MTLNOVEL Chapter 21: Supreme Bond
As soon as Sunny let go of Nephis, the hall erupted into thunderous applause. Cheers rang out, claps resounded in unison, and joyous laughter filled the air. The celebration was in full bloom, a symphony of voices blending into an overwhelming wave of happiness.
"You did it, Doofus!"
Amidst the roaring noise, one voice cut through with ease.
"Way to go making the princess cry like that. Though you messed up when—Ouch!"
A loud thump echoed as Effie yelped in pain, clutching her head.
"The first thing I see when I return is you causing trouble."
Jet's unimpressed voice followed as she seized Effie by the arm, her expression flat yet exasperated.
"You!" Effie twisted in protest, trying to break free. "Why do both you and Cassie hit on me so much?" She said, mockingly. "I am a married woman, you know—Ouch! That hurts!"
Another thump.
"You're coming with me." Jet said, dragging her away mercilessly.
The scene sent a ripple of laughter through the crowd, and even Sunny couldn't stop himself from chuckling.
'Serves you right, you unbridled woman.'
But just as his lips curled into amusement, his eyes caught something... off.
His laughter faded as he narrowed his gaze. Something was shining in the pockets of several guests. Frowning slightly, he focused.
A blue envelope.
His eyes flickered around the room, and he noticed more of them—tucked discreetly into pockets, clutched in hands.
'The blue invitation? But why?'
His brows furrowed. Had they planned some kind of surprise in the Farmland after the ceremony without his knowledge?
But no, something was strange.
Only the mundane humans, Awakened, and Masters had them. Not the Saints.
How... odd.
"What are you thinking?"
A soft, honeyed voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Sunny turned his head, only to be met with Nephis's gaze—playful, warm, utterly tender.
His breath caught.
The way the moonlight kissed her silver hair, how her eyes gleamed with quiet emotion—at that moment, she looked almost ethereal.
Like an angel.
His lips parted before he even thought about it.
"My wife," he murmured, voice steady but quiet enough for only her to hear, "is the most beautiful woman in the world."
Nephis's cheeks instantly flushed pink.
"And my husband," she countered, eyes twinkling, "is the most handsome man in the world. Two worlds, even."
Nephis chuckled, watching as now he struggled to suppress his blush. Then, leaning in slightly, she whispered, "Now, shall we move ahead?"
Her fingertips brushed his cheek, a touch so light it sent a shiver down his spine. Then, her lips curled into something teasingly... suggestive.
"The sooner we're done..." she murmured, her breath warm against his skin, "the more time we'll have together."
Sunny immediately cleared his throat.
"Of course," he said quickly, grabbing her hand and lowering it before she could fluster him further.
With a flick of his wrist, the lights in the hall dimmed.
A hush fell over the crowd.
The only lights that remained were the ones illuminating them, centering all attention on the couple standing at the heart of the ceremony.
Then, through the silence, a tall, gaunt figure stepped forward.
His raven-black hair was sleek, his sharp features exuding quiet authority. His piercing gaze carried the weight of someone well-versed in both wielding power and shouldering responsibility. His long, priest-like robes contrasted the aura of a battle-hardened veteran.
A brilliant smile played on his lips as he stopped before them.
Saint Cor bowed with the grace of an unruly old man who had seen much in his lifetime. His every movement carried the weight of experience, yet there was warmth in his sharp, discerning eyes.
"I am truly honored to be chosen by the Sovereigns to conduct this marriage ceremony," he said, his voice steady yet reverent.
Sunny inclined his head. "The pleasure is ours, Saint Cor. There is no one better suited for this moment."
A subtle smile graced Saint Cor's lips as he took a step back. "Then I shall make sure to live up to your expectations." He raised a hand, his presence commanding yet composed. "Now, the bride and groom will take their vows."
Sunny turned to Nephis, his expression unreadable yet filled with quiet emotion. He gave her a slight nod, as if silently asking, Are you ready?
Nephis answered with a soft smile, slipping her fingers around his in a firm, loving grasp. His heart clenched at the warmth of her touch. He squeezed back.
