Read the excerpt from Between the Silver and the Ash.

KENNETH

But if she found it . . .

XAVIER

She put something else there. Just for me. She died last year, you know. She put something in the hiding place for me before she died. I've been following her clues for a year. This is the last one.

KENNETH

Why didn't she just give it to you? Whatever it is?

XAVIER

She said I needed to learn persistence. I always gave up on things. So she hid her gift in the forest so I would learn to persevere.

KENNETH

Well, it doesn't look like you're going to get it, no matter what.

Which is the best description of Xavier, based on this excerpt?