Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 264: The New -

Chapter 264: The New Chapter

Lyan awoke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the curtains of Belle’s room. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim glow, and found himself surrounded by the peaceful forms of the women of the House of Roses. He felt a warmth beside him and turned to see Xena, her eyes already open and twinkling with amusement.

"Good morning," Xena whispered, her voice soft and teasing.

"Morning," Lyan replied, his voice still heavy with sleep. "Seems like you’re an early riser."

Xena chuckled quietly. "I couldn’t really sleep much after last night. You’ve got quite the stamina, Lyan."

Lyan grinned, stretching his arms above his head. "I could say the same about you."

They lay there for a few moments, enjoying the quiet intimacy of the morning. Xena’s fingers traced lazy patterns on Lyan’s chest, and he found himself relaxing into the gentle touch.

"Do you ever get tired?" Xena asked, her tone shifting to something more serious.

Lyan sighed, his eyes drifting to the ceiling. "Sometimes. But I don’t really have the luxury of slowing down, not with everything that’s happening. Not until we make our own home,"

Xena nodded, her expression thoughtful. "You know we’re all worried about you, right? Especially with the wounds you already have."

Lyan glanced down at the various cuts and bruises adorning his body, a testament to the battles he had fought. He smiled softly. "I know. But isn’t that what makes me sexier?"

Xena laughed, the sound light and melodious. "I suppose it does."

One by one, the other girls began to stir. Alina was the first to wake up, her eyes fluttering open as she yawned delicately.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Lyan greeted, ruffling her hair.

Alina pouted playfully. "You’re the one who kept us all up so late."

Josephine, Belle, Ravia, and Raine followed suit, stretching and yawning as they woke up. The room filled with the sound of soft laughter and teasing remarks, creating a warm, familial atmosphere.

As they settled into the morning, Alina made a cute remark that had everyone laughing. "If we keep having nights like last night, we might need a bigger bed."

Lyan chuckled, shaking his head. "I’ll see what I can do about that."

But then, the mood shifted as Lyan cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. "There’s something I need to tell you all."

The girls looked at him expectantly, their smiles fading slightly as they sensed the seriousness in his tone.

"I’m going to Astellia with the crown prince and his army," Lyan said, his voice steady. "I’ve heard the plans, and we’re going to the area where a certain Count lives a the eastern part of Astellia. I heard he’s renowned for his castle that he made with his funds, and is one of the biggest supporters of the Duke. If we got him, we would get another base to launch easier attacks on the Duke,"

The room fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Josephine was the first to speak, her voice laced with concern. "Are you sure about this, Lyan?"

"Yes," Lyan replied firmly. "This is a chance for me to prove myself and to earn a title. If I do well, I might be given a territory and become a feudal lord. I’ve considered this well. And we could have a new private home together."

The girls exchanged worried glances, their expressions a mix of concern and disbelief. Belle shook her head. "We want to help you, Lyan. We can fight too."

Lyan held up a hand, silencing her. "I appreciate that, Belle. I really do. But I can’t risk your life. I can’t ensure that I will be able to protect you always. This is something I need to do on my own."

The girls objected, their voices overlapping as they tried to convince him otherwise. But Lyan remained resolute, his gaze steady and unwavering.

"I’ve made up my mind," he said calmly. "I need to do this. Not just for myself, but for all of us. I promise I’ll come back. But for now, I need you to trust me."

The girls fell silent, their objections dying on their lips. They knew Lyan well enough to understand that once he made a decision, there was no changing his mind.

"We believe in you," Alina said softly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "But that doesn’t mean we’re not worried."

Lyan smiled, his heart swelling with affection. "I know. And I’ll be careful. I promise."

He leaned in, kissing Alina gently on the forehead. One by one, he kissed each of the girls, his touch lingering as he reassured them with his presence.

The morning passed in a blur of laughter and conversation. They gathered around the table for breakfast, the aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon filling the air. Ravia and Raine proposed to prepare Lyan’s luggage and tend to his weapons, while Belle and the others sat with him, enjoying the meal.

As they ate, Belle noticed the potions Lyan had been given, still unused. Her expression turned stern as she picked one up, waving it in front of his face. "Why haven’t you used these, Lyan?"

Lyan scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was saving them for when I really needed them."