Saint Cor turned his gaze to Sunny.
"Sovereign Sunless, do you take Sovereign Nephis, whom you now hold by the hand, to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"Do you promise to love and cherish her in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, and, forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"
"I do."
Saint Cor turned to Nephis, repeating the sacred questions. She held Sunny's gaze as she answered, her voice steady, resolute.
"I do."
Then, looking at them both, he spoke once more.
"Do you mutually promise, in the presence of your friends and family, that you will at all times and in all circumstances, conduct yourselves toward one another as befits a husband and a wife?"
"I do," Nephis and Sunny said in unison.
The hall erupted into cheers once again, the sound swelling like a rising tide. Yet, as Saint Cor raised a hand, the noise faded, the air thick with anticipation.
"It is now time to exchange the rings," he announced.
Sunny turned to Nephis, taking her left hand gently in his. Their eyes met, and warmth spread through his soul and for a brief moment, the world around them ceased to exist.
This was it.
In his right hand, he held the ring—small, unassuming in size, yet carrying a weight far beyond its form.
This was no ordinary ring.
How could he allow anything ordinary to mark this moment?
No.
Crafted by his own hands, woven from the very essence of his soul, it was no ordinary piece of jewelry. No mere symbol. It was a soulbound memory, a testament to the bond they would forge today.
Both rings—the one in his hand and the one Nephis held in hers—were made by him.
He had poured everything into them. And he was confident—no, certain—that he had lived up to both of their expectations.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled and gently slid the ring onto Nephis's finger.
A dark band, smooth and gleaming, with intricate engravings of a serpent coiling around it in quiet majesty. The moment the ring settled against her skin, a wave of applause rippled through the hall, a symphony of claps echoing like a song in celebration.
Sunny exhaled slowly, his eyes locking onto Nephis's face.
His heart nearly stopped.
She was staring at the ring, her silver eyes shimmering with admiration, her expression tender in a way that made his chest ache. For a moment, she said nothing—just looked at it, at him, as though memorizing this moment for eternity.
Then, with a flick of their hands, their roles reversed.
Sunny now held out his hand, and Nephis grasped it delicately. With steady fingers, she slipped her ring onto his finger.
It was golden, luminous, with an emblem of the sun etched into it—majestic, burning with an unyielding light.
A perfect contrast to his own.
Just as Nephis slid the ring onto Sunny's finger, a sudden brilliance filled the hall.
Her ring shone with a deep, gleaming darkness—elegant, endless, like the night sky stretching into eternity. His, in contrast, glowed with a vibrant, golden radiance—warm, unyielding, like the first light of dawn breaking through the abyss.
For a fleeting moment, the two opposing hues merged, engulfing the hall in breathtaking majesty. Gasps echoed among the guests as the brilliance reached its peak.
Then, just as swiftly as it appeared, the light faded.
When it cleared, the rings had transformed.
On Nephis's hand, the coiled serpent no longer lay dormant. It moved—its scales glinting, its form slithering with an eerie, lifelike grace. On Sunny's, the sun no longer sat still. Its engraved rays now shimmered as if casting golden light upon his skin.
Nephis stared in wonder.
With an eager glint in her eyes, she summoned her runes.
And at last, for the first time since she had learned that Sunny was personally weaving their wedding rings, she saw the true magnificence of his creation.
The runes burned before her eyes.
Attribute: [Vow of Shadow]
Attribute description: [A token of Shadow's undying love for Light.]
She inhaled sharply, her heart pounding.
Then, the enchantment revealed itself:
Enchantments: [Supreme Bond]
Enchantment Description: [Shadow and Light shall forever be bound together with something greater than fate itself. Their souls shall now be a part of a single whole.]
Nephis blinked.
A singular enchantment.
And not just any enchantment.
Her mind raced, the weight of those words settling in. Their souls shall now be a part of a single whole.
This was something far beyond ordinary. Beyond anything she had imagined.
If what she believed was true, then this memory had surpassed all her greatest expectations. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gazed at the ring wrapped around her hand.
Sunny had done it again. He had created a miracle.
