Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 287: The Ladies and The Girls’ Preparation

Chapter 287: The Ladies and The Girls’ Preparation

The door once again opened, stealing the attention of the whole House of Roses. The women turned in unison, their hearts leaping with anticipation, but it wasn’t Lyan who stepped through. Instead, three familiar figures filled the doorway: Serena, Emilia, and Alicia—the Valkyries. Disappointment flickered across the faces of The Deadly Bouquet, but it was quickly replaced by excitement.

"The Valkyries!" Xena exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.

"Our idols," Belle murmured, a smile spreading across her face.

Josephine stepped forward, her demeanor composed but her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Serena, Emilia, Alicia, what brings you here?"

Serena, the leader of the Valkyries, stepped forward. Her dark ash-grey hair framed her sharp, confident features. "We heard about the civil war in Astellia and rushed back to back you and Lyan up. Where is he?"

Emilia, with her wild fiery red hair and tomboyish grin, added, "We’ve been tracking him ever since we left Astellia for the Redania Empire. Every time we tried to chase him, he was nowhere to be found!"

Alicia, the stoic and brilliant strategist, stood silently, her doll-like face showing a hint of curiosity.

Josephine chuckled. "Lyan led the defense of Arkansas with the guildmaster, protected the city from the duke’s forces, and then went with the crown prince to defeat the duke. The war is over now. Lyan was made a noble and given a territory. He’s on his way back here."

The Valkyries were silent for a moment, processing the news. Then, in unison, they shouted, "How fast did that man go!?"

"We’ve been chasing him all over!" Emilia said, her voice rising in frustration. "It’s like he has a knack for disappearing just when we think we’ve caught up!"

Belle laughed softly. "That sounds like Lyan. Always one step ahead."

Josephine, ever the diplomat, gestured for them to enter. "Come, let’s talk more in the private halls. We have much to catch up on."

The group moved to the private halls, where plush chairs and sofas awaited. The Valkyries took their seats, and the conversation flowed easily.

"So, what happened with you after you left Astellia?" Ravia asked, leaning forward with interest.

Serena sighed. "We were tracking bandits and ended up in the Redania Empire. There, we found the master we’ve been searching for all this time."

"Your master?" Raine echoed. "Who is she?"

"Her name is not important right now, you’ll meet her soon," Alicia interjected, her voice calm and measured. "But she’s someone we’ve been looking for a long time."

Emilia’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "We came here with her, but she went to meet a friend in Arkansas."

"Who is this friend?" Xena asked, curiosity piqued.

Serena shrugged. "She didn’t say. Just that it’s someone familiar."

Josephine leaned back, contemplating. "Interesting. And what about Lyan? What’s his story?"

Alicia’s expression turned thoughtful. "He broke through the dangerous terrains of the Eternal Winter in the north. It seems he’s always pushing the limits, never staying in one place for too long. It’s such a mystery for us too. It’s not easy to travel quickly on such dangerous terrains,"

Ravia snorted. "That’s Lyan for you. Always on the move."

Raine smiled, a touch of pride in her eyes. "He’s made quite the impression on everyone he meets."

The room buzzed with laughter and conversation, the women sharing stories and memories. The Valkyries recounted their adventures, the bandits they’d defeated, and the challenges they’d faced.

At one point, Emilia teased Belle, "Still brewing those potions, Belle? I bet you’ve got a whole arsenal by now."

Belle blushed, but her eyes sparkled with determination. "Of course. You never know when you’ll need a good potion."

Xena joined in, "And don’t forget her Papilio Slime, Pilia. That thing is deadly."

Emilia laughed. "I remember! That slime gave us quite a scare when we returned from the Goblin King subjugation."

Belle pouted playfully. "Pilia is very effective. You just don’t appreciate the finer points of alchemy."

Josephine, sensing a potential argument, stepped in. "Alright, enough teasing. We’re all here to prepare for Lyan’s return."

