Lloyd felt a shadow fall over him as Haalf rose to his feet, his face showed tinged with regret and disappointment after the rejection. Lloyd craned his neck to look up at the towering figure that blocked his view.
'He's like a freaking giant! How can he be so tall and wide?' Lloyd gasped, stunned by Haalf's massive build.
Haalf turned around and started to walk away.
"Are you leaving already?" Lloyd called out.
"It's getting late... You've made your choice, kid, and I respect that. But I have a job to do, and I need to find other potential candidates," Haalf said over his shoulder.
"I understand," Lloyd said, nodding firmly.
"Remember, if you ever change your mind, you can always look for me in the capital," Haalf said, before walking away again.
"Thanks, I will keep it in mind," Lloyd said.
Lloyd watched him disappear from his sight. He sighed and leaned against the wall. The offer he had just received was tempting, very tempting. It didn't matter if he was a noble or a commoner, anyone would be enticed by it. Even he felt a flicker of desire in his heart.
But he knew he couldn't accept it. His life was hanging by a thread, and any wrong move could trigger the blade that was ready to fall on his neck. He couldn't afford to take such a risk, not when his life was on the line. He wasn't ready to sacrifice it twice.
"Still, it's not like I can ignore the offer completely. I asked him if it would be available in the future because... well, because if I fail to join the family, then maybe I could train under his mentorship," he muttered to himself. He looked at the scenery around him, the one he couldn't enjoy because he was talking to Haalf.
He stared in awe at the lush greenery and colourful flowers that filled the park. He felt a warm breeze caress his face and even heard the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. He also felt a drop of sweat trickles down his forehead, making him uncomfortable.
He reached for his handkerchief and wiped it off, then sighed. "This place is so humid. It's like summer in here, even though it's winter outside. I shouldn't have come wearing this winter jacket"
The park was under the influence of a low-grade dungeon core. The neon green orb, encased in a transparent shell, was in the park centre of the park, controlling everything inside it: the temperature, the weather, and the season. It created a different atmosphere from the outside world, one that suited its whims and preferences. It kept the inside of the park suitable for tourists and for the environment inside it. Inside the park also felt like a sanctuary since it also kept refugee rare trees and plants.
He took off his jacket and put it on the bench.
"This park is quite small since it's on the peak, but it has been extended using glass," he said.
He pointed at the hills and mountains beyond the park. "Past them lies the border with the kingdom of Khatum. Although it's called a border, it isn't directly connected to theirs. There is a Demonic Forest that acts as a buffer zone for both nations."
The Demonic Forest was a notorious place that divided the two powerful countries by hundreds of kilometres. Many wars had been waged between them, but none of them occurred on this border. It was not because both nations never tried to wage war or tried sending their troops through the forest but because whoever entered the forest, whether it was a commoner, a platoon, or even an S-class warrior or mage, never left the forest.
Many rescue teams and research teams had been sent over the years by both sides to find the missing and study the forest and its secrets, but they all met the same fate. The ones who wanted to find the missing became lost themselves, and the ones who wanted to study the forest never returned to share their discoveries.
He shook his head in disbelief, his eyes wide with wonder. "It's surprising, isn't it? Even though this forest is full of mysteries, I never saw it mentioned in the novel at all. All the knowledge I have about this forest is from Lloyd," he said, gesturing at his friend who was sitting on the bench next to him.
He shrugged and tried to sound hopeful, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Maybe it was mentioned in the later chapters of the novel. I haven't read the whole thing yet, you know. I've only read 200 chapters out of 300. It would be silly if something as important as this was never explained in the story, right?" he said, looking at her expectantly.
Okay, here is my suggestion for making the dialogue more descriptive:
He sighed, feeling a bit frustrated. He ran his fingers through his hair and looked at the sky. "Well, it doesn't matter if it was mentioned or not, since I'm transmigrated to this novel as a villain. I just hope it wasn't, because that would save me from more trouble," he said, his voice laced with irritation.
He was usually calm and collected, but the looming threat of his death made him anxious. He tried to calm himself down. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "Sheesh, relax, my man... relax... Why am I so nervous now? At least this time I know exactly how many days I have left, unlike the last time when those terrorists appeared out of nowhere. I can find a better solution now than the last time," he said, his voice sounding more confident.
He was right. His death was no longer a mystery to him. He knew 'how long he had and who would kill him' this time, unlike the train incident. He still had a chance, slim as it was, to survive if he could find the right way in time.
He thought of the train and the people he left behind. He hoped they were alive. A bittersweet smile crossed his face. He touched his chest where his heart was beating fast.
"I can only hope for the best since I'm not there to know the outcome... myself," he added, his voice softening with emotion.
*****
Here, it is the new chapter. Can't add more now since my mom is screaming and telling me to sleep. So... Join my discord quickly!
Discord: https://discord.gg/QyWy85y3G4 :)