Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 221: The Tension at The Empire’s Training Ground

Chapter 221: The Tension at The Empire’s Training Ground

(Looks like she improved quite a lot since our last fight. But fire mana, huh...) (Lyan)

In this world, mana flows through nearly every being, but not everyone can tap into its power. While most folks possess common mana without any elemental attribute, only a chosen few can harness elemental mana, let alone become masters of it.

Becoming a master of mana arts is no walk in the park. It takes knowledge, practice, skill, and a whole lot more. Using mana for magic and enhancement are two different paths, each with its own bag of tricks. Scholars from all corners of the world, both magic wielders and non-magic folks, have tried to unravel the secrets of mana, but there’s still so much we don’t know about its workings.

The rarity and value of elemental mana users have led noble families to carefully guard and even strengthen their bloodlines through strategic marriages. They want to make sure that their offspring inherit, or even boost, their magical abilities.

The battle unfolding before Lyan isn’t just a showdown of spells; it’s a intricate dance of mana manipulation and control. It’s a level of mastery that’s out of reach for most folks, hinting that the young man he’s watching probably comes from a noble family too.

(Seems like that dude’s got noble blood running through his veins too. Well, guess I’ll just sit back and watch the show for now.)

Lyan thought, settling in to observe the clash between the two.

Clank!

Wilhelmina’s sword clashed with Rale’s rapier, sending sparks flying as the blades slid past each other.

"Aaah!" Wilhelmina exclaimed, stumbling backward from the force of Rale’s attack. She hadn’t expected him to be so fast. For a split second, she thought she might dodge, but his follow-up strike came too quickly for her to react.

(He’s quick, but that’s not gonna cut it.) Wilhelmina thought, determination flashing in her eyes.

As a princess, Wilhelmina had trained in various martial arts, crafting her own unique combat style. Her skills and charisma had earned her respect from her comrades Alice, Emilia, and Surena. As a former noble, she refused to let a noble from the empire defeat her.

Before Rale could fully react, Wilhelmina’s right foot shot toward his head with lightning speed, matching the pace of his rapier.

"Tch!" Rale clicked his tongue, leaping back to avoid Wilhelmina’s kick. But there was more to come.

"What!?" Rale exclaimed as he saw a magic circle forming under Wilhelmina’s sole. "Water s-"

"Too late, sorry," Wilhelmina interrupted, her fire mana gathering at her foot.

With a graceful spin, Wilhelmina’s foot connected with Rale’s side, sending him tumbling across the training ground. Flames intensified around her foot, leaving scorch marks as she landed smoothly.

Gritting his teeth against the pain, Rale scrambled to his feet, his mind racing for a counter-strategy. He knew he couldn’t afford to let his guard down against such a formidable opponent.

Summoning a barrier of water, Rale shielded himself from Wilhelmina’s fiery onslaught. The water absorbed the heat of the flames, protecting him.

But Wilhelmina wasn’t backing down. With determination in her eyes, she continued her assault, her strikes coming at Rale with deadly precision.

Dodging and weaving through the flames, Rale searched for an opening to counterattack. But Wilhelmina’s relentless barrage left him little room to breathe.

With a flick of his wrist, Rale sent a stream of water toward Wilhelmina, aiming to douse her flames and gain an advantage. Yet, Wilhelmina anticipated his move, swiftly evading the water with unmatched agility, keeping up her assault without hesitation.

The crowd stood in awe as the two warriors clashed, their movements a blur of speed and precision. It was like watching a dance of elements, with fire and water colliding in a dazzling display of power.

Wilhelmina’s attacks were unrelenting, her mastery of fire mana evident in every strike. She moved gracefully around Rale, unleashing torrents of flames with deadly accuracy.

Meanwhile, Rale remained steadfast, using walls of water to shield himself from Wilhelmina’s fiery onslaught. His control over water mana proved to be his greatest defense.

As the battle raged on, the audience began to chant for their champions, their voices blending into a chorus of support.

"Water! Water!"

"Fire! Fire!"

The spectators wondered who would emerge victorious in this clash of elements.

