MTLNOVEL Chapter 16: Just a Traveler
The cold wind caressed her skin.
Above, the radiant glow of the moon greeted her as she slowly opened her eyes.
Beneath her, she felt the softness of fabric, a stark contrast to the rough cliffside around.
"Where... am I?"
Rain's voice was quiet, almost hesitant, as she turned.
Rain shook her head, taking in the desolate nightscape around her. Behind her, a jagged path of rock wound its way up toward the cliff. Before her, nestled in the distance, lay a serene village, its streets illuminated by the dim, flickering glow of street lamps. The sight was unexpectedly... peaceful.
"So, you're awake."
The voice was familiar.
She turned her gaze toward the dark figure sitting a few meters away, his feet dangling over the edge of the cliff. His posture was relaxed, at ease. In his palm, a silver flower rested, its petals shining softly under the moonlight. The figure caressed it like it was the most delicate thing in the world. The sight was oddly heartwarming.
Rain blinked, shaking her head, trying to recall how she had come to be here.
Right...
She had stepped out of the wedding hall to follow Sunny. Then, she had come across the ruined city. Forced to use the Weaver's Mask—the trump card Sunny had entrusted to her for moments when her flaw became fatal. As per her training, she had engaged the Spear of the Hollowed Sun to contain herself. And then...
A deep chill ran down her spine.
Her hands instinctively rose to cover her face as the dreadful memory surfaced—of her attacking Sunny.
A quiet voice escaped her lips.
"Sunny... are you alright?"
A stupid question.
Whether she had intended to harm him or not, there was no way she could have truly hurt Sunny. The gap between their strength was simply too vast. But that fact did nothing to ease the gnawing guilt in her heart.
Sunny, however, seemed entirely unbothered.
A mischievous grin appeared on his face as the flower in his palm dispersed into sparks of white light.
"Well, apart from the dirt you threw on my suit," he said in a mocking tone, "I'm mostly fine."
Rain scowled.
"Oh no... your precious suit must be ruined because of me. How unfortunate."
She turned her head away in mock anger, suppressing the smile threatening to curl her lips.
Sunny let out a soft chuckle.
"Mind telling me what you were doing out there in the first place?"
The warmth in the moment faded.
A shadow crossed Rain's heart, and her expression grew somber. Slowly, she turned to meet his gaze—truly meet it for the first time in a long while.
She held it, searching.
Then, ever so slightly, her lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
She saw it.
The familiar warmth. The lingering emotions. The brotherly love that had been there from the very beginning.
No matter how many years had passed, that part of his eyes had never changed.
Mordret had been playing with her mind, and she couldn't forgive herself for falling for it.
She let out a quiet exhale.
And then, ever so slightly—she smiled.
"...I came to apologize."
Sunny's brows furrowed. "And why would you do that?"
She let out a breath.
"Well... Mordret was acting suspicious and slipped out in the middle of the dance ceremony, so I..."
She hesitated, then slowly recounted everything—her encounter with Mordret, the ripple of unease that had settled in her chest, and the creeping suspicion that he had been planning something to ruin the wedding.
Sunny listened as Rain spoke, his expression shifting subtly—a flicker of twitching tension, a moment of anger, a shadow of shock. And beneath it all, a complex mix of disgust and reluctant amusement.
When she finished, he exhaled, long and slow.
"...You do realize that Mordret's main goal was to mess with your mind, right?"
His voice was calm but firm.
Rain sighed, her expression darkening with self-reproach.
"I know that now."
She turned her gaze downward, toward the peaceful village below. The streets were growing quiet, the last few lingering figures slipping into their homes. A curtain was drawn shut, the glow of a lamp flickering out.
The night deepened.
A muscle in her jaw tightened.
"That's why I wanted to apologize," she admitted. "I shouldn't have let him get to me so easily."
Sunny studied her for a moment, then let out another sigh.
"...That ripple of unease you mentioned—I felt it too."
Rain's head snapped toward him, her eyes gleaming with expectation.
Finally.
The answer to the question that had gnawed at her since the beginning.
Sunny's expression darkened slightly.
"Apparently, it was the cause of the 'incident' you just faced." His voice grew heavier, each word deliberate. "There was a... 'crack' near that place. A disturbance. Not large enough to be called a Nightmare Gate, but still potent enough to draw creatures in from the Dream Realm."