"That’s not the point," Josephine said, her tone firm. "It’s better to use them and stay healthy than to save them and get hurt. Promise us you’ll use them from now on."

Lyan raised his hands in surrender, smiling. "Alright, I promise."

The rest of the breakfast was filled with lighthearted banter and the occasional teasing remark. The girls did their best to keep the mood cheerful, not wanting to dwell on the impending separation.

Just as they were finishing their meal, there was a knock at the door. A knight in the livery of the crown prince stood there, his expression solemn.

"Lyan, the crown prince requests your presence," the knight said, his voice formal.

Lyan nodded, rising from his seat. He turned to the girls, his heart aching at the thought of leaving them. "It’s time." It’s been a long time since he had a place he could call home. And this place, the House of Roses has become a place he could consider his home.

The girls gathered around him, their expressions a mix of sadness and determination. One by one, they hugged him tightly, their whispers of encouragement and love filling his ears.

"Be safe," Raine whispered, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Come back to us," Belle said, her voice steady despite the emotion in her eyes.

"We’ll be waiting," Xena added, her smile bright and unwavering.

Lyan kissed each of them, his touch lingering as he committed their faces to memory. "I’ll come back," he promised, his voice filled with determination. "I love you all."

With a final wave, he turned and followed the knight out of the House of Roses, his heart heavy but resolute. He knew that this journey would be dangerous, but the thought of returning to the women he loved gave him the strength to face whatever lay ahead.

As he rode away, he glanced back one last time, the sight of the House of Roses growing smaller in the distance. He knew that he was leaving behind a piece of his heart, but he also knew that he would do whatever it took to return to them.

"Now it’s time for another adventure," Lyan’s face turned serious as he rode on Shadow toward the guild.

The warmth of the morning sun washed over him as he rode through the bustling streets of the city. Shadow, his loyal aggressive, trotted with a steady rhythm, the clip-clop of hooves on cobblestones a comforting sound in the otherwise chaotic surroundings. The city was waking up, vendors setting up their stalls, children playing in the streets, and the scent of fresh bread wafting through the air.

Lyan’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, but his resolve remained unwavering. He had made a promise to the women he loved, and he intended to keep it. The journey ahead was fraught with peril, but the vision of a future together, a place they could call their own, spurred him on.

Arriving at the guild, Lyan dismounted and handed Shadow’s reins to a stable boy. He entered the grand building, the familiar sight of mercenaries bustling about filling him with a sense of camaraderie. The guild was abuzz with activity, preparations for the upcoming campaign against the Duke evident in the flurry of movement and the serious expressions on the faces of the adventurers.

Lyan made his way to the meeting hall where the crown prince and his generals awaited. As he entered, the room fell silent, all eyes turning to him. The crown prince, a tall and imposing figure, stepped forward, a smile playing on his lips.

"Lyan, thank you for coming," the prince said, his voice commanding yet warm.

_____________________________

Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Mythril-ranked Mercenary

Money: 3,775,710,950 Elnes / 3775 gold 71 big silver 9 big coppers 5 coppers

Weapon: Magic Glaive, 1 (Decent) One-handed Sword, 5 (Good-Quality) One-handed swords, 1 (Decent) bow, 1 Gryphon-Winged Sword

Equipment: 3 Black leather cloak, 2 Leather Armor, 2 Breastplate, 4 Health Potions, 2 Poison Vials

Grimoire’s Companions: 8 High Spirits, 3 Valkyrie, Shadow Goblin Lord (Lv. 5), Papilio Slime (Lv. 45), Galewing Butterfly (Lv. 45), Rock Golem (Lv. 50), Deadlight (Lv. 74), Moonlight Butterfly (Lv. 45), Ice Golem (Lv. 50), Acid Ant Queen (Lv. 19), Magma Bear (Lv. 1), Fey Mammoth (Lv. 1), Arcane Retriever (Lv. 1), Winter Wolf Alpha (Lv. 12), Fenris (Lv. 1), Gargoyle (Lv. 1), Shadow Nymm (Lv. 1), Seltas Queen (Lv. 1)

Grimoire’s Army: 6 Shadow Servants, 800 Skeleton Army (24 Goblin Champion Skeletons, 226 Hobgoblin Skeletons, 550 Goblin Skeleton Army), 80 Acid Ants Workers, 30 Acid Ants Soldiers, 4 Female Winter Wolves