With a grunt of frustration, Rale launched a final attack of his own, unleashing a flurry of water blasts at Wilhelmina. But to his dismay, the water did nothing to slow her down. In fact, her attacks seemed to have gotten even more powerful as she pressed forward.

In a last-ditch effort, Rale unleashed a torrent of water, hoping to flood her entire area. But Wilhelmina evaded the attack effortlessly, her determination unwavering.

Despite being pushed back, Wilhelmina continued her relentless assault, her flames burning brighter with each passing moment.

With a defiant war cry, she launched a final burst of flames at Rale, her aim true as she sought to exploit his weaknesses.

Rale braced himself, knowing that this was his last chance to turn the tide of battle.

"Let’s end this," he declared, determination blazing in his eyes.

"...." Wilhelmina didn’t respond with any word, but her stance is enough to see her answer.

As Rale and Wilhelmina prepared to unleash their final, desperate attacks, their bodies trembled with exhaustion. Beads of sweat dripped from their brows, and their breath came in ragged gasps as they pushed themselves to the brink of their limits.

Rale’s hands shook as he summoned every last ounce of his water mana, channeling it into a torrential wave that surged towards Wilhelmina with terrifying speed. His muscles screamed in protest, strained beyond endurance by the sheer force of his magic. The strain of manipulating such a vast amount of mana was evident in the beads of sweat forming on his forehead and the tremor in his outstretched arms.

Across the arena, Wilhelmina’s chest heaved as she poured her remaining strength into a searing wall of flames. Her eyes blazed with determination as she unleashed the full extent of her fire mana, the intense heat radiating from her body causing the air around her to shimmer with distortion. Every fiber of her being screamed in agony, but she refused to back down, driven by a fierce desire to emerge victorious.

It’s not strange for them to be so exhausted. Utilizing elemental mana while in such a high-leveled fight is a difficult feat to do, and Lyan could see that from the both of them fighting that they were aware of a real life-threatening battle. But even though they were in such a concerning state, Lyan couldn’t help but wonder why they were fighting with such intensity.

Lyan observed the battle with keen interest, his analytical mind working overtime to decipher the motivations behind their actions. From the tension in the air to the sparks of magic that crackled between them, every detail hinted at a deeper conflict simmering beneath the surface.

Lyan’s keen eyes swept over Rale and his knights, noting the signs of battle etched into their attire. Despite the polished appearance of their uniforms, subtle traces of wear and tear hinted at their frequent engagements in combat. The emblems adorning their clothing marked them as members of the imperial knights, renowned for their unwavering allegiance to the crown.

However, it was the tension lurking beneath their composed facade that intrigued Lyan the most. Beneath their stoic expressions, he detected a simmering unease, evidenced by clenched jaws and furrowed brows. It was clear that something troubled them deeply, hidden just beneath the surface.

Shifting his gaze to the spectators, Lyan observed a diverse array of faces gathered around the arena. Among them stood a group of former slaves from Solia, their expressions a mix of fear and defiance. Their presence amidst the nobility hinted at a connection to the unfolding events, sparking Lyan’s curiosity.

As the battle intensified, Lyan caught a fleeting exchange between Rale and one of his knights, a subtle shift in their demeanor betraying a shared understanding. It was a moment that fueled Lyan’s growing suspicion, prompting him to delve deeper into the mystery unfolding before him.

"I bet that young noble’s buddies crossed some serious lines with those girls, and Wilhelmina’s not having any of it. But things are about to get even messier," Lyan muttered to himself, his mana simmering with anticipation.

With Wilhelmina and Rale on the brink of collision, their attacks poised to collide with devastating force, two figures suddenly intervened.

"K-Kale?" Rale’s voice wavered as he caught sight of a knight materializing before him.

"Lyan...?" Wilhelmina’s voice mirrored Rale’s surprise as she beheld the familiar figure before her.

Yet, the scene that unfolded was anything but ordinary. Lyan’s right hand, wielding a sword, intercepted an attack from the knight before him, while his left hand halted Wilhelmina in her tracks, disrupting the flow of mana to her sword.

It was as if a second confrontation was about to erupt.

"Easy there. Let’s not rush into things, shall we?" Lyan’s voice cut through the tension, his gaze steady as he sought to defuse the volatile situation.