Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 425: The Southest Front (1) The Division

Chapter 425: The Southest Front (1) The Division

The command tent was bustling with activity, filled with the sharp scent of ink and parchment, the clinking of armor, and the low murmur of voices. Lyan stood near the large strategy table, its surface covered with maps detailing every inch of the surrounding terrain, troop placements, and enemy lines. The recent skirmish had been a success, and a sense of triumph filled the air, but everyone knew that this was only the beginning. A calm before the real storm.

Alice stood beside Lyan, her eyes fixed on the maps, her expression confident. She had earned her place, and the trust Lyan had put in her during the last skirmish was evident. Beside her stood Wilhelmina, her gaze steady, her experience as one of Lyan’s closest advisors giving her an insight that others respected. Surena, her arms crossed over her chest, looked over the strategy table with a focused intensity, while Abraham, the scout leader, stood at attention, his eyes flicking between the gathered commanders.

Captain Gareth, Lyan’s newly assigned adjutant, hovered nearby, taking notes and keeping track of each movement and command. Gareth was young but competent, his eyes full of determination as he scribbled details onto the parchment in front of him.

"We have unexpected movement from the Varzadian forces," Abraham began, his voice serious.

"Their reinforcements are closer than we anticipated. They’re not moving like a unified force—it’s almost as if they’re setting bait."

Lyan frowned, leaning over the map, his finger tracing the positions that Abraham had marked. "Multiple waves instead of one continuous push..." he muttered, his eyes narrowing. "They’re trying to bait us into overcommitting, to stretch our lines too thin. If we fall for it, they’ll have a perfect opening to strike where we’re weakest."

Surena nodded, her eyes dark. "That would explain why their movements are so disjointed. They’re not aiming for a full-scale engagement just yet."

Wilhelmina spoke up, her voice carrying a note of caution. "If they’re trying to bait us, then the main force must be somewhere else. We need to keep our defenses strong, especially here at the southeastern front."

Lyan looked at the others, his eyes scanning the faces around the table. "We can’t wait for additional orders from the main army. If we do, we risk losing our foothold here. We have fewer forces in the southeast, but the main army is doing well. It’s up to us to ensure that Varzadia doesn’t find a weak point."

Alice, her gaze intense, spoke up. "We need to take control of the situation. If we push forward with our elite force, we can test their resilience, see how far they’re willing to go while maintaining our defensive lines. If we control the offensive, we control the pace of the battle."

Wilhelmina nodded thoughtfully. "I agree. But if we push forward, we need solid logistics. Supplies, communication—everything must be in place. Otherwise, we’ll overextend ourselves."

Lyan gave a small nod, his eyes meeting Alice’s. "Alright. Alice, I want you to lead the offensive with me. We’ll move forward, but carefully. Test their lines, see where their strength lies. Wilhelmina, you’ll stay behind to oversee the logistics. Make sure everything is running smoothly."

Alice gave a confident smile, her eyes flashing with determination. "Understood. We’ll make sure they remember our name."

With the plan in place, Lyan dismissed the commanders, the atmosphere in the tent shifting as they prepared for their respective duties. As the others began to move, Lyan noticed the glances from his companions—Belle, Xena, Tesha, and Solia—their expressions ranging from frustration to outright displeasure.

"You girls want a word?" Lyan asked, his tone weary but understanding. He already knew what they were going to say.

Belle was the first to step forward, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You can’t just leave us behind, Lyan. We’re not helpless. We want to be there with you."

Xena nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed. "We trained for this, Lyan. You can’t expect us to just sit back while you go out there and put yourself at risk."

Tesha, the smallest of the group, looked up at Lyan, her eyes wide but resolute. "We’re stronger together. You know that, Master."

Lyan let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. He glanced at Solia, who remained silent, her gaze fixed on him, the determination in her eyes clear. He couldn’t deny that they were capable. He trusted them with his life, but the thought of putting them directly in harm’s way was something he struggled with.

After a long moment, he nodded. "Alright. You win." He pointed towards Wilhelmina. "Belle, Xena, Tesha, Solia—you stay here at the camp with Wilhelmina. Belle, I need you to lead the Mage Support for our defense."

Belle opened her mouth to protest, but Lyan held up a hand. "That’s final. We need our strongest mages to keep this place safe, and I can’t think of anyone better for the job."

Belle pursed her lips but nodded, albeit reluctantly. Lyan then turned to Josephine, Raine, Ravia, Lara, Tara, and Sigrid, his expression softening slightly. "The rest of you will come with me and Alice. I’ll need you on the frontlines, but remember—supportive roles only unless absolutely necessary. No reckless engagements."

