MTLNOVEL Chapter 17: Beautiful Flower
The dance ceremony was nearing its end.
Most couples had already had their fill, drifting toward the dining area after exhausting themselves on the dance floor. The few lingering pairs would soon follow.
At a nearby table, a familiar group was gathered, their laughter and cheers rising above the hum of the celebration.
"How long has it been since we last saw you?" Kai asked, clapping Noctis on the back.
Noctis grinned. "Oh, only a few thousand years, give or take."
A wave of laughter rippled across the table.
"It has barely been a few years for us," Cassie said, smiling warmly. "It feels like just yesterday we were sailing together with you."
"Yeah, yeah, sentimental stuff later!" Effie interjected, thrusting a glass into Noctis's hand.
"Here, bro—try this!" she said eagerly. "Tell me how it compares to the stuff you had back in ancient times."
Noctis took the glass, eyeing its glowing amber liquid with open curiosity. The moment the scent reached his nose, his eyes widened.
"What is this strange orange liquid?" he muttered, swirling it under the light.
It smelled... complex.
Like a forest after rain, but richer. There were hints of berries, floral undertones—something he couldn't quite place.
Under the watchful eyes of the table, Noctis took a sip.
The liquid flowed smooth as silk across his tongue.
"It lacks the expected sweetness of berries," he murmured, savoring the taste. "Instead, it has a layered, almost savory ripeness... like the air after a storm."
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the aftertaste linger.
"Yet even after swallowing, it evolves—new notes, hidden nuances appearing each moment..."
Noctis exhaled in admiration.
"This is... remarkable. One of the finest drinks I've ever had."
Effie grinned proudly.
"Of course it is!" she declared, puffing out her chest.
"That's Amber Nectar, the latest produce from my Farmland." She beamed. "It's made from a delicious vine monster I subdued recently."
Noctis's entire body stiffened. His smile vanished.
"...A wine monster?"
His grip on the glass faltered slightly.
"Yeah!" Effie nodded enthusiastically. "Nasty thing, but its fruit? Amazing. Took me a whole day to wrestle it into submission."
Noctis slowly, carefully set the glass back on the table.
Effie's eyes narrowed. "What?" she said. "You're not gonna finish it?"
Noctis forced a smile. "Ah... I just remembered—uh..."
He visibly grimaced as if something deep in his gut twisted violently.
Kai frowned, watching his reaction. "Are you alright?" He grabbed a glass of water and passed it over. "Something not sitting well with you?"
Noctis downed the water in one go, then exhaled.
"It's the wine..." he muttered, casting a wary glance at the glowing amber liquid.
Then, after a moment, he sighed.
"I don't do well with things related to... moving vines."
He clenched his hand, as if physically restraining himself from gagging.
Cassie's expression shifted in realization. "Wait," she said slowly, "is this because of Wormvine?" she asked, recalling the terrifying creature he had tamed during their battle against Solvane.
Kai and Effie immediately froze. Then, a simultaneous look of understanding appeared on their faces.
Noctis grimaced harder. "...I don't wanna talk about it."
Effie, still staring, eventually burst into laughter.
"Aw, in that case," Effie said, waving off the issue, "we've got plenty of drinks that have nothing to do with vines."
Being the sole supplier of the wedding's entire drinking section, she wasn't about to let one bad experience stain the reputation of her farm—the best fruit producer in the world.
Effie snapped her fingers.
A nearby waitress instantly turned toward her, her piercing blue eyes gleaming with alertness.
The girl moved swiftly, approaching their table with silent grace. Her crisp white uniform contrasted sharply against her dusky skin, while her ebony hair shimmered under the moonlight.
"Yes?" she asked, pulling out a small notepad. "What can I get for you?"
Effie rattled off a rapid list of alternative drinks. The waitress nodded along, quickly noting each selection.
"I'll have them prepared shortly," she promised.
With a small, polite bow, she turned and disappeared behind a door marked Staff Area.
Noctis exhaled.
Hopefully, the other drinks won't send him into a spiral of traumatic memories.
...
Across the hall, Sunny had finally returned to his rightful place beside Nephis.
She greeted him with a smile—one that made him flinch.
"Would you mind telling me what took you so long?" she asked, her voice calm, measured. Yet beneath the surface, he could hear it—silent concern.
Sunny cleared his throat. "No, well... a certain situation arose." His gaze flickered sideways, lingering for a moment before settling back on the ethereal beauty beside him..
"But it's been resolved now," he assured her. "Nothing to worry about anymore."
Nephis simply studied him, her smile fading into a slight frown.
"Rain was worried about you."
Sunny smirked. "Oh? And you weren't?"
She narrowed her eyes, her lips twitching.
