MTLNOVEL Chapter 6: Out of Lights?
The atmosphere shifted.
A ripple of unease spread through the hall as the path ahead cleared, people instinctively stepping away from something—or someone—they dared not stand too close to. An oppressive silence followed, thick and expectant, as though the very air itself recoiled from the presence that had entered.
Mordret.
Sunny's fingers curled slightly against the armrest of his seat. A glance at Nephis revealed her lips curving into a smile—forced, uneven.
Draped in shimmering golden silk, his attire mimicked the gleam of armor, blurring the line between regality and lethality. Mordret moved with an unsettling grace, every step deliberate, as if the entire world danced to the silent rhythm of his will. His smile was too knowing, as though he was privy to a grand, unseen design. His eyes, gleaming with an eerie light as they reflected the world upon itself, belonged not to a predator hunting its prey, but to one who no longer needed to hunt at all.
And yet, his appearance was undeniably mesmerizing—a face sculpted to perfection, an image of vitality and divine elegance. His mere presence radiated something grander than life itself. He was magnificent, glorious in every sense of the word, his beauty eclipsed only by the groom himself.
A hushed wave of murmurs reached Sunny's ears as Mordret's first step echoed through the grand hall.
"I-is that Lord Mordret?"
"Oh my god, he is even more handsome in person!"
"H-he isn't taken, right? I can propose to him, right?"
As he walked, countless stares followed. Lascivious, awed, enraptured. For a moment, it was as if every woman in the hall had become entranced by his existence. If not for the weight of his presence, the sheer force of his unnerving aura, he might have been swarmed like some vaunted idol.
Even so, more than a few found the courage to wave at him, giggling and trembling in excitement as he responded with a slight, knowing motion of his hand. And more than a couple nearly collapsed from the sheer brilliance of his smile.
Sunny exhaled deeply.
Of course. It made sense. His very being was shaped into perfection by his ascension, his form superior to even the Transcendent, who were already considered demigods among men. Other than Sunny and Nephis, Mordret was the only Supreme Titan in existence.
It was no wonder even female Saints might struggle to resist his charm. Mundane girls? They would be having a tough time keeping themselves from falling to their knees.
And yet, the Prince of Nothing paid them no mind. His steps carried him forward, past the sea of admiration, toward Sunny and Nephis. And then—a strange murmur reached Sunny's ears, his brow furrowing slightly.
"...The Shadow, Ruler of Shadows, Dweller of Darkness, Lightless."
Sunny's expression darkened. He turned an unamused stare toward Mordret.
"What the hell are you doing now, bastard?"
Nephis sighed beside him, her tone exasperated. "Sunny, no swearing today. It's our wedding."
He clicked his tongue. "I can't help it. Just looking at this bas—uh, not so likable guy draws those words out of my mouth."
Mordret chuckled, the sound low and amused.
"How... amusing. You really haven't changed at all since then, have you?" His voice was light, but there was something unreadable beneath the surface. Then, almost as an afterthought, he muttered something under his breath. "Maybe it's... Out of Lights?"
Sunny spoke up, irritated. "Alright, enough. What the hell are you even doing spouting random gibberish?"
Mordret's smile widened ever so slightly. "Just a thought." His gaze flickered to Nephis, offering an obligatory nod before returning to Sunny. His next words were spoken with the utmost nonchalance. "What if I utter a random word, and it happens to be your true name? Will you be enslaved then?"
"What..."
Sunny almost flinched.
For just a fraction of a second, something cold slithered down his spine. Not fear... no, not fear. Just the ghost of an instinct buried deep beneath. A warning.
Mordret's words were absurd. A joke, even. And yet, the mere thought of them being true was enough to summon the weight of a long-buried nightmare.
Sunny's shadow bond was a curse. One that could shatter his will and reduce him to an unfortunate slave, forced to obey the whims of the one who spoke his true name. Finding that name was trivial—laughably so—if one knew his flaw. A seemingly harmless trait on its own, it robbed him of silence, forcing him to answer any question with truth.
One question. That was all it took.
A single whisper of curiosity could chain him forever. Until one of them was dead. And even though his flaw wasn't known to many, it wasn't exactly impossible to find it out either.
However, he still had no master. No one in the two words could enslave him. That was thanks to two things: his mastery of Shadow Dance... and Ling's father.
The higher his mastery climbed, the deeper his understanding became. Until, at last, he had reached beyond himself, mimicking more than just appearance, more than just power. He was now able to copy the attributes of other people, their abilities, and even their flaw. And for his purpose, he had copied the flaw of the Nameless Master—then twisted it into an attribute of his own.
[Nameless.]
A simple, almost mocking description:
[Your true name cannot be remembered.]
Even if someone extracted it from him, by his flaw or by divination, they would forget it the instant it appeared in their mind.
It was a perfect countermeasure. An unbreakable shield. Or so one would think.
