Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 427: The Southern Front (3) The Sudden Twist

Chapter 427: The Southern Front (3) The Sudden Twist

Abraham didn’t waste any time. He stepped forward, his gaze sharp, and gave a quick, respectful nod. "We’ve just returned from a scouting mission, Lady Wilhelmina. There’s a serious issue. Varzadian reinforcements are advancing towards Lyan’s forces faster than we anticipated, and they’re larger in number than we had expected."

Wilhelmina’s eyes hardened as she listened, her gaze flicking to Ravia and Raine, who were both catching their breath. Abraham continued, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation.

"The Varzadian reinforcements have taken a different route. They’re attempting to outflank Milord’s vanguard from the east, and they’re moving faster than we thought possible. If we don’t act soon, Milord’s forces could be trapped, caught between the main Varzadian force and their reinforcements."

Wilhelmina nodded, her mind already working through the possibilities. She turned on her heel, her voice rising in a commanding tone.

"Captain Gareth! Gather the officers; we need a strategy meeting now. The rest of you, double-time with the fortifications! We have a fight coming our way, and I want us ready to meet it head-on."

Within minutes, the command tent was filled with key figures. Belle, Xena, Abraham, Tesha, and Solia were gathered alongside Captain Gareth and a handful of other officers. Wilhelmina stood at the head of the table, a map of the terrain spread out before them.

"We don’t have time to wait for further orders from the main army," she began, her tone unwavering. "We’re on our own out here, and Lyan’s force is in danger of being overwhelmed. We need to act preemptively and set up an ambush to thin out these reinforcements before they can reach our vanguard."

She looked at Belle and Xena.

"Belle, I need you and the other mages to prepare magical traps along the eastern path. Create illusions to lure them into a confined space, then unleash everything you’ve got. Xena, I want you to work with the engineers to set up physical traps—spiked pits, barricades, anything that will slow them down and cause confusion."

Belle’s eyes narrowed in concentration as she nodded, determination hardening her features. "We’ll make sure they regret ever thinking they could outmaneuver us."

Xena smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Spiked pits and barricades, coming right up. I’ll make sure they’ll have a nice surprise waiting for them."

Wilhelmina then turned to Captain Gareth.

"I want the Light Cavalry mobilized immediately. They’ll be our swift response force in case anything goes wrong. I also need scouts along every possible route to keep an eye on their movement. Abraham, you’ll be leading the scouts and coordinating with me directly."

Abraham gave a curt nod. "Understood, Lady Wilhelmina. We won’t let them take us by surprise again."

Wilhelmina’s eyes met each person’s gaze, her voice strong and steady.

"This is our chance to cripple their reinforcements before they even reach Lyan. We act swiftly, and we hit them hard. The fate of our forces at the vanguard depends on what we do here today. Are we clear?"

A chorus of affirmatives echoed through the tent. There was no room for hesitation. Everyone knew the stakes, and they were prepared to do whatever it took to protect their comrades.

Wilhelmina’s eyes flicked to Ravia.

"Ravia, you’ll need to get back to Lyan as soon as possible. Inform him of our plan, and tell him we’re setting up an ambush to keep the reinforcements from reaching them."

Ravia nodded, determination set on her face. "I’ll make sure he knows."

With the orders given, the camp erupted into activity. Soldiers moved with purpose, their steps quick as they prepared for the coming engagement. Mages gathered in groups, their hands glowing with energy as they prepared their spells. Engineers and laborers worked side by side to set up barricades and traps, their tools clanking as they moved with urgency.

Ravia mounted her horse, her expression focused as she prepared to ride out. She looked at Wilhelmina one last time, nodding before urging her horse into a swift gallop, disappearing over the horizon. Wilhelmina watched her go, a sense of urgency gnawing at her. Time was not on their side, but they would make it work. They had to.

____

On the other side, on Lyan’s advancing forces. They were making good progress, moving steadily towards the border. The soldiers remained focused, their lines tight, their expressions set. Lyan rode alongside Alice, the two of them at the head of the formation. They could see the distant hills that marked the border, the place where they would make their stand.

Lyan’s gaze swept over the horizon, his eyes narrowing slightly as he caught sight of movement—a single rider approaching fast. His heart skipped a beat, recognizing the familiar figure. He signaled to Alice, and they both slowed their pace as Ravia rode up, her horse’s hooves kicking up dirt as she pulled to a stop before them.

"Lyan!" Ravia called, her voice urgent. "We have a situation. Varzadian reinforcements are advancing faster than expected. Wilhelmina is organizing an ambush, but you need to adjust your formation to avoid being caught off guard."

Lyan’s expression hardened, his mind already calculating their next move. He turned to Alice, his voice low but commanding. "We need to reposition. Split our forces. We can’t allow ourselves to be surrounded."

Alice nodded, her eyes already scanning the formation, her mind working on the adjustments. She called out orders, her voice carrying across the line. "Light Cavalry! Prepare to reposition! Archers, form up at the rear! We’re splitting into two contingents!"

The soldiers moved swiftly, their training showing as they adjusted their positions. Lyan watched as Josephine, Raine, and Sigrid rode back with a contingent of Light Cavalry, heading towards Wilhelmina’s position to provide reinforcement for the ambush. They rode with determination, their expressions set, understanding the importance of their mission.

Lyan turned his focus back to the remaining soldiers, his gaze sharp. He looked at Alice, giving her a nod.

"We’ll keep advancing, but carefully. I want scouts ahead, and I want everyone ready for anything. We’re not letting Varzadia dictate the pace of this battle."

Alice met his gaze, her eyes gleaming with determination. "We’ll make sure they regret trying to outflank us."

____

Back at the pass, Wilhelmina stood atop a ridge, her eyes locked on the horizon. The Varzadian reinforcements were visible now, their formation moving steadily towards the narrow pass that had been chosen for the ambush. Belle and her mages had already set their illusions, shimmering mirages that concealed the true nature of the terrain—illusions that would lead the enemy into the trap they had set.

"Mages, hold steady," Belle called, her eyes focused, her hands glowing with energy. "Wait for my signal."

The tension in the air was palpable. Every soldier stood ready, their eyes fixed on the advancing enemy. Xena moved among the engineers, her gaze sharp as she made final adjustments to the traps they had set—concealed pits, tripwires, spiked barricades. Everything was in place.

Wilhelmina took a deep breath, her eyes narrowing as she raised her hand, signaling for everyone to prepare. The Varzadian forces drew closer, their figures dark against the morning light. They moved confidently, unaware of what awaited them.

"Wait for it," Wilhelmina said softly, her gaze never wavering. The enemy entered the pass, their formation tightening as they moved through the narrow space.

"Now!" Wilhelmina shouted, her voice cutting through the silence.

Belle’s hands moved quickly, the magic weaving through her fingers, and suddenly the illusions shattered. The Varzadian forces found themselves surrounded, the narrow pass now a death trap filled with spikes and obstacles. Confusion spread through their ranks as they tried to make sense of the chaos.

"Archers! Fire!" Wilhelmina ordered.

A volley of arrows rained down from the ridges, striking the Varzadian soldiers, their cries of pain echoing through the pass. The enemy scrambled, their formation breaking as they tried to respond to the sudden assault.

"Engineers, activate the traps!"