The blue window flickered once in the distance.
As if pleased.
***
Si Hon yawned.
The forest had grown deceptively calm.
For a long time, there was nothing but the steady rhythm of Seorin's feet tearing through the snow and the muted whistle of winter wind slipping between trees and skeletal trees.
Frost drifted from disturbed branches above them, falling in quiet spirals. Si Hon hung over her shoulder, silent for once, the earlier chaos fading into a thin layer of exhaustion and cold.
The laughter earlier had died.
The system windows had vanished.
Even the air felt heavier.
After a while, Si Hon exhaled slowly, eyes half-lidded as he stared at the white blur of forest rushing beneath him.
"…Sigh. Man… I miss the tower."
Seorin didn't answer.
He blinked once, then added casually, almost absently—
"By the way… System. Could I ask something?"
A pause.
Snow crunched.
Wind moved.
Then—
A blue window appeared beside him. Still. Quiet.
「Ask.」