Josephine gave a small smile, her eyes glinting with a mix of excitement and worry. "You can count on us, Lyan. We won’t let you down."

Adjutant Gareth, who had been quietly observing, cleared his throat, stepping forward. "Milord, are you sure it’s wise to take non-combatants so close to the frontlines? Their safety should be—"

Lyan cut him off with a calm but firm tone. "Trust me, Gareth. You’ll be surprised by the prowess of my girls. They’re far from helpless."

Gareth hesitated for a moment before giving a respectful nod. "Understood, Baron Evocatore. I’ll trust your judgment."

With that settled, Lyan moved to the center of the tent, where a large map of their forces lay spread across the table. He gestured for Alice and Wilhelmina to join him, Captain Gareth stepping closer as well to record the details.

"Alright, let’s break down our formation," Lyan began, his finger moving over the map. "Our elite force will be divided as follows:

"We have Vanguard Units consisting of 400 soldiers. Heavy Infantry—200 soldiers equipped with armor, shields, and swords—will form the core of our front line. The Light Infantry—200 soldiers armed with spears—will flank them, ready to adapt to any situation and move with agility.

"Our Ranged Units will include 150 archers providing covering fire and 50 crossbowmen specializing in armor penetration. They’ll remain at a safe distance, ready to target critical threats.

"The Cavalry Units, 150 in total, will be divided between Heavy Cavalry with 80 soldiers focusing on powerful charges and Light Cavalry with 70 soldiers serving for skirmishes and scouting ahead.

"Our Specialized Units will include 30 Valkyrie Guards led by Surena and Emilia, 40 Shock Troops with dual weapons for high mobility, and 30 Mage Support, led by Belle and Alina, providing spells, barriers, and illusions to disrupt the enemy.

"Finally, Support Units: 50 Engineers for fortifications, 30 Medics for treatment of the wounded, and 70 Logistical Support soldiers to ensure that supplies and communications are uninterrupted." Lyan’s voice was steady as he spoke, his gaze moving between Alice and Wilhelmina.

"Alice, you’ll lead the offensive with me. We’ll push forward carefully but steadily, keeping an eye out for weaknesses in their lines," Lyan said. Alice nodded, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Wilhelmina, I need you here. Logistics are crucial. Without proper supplies and communication, we won’t last long."

Wilhelmina placed a hand over her heart, bowing her head slightly. "You can count on me. I’ll make sure everything is ready."

Belle stepped forward, a hint of concern in her eyes. "And if the enemy sends more reinforcements while you’re away?"

Lyan smiled at her, his eyes softening. "That’s why you’re staying here, Belle. I need you to keep this camp safe. I trust you." He turned to face the rest of his elite force, his voice rising so all could hear. "We’re in this together. Stay disciplined, stay focused, and remember what we’re fighting for. We’re Astellians, and we won’t let anyone take our homes from us."

The soldiers cheered, their voices ringing through the camp, a unified sound that filled Lyan with determination. He looked at Alice, nodding towards her. "Let’s get ready to move out."

Alice’s sharp commands echoed through the camp as she began organizing the soldiers, her presence commanding as she moved between the lines. The soldiers responded to her with swift, precise actions, their movements fluid and well-practiced. There was no hesitation—only determination.

Wilhelmina stood back, her gaze moving over the troops as they prepared to leave. She called out to Belle and Xena, her voice steady. "Make sure everything is in place. Keep your eyes open, and be ready for anything."

Belle nodded, her eyes glinting with a mix of frustration and resolve. Xena gave a small smile, her usual light-hearted demeanor replaced with one of focus.

Lyan stood before his elite force, his gaze sweeping across the faces of his soldiers. "Discipline, courage, unity. That’s what will see us through. Each of you has a role to play, and I expect nothing less than your best." His words were met with determined nods, the soldiers’ eyes locked onto his, their resolve clear.

With the final orders given, Lyan and Alice led their forces out of the camp, the banners of Astellia held high, fluttering in the wind. The sound of footsteps and clinking armor filled the air as they marched, the anticipation building with each step.

As they moved forward, Lyan’s eyes scanned the horizon, the weight of what lay ahead pressing heavily on his mind. He knew that this was just the beginning—the real challenge was yet to come. But he was ready. They all were.

"The real challenge hasn’t even begun yet," Lyan thought, his gaze steely as they marched toward the enemy lines, determination burning brightly in his eyes.