Shadow Slave

After a while, Sunny and Effie returned to his home — just in time to receive the delivery of the refrigerator. Two tall and broad-shouldered store workers unloaded it from the cargo hold of their delivery vehicle and placed the big box down with a bit of strain. After that, one of them smiled and asked:

"Good day. Where should we put it?"

Sunny waved a hand.

"Ah, no need. I'll do it myself."

The loaders looked at him doubtfully, then simply shrugged and left after getting his signature.

After the vehicle drove off, Sunny looked around, then easily lifted the heavy box and carried it inside the house without any effort whatsoever.

Soon, the refrigerator was standing in the place where his old one used to be, the synthwood panels covering its doors blending in with the minimalist design of the kitchen. Effie and Sunny stared at it for a while, satisfied. Then, he said:

"I like it… a lot. "

Effie smiled.

"Yeah. Really ties the whole room together… doesn't it? Well, in any case, I hope you won't break it again."

After that, she yawned and said in a tired voice:

"Ugh… I'm beat. Time to retire to the Dream Realm. What about you?"

Sunny thought for a few moments. Suddenly, a wide smile appeared on his face.

"I have an errand to run, but after that, I am going in, too. Oh… wait. Where are going to sleep?"

Effie shrugged.

guest room,

He blinked.

need a

The former huntress giggled.

you staring at me like that? Was I supposed to shuffle between the Academy

a

put one there, to begin with. What

as she turned her wheelchair around

what he was going to

***

pushing a shopping cart forward and slowly filling it to the brim with all kinds of food, as well

even do so without having to count his money or feel apprehensive about the cost. He could just… buy as

changed

the Covetous Coffer, he could not only bring soul shards out of the Dream Realm… but also bring stuff from the real world to the Chained Isles! That meant

bring a tent and sleep in it like a

this is

of these things could be bought in a general store. But he could visit other places or simply

he was heading for the registers, a familiar voice suddenly pulled him

Can we get ice

head and looked to his left, down a long aisle he

near a tall, graceful woman in her forties. An eight-year-old boy with blonde hair and a bright smile was pushing a tub of

Rain and her family for a few moments, then turned away and continued on his way,

is. I've only been gone

hesitated

returned, there were several tubs of

***

light of dawn shined on the Chained Isles, Sunny appeared on the Altar Island of the Sanctuary of Noctis. He stared

legs. With the Covetous Coffer in tow, Sunny walked into the garden, found a familiar rock, lifted the toothy box, and