Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 410: The Planned Sacrifices

Chapter 410: The Planned Sacrifices

Lyan and his companions stood in the enclosed courtyard, the night air heavy with tension. The leader of the cloaked figures knelt in front of them, bound tightly with thick, twisting roots. Around them, the other captives were similarly immobilized, the air filled with a nervous stillness as everyone awaited the next move. Lyan took a step forward, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at the leader. His voice was cold, unyielding.

"You have one chance. Talk," Lyan said, the lightning dancing along his fingertips as he spoke. The electricity snapped in the air, a reminder of the consequences of defiance.

The leader glared up at him, eyes filled with defiance and hatred. "You think I’ll just betray my people that easily?" they spat, their voice laced with disdain. Lyan’s gaze hardened, his expression showing no sympathy. He raised his hand, the crackling energy intensifying.

"Your people already betrayed you by making you expendable," Lyan replied, his tone void of emotion. He pressed his fingers against the leader’s chest, sending a brief but painful jolt through their body. The leader’s face contorted in pain, a strangled groan escaping their lips.

"We don’t have time for this," Alice said, stepping forward. Her expression was stern, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the captured leader. She placed her fingertips against the side of their head, her own magic beginning to flow. Lyan could feel the pressure in the air change as she tried to probe the leader’s mind, searching for any scrap of information.

The leader gritted their teeth, their body trembling as they struggled to resist. Sweat beaded on their forehead, their face contorting in pain as Alice delved deeper. After a moment, she pulled away, her eyes narrowing in frustration.

"They’re trained. Strong mental barriers. It won’t be easy," she said, her voice tight. Lyan nodded, his expression unchanging. He stepped closer, his eyes locked on the leader’s.

"Your mental training won’t save you. We will find out what we need to know," Lyan said. He looked over at Wilhelmina, who stood with her rapier drawn, her presence commanding.

"You’re running out of time," Wilhelmina warned, her voice cold, her eyes unblinking. "If you cooperate, you might leave here alive. If not..." She let her words hang in the air, the threat clear. The leader’s defiance wavered, their gaze shifting nervously between the group.

Lyan could see the fear beginning to creep in, the realization that they had no escape. He pressed again, his voice quiet but relentless. "Who sent you? What does Varzadia want with Astellia?"

The leader hesitated, their eyes darting around the courtyard. The silence stretched on for a moment, the tension thickening. Finally, the leader let out a shaky breath, their shoulders slumping.

"Fine... I’ll talk," they muttered, their voice shaky. Lyan’s eyes narrowed, his focus intense as he listened.

"We’re part of a faction... Varzadian Loyalists," the leader began, their voice low. "Our mission was to destabilize Astellia from the inside. Cause chaos, weaken the leadership, create unrest. We have operatives... hidden among the nobles, the merchants. People in key positions, all waiting for the signal."

Lyan’s jaw tightened, his mind racing. He could feel the spirits within him listening intently, each one processing the information. The leader continued, their voice trembling.

"The poisoning tonight... it was just the start. There are more attacks planned. Varzadia wants Astellia divided, vulnerable. They want the kingdom to crumble so they can move in and take control without a full-scale war."

(They planned this well. They knew exactly where to strike,)

Cynthia’s voice echoed in Lyan’s mind, analytical and calm as always.

(They’re trying to avoid a direct confrontation... cowards,)

Arturia added, her tone filled with disdain.

Lyan nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving the leader. "Who are the key players? Who’s leading this?" he pressed, his voice cold.

The leader hesitated again, their eyes flickering with fear. They opened their mouth to speak, but then something shifted. Lyan’s eyes narrowed, noticing the change almost immediately. The leader’s skin was turning a strange, unnatural shade of gray, their breathing becoming labored.

"What’s happening to them?" Wilhelmina asked, her eyes widening in alarm. Alice stepped closer, her expression shifting to one of concern. She examined the leader, her eyes narrowing as she noticed the discoloration spreading across their skin.

"Something’s wrong," she muttered, her voice tense. The leader’s eyes widened in panic, their body beginning to convulse, struggling against their bindings. Lyan’s instincts screamed at him that something was off—terribly off.

The veins in the leader’s neck darkened, a strange, almost sinister energy beginning to emanate from their body. It pulsed and writhed beneath their skin, their face contorting in pain.

