Chapter 141 - I've Fallen

As they walked deeper into the forest toward the Queen's dwelling, Sonder was wondering where or what it would be.

She had always thought of queens as figures who resided in towering stone castles, places of high walls, and giant gates.

But here, in the forest, there was no stone, no grand structure looming in the distance.

There were no guards with the queen, no barriers between her and her surroundings.

It was just the Queen, gliding forward with an effortless grace, her feet hidden under her dress of leaves and vines, brushing against the earth, making it seem like she was floating through the forest.

She never once looked back to check on them, moving with a confidence that suggested she had nothing to fear.

Sonder found herself relaxing into the natural calm of the forest, the serenity pressing around her.

Vell, however, sensed something more.

He could feel an unspoken agreement between the Queen and her realm.

Every creature and every branch seemed to be on alert, watching silently, ready to spring to her defense if necessary. The forest itself was alive, its life force tightly interwoven with the Queen's presence.

The ground could open beneath their feet, swallowing them into the depths of the soil, while every creature—usually timid and gentle—would transform into a fierce defender of the Queen.

Their only goal would be to ensure her safety, regardless of the cost to her intruders.

As they walked, Vell noticed something curious: Celadon seemed to be far more welcoming to Sonder than to him.

For every few steps he took, he would find himself having to lift his staff or his feet higher than expected to avoid a root or a rock inconveniently jutting up in his way. He glanced over at Sonder to see if she was encountering the same obstacles, but she walked along without pause, her steps unimpeded.

Somehow, the path seemed to clear itself for her, each root and stone simply shifting out of her way.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a mischievous idea forming in his mind.

While they continued down the twisting path, Vell gave his staff a firm nudge, sending a small pebble rolling into Sonder's path. He expected her to step on it and stumble—like walking on a marble, the pebble would be just enough to make her lose balance. He watched closely, ready to catch her if she wavered, his small experiment making him smirk.

But as Sonder's foot neared the pebble, something unexpected happened. The pebble veered sharply to the side, as if it had a will of its own, rolling completely out of her path.

Sonder continued on, oblivious, her steps as light as always.

Vell's smirk deepened as he exhaled quietly. Celadon had certainly taken a liking to her.

But his satisfaction was short-lived. As he stepped forward, his own foot landed on something small and round.

The ground rushed up to meet him, and he landed with a thud.

The Queen, still ahead of them, let out a soft, knowing chuckle.

Sonder, eyes wide with surprise, kneeled down beside him. "Are you alright?" She asked, her voice full of genuine concern.

Vell, who was rarely so much out of step, had never fallen in her presence before.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," he muttered, brushing the dirt from his robes as he stood, feigning calm. He thought he deserved it because he tried to do the same to Sonder. "Just... a small misstep."