I am the Archmage

Chapter 6 Chirpy Bird

I smiled smugly, deactivated “Flight Spell,” and landed gracefully on the ground. Walking in an exaggerated swagger, I approached the Fire Phoenix frozen in the massive ice river.

Its flames had naturally disappeared, revealing its beautiful crimson feathers. I couldn’t help but imagine crafting a feathered robe for Livia out of those plumes. If she wore it… hmm…

Heh heh heh, what can I say? It’s only natural for a man to indulge in a little daydreaming now and then.

Just as I was lost in my thoughts, I felt a sharp knock on the back of my head, followed by Linka’s annoying voice: “Wu Lai, you brat, stop daydreaming and go form the contract already!”

I turned around to see Eulis and Linka—not as the goofy old men I was used to, but as my respectable teachers. They stood behind me, neatly dressed and holding their magic wands.

No wonder I hadn’t seen them all morning—they had come here ahead of me.

Rubbing the new lump forming on my head, I extended my hand toward the Fire Phoenix’s frozen head. I chanted “Scorching Heat,” and an intense wave of heat radiated from my hand, gradually melting the ice around the Phoenix’s head.

Next, I bit the tip of my left index finger and drew a summoning symbol in the palm of my right hand. Placing my right hand on the Phoenix’s forehead, I chanted, “Oh, God of Contracts, unleash your divine power and make this contract binding!”

Only I could perform this so effortlessly. If it had been Linka, he would’ve had to recite an endlessly long incantation to make it work.

When I removed my hand, the symbol etched onto the Phoenix’s forehead glowed brilliantly. A moment later, the red light transformed into a shimmering gold.

It was done.

Delighted, I cast a “Blazing Wave” spell, instantly shattering the remaining ice around the Phoenix.

The Phoenix let out a long, clear cry before its massive ten-meter body shrank down to the size of a parrot and obediently perched on my shoulder.

Thrilled, I said, “Good! From now on, you’re my summoned beast. I’ll call you… hmm… Chirpy Bird!”

With a loud thud, both Eulis and Linka collapsed to the ground.

“Brat! Do you have any idea how precious a Fire Phoenix is? And you want to name it something as ridiculous as ‘Chirpy Bird’? Are you out of your mind?”

I smugly replied, “Well, I’m its master. I can call it whatever I want. Chirpy Bird, Chirpy Bird…”

Linka swung a fist at me again, but this time I was prepared. With a quick “Instant Teleportation,” I blinked a hundred meters away.

What I didn’t expect was for the Fire Phoenix, Chirpy Bird, to shoot off my shoulder and fly straight toward Linka. Spreading its wings, it transformed back into its massive ten-meter, blazing red form, flames erupting all over its body.

Then, a clear and melodious voice came from the Phoenix’s mouth: “Old mage, if you dare harm my master, I won’t hold back!”

I was stunned. I never imagined Chirpy Bird could talk, and I stood there, slack-jawed.

Eulis noticed my reaction and scolded, “Of course the Phoenix can talk! It’s an immortal bird, one of the most precious holy beasts. Only someone as ignorant as you wouldn’t know its value.”

Linka said, “Boy, send it back to your dimensional space first. I have something to tell you.”

Every summoner mage creates their own personal dimensional space where their summoned beasts usually rest until needed.

I commanded Chirpy Bird to enter my dimensional space, then stood quietly, ready for Linka’s “lecture.”

Linka began, “You already know that I am the Grand Sage of the Kingdom of Babunika. Do you know why I’m here?”

I shook my head, completely confused.

Linka explained, “It’s because of this Fire Phoenix. Princess Olina of the Kingdom of Babunika has been cursed by a high-level necromancer with the ‘Blood Curse of the Wraith.’ This curse, cast at the cost of the necromancer’s own life, leaves her with only a hundred days to live. No healing magic can counteract the ‘Blood Curse of the Wraith.’ Only dragon’s blood or phoenix’s blood can break the curse.”

Eulis added, “When Linka heard that a Phoenix had been spotted in this area, he asked me to help. But you need to understand, the Phoenix is the most powerful holy beast of the fire element. Even we weren’t confident we could obtain its blood. And then, out of nowhere, comes a freak like you.”

Linka glared at me again and said, “What makes me the angriest is that we spent over a month trying our best and got absolutely nothing, yet you, an i***t who used ‘Fireball’ on a Phoenix, reaped all the rewards!”

I smirked slyly and said, “I understand now. Turns out my two esteemed teachers are upset because I stole the joy of battling the Fire Phoenix. That’s easy to fix.”

Quickly, I drew a hexagram in the air and shouted, “Chirpy Bird, come out and play with the teachers!”

A burst of crimson light flashed, and a wave of heat rushed outward as the magnificent figure of Chirpy Bird, the Fire Phoenix, shot out from the ‘Hexagram Summoning Array.’ With a piercing cry, it swooped straight toward my two teachers.

Caught off guard, the two teachers scrambled to fend off Chirpy Bird’s fierce attacks, their movements frantic and chaotic.

They shouted angrily, “You brat! This is going on your tab—you’ll pay for this later!”