"Now."
Si Hon let out a sigh, the kind that came from realizing he'd reached the edge of what he could figure out alone. His head tilted slightly as his gaze drifted forward, unfocused for a second before settling again, more deliberate this time.
"Next…" he muttered under his breath, fingers tapping lightly against his arm. "My quests… how am I even supposed to see those?"
For a moment, he didn't move. Didn't look up. Didn't even try. The silence stretched just a little as he stared ahead, clearly thinking, clearly avoiding something at the same time.
Then his lips pressed together faintly, and he huffed under his breath. "Yeah… it's not even about pride," he added quietly, almost like he was convincing himself. "I just don't want to deal with them…"
A second… or maybe more.
Then—
"But I kinda have to."
With visible reluctance, Si Hon lifted his head just slightly, eyes shifting upward toward the elephant in the room he'd been ignoring this whole time.