Rain stiffened slightly.
A crack?
Sunny turned toward the distant village, his gaze lingering there before he spoke again.
"Cassie had already warned us about these 'cracks.' She sent Saints to contain the others personally in the middle of the ceremony, including Effie and Jet. But this particular one..."
He let out a slow breath.
"It was harder to find. You can probably guess why."
Rain nodded, the realization settling heavily in her mind.
The Corrupted Terrors were adept at hiding.
And the area's natural anti-divination properties must have interfered with Cassie's perception.
The weight of everything settled heavier on her shoulders.
Sunny's voice softened.
"By the time we would've found it, things could've gotten much worse."
He turned to her, his expression unreadable.
"What you did might have saved a lot of innocent lives, Rain."
He paused, then added with quiet certainty,
"You should be proud."
Rain blinked.
"I—I mean... if you say so," she muttered, trying—and failing—to suppress the smug little smile creeping onto her lips.
Hearing his words, something in her chest lightened—a burden she hadn't even realized she was carrying.
Whether it was fate, luck, or something else... her presence there had been a blessing.
Sunny smirked.
Rain, however, had already begun to scowl—internally, at least.
Her stomach twisted as another, far more unpleasant thought slithered into her mind.
Would she have even been there if not for Mordret?
Her scowl deepened.
'Did that bastard actually manipulate me into being at the right place at the right time?'
The thought was absurd. There was no way Mordret cared enough about humanity to set something like this up.
And even if he did, why not handle it himself?
Why send her, knowing full well that she couldn't even kill anything due to her flaw?
Or...
Did he do it precisely because of that? Did he lead her there expecting her to die?
Rain's jaw clenched slightly.
No.
He knew better.
There were plenty of ways she could have survived. And even if she had died, it wasn't like one death would be permanent.
Letting out a long breath, she shoved the thoughts aside.
Now wasn't the time for this.
"So, about that guest you were bringing back?" Rain asked, steering the conversation back to its purpose.
Sunny's eyes widened. He abruptly stood up and smacked his forehead. "Oh, gods... I forgot."
There was a rare hint of embarrassment in his voice, laced with urgency. "I was waiting for him to arrive when I saw your spear in the sky. And, well... you know the rest."
Then, as if a terrible realization had just struck him, his expression twisted—a mix of horror and utter displeasure.
"Oh, god. Oh God." He ran a hand down his face. "I hope he hasn't wandered off somewhere behind my back!"
Rain watched, amused, as her brother darted around frantically. Ever since she had known him, he had always been the calm one, the composed one, the one always in control of every situation.
Seeing him panic like this?
It was refreshing.
"Just wait here for a moment," he muttered before disappearing into the shadows. "I'll be right back."
And just like that, he was gone.
She exhaled and turned back to the breathtaking scenery. The moonlight bathed the village below in silver, the faint glow of lanterns flickering in the distance. The night was cool, crisp, and utterly tranquil. The brightest full moon of the year.
A rare kind of peace settled over her. For a while, she sat motionless, simply enjoying the view.
Then—
She suddenly straightened and smacked her forehead.
"Damn it, I could have at least asked him why he chose this night for the wedding." She muttered the words mostly to herself.
"The moon is beautiful tonight." A voice answered.
"Yes, but it can't be the only reason—"
Rain froze. Her breath hitched.
"...Who the hell just spoke to me?"
Her voice came out sharp and wary as she spun around. And there, standing beneath the gleaming moonlight, was a stranger.
A young man. A beautiful young man.
His skin was smooth as silk, his features exquisite, his high cheekbones catching the light just enough to accentuate the carefree smile playing on his lips.
But what caught her attention most was the mark on his forehead. A crescent moon. Not drawn—etched. A permanent tattoo? Who the hell gets something like that in this day and age?
The man's smile widened.
"Oh... where are your manners, young lady?" he mused. "Shouldn't you introduce yourself before demanding answers from others?"
His tone was not chastising. It was mocking.
A muscle twitched in Rain's brow.
"Weren't you the one who spoke to me first?"
She narrowed her eyes, studying him. The man barely had a presence. He was no Saint. Maybe not even Awakened. And yet—
He did not seem remotely bothered by her oppressive aura.
How... intriguing.