Sunny stepped forward, his expression darkening. "What kind of bull—" He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to smooth his tone. "—absurd joke is this? You seriously think I wouldn't have accounted for that possibility?"
Mordret chuckled, his eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. "Oh, I know better than that. If you hadn't, you wouldn't dare walk under the same sky as me. I just wanted to entertain the thought."
His words were light, almost playful, but there was a razor-thin edge hidden beneath. Then, without another word, he raised a hand.
Brilliant sparks of white light flickered around his fingers, swirling together, coalescing into a beautifully wrapped box and a bouquet of exquisite flowers.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Sovereign Sunless. Sovereign Nephis."
He handed the bouquet to Nephis, the box to Sunny. His smile never wavered.
"A day such as this is not merely a celebration of love, is it?" Mordret mused, his voice rich with something unreadable. "It is a shift in the world itself. A pleasure, truly, to witness such a moment with my own eyes."
Nephis inclined her head slightly as she accepted the gift, her voice smooth as silk. "We are grateful for your presence."
Sunny, on the other hand, simply sighed.
"Will you drop it already?" He placed the box aside without even looking at it. "Pleasantries don't suit you."
Mordret laughed. "Ah, but I must play my part, no?" He reached forward, grasping Sunny's hand in a firm shake before stepping back with an elegant bow. "May the world prosper under your graceful light... and shadows."
"It will," Nephis answered coolly, rising to her feet. She extended her hand, and Mordret shook it with that same impeccable, too-perfect grace. "So long as whatever you're scheming behind the mirrors does not interfere."
Mordret's smile grew sharper. "Won't you be there to stop me if it does?"
This time, it was Sunny who laughed. "We won't need to. Your heart won't allow you to cause us trouble."
For just a fraction of a second, something flickered in Mordret's expression. Something subtle. Indecipherable. Then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone.
"Ah, yes," he murmured. "How very true."
And just like that, his interest seemed to vanish.
With a final, graceful nod, Mordret turned and disappeared into the throng of guests—melting into the crowd as if he had never been there at all.
Sunny exhaled. Low. Quiet.
"Well," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Nephis to hear. "We can never relax with him around, can we?"
Nephis didn't look at him, but he caught the faint curl of a smile at the corner of her lips. "Do you regret it?"
Sunny met her gaze. "Regret what?"
"Letting him live."
Sunny answered immediately. "I don't." Then, more softly, he added, "Mordret... he's doing his best."
Nephis considered his words for a moment. Finally, she turned to him fully, her silver eyes reflecting the dim glow of the chandeliers. "That may be so... but is it enough?" She sighed, her voice quieter now. "There are still too many people who don't trust him. Who never will."
Sunny glanced into the distance, to the place where Mordret had vanished. The clatter and clangor of the event washed over him like a tide, distant and meaningless. A faint buzzing sound caught his ear—a silent bug, hovering too close. He flicked it away with a lazy gesture, watching as it tumbled before regaining its flight.
"I... don't know," he admitted. "He's changed. And for the better."
Nephis shook her head. "I'm still surprised he actually did." A long sigh escaped her lips. "I didn't think it was possible. Do you know how it happened?"
Sunny tilted his head. "I'm not sure."
A quiet stretched between them.
His gaze fell to where the bug had landed—a small table, where it now struggled against the weight of a crumb. It rubbed its legs together, its wings fluttering weakly as it tried to lift the tiny morsel. But one of its many wings was damaged. Every attempt to take off ended in failure.
Sunny chuckled to himself. Years of fighting, tearing, and surviving against monstrous nightmares, and here he was—watching a mere insect struggle.
The bug flailed, its tiny body twisting in determination. Something about its desperation sent a flicker of nostalgia through him, an echo of old battles fought and lost. For a fleeting moment, the absurd thought of helping it crossed his mind.
Before he could act, something unexpected happened. Another bug—identical to the first—landed beside it. The newcomer hesitated, watching, then as if making up its mind, it reached for the same crumb.
Together, they pulled.
The piece of food broke apart.
Both bugs froze, motionless, as if surprised by their own success. Then, each picked up their share and flew off into the night.
A slow, satisfied smile appeared on Sunny's lips.
"I wonder..." he murmured, finally breaking the silence. "If that bastard met someone who made him change."
Nephis turned her head slightly, curiosity flickering in her gaze. "You really think so?"
"Maybe." Sunny exhaled, his thoughts still lingering on the moment. "Who knows? If we pay attention, we might find the answer tonight."
Nephis stepped closer, slipping her arms around his neck. The warmth of her body pressed against his, a quiet contrast to the lingering chill left in Mordret's wake. She rested her head against his chest, her breath soft against his collarbone.
"Don't," she murmured, her voice low and intimate. "Tonight, your attention belongs to me."
Sunny chuckled, his fingers resting lightly against the small of her back. "When has it not, in the last five years?"