Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 417: The Sudden News

Chapter 417: The Sudden News

Lyan studied the map, his brow furrowing in thought. "It’s a solid plan," he said, his voice calm. "But we need to be ready for anything. Varzadia is cunning—they won’t follow our script."

Arnold nodded, his eyes meeting Lyan’s. "I know. But I believe in our soldiers. I believe in Prince Erich’s leadership. He’s brought us this far, and he won’t let us down now." He paused, his gaze steady. "Astellia stands united, and as long as we stand together, we can face whatever comes our way."

Lyan nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Of course, but I guess pleasantries should be skipped for now," he said, his tone shifting to one of urgency. "We might be running out of time. Let’s get straight to the point."

The two of them entered the command tent, the soft glow of lanterns casting long shadows across the detailed map laid out on the table. Around the table stood the key military figures of Astellia—seasoned commanders, intelligence officers, and a handful of trusted captains. They all turned to look at Lyan and Arnold as they entered, their expressions serious, tension evident in their eyes.

Arnold moved to the head of the table, gesturing for everyone to take their places. "We have no time to waste," he began, his voice authoritative. "We need to finalize our strategy and prepare for the battle ahead."

He pointed to the map, his finger tracing the main routes that Varzadia’s forces might take. "Our scouts have identified three potential routes that Varzadia could use to advance into Astellia. The most likely is through the Eastern Pass—a narrow path that would allow us to funnel their forces and slow them down. We’ve set up defenses there, but we can’t rely on that alone."

Lyan leaned over the map, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the routes. "They’ll anticipate a trap at the Eastern Pass," he said, his voice thoughtful. "We should expect them to either try and bypass it or create a diversion to draw our forces away. We need contingency plans for each possibility."

A commander to Lyan’s left nodded, his expression grim. "We’ve stationed a battalion at the Eastern Pass—two companies of archers and one of infantry. They’ll be under Captain Renault’s command. If Varzadia attempts to bypass the pass, we have scouts positioned here and here," he said, pointing to two spots on the map, "to provide early warning."

Lyan nodded. "Good. But we need more flexibility. The enemy will adapt, and we have to be ready to do the same." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the group. "What about our cavalry? Where are they positioned?"

Arnold gestured to a section of the map closer to the central plains. "Our cavalry will be stationed here, ready to move at a moment’s notice. They’ll serve as a rapid response force, able to reinforce any position that comes under attack. Sir Garreth will be leading them, with three squadrons at his command."

Lyan’s eyes moved over the map, considering the positions. "And the central army?"

Arnold’s expression turned serious. "The central army will be our main line of defense. They’re positioned here, in the heart of the plains. I personally will oversee the central forces, which consist of fifteen thousand soldiers. We’ve divided them into multiple divisions—infantry, archers, pikemen, and heavy cavalry. Each division has a designated commander, and they’ll work in coordination to hold the line against Varzadia’s main force."

He paused, his gaze shifting to Lyan. "You’ll be leading a specialized unit, Lyan. Prince Erich wants you to command the vanguard—a mixed group of elite soldiers, including a small battalion of heavy infantry, a company of scouts, and two squads of spellcasters. Your job will be to push forward, disrupt the enemy’s formation, and create opportunities for our main forces to strike."

Lyan raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "A vanguard, is it? Sounds like you’ve got a lot of faith in me."

Arnold’s gaze was steady. "You’ve proven yourself time and time again, Baron Evocatore. You’re capable, and the men respect you. We need someone who can adapt on the fly, someone who can think like the enemy."

Lyan nodded, his expression turning serious once more. "Alright then. I’ll take the vanguard. But I want the spellcasters to be well-coordinated with the scouts. If we’re going to disrupt their lines, we’ll need to act quickly and decisively." He looked around the room, his gaze meeting each of the commanders in turn. "No one goes in alone. We work as a unit—we support each other. If anyone sees an opportunity, we take it."

There was a murmur of agreement around the table, the tension in the room easing slightly as they all began to focus on their roles and responsibilities. The plan was coming together, and with each piece that fell into place, the sense of purpose grew stronger.

Before they could continue, the flap of the command tent was pulled aside, and Prince Erich entered, his presence commanding immediate attention. His face was set in a serious expression, and as he approached the table, the room fell silent, and bowed.

"Gentlemen," Erich began, nodding to the gathered officers. "I’ve just received new intelligence from our scouts. Varzadia’s forces are on the move—their vanguard is less than a day away. We need to be ready for them."