With a playful glint in his eyes, the man chuckled. "Come now," he said. "I was merely praising the moon." His smirk deepened.
"It was you who misinterpreted it as a reply to your words."
Rain clicked her tongue.
...This brat.
Technically, he wasn't wrong, but what kind of childlike logic was this?
Her gaze flicked over him again. His silky, bright-colored robes swayed in the wind, giving him the air of someone who had never exerted a muscle in his life.
Despite the mature charm in his features, he was young. No older than twenty. Most likely, he was a resident of the nearby village.
Rain's lips curled into a smirk. "Brat, are you lost?"
She had to admit—calling someone this beautiful a 'brat' was deeply satisfying. The young man gently shook his head, the movement graceful, unhurried.
"Ah, yes. I suppose I am..."
Somehow, even that sounded unbothered. Like he truly didn't have a single care in the world.
Then, his gaze flickered toward her, filled with something strange. "But tell me one thing, little lady," he mused. "What is this 'brat' thing you speak of?"
There seemed to be a hint of a genuine curiosity in his amusing demeanor. "Is that how the people of this land refer to others?"
'Little... lady?'
Rain twitched.
Something between irritation and amusement coiled in her chest as she suddenly stood up. She leveled him with a stern, unimpressed look.
"Brat," she said slowly. "Are you trying to make fun of me?"
She narrowed her eyes. "...Do you really not realize who I am?"
By all means, he should have known who Rain was.
She was Sovereign Sunless's sister. Not only that, but she was one of the strongest Saints in existence. From Awakened to mere mundane, everyone knew her name.
It was simply not possible to live in the modern world and not know of her—unless, of course, one had been hiding in a cave for the past several years.
And yet, the young man before her acted as if she were just some random girl he had stumbled upon in a park.
His brows furrowed slightly, his expression turning thoughtful.
"Now that I think about it..." he murmured. "You do look kind of familiar."
Rain perked up.
'Ah. So he does know who I am.'
He was just a little slow in recognizing people, that's all.
She gave him an expectant look, already picturing the scene in her head—
The moment of realization when his brain finally caught up. The shock on his face. The panic in his voice as he rushed to apologize for offending her. And of course, her mischievous smirk as she waved him off, telling him to calm down.
It wouldn't be the first time.
Whenever she interacted with a mundane human, their reaction was always the same. Not that she blamed them.
Back when she was still a mere mundane girl herself, she would have been just as nervous meeting a Saint. But now that the tables were turned, well—she had to admit, it was pretty damn amusing.
However.
What came next almost made her stumble into the dirt.
"Are you Supreme Sunless's... bastard child?"
"...What?"
Rain blinked. Had she misheard?
The man's expression remained completely serious.
"You do look a lot like him," he continued, stroking his chin. "But since he's getting married today, you obviously can't be his legitimate daughter."
He shook his head with a sigh.
"That idiot never told me he had—" His golden eyes darkened with what looked like concern. "...Poor child. Did he abandon you when you were little?"
A vein popped in Rain's forehead. The sheer audacity.
She opened her mouth, then closed it. She had no words. Even worse, she couldn't tell if he was being serious or just messing with her.
His expression was so casually carefree that it felt like it wouldn't change even if he was on the verge of dying in agony.
"...You—"
She took a sharp breath, reigning in her irritation. This brat. This absolutely ridiculous brat.
"How dare you mock me like that?" Her glare sharpened. "I am his sister. SISTER."
Then, as if only just remembering, she scowled. "And why are you speaking to me like I'm a child?" She crossed her arms, her voice laced with pure disbelief.
"Can't you see I'm at least a decade older than you?" And more importantly—
"Are you really so dumb that you don't realize I'm a Saint?" She shook her head, utterly exasperated.
"You're lucky it's me," she muttered. "Most Saints would've taught you a lesson for insulting them like this."
The man tilted his head, as if finally sensing her irritation. His brows knitted together slightly, as if in genuine confusion.
Then, without hesitation— He bowed.
"Ah, forgive me, little miss, if my words came out as insulting."
The apology sounded... sincere? Or maybe not.
Rain narrowed her eyes, studying his face.
Was he actually sorry?
...Or was he just mocking her again?
His permanent smirk made it impossible to tell.
"I'm not quite familiar with this land's culture," he added, flashing her a charming, almost wicked smile. The kind of smile that could probably make most women swoon.