"Why would I worry about you?" she said smoothly. "I already have seven backups."
Sunny's brow arched, a wry smile creeping onto his face.
"Hoh. Do you not worry that they might disappear the moment I die—"
The air shifted.
A shadow passed over Nephis's face. Her silver eyes darkened, a dangerous gleam flickering within them.
"Sunny, dear," Her voice was soft. Lethal.
A single bead of sweat trailed down his back as the immense weight of her presence settled over him.
"I will personally make sure it happens," she said slowly, "if you ever joke about that again."
Sunny's heart lurched.
"I won't!" he blurted, straightening in his seat as the invisible force lifted.
Nephis sighed, her expression softening as she smiled again—as if nothing had happened.
"Good," she said. Then, with effortless grace, she shifted closer. "Now," she murmured, "tell me what happened in detail."
Sunny exhaled, still regaining his composure. Then, his expression turned serious.
"Before that..." He hesitated. "There's something I need your help with."
Nephis's brows furrowed, her instinct picking up on the shift in his tone.
"Is it something—"
Before she could finish, Sunny raised a finger, pressing it lightly to her lips.
"Don't speak."
Nephis blinked, startled. A subtle frown appeared as she considered his expression. Unreadable.
Sunny gestured for her to lean in closer. After a fleeting moment of hesitation, she complied, tilting her head toward him.
"Closer," he murmured.
Nephis shook her head slightly, confused but silent. She fought the urge to question him and simply did as he asked—until she was practically leaning against his shoulder.
For a moment, silence lingered. Nephis waited. But Sunny... did nothing.
She couldn't even see his face from this position.
With her head resting against him, all she could hear was the distant clangor of the ceremony—muted laughter, the faint sound of music...
And yet, beneath all that noise, she could feel something else.
Her own heartbeat.
Steady at first. Then faster.
Each passing second made it worse—anticipation coiling in her chest, a restless curiosity creeping into her thoughts.
'What is he doing?'
Then—finally—she felt his fingers. They glided through her hair, gentle but searching. From her scalp to the lower strands, tracing along with a strange deliberation.
As if he was looking for something. As if he was stuck in a dilemma.
Nephis stiffened.
The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down her spine. Then, suddenly—
"Right here."
His voice was soft, almost a murmur. And then—warmth bloomed at a particular spot on her head, exactly where his fingers had rested.
Nephis froze.
She didn't know what had happened, but instinctively, she began to lift her head— Only for Sunny's hand to stop her.
A firm grasp, gentle but unyielding.
Then... She felt it. A flicker of longing in him, raw and quiet.
Before she could react, Sunny lowered himself, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
The warmth of it lingered.
Then, just as quickly, he let her go.
Nephis lifted her head, meeting his gaze. A light blush dusted her cheeks.
"What was that for?" she asked, her voice softer than intended.
Sunny looked away.
"...You look so cute in it," he muttered. "I couldn't help it."
Nephis blinked.
In what?
Her fingers twitched, moving instinctively toward her hair—but before she could touch it, Sunny caught her hand.
"You might ruin it if you do that," he warned.
She paused, frowning slightly. "What did you—"
Instead of finishing her question, she summoned a memory. White sparks coalesced in her palm, taking the shape of a hand mirror.
As the glass cleared, Nephis's reflection came into view—
And she stilled.
There, set at a slight angle on her head, rested a delicate silver flower.
It was breathtaking.
The petals shimmered with a soft luminescence, as if they had been sculpted from moonlight itself. It blended so seamlessly into her silver hair, her pale attire, that it felt... inevitable.
Like it had always been there. Like it was always meant to be there. Something that completed her.
A smile spread across her lips.
"So you like it?" Sunny asked, his voice tinged with anticipation.
Nephis turned to him, her eyes bright.
"I love it," she said softly. Then, without hesitation, she pulled him into her arms.
"Thank you," she whispered against his shoulder. "For going out of your way to get this for me."
"Anything for you..." he murmured.
As she finally let go, he took her hand, firmly. A familiar warmth traveled from his soul to hers.
Nephis stiffened.
Her eyes flickered with surprise as she quickly summoned her runes, checking what he had done.
And there it was.
.
Memory: [Beautiful Flower]
Memory Rank: Transcended.
Memory Type: Accessory.
Memory Description: [A beautiful gift for my beautiful wife.]
.
Nephis stared.
A wave of heat rose to her face.
Slowly, she turned to Sunny—who was now grinning.
"Did you write that description on purpose?" she asked, deadpan.
He chuckled.
"Yes."
Nephis sighed, but she couldn't stop the small smile that formed on her lips. She glanced at the mirror again, at the flower that now belonged to her.
Something precious. Something to cherish.
Forever...