Shadow Slave

Although Effie had gone into labor prematurely, both she and her infant son were alright.

The worst fear of the cohort had not come true, either. Perhaps because the child had been conceived in the waking world, or perhaps because he was born in the black void outside the currents of the Great River, at the very heart of Ariel's Tomb, he was not Riverborn.

At least that was what they surmised after cautiously setting the Chain Breaker in motion and observing no change in the appearance of the baby.

It was an immense relief.

Even Sunny, who always expected the worst and was usually prepared to receive painful blows from fortune, felt like an incredible burden had been lifted from his heart.

The immediate danger had passed. Of course, the future was still uncertain. They still had to fight Torment and destroy the First Seeker. The child's life still hung in a fragile balance, because it was unknown what would happen to his soul after the end of the Nightmare.

But, somehow, Sunny felt hopeful..

After everything had been said and done, the Chain Breaker continued sailing through the dark abyss. The members of the cohort took turns spending time with Effie and her newborn, full of contradictory emotions.

The huntress herself had been exhausted by the prolonged labor, but was regaining her vigor and vitality at an incredible rate.

She still looked tired and drained, though, when Sunny came to see her.

Effie was in her cabin, sitting in a comfortable chair. She was wrapped in a blanket, and holding a sizable bundle in her arms, looking at it tenderly. Sunny was actually startled by that gaze, unaccustomed to seeing his friend so… openly vulnerable.

And strangely content.

Hearing him enter, Effie looked up and smiled tiredly.

"Ah… Uncle Doofus. Welcome, welcome."

He approached and looked at the bundle, finally laying his eyes on the newborn.

Effie's child… looked pretty much like all infants did, with the exception of the fact that he was entirely too large to have been born mere hours ago, at least twice the size of a normal baby.

'That poor woman…'

unreasonably tall, and her son would grow up

Internally, Sunny sighed.

taller than me in no time, won't he? Well... he might just grow up

Effie's smile grew wider.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?"

at her in

chosen the wrong person to

All infants are. And don't give me that look… you know I can't

stared at him for a couple moments, then laughed and gently stroked the sleeping infant's

Almost as much as his

head. Well, they had to be. Otherwise, what would make

him. The infant… actually, it was not very convenient to keep calling

you going

for a bit, smiling. Letting

name him right away.

a moment of somber silence, with both of them refusing to mention the

back at her

at him. He looks like a little dumpling, doesn't

eyes widened

'I knew it!'

his head

bad Effie, bad! You can't name your son

She giggled.

just call him Little Dumpling for now. We'll come up with a proper name after getting out of the

stared at her for a while, then shook his head again, this time

what you want. Don't come complaining to

gave him

know better. I mean, did you mom not name you Sunless? And

voice gradually turned

never mind. I think

her laugh, he hesitated for a

"How are you feeling?"