The Phoenix Was My Past, The Serpent Is My Fate Episode 3

Episode 3 · Elara, Aiden, Tessa

Episode 3 recap

Elara recalls spending a decade tending to the phoenix in her previous life. Tessa took credit for the beast without effort, driving an enraged Elara to target her. Aiden retaliated by breaking the seal on forbidden territory. Vicious beasts poured forth, biting Elara's legs as she pleaded for rescue. Aiden abandoned her and escaped into the sky with Tessa. Returning to the present selection, Elara smiles coldly, breaks her bond with Aiden, and departs.

Episodes

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Episode 3 scene by scene

00:00: Memories of the Past Ceremony
Elara remembers spending ten years caring for Aiden during her previous life. Tessa steps in at the ceremony and claims the phoenix without doing any work. Furious at the theft, Elara begins confronting Tessa directly in the academy corridors.
00:24: Betrayal in the Forbidden Ruins
Aiden leads Elara into forbidden grounds to punish her and unseals the area. Rampaging beasts surge out of the ruins. They bite Elara's legs while she begs for help. Aiden spreads his wings and flies off with Tessa, leaving Elara to die.
00:57: Walking Away from the Phoenix
Elara returns to the present selection hall and sneers. She severs her connection with Aiden in front of the watching cadets. Instead of bonding with the phoenix, she walks away, leaving Tessa to face the heavy cost of feeding the beast.

Key lines from episode 3

“Aiden could have saved me easily, but he didn't.”
Elara · when wild beasts tear at Elara while Aiden flies away with Tessa

“This life, let's see how long it takes him to shift without me, and how Tessa feeds that bottomless beast.”
Elara · when Elara leaves Aiden behind during the bonding selection in the hall

“Aiden could have saved me easily, but he didn't.”
Elara · when Elara recalls begging Aiden for help before dying in the ruins

How episode 3 ends

Elara turns her back on Aiden under the watchful eyes of the entire hall. Without looking behind her, she strides toward another selection platform. Tessa and Aiden are left together as everyone stares. What creature will Elara choose to bond with at the other platform now that she has abandoned the phoenix?