There was a long pause—long enough that the grains of sand falling through the broken cracks of the wall sounded like ticking seconds, scraping against the air's tense silence.
Then, the deep, gravelly voice echoed again, unshaken, as if time itself had paused to give space for his words.
"I see," said the Sand Man, voice like rust over stone, slow yet laced with growing amusement. "Now I understand. Why you, boy… why your arrogance burns so bright." He let out a dry chuckle, barely audible, like dust slipping between teeth. "It is earned. Yes. It is earned! Earned by the talented and strong ones like you!"
Vonjo tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowed, and gave a half-smirk. "Huh. I don't know if that's supposed to be a compliment or an insult. But you didn't sound like you were going to compliment me earlier. What made you change your mind, old relic?"
