Conrad, mid-swing, paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he processed Lyle's unexpected proposition. The chaos of battle continued around them, but at that moment, a peculiar conversation unfolded amidst the clash of blades and the roar of magic.
"Join you? You must be out of your mind, rebel scum!" Conrad spat out the words with disdain, but there was a flicker of contemplation in his eyes.
"I understand your loyalty to the empire, but consider this, Conrad. You're powerful, and you have ambitions. With us, you could carve out your own destiny. The empire only uses you as a tool," Lyle continued, deflecting Conrad's strikes with a calm demeanor.
The idea seemed to linger in Conrad's mind, and for a brief moment, a conflict of thoughts played out on his face. However, his hesitation was short-lived as he roared, dismissing the notion with a vehement swing of his blade.