Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 374: The Rowdy and Lively Festival

Chapter 374: The Rowdy and Lively Festival

The sun had just begun to dip behind the hills, casting a golden glow over Grafen as laughter echoed through the streets. The Festival of Renewal was in full swing, and everywhere Lyan looked, there were smiles—something he hadn’t seen in abundance for a long time.

Standing beside the ring toss stall, Tesha was on her third attempt, her eyes focused and determined. "Watch me this time, Master! I’m getting it right this time!" she said, her voice brimming with competitive energy.

Lyan stood behind her, arms crossed, a playful smile on his face. "I never doubted you, Tesha. But, you know, if you lose, I think I might have to step in and win you that plush dragon."

Tesha glanced at him, cheeks puffing up indignantly. "No way, Master! I’ll get it myself!" She flung the ring with precision, the crowd around them cheering as it landed perfectly onto the highest scoring peg.

"There!" she declared triumphantly, snatching the plush dragon from the vendor and holding it up. "See, I told you!"

Lyan ruffled her hair affectionately. "I guess you showed me." He turned his head as laughter approached, seeing Ravia and Raine, both carrying arms full of various prizes they’d already won.

"Looks like someone’s on a roll," Ravia teased, nudging Tesha. "How many tries did that take you, hm? Three? Four?"

Tesha shot Ravia a glare but couldn’t hide the smirk on her face. "Doesn’t matter how many tries! It’s the win that counts!"

Raine rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. But I bet you can’t win this game." She pointed to a dart-throwing booth just a few stalls over.

Lyan chuckled, stepping forward and placing his hands on Ravia’s and Raine’s shoulders. "How about we make this interesting? If you win, I’ll buy you dinner from any stall in the festival. But if you lose..." He leaned in, his voice dropping. "You owe me a dance later."

Ravia raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile forming on her lips. "You’re on, Lyan."

Raine winked at Lyan. "Hope you’ve got your dancing shoes ready."

___

Later, they gathered near the main stage, where dancers were already swaying to the lively music. Lara, Tara, and Sigrid stood in their beautifully adorned festival robes, and they weren’t exactly subtle about pulling Lyan into the fun.

"Chief, you promised to dance with us," Lara said, tugging at his sleeve. Her smile was bright, and her eyes twinkled with excitement.

Tara stood beside her, her shy nature evident, though her grip on Lyan’s other arm was firm. "Yeah... um... you did promise," she echoed, her voice quiet but filled with determination.

Sigrid stood tall, her eyes meeting Lyan’s with a knowing glint. "And you know, Chief, a promise to the mountain tribe women isn’t something you can break," she teased.

Lyan sighed dramatically, but the grin on his face betrayed his enjoyment. "You three are going to wear me out before the night is even halfway through." He let them drag him toward the dance area, the energy infectious.

The band switched tunes, and the melody became faster, wilder. Lara grabbed Lyan’s hand, spinning under his arm with a fluid grace. "See, Chief? Just follow my lead!"

Tara clapped along with the music, her movements less confident but endearing in their enthusiasm. She was careful not to step on Lyan’s toes, her face flushed from the excitement.

Sigrid was the most composed, her body moving in sync with the rhythm, her steps precise and full of the authority that she always carried. She looked at Lyan, her voice low so only he could hear. "You’re better at this than I thought."

Lyan smirked, his arms switching partners seamlessly between Lara, Tara, and Sigrid. "I’ve had a lot of practice lately, haven’t I? Besides, you three make it easy."

As they danced, Belle and Alina appeared from the sidelines, their eyes on Lyan. Belle couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. "Look at you, Lyan. Are you planning to dance with every woman in the city tonight?"

Alina, not to be outdone, stepped closer, a playful smile on her face. "Why don’t you save a dance for us too?" She reached for Lyan’s hand, pulling him away from the mountain tribe women with a wink. "Come on, let’s show them how it’s done."

Belle grabbed Lyan’s other hand, her touch gentle as she spun into his arms. "You don’t mind, do you?" she asked, her eyes bright as she looked up at him.

Lyan chuckled, holding both of them as the music picked up pace. "You’re all going to be the death of me, you know that?"

Belle grinned, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "We’ll take that as a compliment."

Meanwhile, Josephine had her own crowd to handle, a group of children gathered around her as she organized a game of tag. She looked over her shoulder, spotting Clarisse standing by, her arms crossed as she watched the chaos unfold.

"Hey, Clarisse!" Josephine called out, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Don’t just stand there! Come join us! These kids need someone faster to chase!"

