Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 347: Alina’s Scoutings

Chapter 347: Alina’s Scoutings

The night had already fallen by the time Lyan found himself standing in front of the darkened halls of Grafen Castle, staring out at the horizon. The quiet hum of insects filled the air, blending into the faint rustling of the leaves. He had just finished another round of strategic meetings with his allies when he noticed that Alina had gone missing.

A part of him already suspected where she might have gone, and his suspicions were quickly confirmed when one of the sentries approached him.

Rather than sentries, inside the armors are Grimclaw’s undead hobgoblin skeletons. But it seems that they are now smart enough to speak perhaps due to the great amount of battle experience.

"My lord, Lady Alina mentioned heading out to scout the enemy forces along the northern border."

Lyan frowned, rubbing his temple. Of course, she did.

"Now this is kind of troubling..."

He knew Alina’s reasons for doing it. With her affinity for dark mana and her monster child, the Galewing Butterfly, she was capable of blending into the shadows, slipping through enemy lines unnoticed. She had argued that her skills made her the perfect candidate for reconnaissance. And she wasn’t wrong; Alina was strong, capable, and determined. But she also had one very concerning flaw—her clumsiness.

"That girl..." Lyan sighed softly, shaking his head. His instincts told him to trust her, that she had been through enough battles to handle herself. But he couldn’t shake the gnawing worry at the back of his mind. She might have skill and power, but her lack of focus when it mattered most was something that he couldn’t ignore.

He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, and made up his mind. "I suppose I should go after her. Just to make sure she doesn’t trip over her own feet again."

Slipping through the halls, Lyan moved with purpose but kept his presence subtle. He didn’t want to cause unnecessary alarm, nor did he want to alert Alina that he was following her. She was fiercely independent and would likely protest if she knew he didn’t trust her to handle this mission alone.

And the reason why she didn’t brought Xena and Belle must be because the both of them are busy with themselves, and she’s just following her impulsive thoughts. Since from the three of them, the one with a much more ’Mercenary-like mind’ is Alina, after all.

Once outside the castle gates, he caught a glimpse of the sky, illuminated by the faint glimmer of the moon. His connection with his magical grimoire allowed him to sense the faint traces of Alina’s mana signature—dark, but with a peculiar warmth that was distinctly hers. He followed the trail, moving swiftly through the shadows, his senses heightened as he slipped through the quiet streets of Grafen, heading toward the northern outskirts.

The path out of Grafen was familiar to him, but as he delved deeper into the forested area, the trees grew thicker, casting deep shadows under the pale moonlight. His mind wandered to Alina’s explanation before she had set out earlier that evening:

"My affinity with dark mana gives me an edge in the night. The Galewing Butterfly can cloak me in a veil of shadows, and no one will ever know I was there," she had said, her eyes sparkling with determination. "It’s safer if I go alone."

And it was true—Alina’s ability to harness dark mana did make her an excellent scout. But it was precisely because of her confidence that Lyan worried. She often became too comfortable with her abilities, forgetting that even the smallest distraction could lead to disaster.

After about an hour of trekking through the dense woods, Lyan finally spotted a faint shimmer ahead. He slowed his pace, slipping into the cover of a nearby thicket, his eyes narrowing as he peered through the branches.

There she was—Alina—her small frame barely visible in the shadows, her long black hair tied in its usual ponytail, swaying gently as she moved. Beside her hovered the Galewing Butterfly, its delicate wings fluttering soundlessly in the night. The creature’s translucent wings caught the faintest glimmer of moonlight, making it appear as if it were cloaked in a veil of stardust.

Lyan stayed low, watching as Alina crept through the underbrush, inching closer to the northern ridge where Duke Hektor’s forces were supposedly camped. Her movements were swift and precise, her dark magic keeping her concealed in the shadows. For a moment, Lyan felt a surge of pride—she really was incredible when she was focused.

But then, just as she was approaching a small ledge, it happened.

Alina, in her haste to check on the enemy encampment below, stumbled over a stray tree root. Her body jerked awkwardly, and she barely managed to catch herself before falling forward into a patch of thorny bushes.

Lyan let out a long, exasperated sigh, shaking his head.

There it was—her clumsiness, rearing its ugly head once again.

He watched as Alina bit her lip, clearly embarrassed by her misstep, before quickly recovering and continuing her approach. She reached the ledge and crouched low, peering over the edge. Below her, Lyan could make out the faint glow of campfires—Duke Hektor’s army, spread out across the valley.

Alina’s dark magic concealed her presence perfectly, but Lyan couldn’t help but notice the little things—the way her foot nearly slipped on the slick surface of the rock, or the way she absentmindedly swatted at a mosquito, almost breaking her concentration.

"By the gods, she’s going to give me a heart attack," Lyan muttered under his breath as he kept his distance, continuing to follow her quietly.