(That energy... it’s unstable,)

Eira’s voice, usually calm and detached, carried an edge of urgency.

Suddenly, the leader let out a strangled gasp, their eyes rolling back as their body began to swell, the strange energy growing more intense. Lyan’s eyes widened in realization, his heart pounding in his chest.

"They’re about to explode!" he shouted, the urgency in his voice snapping everyone to attention.

Without hesitation, Lyan moved, his body surging with lightning as he threw himself in front of his companions. He raised his hands, the air around him crackling as he channeled his magic, creating a barrier of lightning-infused wind. The energy swirled around them, forming a protective shield just as the leader’s body erupted in a violent explosion.

The force of the blast sent shockwaves through the courtyard, dark energy and shrapnel flying in all directions. The ground shook beneath them, the sheer intensity of the explosion rattling Lyan’s bones. He gritted his teeth, feeling the strain as the energy crashed against his barrier. The air was filled with the deafening roar of the explosion, the dark energy slamming into his shield, trying to break through.

Lyan’s muscles tensed, his focus unwavering as he held the barrier in place. His companions huddled behind him, their eyes wide with shock as they braced themselves against the impact. The explosion seemed to last forever, the dark energy pushing against Lyan’s shield, testing his limits. But he refused to let it falter.

(Lyan, hold on!)

Griselda’s voice echoed in his mind, fierce and supportive. He could feel her energy merging with his own, adding to his strength.

Finally, the explosion began to subside, the dark energy dissipating, the courtyard slowly falling silent. Lyan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, his arms trembling as he lowered the barrier. The courtyard was filled with dust and debris, scorch marks covering the ground where the leader had been.

He turned to check on his companions, relief washing over him as he saw that they were unharmed. Wilhelmina stepped forward, her eyes wide as she looked around at the aftermath.

"What... what just happened?" she asked, her voice shaky. Lyan took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the remains of the leader.

"That wasn’t just a poison," he said, his voice filled with a mix of anger and determination. "It was some kind of contingency. They were willing to sacrifice themselves to keep us from getting any more information."

Before they had a chance to recover, a series of screams echoed through the courtyard. Lyan’s head snapped towards the other captured assassins, his eyes widening in horror as he saw them convulsing, their bodies beginning to swell just like the leader’s.

"No... not again," Lyan muttered, his heart pounding as he watched the scene unfold. One by one, the captured figures began to explode, the dark energy within them erupting violently. Lyan quickly raised another barrier, his hands trembling as he channeled his magic, the lightning-infused wind swirling around them once more.

The courtyard was filled with chaos—the sound of the explosions, the crackling of energy, the cries of his companions as they braced themselves against the onslaught. Lyan could feel the strain on his body, the energy of the barrier draining him, but he refused to let it falter. He couldn’t let his companions be harmed.

(Lyan, focus! You can do this!)

Cynthia’s voice was calm, her presence a steadying force in his mind. He took a deep breath, his focus sharpening as he held the barrier in place. The explosions continued, each one sending shockwaves through the courtyard, the dark energy battering against his shield.

The ground shook beneath them, the air thick with the acrid smell of burnt magic. Lyan’s muscles ached, his body trembling from the exertion, but he refused to let go. He could feel the support of the spirits within him, their energy merging with his own, keeping him going.

Finally, the last explosion subsided, the courtyard falling silent once more. Lyan let out a shaky breath, his body trembling as he lowered the barrier. The courtyard was in ruins, scorch marks and debris scattered everywhere. The tension in the air was palpable, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on them.

Lyan took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the scene. His companions were shaken but unharmed, their eyes wide with shock as they took in the destruction around them. Wilhelmina stepped forward, her voice shaky as she spoke.

"What... what just happened?" she asked again, her eyes locking onto Lyan’s.

Lyan’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the remains of the captured assassins. "This is war," he said, his voice low but filled with determination. "The enemy is willing to go to any lengths, to use any means necessary—even sacrificing their own—to achieve their goals."

He turned to his companions, his gaze steady. "We can’t underestimate them. They’re playing dirty, and we need to be ready for anything. From now on, we treat every captured enemy as a potential threat. No more taking chances."

Alice nodded, her expression grim. "They’re willing to die just to keep us from learning anything. We need to be smarter, more careful."

"We need to tell this to Will.."