(KBTCM) Ch 8: The Meeting Of Two Souls, The Heart Of The Forest!

(Rowena)

Rowena looked down at the small boy resting on her chest, his head nestled against her bosom as if it were the most comfortable pillow in the world. Her heart skipped a beat—she hadn't expected to find anyone so casually asleep there. "Um..." she began, her voice soft and confused as she shifted her gaze from the boy's peaceful face to the oversized hammer still clutched in his tiny hand. A flicker of memory sparked in her mind: she had seen a glimpse of him before, during her sparring sessions with Sylara—the mysterious boy who had wandered deeper into the forest. Judging by his features, he might even be as young as her sister.

With a gentle, almost mischievous smile, Rowena raised her hand and lightly poked the top of his head. The boy stirred slowly, a few disheveled strands of messy brown hair falling away from his eyes as he blinked awake. His hand, which had been lazily pressed against her chest, instinctively pushed upward as he sat upright, still half-dreaming. He yawned widely, using his free hand to rub his tousled hair.

"Um, excuse me," Rowena said with a mix of irritation and amusement, her tone firm yet patient. "You really must learn not to sleep on princesses' chests uninvited."

The boy's tired eyes fluttered open, and for a moment he regarded her with a dazed look. Then, with a sleepy smile, he said, "Good morning." His voice was soft and laced with genuine politeness, as if greeting a dear friend rather than a towering princess.

Rowena's eyebrows arched in surprise, and then she couldn't help but chuckle. "Or, I should say, good afternoon, shouldn't I?" he added with a lazy laugh, correcting himself as if he'd known all along that time was a relative concept when you were as tall as she was.

"Very funny," Rowena replied, a smile tugging at her lips as she carefully scooped the little boy up between her thumb and forefinger. She cradled him in her open palm, holding him close to her face so she could study his features more clearly. The warm, gentle glow of the forest light caught in his eyes, and her own heart softened at the sight.

"Now," she said in a soothing tone, "what is your name, little one?"

He looked up at her, blinking as if he were trying to decide whether he was still dreaming or awake. "Kerren, Your Majesty," he said in a quiet, respectful tone, bowing his head almost imperceptibly as he did so.

Rowena's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "So, you know who I am then?" she asked, a playful lilt in her voice as she tilted her head inquisitively.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Kerren replied, his tone earnest despite the lingering drowsiness. His eyes held a mixture of reverence and something else—an unspoken wonder that she couldn't quite place.

Rowena's smile grew as she brought her face even closer to Kerren's, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.

Rowena smirked as she held Kerren in her palm, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief. She tapped a finger against her chin, feigning deep contemplation. "You do realize," she said, tilting her head slightly, "that sitting on a princess's chest—let alone sleeping on one—is highly illegal?"

Kerren blinked up at her, tilting his head in confusion. "It is?" he asked, genuinely surprised.

"Oh, absolutely," Rowena continued, nodding solemnly. "A grave offense, really. And I'm afraid I'll have to punish you for it."

The little boy sat up straighter in her palm, frowning slightly. "Punish me?" he repeated, his voice carrying just a hint of curiosity. "How exactly are you going to do that?"

Rowena gave him a slow, playful grin and parted her lips slightly. "Well..." she began, bringing him closer to her face. "You'd make a fine little snack."

She opened her mouth wider, her warm breath washing over him as she slowly moved him closer. Her sharp white teeth glistened, her pink tongue shifting slightly behind them as if preparing to take a bite.

Kerren simply sat down in her palm, staring up at her gaping maw without so much as flinching. His small hands rested in his lap, and he blinked up at her as if he were merely watching clouds drift across the sky.

Rowena hesitated, narrowing her eyes. She stopped her approach, closing her mouth just a few inches away from him, her teeth so close that he could have reached out and touched them. She pulled her head back, frowning. "Wait a minute," she said, clearly confused. "You're not scared?"

Kerren simply shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Rowena raised a brow. "I've done this prank on plenty of people, and even my friends freak out when I do it." She leaned in slightly, studying him with suspicion. "Only one person has ever not fallen for it before."

Kerren stood up now, stretching his arms before looking up at her with an easy grin. "I didn't think you were the type of person to swallow someone just for something small like that," he said, his tone calm and certain.

Rowena blinked. His words caught her off guard more than she expected. "And how exactly would you know anything about me?" she asked, her voice quieter now, a note of genuine curiosity slipping into it.

Kerren glanced around at the towering trees, the way the crystal-clear water of the stream sparkled under the filtered light, and the soft green orbs of light that lazily floated around the small tree she had been resting her head against. "Because you're here," he said simply.

Rowena followed his gaze, her eyes sweeping over her surroundings as if she were seeing them for the first time. The forest had always been familiar to her, but this part of it—the thick, rich greenery, the strange glow of the smaller tree—felt different. Alive, almost. She glanced down at her left hand, which was resting on the ground, and noticed small, delicate vines curling around her fingers, as if the forest itself had welcomed her presence.

"What is this place?" she murmured.

"The Heart," Kerren said, a quiet reverence in his voice. "The heart of the forest."

Rowena lifted a brow and looked back down at him. "The heart of the forest?" she repeated.

Kerren nodded. "I don't know everything about it," he admitted. "But I do know one thing: if you were a bad person, you wouldn't have been able to come here."

Rowena stared at him, unsure of what to say. She had never been the type to believe in superstitions or mystical nonsense. But as she looked back down at the glowing tree, the untouched grass beneath her, and the vines wrapped gently around her fingers, she couldn't shake the strange feeling settling in her chest.

She brought Kerren closer to her again, holding him carefully by her chest. "This place," she murmured, glancing down at the tree that hadn't even tilted under the weight of her head, "it's... special."

Kerren nodded, his expression calm. "More alive than people think," he said. "It has a special power. It can heal others."

Rowena's eyes softened as she took in the quiet magic of the place. "Amazing," she whispered.

Kerren smiled up at her. "That's how I know you're a good person."

Rowena's breath caught in her throat. She looked down at him, at his genuine, unshaken smile, and for the first time in a long while, she felt something unfamiliar spread through her chest. Warmth.

It wasn't admiration, fear, or obligation—it was just... kindness.

Her cheeks turned pink before she even realized it, and she huffed, quickly looking away. "Well, you're no fun," she grumbled, setting Kerren down gently on the ground.

She stood up to her full height, shaking the forest with her movement. The trees around her swayed, and the small glowing orbs danced in the air from the force. Stretching her arms over her head, she let out a breath. "I need to go," she said casually. "My brother is coming back soon, and I don't want to be late."

She took a few steps away before pausing, glancing over her shoulder at Kerren. With a sly smile, she added, "Oh, and in the future? Try to avoid stepping on other women's chests. Just because I was merciful doesn't mean others would be."

Kerren chuckled and gave her a small, playful bow. "Yes, Your Highness," he said.

Rowena smirked before turning away, her massive footsteps sending soft tremors through the earth as she disappeared into the trees.

Kerren watched her go, standing in the heart of the forest, the soft green lights still swirling gently around him. He exhaled, smiling to himself.

Fate had a funny way of bringing people together.