But Rain held her ground. She wasn't about to let this brat off the hook just because he was absurdly beautiful.
His black eyes flickered with amusement.
"And yes, I do realize you're a Saint," he said lightly. "If that's what you call a Transcendent in your lands."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"And you're an especially capable one at that." He exhaled, shaking his head.
"Yeah, you're strong."
His lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "In fact, I'm fairly certain there hasn't been a stronger Transcendent at your age in history."
He nodded to himself.
"Be proud. That's a big compliment coming from someone like me."
Rain stared at him, unimpressed. But before she could respond, his eyes narrowed slightly—as if analyzing something. Then, almost absentmindedly, he added—
"...As for you being a decade older than me?" His smirk returned. "Eh?"
He gave her a long, amused look.
"I doubt there's anyone left who can claim that anymore."
Rain took a deep breath, exasperation settling in.
"You know, for someone so young and stupid, you sure like to talk like a wise old man, don't you?"
Her glare darkened. "What is this, some kind of rehearsal? You practicing to play an ancient sage lost in faraway lands for a theater production?"
She lingered on the thought for a second, then frowned. "Actually—why are you even out here in the middle of the night?"
The man hesitated. For a moment, it looked like he was debating whether to respond to her previous comment.
Then, with a soft sigh, he spoke.
"It's as you said—I'm lost." His expression twisted slightly, as if he was genuinely annoyed by the fact.
"I was supposed to be picked up by your brother a while ago." His eyes flickered with irritation. "But he never showed up. So, naturally, I went looking for him."
Rain frowned.
She mulled over his words for a moment, and then—
A sudden, horrifying realization struck her.
"Don't tell me you're—"
"Couldn't you have just stayed where you were, old man?" A familiar voice cut her off. "Instead of running around and causing trouble?"
Rain whipped around to see Sunny, his steps agitated as he approached, his glare fixed on the young man.
Rain turned back to the so-called "brat," her face going pale.
No way.
Was this brat really the 'important guest' Sunny was supposed to pick up? How... how in the world did that make any sense?
The young man, however, looked entirely unbothered.
"What, do you think I have infinite patience, brat?" he shot back. "I got bored. Thought I'd look around."
Sunny narrowed his eyes.
"...Brat?" His tone was incredulous. "Where the hell did you learn that word?"
The man chuckled, shaking his head.
"This young lady took it upon herself to teach me about the customs of this land," he said, motioning toward Rain. "While you were taking your sweet time instead of just teleporting here with that ridiculous ability of yours."
Rain froze. Sunny turned to her, expression blank. Then—a slow, confused, irritated look. Rain blinked, then narrowed her eyes in protest.
"T-That's not what I—!" She stopped mid-sentence.
'Wait. Why am I even apologizing?'
Her scowl deepened as she turned back to Sunny.
"Who even is this guy?" she demanded. "Is he really the 'important guest' for whom you left Nephis alone at the wedding?"
Sunny's expression turned a little guilty.
"Well—don't put it that way." He sighed. "But yeah."
He gave the young man an exasperated glance. "This bastard is an old friend. I'll tell you all about it later-"
"No." Rain cut him off. "You'll explain right now."
Her sharp gaze flicked back to the young man, scanning him like a hawk.
"Why is he so important," she asked, her voice cold, "that you had to leave your bride all alone just to pick him up?"
Sunny hesitated. Before he could speak, the young man smiled and stepped forward.
"Oh, allow me to introduce myself properly." He straightened, then—with an exaggerated flourish—declared:
"Rejoice! For you stand in the brilliant presence of Noctis, the great—" He paused. His brows furrowed slightly. "The great... traveler who wanders around?"
His voice wavered. "Wait, no, that doesn't sound right."
He frowned, looking mildly puzzled. "Eh? I used to be the great Sorcerer of the East back in the day, but now... I suppose I'm just a traveler?"
He shrugged. "Ah, well. Titles are fleeting, you know?"
Rain stared at him. The sheer level of bullshit radiating from this man was almost impressive. Her gaze slowly turned back to Sunny, demanding an explanation.
Sunny rubbed his face. Then sighed.
"...What he said."
Rain's eyes twitched. Sunny cleared his throat. "He was a renowned Saint in the ancient past of the Dream Realm."
Rain's brow furrowed. Sunny exhaled.