She turned to him, her silver eyes filled with astonishment.
And there he was, looking at her with a smirk, smug satisfaction practically radiating from his entire being. As if he had been waiting for this reaction all along.
Nephis sighed in exasperation, yet she couldn't fight back the smile tugging at her lips.
She wanted to explore this new bond, to feel its effects, to understand what it truly meant. But all of that would have to wait.
Because right now, something far more important awaited her.
A brilliant smile bloomed on her lips, her heart fluttering with excitement as she heard Saint Cor utter his next words.
"You may now kiss the bride."
...
Sunny glanced at his ring, and a slow, satisfied smile spread across his lips.
Attribute: [Oath of Light]
Attribute description: [A token of Light's undying love for Shadow.]
His gaze lingered as the enchantment revealed itself:
Enchantments: [Supreme Bond]
Enchantment Description: [Shadow and Light shall forever be bound together with something greater than fate itself. Their souls shall now be a part of a single whole.]
Exactly as he had envisioned.
If he were a less dignified man, he might have patted himself on the back right then and there.
He had poured everything into this—studied, dissected, and reshaped his own [Shadow Bond] ability, refining it into something better, something flawless. Something that no longer carried the chains of servitude, yet retained all its strength... and far, far more.
This was his gift to Nephis. His proof of love.
And judging by the look on her face, it had worked beautifully.
Sunny drank in her expression—the rare, precious sight of Nephis caught off guard. Silver eyes wide with surprise, soft lips parted ever so slightly as if trying to form words but failing to find them.
His smirk deepened. He wished he could capture this moment and hold onto it forever.
For a brief second, the urge to test the rings, to push their limits and see what exactly had changed, filled his thoughts.
But not now.
No.
Because now, something far more important awaited him.
A soothing smile touched his lips and his heart stuttered in his chest as Saint Cor spoke.
"You may now kiss the bride."
...
The moment had finally arrived.
The long-awaited kiss—the final step that would seal their bond and declare them, at last, husband and wife.
Sunny could hardly believe it.
No disasters. No catastrophes. No monstrous abominations lurking in the shadows, waiting to ambush him at the worst possible moment. For once, the world hadn't conspired against him.
Until now, some paranoid part of him had been bracing for impact, fully expecting his accursed [Fated] attribute to rear its ugly head and throw him into some absurd chain of chaos before finally allowing him a shred of peace.
But... nothing. Everything was fine. A miracle.
His shoulders eased as his gaze drifted back to Nephis.
She was smiling—soft, almost shy.
And just like that, all doubt vanished from his mind.
He stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders. Their eyes met, her silver irises burning with quiet passion.
He pulled her closer, tilting his head—
And then, he froze. A cold shiver ran down his spine.
His heart slammed against his ribs. A ripple of unease trembled through his soul as a sudden, suffocating pull surged through the air.
Nephis stiffened. Her expression hardened in an instant.
She felt it too.
Sunny's head snapped around.
The Saints were exchanging wary glances. The Masters grimaced as if enduring an oncoming migraine. The Awakened shuddered, some gripping their arms. The mundane humans swayed on their feet, struggling to stand.
And then—
BZZT.
A synchronous buzzing erupted across the room.
Sunny ripped his communicator from his pocket, a deep, sinking feeling in his gut.
A single red notification flashed on the screen.
EMERGENCY ALERT
GATE ACTIVITY DETECTED IN YOUR PROXIMITY
ETA: 381 SECONDS
Sunny tapped the notification, and when he saw the details, his stomach dropped.
Gate Category: 5 (95% probability), 6 (2% probability), HIGHER (undefined).
His grip tightened. His jaw clenched.
"Category 5? CATEGORY 5!?"
Suddenly, it all made sense.
For the past five years, there was an eerie lack of tragedy and disaster. At first, Sunny had believed that it was the new norm, that after tormenting him all his life the accursed [Fated] attribute had finally mellowed down.
But No.
It had just been biding its time. Charging up. Waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Like it had been saving every ounce of misfortune for this— For his wedding.
Sunny closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. And then, through gritted teeth—
"Damnation."