A ripple of tension moved through the room at his words, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Arnold straightened, his expression hardening. "How many are we looking at?"

Erich’s gaze shifted to Arnold, his voice steady. "Their vanguard is estimated at around five thousand, with their main force following behind. We have less time than we thought. They’ll be at our doorstep sooner than we anticipated."

Lyan crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing in thought. "If their vanguard is that close, we need to move fast. We can’t afford to be caught off guard."

Erich nodded. "Precisely. I’ve already ordered additional scouts to keep a close watch on their movements. We’ll have regular updates, but we need to be prepared for them to move faster than expected."

Arnold turned to the gathered commanders, his voice firm. "You heard the prince. We move immediately. Get your troops in position and prepare for the worst. We have the advantage of knowing they’re coming—let’s make sure we use it."

The officers nodded, their expressions resolute as they began to discuss the specifics of their deployment. Erich watched them for a moment before stepping forward, his eyes sweeping across the room.

"Everyone, listen up," he said, his voice carrying a note of authority that silenced the murmurs in the room. "I know that many of you are tired. I know that some of you are scared. War is not something anyone wishes for, but it’s something that we must face. Not for glory, not for power, but for the people who depend on us—our families, our friends, our homeland."

He paused, his gaze meeting Lyan’s for a moment before moving to Arnold, then the rest of the commanders. "Varzadia seeks to take what is ours, to bring chaos and destruction to our land. But we will not let them. We will stand strong, united in our purpose. We will face them head-on, and we will show them the strength of Astellia."

The room was silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Erich’s gaze moved across the gathered men, his expression filled with conviction. "Each of you has a role to play. Each of you has a responsibility to those who look to us for protection. Stand tall, be vigilant, and fight with everything you have. I have faith in every one of you—in your courage, your skill, and your determination. Together, we will prevail."

There was a murmur of agreement, the tension in the room giving way to a sense of determination. The men straightened, their expressions hardening, their focus renewed. Erich nodded, satisfied, before stepping back.

"Prepare your men," he said, his voice calm. "We move at dawn. Dismissed."

The commanders saluted, turning to leave the tent, their minds already on the tasks ahead. As the tent emptied, Erich turned to Lyan, his expression softening slightly.

"Lyan," he said, gesturing for him to stay. "A word, if you don’t mind."

Lyan nodded, stepping away from the table as the last of the commanders filed out of the tent. Erich waited until they were alone, the soft glow of the lanterns casting flickering shadows across the walls.

"I wanted to thank you," Erich began, his voice sincere. "For everything you’ve done. You’ve been by my side since the beginning, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me."

Lyan smiled, his eyes meeting Erich’s. "You’ve always been someone worth standing beside, Will," he said, using the prince’s old alias from their mercenary days. "I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe in you."

Erich’s expression softened, a hint of emotion in his eyes. "I appreciate that, Lyan. More than you know." He paused, his gaze turning serious. "But I need you to promise me something. Your summoning abilities—keep them hidden, for now. The time will come when we’ll need them, but until then, it’s best if no one knows what you’re capable of."

Lyan raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. "You’re really pushing this, aren’t you?"

Erich nodded, his eyes earnest. "This isn’t just about strategy. It’s about you, Lyan. If word gets out about what you can do, it could draw unwanted attention—attention that we can’t afford right now. I want you to be safe, and I want to make sure we use every advantage we have at the right time."

Lyan was silent for a moment, his mind drifting to the words of Alice and Wilhelmina. They had said the same thing—to wait until the time was right. He sighed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, alright. I’ll keep it under wraps. But you know me—I won’t let our people fall just to keep a secret."

Erich smiled, relief evident in his eyes. "I know. And that’s why I trust you." He placed a hand on Lyan’s shoulder, his gaze filled with determination. "We’ll get through this, Lyan. Together."

Lyan nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah. Together."

With that, Erich pulled up the hood of his cloak, giving Lyan one last nod before turning and disappearing into the night. Lyan watched him go, a sense of warmth filling his chest. He knew that the days ahead would be filled with challenges, but he also knew that he wasn’t facing them alone.

As the night deepened, Lyan made his way back to the guest estate. The mansion was quiet, the soft glow of lanterns casting a gentle light over the hallways. He entered the grand room where his companions lay sleeping, their forms sprawled across the couches and beds, their breathing soft and steady.

Lyan stood for a moment, his eyes moving over each of them, a sense of calm washing over him. He took a deep breath, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke.

"The war is very near now," he said, his eyes filled with determination. "But we’ll face it together."