As Alina descended from the ledge, she made her way closer to the enemy camp, weaving through the thick foliage. The Galewing Butterfly flitted around her, its wings shimmering faintly as it cloaked her in darkness.

Just as she was about to approach one of the outermost tents, her foot caught on another tree root, and this time, she wasn’t so lucky. She tumbled forward, barely managing to stop herself from falling face-first into the dirt.

Lyan, watching from a distance, pinched the bridge of his nose and let out another heavy sigh. "That girl..."

Despite her stumble, Alina quickly regained her composure and crouched low, her eyes focused on the camp ahead. She motioned for the Galewing Butterfly to move forward, sending the creature ahead to scout the area while she stayed hidden in the shadows.

Lyan watched as the butterfly disappeared into the night, its delicate wings barely visible against the darkness. Alina remained perfectly still, her senses heightened as she awaited her creature’s return. For a brief moment, everything seemed to be going smoothly.

But then, in her attempt to reposition herself for a better vantage point, Alina’s foot slipped once again. This time, she knocked over a small pile of rocks, sending them clattering noisily down the slope.

Lyan winced, his body tensing as the sound echoed through the still night air.

Alina froze, her eyes wide with panic as she ducked down, pressing herself against the ground. The camp below stirred slightly, a few guards turning their heads toward the noise, but after a few moments of tense silence, they seemed to dismiss it as nothing more than the wind or an animal.

Lyan exhaled in relief, shaking his head in disbelief. "She’s going to get herself killed at this rate..."

But despite the close call, Alina remained determined. She waited until the guards had settled back into their posts before carefully rising to her feet and continuing her scouting mission. This time, she moved more cautiously, her dark mana swirling around her in a protective cloak as she crept closer to the heart of the camp.

Lyan followed her movements closely, staying just far enough behind to avoid detection but close enough to intervene if things went awry. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched her navigate the camp, avoiding the patrols with surprising grace despite her earlier stumbles.

Eventually, Alina reached the edge of the camp’s command tent, where several high-ranking officers were gathered around a map. She crouched low, listening intently as they discussed their plans for the upcoming battle.

Lyan, still hidden in the shadows, strained to hear their conversation, but from his distance, it was difficult to make out the details. He considered moving closer, but before he could make a decision, Alina’s Galewing Butterfly returned, fluttering around her in a silent signal.

Alina nodded to the creature and quickly retreated from the camp, her scouting mission complete. She moved swiftly and quietly this time, her earlier clumsiness forgotten as she slipped back into the cover of the forest.

Lyan, satisfied that she had gathered enough information, followed her at a distance as they made their way back toward Grafen.

As they neared the outskirts of the city, Lyan finally stepped out of the shadows, revealing himself to her.

Alina jumped in surprise, her dark eyes widening as she spun around to face him. "Lyan! What are you doing here?"

Lyan crossed his arms over his chest, a bemused smile tugging at his lips. "Making sure you didn’t trip over your own feet and fall into the enemy camp."

Alina’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I wasn’t that clumsy..."

Lyan raised an eyebrow, his expression one of playful skepticism. "Really? Because from where I was standing, you almost got yourself caught three times."

Alina opened her mouth to protest but quickly closed it again, realizing she had no real defense. Instead, she sighed and rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Okay, maybe I did trip... a little. But I still got the information we needed, didn’t I?"

Lyan chuckled softly, stepping closer and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You did. And I’m proud of you for that. But next time, try not to give me a heart attack along the way, alright?"

Alina smiled, her embarrassment fading as she nodded. "I’ll try. But no promises."

Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, and Lyan felt a sudden urge to pull her closer, to reassure her in a way that words couldn’t. Without thinking, his hand slid from her shoulder to gently cup her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. Alina’s breath hitched slightly at the touch, her eyes widening as she looked up at him, her heart racing.

For a moment, they were both still, the air between them thick with tension and unspoken feelings. Then, slowly, almost instinctively, Lyan leaned in, his gaze dropping to her lips as he closed the distance between them.

Alina didn’t pull away. Instead, she found herself drawn to him, her own body moving of its own accord as she leaned into his touch, her heart pounding in her chest. Her eyes fluttered shut, and before she could second-guess herself, their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss.

The kiss was gentle at first, almost shy, as if neither of them was quite sure what to expect. But as the seconds passed, it deepened, the initial hesitation fading as they gave in to the moment. Lyan’s hand moved to the small of Alina’s back, pulling her closer, while Alina’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, holding on as if afraid to let go.

The kiss felt like it had been a long time coming, a culmination of all the unspoken moments between them—every glance, every touch, every shared smile. It was soft but filled with an intensity that neither of them had expected, a mix of relief and something deeper, something more profound.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together as they stood there, wrapped up in the quiet intimacy of the moment. Alina’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes half-lidded as she looked up at Lyan, a small, almost bashful smile tugging at her lips.

Lyan chuckled softly, his thumb brushing against her cheek once more. "I suppose I’ll have to keep an even closer eye on you now."