Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 377: The Encounter of The Lightning Spirit’s Past

Chapter 377: The Encounter of The Lightning Spirit’s Past

Griselda shifted her gaze towards Lyan, her eyes filled with an uneasy mix of emotions. There was a slight quiver in her voice when she finally spoke, her usual confidence wavering.

"Is this your plan, Lyan...?" she asked, almost accusingly.

Lyan could see how shaken she was, the way her eyes flickered between him and Wilhelmina. He knew this was difficult for her—facing the past was never easy, especially for a knight like Griselda who had once failed in battle, dying alongside her comrades. To her, it wasn’t just death. She carried the burden of leading them into that fate, feeling she had failed everyone who believed in her. The regret was clear, a shadow that clung to her even after all these years.

He watched as Griselda looked upon Wilhelmina and the three Valkyries, their eyes wide with shock. They had lost so much too—their country, their home. The tragedy that had driven them to become mercenaries was all tied to that same war, and Lyan was certain that their paths and Griselda’s were intertwined. He had engineered this "coincidence" knowing it would force them all to confront the truth.

Griselda’s body trembled. It was the first time Lyan had seen her so vulnerable, her usual bravado stripped away, leaving her bare before those who knew her from before.

Suddenly, she felt warmth on her shoulders—gentle hands, reassuring. She didn’t need to look to know who they belonged to. It was Eira and Arturia, the two who had been her constant companions in the Grimoire’s space, despite their endless bickering. Eira, cold as ice, had always clashed with Griselda, yet here she was, silently lending her strength. Arturia, the spirit of knights, understood better than anyone the weight of leadership, the burden of failure.

Griselda’s trembling stopped. She took a deep breath, her voice steadying as she faced Wilhelmina.

"Yes, I am Griselda Alaister Fulmine," she began, her voice growing stronger. "The former Knight General of Astellia Kingdom. And I am here to resolve my sins. I—"

Before she could say another word, a strange glow enveloped her. Not just her, but all the great spirits around her. The light was brilliant, shimmering in hues that reflected their individual elements.

Then, in an unexpected voice that carried a familiar hint of mischief, Cynthia called out.

"I haven’t even bought any of the ’dirty’ toys yet!"

The words rang out, and Cynthia’s eyes widened as she realized what she’d just blurted. She looked mortified for a moment, then pouted, mumbling under her breath. Azelia, the smallest and most childlike of the group, let out a long whine.

"Aww... I still wanted to play more..." she uttered, her eyes full of disappointment.

Griselda turned her gaze back to Lyan, an unspoken question in her eyes, the confusion evident on her face. Lyan chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"It’s fine," he said gently. "I’ll summon you again when the time comes. For now, I’ll help you tell them the story."

There had been a shift in Griselda ever since the confrontation with Duke Hektor. She had softened, even if only slightly, towards Lyan, perhaps recognizing the kindred spirit in him—someone burdened with the weight of past regrets. And when she heard his words, she gave him a smile, a genuine one, her lips curving upwards for the first time in what felt like forever.

"Is that so?" she said softly, her voice filled with both resignation and relief.

Turning back to face Wilhelmina and the Valkyries, she straightened, her expression once again that of the Knight General they knew.

"Well, as you can see, I’m now bound to this sex beast," she said, her tone half-joking, half-serious. "He’ll be explaining the details. Try not to be too surprised, my former students."

There was a silence, an awkward pause as the light continued to glow around them, growing more intense by the moment.

"Hey, why aren’t you glowing?" Arturia suddenly asked, her eyes locking onto Lilith.

Lilith, who had been casually nibbling on a pretzel from one of the stalls, blinked, pretending to look confused.

"Oh? Why indeed? I wonder," she said, her voice carrying a suspicious air of innocence.

Hestia narrowed her eyes, her tone accusing. "That’s not the glow of returning. It’s the glow you made with illusion magic, isn’t it!"

Eira, who had been watching the exchange with a wary gaze, suddenly widened her eyes, as if remembering something. She turned to the others, her mouth opening in realization.

"Wait... I remember!"

And as if on cue, all the great spirits spoke at once.

"She already slept with Lyan, so her summoning duration was extended!!!"

There was a stunned silence, and then Lilith just grinned, shrugging her shoulders as she finished her pretzel.

"Well, what can I say? I like to be thorough," she said with a wink.

Lyan sighed, rubbing his temple. "Can’t you guys at least have a peaceful return?" he muttered.

___

The festival was a grand success, and everyone could feel it as they gathered back at the castle. It wasn’t just the townspeople who had been uplifted, but all of Lyan’s companions as well. They’d poured their efforts into making it an event worth remembering, and now it was time to let off some steam, have a little fun, and celebrate among themselves.

