Jade nodded, clutching the scepter.
"I think so. It came out of the scepter."
Jackie Chan circled the Phoenix, hissing with every step. The scrapes and bruises on his body had begun to hurt after the Good Chi faded.
"I've spent so many years traveling the world, and I've seen plenty of strange people."
"But a phoenix..."
"This is a first."
Jade looked down at the scepter in her arms, but she could feel something still pulsing inside it.
Once, then again.
Like a heartbeat.
Jade suddenly felt a little upset.
She looked up at the Phoenix, then down at the scepter.
"Uncle Jackie."
"Hmm?"
"Why do you think... the Phoenix was locked inside the scepter?"
Jackie froze for a moment.
Jade gently rubbed her fingers along the shaft. Ancient characters covered it densely, winding from the bottom to the top like chains.
"It can fly, breathe fire, and fight those earth spirits."
"It's so powerful. Why does it have to be controlled by a stick?"
She looked into the Phoenix's eyes.
"Doesn't it feel awful, being locked inside such a tiny stick?"
Jackie fell silent.
He looked at the Phoenix, and the Phoenix looked back at him.
The golden-red bird stood quietly on the stone pillar, its fiery feathers stirring gently in the wind, but its eyes stayed fixed on Jade without blinking.
Jackie crouched down to meet Jade's eyes.
"The inscription on this scepter says, 'Wield the scepter of eternal flame, command the soul of the Phoenix.'"
"'Wield' means to hold mastery over it, and 'command' means to control it."
"This scepter was made to control the Phoenix."
Jade frowned.
"Then doesn't that mean the Phoenix was imprisoned inside?"
"If it wants to come out, someone has to hold the scepter and let it out."
"But even once