Serena’s eyes gleamed with mischief. "And what are you preparing for him?"

Josephine smirked. "You’ll see. Everyone’s got something special planned."

The Valkyries exchanged amused glances. "This, I have to see," Serena said.

As the conversation continued, the women began to share their preparations. Xena spoke excitedly about the new arrows she had crafted, each one tipped with a different magical property.

"I’ve got fire, ice, lightning, and even a couple of explosive ones," she said, her eyes gleaming. "Lyan’s going to love them."

Alina, ever modest, mentioned the intricate sword dance she’d been practicing. "It’s a bit different from our usual fights. More like a performance. But I think he’ll appreciate it."

Ravia and Raine had been working on a coordinated combat display, combining their skills in a seamless and deadly routine. "We want to show him how much we’ve improved," Ravia explained.

"And that we’re still the best team out there," Raine added with a competitive grin.

Josephine had something more personal in mind. "I’m preparing a special dinner for him. All his favorite dishes. And of course, a little something extra," she said with a wink.

The Valkyries listened with interest, their own minds whirling with ideas. "Well, we can’t let you have all the fun," Emilia said. "Maybe we’ll join in the preparations."

The atmosphere in the room was electric, each woman feeding off the energy of the others. They teased, laughed, and occasionally squabbled, but there was an undeniable sense of camaraderie and anticipation.

As the night wore on, the Valkyries shared more about their journey. Serena described the harsh landscapes they had traversed, the enemies they had faced, and the bonds they had forged along the way.

Alicia, usually so stoic, opened up a little, revealing her admiration for Lyan’s strategic mind. "He’s an interesting man. Always thinking three steps ahead."

Emilia, ever the fiery spirit, expressed her frustration at not being able to catch up with him. "We’ve been through so much, and he’s always just out of reach. It’s maddening! But I guess that’s what made him captivating,"

Ravia laughed. "You’ll get used to it. Lyan’s always been like that."

Raine nodded. "But when he’s here, it’s like everything falls into place."

The conversation eventually turned to the future. "What’s next for you all?" Serena asked.

Josephine’s eyes sparkled with determination. "We’ll continue to protect our home and our people. And of course, we’ll support Lyan in his new role. I’m thinking about moving as well,"

Belle added, "And we’ll keep improving. There’s always more to learn, more to achieve."

Xena grinned. "And more monsters to hunt."

The Valkyries exchanged looks of admiration and a sense of envy. "Settling, huh..." Serena said. "Maybe that’s not a bad idea itself,"

The room fell silent for a moment, each woman lost in her own thoughts. The anticipation of Lyan’s return hung heavy in the air, but so did a sense of unity and purpose.

Finally, Josephine stood. "Alright, ladies. We’ve got a lot to do before Lyan gets here. Let’s get to work."

The women rose, their resolve clear. They began to discuss plans, coordinate their efforts, and share ideas. The Valkyries joined in, offering their own expertise and insights.

As the night grew darker, the House of Roses buzzed with activity. Each woman was focused on her task, determined to make Lyan’s return unforgettable.

The preparations continued into the early hours, with laughter, teasing, and occasional disagreements punctuating the work. But through it all, there was an undeniable sense of excitement and camaraderie.

By the time the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows, the House of Roses was ready. Each woman had put her heart and soul into the preparations, and it showed.

Josephine looked around at her friends and allies, a smile of satisfaction on her face. "We’ve done well. Lyan will be here soon, and we’ll give him the welcome he deserves."

The Valkyries nodded in agreement, their own anticipation clear. "We can’t wait to see his face," Emilia said with a grin.

"Neither can we," Belle replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

As the women stood together, ready for whatever the future held, there was a sense of unity and purpose that filled the room. They were The Deadly Bouquet, and they were ready for anything.

And when Lyan finally walked through that door, they knew he would be proud.

_____________________________

Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Mythril-ranked Mercenary, Unofficially Baron Evocatore of Grafen

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), Rune Wolf (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