"I found out about him inside a Nightmare," he admitted. "And I realized... there was a chance he was still alive in the real world."
He hesitated before adding, "Due to... circumstances, he wasn't able to materialize in the real world."
Sunny's expression darkened slightly. "But I found a way to make it happen."
Rain's lips parted slightly. She glanced at Noctis again, who was still grinning like a mischievous fox.
A Saint from the ancient past of the Dream Realm? Someone who, by all rights, should have been long dead?
Her fingers curled slightly.
This man... This ridiculous, infuriatingly smug brat...
She exhaled sharply, muttering under her breath: "You have got to be kidding me."
Rain stood frozen, unable to breathe. Her brother's words sank in bit by bit, but it was getting harder by the second.
"You mean this brat—uh, old man—is really an Ancient Saint from some unknown era of the Dream Realm?"
Even saying it out loud felt absurd. She stared at Noctis, scanning him again.
Nothing.
No oppressive presence. No suffocating aura. No trace of power whatsoever.
Her brows furrowed. "Why can't I feel his presence—?"
"Oh, that must be because of this stupid mask," Noctis interrupted casually.
With an easy motion, he pulled out a black lacquered mask, adorned with three sharp horns and four protruding teeth.
"This thing has some weird enchantment that conceals my presence. Your brother told me to keep it on while I'm in this world."
Rain's eyes widened. "You even gave him our clan's mask?" She turned to Sunny with an accusing glare.
He simply sighed. "It would be troublesome if word got out about his existence," he muttered.
Rain pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yeah... I suppose that makes sense."
Sunny thought the conversation was over. The sudden chill running down his spine told otherwise.
"Hey, big brother..."
His entire body tensed. Sunny shuddered. Whenever Rain called him big brother instead of his name, it meant one of two things:
She wanted something.
Or—
She was about to kill him.
Looking at the sweet smile on her face... Yeah. Definitely the latter.
"Why," she asked, voice dangerously smooth, "haven't you told me about him already?"
Sunny cleared his throat, avoiding her gaze.
"Well, you see—" He sighed, actively avoiding her gaze, which promised death. "I wasn't sure if he'd actually come."
His eyes drifted toward the sky. "His soul is unstable. He can't step into the real world under normal circumstances."
Rain's expression hardened. Sunny continued. "What happened tonight was just the result of an experiment turning out well."
He shrugged. "With the right memory, the full moon, and a bit of luck—I was able to force him into this world."
His voice turned slightly amused. "His flaw makes him weak in the day... but powerful at night. And under a full moon? Even more so."
Rain's eyes narrowed. A realization struck her.
"So that's why you insisted on having your wedding tonight? Under the brightest full moon of the year?"
Sunny nodded.
"Pretty much."
Rain exhaled slowly. Finally, she was beginning to digest the absurdity of the situation.
For a moment, silence hung between them.
Then—
A cheerful voice shattered it.
"I am honored," Noctis said with a graceful bow. "To be invited on such an auspicious day."
He turned to Rain, his black eyes twinkling.
"And, of course..." A playful grin spread across his lips. "It's been a pleasure making the acquaintance of such a lovely brat as yourself."
Rain twitched. "No—" she huffed, her face heating slightly. "That's not how you use—!"
She stopped. Because the damn bastard was ignoring her.
"As much as I enjoy this charming little chat," Noctis continued, stretching, "I do believe we shouldn't keep the bride waiting."
He glanced at Sunny. "Shall we proceed with haste?"
Rain facepalmed. Sunny chuckled, then turned to Noctis.
"Don't act like a gentleman, old man," he said, grabbing both Rain and Noctis by the shoulders. "It's creeping me out."
"Who are you calling an old man, brat?" His voice was filled with mock offense. "I am a healthy young man! And I shall always be one!"
Sunny snorted.
"By all rights, you should be a fossil by now," he muttered. "Somehow, you aren't. Doesn't mean you're not old, though. Old man."
Noctis opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, darkness swallowed them whole.
And in the blink of an eye, they vanished, Only to reappear moments later, standing just outside the wedding hall.
The air buzzed with excitement. Laughter, music, and cheers filled the space.
Rain looked up at the brilliantly lit hall.
It was a night meant for celebration. A night meant for her brother's wedding. And yet, she had a feeling... Things were going to get even more chaotic.