"There's no need for that. You shouldn't have prepared it for me; they will deduct it from your salary," Lloyd politely refused the free drink being offered to him, using a hand gesture to decline since the cost would come out of the cafeteria worker's lower wage.
"Haha! Don't worry about it. It's going to expire and be thrown out; it's better to use it. Feel free to drink and ask me for refills if you want," the cafeteria worker chuckled, pushing the drink toward him.
"You sure? I wouldn't want to hurt your wallet for nothing," Lloyd expressed genuine concern, with slightly raised eyebrows and a gaze reflecting sincere worry.
"I told you not to worry; nothing's gonna harm my wallet. Even if I gave the whole thing for free, they won't cut it from my salary since barely anyone manages this place, and we also got a warehouse full of supplies which might get thrown out. Also, you don't get someone to talk to here in this season," he reassured with a casual smile.
Unable to refuse the cafeteria worker's hearty hospitality any longer, Lloyd accepted, thanked him, and sipped onto the warm, sweet and sour drink that offered a unique taste on his palate.
"It's nice," his brows raised in surprise by the unique taste of the drink.
Sipping on his drink, their short talk developed into a long conversation where they discussed their lives and various topics. The cafeteria worker, David, proved to be a very friendly and polite man hailing from the Northern Edge of the country.
"That explains the accent, but how did you make your way to Naptia?" Lloyd gave him a curious gaze and, after putting the paper cup into the trash can beside his chair, inquired about David's journey.
"Want another one?" David asked, noticing the cup in the trash can.
He shook his head to decline the offer.
After that, David explained the reason behind his stay at this place, mentioning it was due to business matters. Lloyd listened with full interest, leaning in to catch every word. While David didn't delve much into family matters, he shared enough to keep the conversation engaging.
"Where are you going during this time of the year?" Lloyd asked.
"I am heading to Mulen because I have a family function to attend," David answered but lied about his true reason for heading to Mulen.
'I can't tell anyone that I'm heading to Mulen to find the Nurture core there since I don't want anyone to steal and consume it,' Lloyd thought. He intended to reach Mulen as discreetly as possible, keeping the true reason behind his travel a secret.
"Mulen? I suggest you not to travel there. It's pretty risky," David warned, his tone carrying genuine concern for Lloyd's safety. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his eyes expressed worry.
"Risky? Why? Did something happen there?" Lloyd asked, confusion etching across his face with a puzzled expression after the warning.
"You don't know? Recently, a flood occurred there, and monsters are running rampant. Although authorities have supressed the threat, monsters can still be spotted near the dungeon," David explained, his expression filled with concern.
"Although no lives have been claimed in that area since it was only a C-class dungeon, it's still advisable not to go outside the city since it's pretty risky, even with all the safety measures," he added, advising Lloyd about the situation.
'Seriously, how did I not know about this? I've been pretty active on social media in the last few days; I should have at least known a little bit about it,' Lloyd mused, a hint of mild surprise coloring his realization.
"Well, the city is pretty safe, so I shouldn't worry then since I am only going to stay in the main city after all," he replied, a sense of reassurance lacing his words, accompanied by a calm and collected demeanor.
'Boy, I'm messed up. I gotta go into the forest if I want to get the Nurture Core...' he cursed his luck, frustration, and a touch of resignation evident in his words.
"That's good to know, but never venture outside the city borders until it's safe there, kiddo. This is a wicked world after all," David cautioned him once again.
While Lloyd might be lying outside with a calm composure, David was anxious. The news had the potential to ruin Lloyd's plan and pose a threat to his life. Despite his anxiety, Lloyd couldn't afford to abandon this plan. If he didn't take the risks, someone else might, and that would be the worst-case scenario.
[Ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to announce the arrival of Train Number 12567 on platform B. We kindly request passengers to allow those disembarking to exit first and ensure a smooth flow. Thank you for your cooperation, and we wish you a pleasant journey.]
The announcement from the platform master echoed throughout the empty station multiple times before finally stopping, providing some relief to the ears.
*Shreeik*
The train arrived and stopped at the platform. There wasn't anyone getting out or entering inside it. It was completely empty since it was the first station on its route.
"You should go now; it won't stay here for more than ten minutes. Board before it leaves, because missing this means waiting until tomorrow," David advised urgently.
Lloyd nodded, waving his hands, he left and boarded the train. Just as he expected, there were no passengers in the train, completely empty.
"I shouldn't have bought the first-class ticket," Lloyd's voice showed regret.
His regret wasn't because the service wasn't up to par – it was the best. Instead, he regretted the decision because he could have just gone and sat inside the first-class cabin with a regular ticket, given that there was no one else in the train.
The train began to move, accelerating quickly and reaching 0-100 in just over five seconds. It was safe to say it was super fast for a normal train.
'I hope nothing bad happens...' Lloyd showed a troubled expression. Due to David's warning, he couldn't shake off the negative thoughts that had crept into his mind from overthinking.
*****
Marry christmas y'all. I wished because i remembered this time lol.
Although I don't know if i have or not but if you kingdom being used for the country Lloyd lives in then let me remind you its not a kingdom. It's a democratic republic. I might have used kingdom in flow.
Discord:https://discord.gg/QyWy85y3G4