Clarisse raised an eyebrow, but she found herself smiling as she approached. "Are you saying I’m better at running than you, Josephine?"

Josephine laughed, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I’m saying you’ve got a lot of pent-up energy, and this might be the perfect way to let it out." She leaned closer, whispering, "Besides, I think the kids could use a little more of a challenge."

Clarisse huffed but couldn’t hide her grin. She stepped into the circle, pointing to one of the boys. "Alright, you! Let’s see if you can catch me!"

The game started, laughter ringing out as Clarisse darted away, the children chasing after her with squeals of excitement. Josephine clapped her hands, cheering them on as they ran around the courtyard.

Wilhelmina stood off to the side, her arms crossed as she watched the festivities. Her eyes scanned the crowd, always alert, but there was a small smile on her lips as she watched Clarisse run around with the children.

"Still playing guardian, huh?" a familiar voice spoke, and Wilhelmina turned to see Solia standing beside her, her bow slung over her back.

Wilhelmina rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the warmth that spread through her chest at seeing her old friend. "Someone has to keep watch. And I don’t see you doing it."

Solia grinned, nudging Wilhelmina with her elbow. "Come on, let loose a little. It’s a festival. Even heroes get to have fun sometimes."

Wilhelmina shook her head but smiled, her gaze softening. "I’ll think about it."

Solia laughed, pulling Wilhelmina toward the crowd. "Think faster. Tonight’s about celebrating. No more serious faces."

As the festival continued, Lyan found himself surrounded by all of his companions, each of them insisting on having their own moment with him.

Emilia and Alicia approached next, the two of them sharing a conspiratorial glance before stepping in. Emilia crossed her arms, her eyes locking onto Lyan’s. "You’ve danced with everyone else. Now it’s our turn."

Alicia smirked, stepping closer. "Unless you’re too tired already? We could always save you the embarrassment."

Lyan grinned, his eyes narrowing playfully. "I’m not tired yet. Let’s see if you two can keep up."

Emilia and Alicia both grabbed his hands, pulling him into the next dance. Emilia moved with fiery intensity, her steps powerful, while Alicia was more calculated, her movements precise and elegant.

"Careful, Lyan," Alicia said, her voice low. "We don’t go easy on our partners."

Emilia laughed, her eyes glinting. "Yeah, let’s see if you’ve still got the energy."

Lyan chuckled, pulling both of them closer, his voice filled with amusement. "You’re underestimating me again, aren’t you?"

They danced together, their laughter and teasing filling the air. The crowd watched, cheering them on as the music played, the night sky above lit by the soft glow of lanterns.

Finally, the dancing slowed as the band switched to a softer tune. Wilhelmina approached Lyan, her gaze meeting his, her expression softer than usual.

"May I have this dance?" she asked, her voice quiet.

Lyan smiled, reaching out and taking her hand. "It would be my honor."

As they swayed to the gentle music, Wilhelmina looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "You’re making them all very happy, you know that?"

Lyan nodded, his gaze softening. "That’s the plan. And what about you? Are you happy, Wilhelmina?"

She hesitated, her eyes flicking away before meeting his again. "I think... I think I’m starting to remember what happiness feels like." Her grip tightened on his hand, and she leaned in slightly, her voice a whisper. "Thank you, Lyan. For everything."

Lyan pulled her closer, his lips brushing against her forehead. "You deserve happiness, Wilhelmina. Just like everyone here."

They stood like that for a moment, the world around them fading away as the music played on, the laughter of the festival filling the night air.

The night ended with Lyan surrounded by all of his companions, each of them smiling, their eyes filled with warmth and affection. The fireworks burst above them, lighting up the sky in brilliant colors, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.

Lara leaned her head against Lyan’s shoulder, her voice filled with contentment. "You know, Chief, I think this is the happiest I’ve ever been."

Sigrid nodded, her eyes reflecting the light of the fireworks. "You’ve given us all a home, Lyan. A place to belong."

Tesha, despite her earlier jealousy, smiled softly, her small hand slipping into his. "Yeah. You really are the best, Master."

Lyan looked around at each of them, his heart swelling with emotion. He knew there were challenges ahead, battles to fight, and enemies to face. But tonight, he was surrounded by the people he loved, the people who had become his family.

And for now, that was enough.

The Festival of Renewal had brought joy, laughter, and a sense of unity that none of them would ever forget. And as the last of the fireworks faded away, Lyan knew that no matter what happened next, they would face it together—stronger and more united than ever.