The castle’s grand hall was full of life, laughter, and cheers. The usually quiet room was filled with vibrant music as one of the female guards played a lute, and a few of the maids were singing along. Stalls of food lined the hall, much like during the festival, but this time, it was for their private enjoyment.

Lyan stood at the entrance, looking over the lively crowd. He saw his girls scattered across the hall—each one with a smile on her face. Belle and Alina were dancing together, twirling in circles with their laughter ringing through the air. Solia, with her bow still slung across her back, was showing off her archery stance to a group of maids, much to their delight.

Ravia and Raine were busy teasing Clarisse, who held her son close to her chest, her eyes rolling at whatever joke they had cracked. Sigrid, ever observant, was standing near the food stalls, smiling as she watched the interaction unfold. Josephine, on the other hand, was at the center of it all, coordinating everything, making sure everyone was well-fed and happy.

Lyan walked further in, and as he did, he noticed something—there were only women here. Not a single male guard or servant was present, aside from Abraham, who was carrying a tray of drinks with a smile on his face.

"Hey, wait a minute," Lyan called out, catching Josephine’s attention. "Where are all the male guards and servants?"

Josephine blinked, then let out a small laugh, her eyes glancing towards where the Valkyries—Emilia, Alicia, Surena—and Wilhelmina stood.

"It was a unanimous decision," she said, her voice filled with amusement. "No one wanted any other men inside the castle tonight. Apparently, you’re the only one we need."

Lyan blinked, his eyebrows rising in surprise. "Is that so?" He looked towards the Valkyries and Wilhelmina, who were watching him with knowing smiles. "And what about Abraham?"

Wilhelmina shrugged, her lips curving up slightly. "Gramps is different. He’s everyone’s grandfather, after all."

Abraham, overhearing the conversation, gave a hearty laugh. "That’s right, My Lord. I’m not competition, just the family gramps." He gave Lyan a playful wink as he walked past.

Lyan sighed, shaking his head but unable to stop the smile from forming on his face. He walked over to the table where the Valkyries stood, grabbing a glass of wine for himself.

"So," he began, looking at Wilhelmina, "was this your idea?"

Wilhelmina chuckled, shaking her head. "No, actually, it was Josephine’s. She was the one who suggested that tonight should be for us—and you." She paused, her gaze softening. "We wanted to celebrate without any distractions. Just us."

Lyan felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. He looked around at all of them—the people who had become his family, who had stood by his side through everything. He lifted his glass, his voice ringing out over the noise of the hall.

"To all of you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "Thank you for being here, for standing by me, and for making this place feel like home."

A cheer went up in the hall, glasses clinking together as everyone echoed his toast. The music picked up again, and soon enough, Lyan found himself pulled into the dancing crowd.

Lara grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the dance floor, her eyes shining with excitement. "Come on, Chief! It’s not a party until you dance with us!"

Lyan let out a laugh, allowing himself to be pulled along. "Alright, alright. Just don’t step on my toes, alright?"

Lara grinned, spinning him around before he could protest. "No promises!"

The next hour was a blur of laughter, dancing, and more food than Lyan could handle. He danced with each of them—Belle, Alina, Josephine, and even Clarisse, who reluctantly let go of her son long enough to join in for a dance.

Eventually, the music began to slow, the excitement winding down as everyone grew tired. One by one, the maids and guards excused themselves, leaving the companions alone in the grand hall.

Wilhelmina walked over to Lyan, her eyes meeting his. "I think it’s time we head up," she said, her voice soft.

Lyan nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I think you’re right."

They made their way through the castle, up the winding staircases, until they reached Lyan’s chambers. The room was spacious, the grand bed in the center large enough to fit all of them comfortably—though Lyan had a feeling it wasn’t intended for sleeping tonight.

As they entered, the air grew quieter, the noise from the party fading away as the door closed behind them. They moved to the bed, sitting down together—some leaning against the headboard, others sitting cross-legged. Lyan found himself in the center, surrounded by all of them, their eyes on him.

Wilhelmina was the first to speak, her voice steady. "Lyan, I think it’s time for you to explain everything."

The room fell silent, all eyes turning to him, their expressions serious. It wasn’t just about the spirits or the festival anymore. It was about everything—the past, the future, the secrets he’d kept from them, and the truth they deserved to know.

Lyan took a deep breath, his eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. He could see the trust they had placed in him, the unspoken bond that held them all together. And he knew that now, more than ever, it was time to let them in.

"Alright," he said, his voice low but firm. "I’ll tell you everything."