Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 330: The Valkyries and The Training Grounds

Chapter 330: The Valkyries and The Training Grounds

The early morning mist hung low over the training grounds, a vast expanse of dirt and grass, still untouched by the trampling boots of soldiers. Lyan’s army, a growing force under his command, was preparing for another day of rigorous training. At the edge of the field, rows of soldiers stood in line, their armor gleaming faintly in the soft light of dawn. The army was divided into units—each designed for a specific purpose, from heavy infantry to mounted cavalry and archers.

Supervising them from a nearby platform were three of Lyan’s most trusted commanders: Surena, Emilia, and Alice, three Valkyries who not only held power on the battlefield but in strategic planning. Each of them had their unique approach to leadership, and as they watched the soldiers begin their drills, their conversation began to take shape.

Emilia, her tall, muscular frame resting on the railing of the platform, glanced over the soldiers with her sharp crimson eyes. "They need more discipline," she remarked, her voice direct. "The way they’re holding their shields... I could break through that formation in a heartbeat."

"Discipline comes with time," Alice responded, her tone measured, her platinum-blonde hair falling gracefully over her shoulder. "We need to focus on the basics first, then reinforce them with advanced techniques. Not everyone can be a natural soldier like you, Emilia."

Surena, standing between the two, grinned, her expression mischievous. "Discipline’s important, sure... but maybe they could use some motivation." She cast a glance over her shoulder towards the castle. "I mean, Lyan always knows how to motivate us, doesn’t he?"

Alice chuckled softly, not missing the chance for a witty retort. "Oh, I’m sure he does. Especially during those long nights. But we’re talking about training soldiers, Surena, not..." She trailed off, allowing her smirk to say the rest.

Surena’s grin widened. "Hey, I just think a little reward system could go a long way. Train hard, fight well, and... who knows what could come their way?"

Emilia rolled her eyes, though there was a trace of amusement in her voice. "You mean like the reward system you’ve got going with Lyan? I’m sure the soldiers will find that very motivating."

"Don’t pretend you haven’t dreamt about it," Surena teased. "The other day, you were muttering something in your sleep. Was it... ’Don’t stop, Lyan’?"

Emilia flushed slightly but maintained her composed expression. "Focus, Surena. We’re not here to discuss our personal lives."

The banter between the Valkyries had become a regular part of their routine, though it never distracted from their duty. As the soldiers continued their drills, the three women shifted their conversation to more pressing matters—the training and organization of the army.

The Private Army’s Structure and Organization

Lyan’s private army, though still growing, had become a formidable force. Currently, the army stood at 500 soldiers, divided into specialized units:

200 infantry: These were the backbone of the army, trained for both defensive and offensive combat, wielding shields, spears, and swords.

100 archer cavalry: Skilled horsemen who could rain arrows down on enemies while maintaining mobility on the battlefield. (They got inspired by the mountain tribes)

100 archers: Foot soldiers with exceptional aim and precision, vital for ranged combat.

50 scouts: Agile and stealthy, these soldiers were responsible for gathering intelligence and patrolling the territory, ensuring no enemy could approach unnoticed.

50 special forces: An elite unit of highly trained warriors, including shadow servants, capable of carrying out delicate and high-stakes missions. (This is Ravia’s idea)

At the top of the army’s hierarchy was the Chief Staff Officer, a position still under debate as Alice, Surena, and Emilia discussed who would best fit this role. Though each of them was capable in their own right, the decision would have to be made soon. For now, the three of them were acting as a collective command, overseeing every aspect of the army.

The command structure beneath the chief staff officer was broken down into various ranks:

Unit Commanders: Each unit of 100 was led by a commander, responsible for both training and leading their soldiers into battle.

Squad Leaders: The units were divided further into squads of 20, each led by a squad leader who reported directly to the unit commanders.

Footmen and Scouts: The regular soldiers who comprised the bulk of the army, responsible for carrying out orders and holding the line.

As Alice took note of the hierarchy, she spoke up. "We need to appoint a Chief Staff Officer soon. It’s inefficient to have all of us juggling every responsibility. Someone needs to focus purely on the strategic aspect while the rest of us manage the training and the soldiers."

"Agreed," Emilia said, nodding. "But it has to be someone with tactical experience, not just brute strength."

