's sake?"Nyxar, didn't I ever tell you? Yes. I could never be the heir of the Phoenix Court. But if you had truly devoted yourself to me, if you had been mine in soul and will, when I ascended, you would've become a true dragon."Our child… would have inherited the gift. But you never believed me."You want to know why you reincarnated with me? Because the moment I died, heaven took your soul too. You were punished, Nyxar. You were never spared."The truth hit him like a blow.He staggered back, step by step, staring at the contract mark on his hand, the one he had formed with my sister. His face turned pale.Then, a phoenix's cry pierced the air from the altar.Seraphine, charred and humiliated by heavenly light

Chapter 8

Late at night, I leaned quietly against the edge of the hot spring.A white snake glided slowly across the water's surface. I reached out and caught it in one swift motion."Althea…" Franz's voice sounded plaintive, almost wronged.He shifted into his human form, his bare chest settling easily beneath my hand as he leaned into me, dependent and relaxed.I looked down at him.His golden eyes glowed faintly in the dark. There was no deceit in them—only a deep, abiding affection.Since that first encounter, I had wondered why Franz, a complete stranger, had fallen for me so deeply and so quickly. Was it because of my identity?It was as if he could hear my thoughts. He tilted his face into my palm and whispered, "We've met before, Althea. This isn't the first time."He guided his memory into my mind through a gentle surge of spiritual energy.A flicker—A small white snake, barely the length of a forearm, was being tormented by a few young phoenix clansmen. Wounded and trembling

Chapter 9

Nyxar looked far older than he had the day before. His eyes stayed fixed on me, unblinking.Then, quietly, two lines of tears slid down his face."Althea," he said, "I was wrong. Seraphine and Lord Pyralis never saw me as anything more than a tool. But you… you were the only one who ever treated me like an equal."He had once believed that bonding with the phoenix clan's chosen heir would elevate him instantly. That with Seraphine, he'd rise above his lowly bloodline.But in the end, apart from offering up the Ouroboros' Orb, he was worthless.Last night, Father had been consumed by fury. He didn't dare lay a finger on me again.The lightning strikes had already forced him back into his true form. And he knew that angering me further could mean utter annihilation.Still, he couldn't let it go.The daughter he had discarded and indulged into ruin turned out to be the Phoenix Court's embodiment of divine will. All the years he'd spent grooming his favored daughter became nothing

Chapter 10

Nyxar returned to Seraphine's side.In my past life, I had done everything to preserve his dignity. I shielded him from the clan's judgment, upheld his pride both in public and behind closed doors. But Seraphine was not the type to care for such things.She mocked him openly, shredded his worth without restraint. And of course, the clanspeople followed her lead.Compared to the life he had known beside me, his days now were really shitty.Father soon summoned me to the altar. Before the entire clan, he bowed his head and offered a formal apology. He then forced Seraphine—her pride visibly fracturing—to kneel before me."Althea," she said smoothly, "I won't deny I was wrong. But Father is getting old. The Phoenix Court can't go long without a successor. Do you really think the heavens would preserve you, even if it meant letting the whole clan fall?"Let's put this grudge behind us. The future of the Phoenix Court matters more than either of us."Her words, righteous and composed

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