Surena, who had been leaning back lazily, chimed in, "Well, I guess that leaves you, Alice. You’ve always had a knack for strategy. Lyan calls you his ’Small General’ for a reason, doesn’t he?"

Alice smirked. "He does, but that doesn’t mean I’m taking the job. Besides, I’d rather keep my focus on planning the logistics of our patrols and ensuring the barracks are functional. And even though we already found Lady Wilhelmina, she hasn’t made her mind whether she will continue her stay here or not, didn’t she?"

"Yeah..." Surena uttered as her face turned into one of worry. "She’s always a stubborn one, isn’t she?"

The conversation naturally turned to the construction of new facilities for the army. They needed more than just a training ground; they needed proper barracks to house the soldiers, a system for rotating shifts, and a well-thought-out patrol and guard system to protect Grafen and its surrounding territories.

"The barracks should be built near the forest," Emilia suggested, her mind already working out the logistics. "Close enough to the main road for supply runs but far enough that the soldiers aren’t crowding the castle grounds."

Alice nodded, her sharp mind already calculating. "We’ll need separate barracks for each unit, with enough space for training facilities attached. And we can incorporate an underground network that connects to the castle—if the soldiers need to be deployed quickly, they can move without being seen."

Surena added, "And what about the patrol system? We need eyes everywhere. Scouts should be patrolling the borders of our territory day and night. I’d say we allocate 20 scouts per shift, rotating every six hours. That way, no one gets fatigued, and we’ve always got fresh eyes on the lookout."

Emilia tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Good idea. And for the guards around the castle, we should have 50 soldiersassigned to the perimeter at all times. We can rotate the infantry and special forces for that. The special forces can handle the more delicate operations—scouting enemy movements, keeping tabs on potential threats."

Alice scribbled notes in her planner, the blueprint of their plans beginning to take shape. "That leaves the training grounds. I want the archers to have their own range, separate from the infantry’s training area. We don’t want arrows flying around while they’re sparring."

"Training grounds for hand-to-hand combat, archery ranges, and even mounted cavalry drills," Emilia agreed. "And make sure we have space for tactical drills as well—simulated battles to prepare them for real combat."

As the discussion continued, the atmosphere remained light despite the seriousness of their task. Surena, ever the joker, glanced at Alice with a playful grin. "By the way, Alice, since you’re so good at strategy... does that apply to the bedroom too? Lyan ever ask you to plan out your... activities?"

Alice shot her a dry look but couldn’t suppress a smile. "Nice try, Surena. But no, Lyan doesn’t need a strategist for that. He seems to manage just fine on his own."

Emilia chuckled, shaking her head. "Surena, you’ve got a one-track mind. You’re worse than Lyan sometimes."

"Hey," Surena replied with a mock-serious tone. "It’s important to stay focused on all aspects of life, Emilia. You should know better than anyone."

Emilia flushed but didn’t respond, instead turning her attention back to the task at hand. "Let’s focus on the soldiers, shall we?"

Surena laughed, her voice echoing across the training grounds. "I am focused. Just... on different things."

By the time they finished their discussion, the training grounds had become a bustling hive of activity. The soldiers continued their drills, each unit working on the skills they would need for the battles to come. The Valkyries had a solid plan for how the army would function—from patrol systems to barrack layouts, to the hierarchy that would ensure smooth operations.

Alice, as expected, was given the task of overseeing the strategic aspects. "You’re the ’Small General’," Surena teased as they left the training grounds. "I’m sure you’ll do us proud."

Alice gave her a mock salute. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

The sun had risen higher in the sky, signaling the end of their planning session. As the soldiers completed their final drills of the morning, the Valkyries left the training grounds, their minds filled with the next steps they would need to take to solidify Lyan’s growing army.

They had built something strong—a force that could defend Grafen and beyond. And with Alice’s sharp mind, Emilia’s strength, and Surena’s... unique brand of motivation, they were confident that Lyan’s army would only continue to grow stronger.

"I can’t wait to have the army become bigger. Somehow, this is getting very exciting, don’t you think?" Surena asked rather hyped.

"Yeah, you’re right. I never imagined being able to live as a noble... Where a noble’s mistress, and leading an army!" Emilia uttered in great energy.

"Of course. It’s our beloved Lyan’s army. We will make it the strongest," Alice uttered with a strong resolve.