Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love

Wilhelmina is recalling that lecture from her past. She was taught that there are also people who can switch their weapon at their will and is proficient in those weapons as well. The most dangerous trait is how they are familiar with the attacking patterns of all those weapons, and could adapt to most people.

"Hm... So you're rather keen..." Lyan uttered, and suddenly, he changed his stance.

(H-He's going to change it?) (Wilhelmina)

In this new stance, Lyan's posture was more aggressive and focused, revealing his expertise in wielding a one-handed sword. This type of stance is commonly adopted by warriors who have trained to use a one-handed sword effectively in combat, and it emphasizes speed, agility, and precision.

In this stance, Lyan's dominant foot was slightly forward, with his weight shifted onto it, giving him a solid base from which to strike. His non-dominant hand was raised and positioned close to his body, ready to defend or grab his opponent's weapon. Meanwhile, his sword arm was extended, the sword held close to his body, and ready to strike with lightning speed.

This type of stance is designed to allow the warrior to deliver quick, powerful strikes with their one-handed sword, while also maintaining a strong defensive posture. It also gives the warrior maximum mobility and range of motion, allowing them to dodge, parry, or quickly change the direction of their attack.

(He's not just a normal summoner... He's strong in magic, and strong in melee combat as well...) (Wilhelmina)

"I guess that's enough time for your observation. Now let's begin," Lyan signed the start of the battle, silently asking her to make the first move against him.

Wilhelmina didn't hesitate and took the first strike. She channeled her magic into her sword, making it glow with a radiant light. She then launched herself at Lyan, her sword swinging in a powerful overhead arc.

Lyan, however, was ready. He effortlessly dodged the attack, sidestepping and launching a counterattack with a quick swipe of his sword. The two warriors continued their exchange of blows, each strike echoing across the training grounds as they moved in a blur of steel and magic.

Despite her skill, Wilhelmina found herself struggling to keep up with Lyan. He was faster, stronger, and more agile than anyone she had ever fought before. His sword strikes were precise and deadly, each one forcing her to retreat or defend.

"He's incredible," she thought to herself as she parried another of his attacks. 

(His control over magic is beyond anything I've ever seen. He's using it to enhance his physical abilities and keep me on the defensive. But...)

Despite her admiration for Lyan's skill, Wilhelmina refused to give up. As the battle goes on, the memories that are still engraved on her body started to resurface, and her former skills as one of the great knights of the Kasmira Kingdom started to return to her. She summoned her magic to her aid, using it to enhance her own strength and speed. She redoubled her efforts, launching a series of powerful attacks that forced Lyan to defend.

"Good, you're adapting to my movements," Lyan said, smiling slightly. "But it's not enough."

He then unleashed a series of fire, earth, ice, and dark magic spells, each one aimed at Wilhelmina. They are different kinds of spells with small-scale attacks, showing that he's still not used to using more than one element at the same time, but it's enough. She managed to dodge the first few, but the last one caught her off guard, causing her to stumble.

Lyan saw his opportunity and seized it. He lunged forward, his sword flashing in the moon as he aimed a powerful strike at Wilhelmina's chest. She managed to bring her sword up in time to block the attack, but the force of the blow was enough to send her flying backward.

"You're strong," Lyan said, walking over to where she lay. "But you're not strong enough."

Wilhelmina picked herself up, her body aching from the intense fight. She looked up at Lyan, determination in her eyes. "I'm not done yet," she said, readying herself for the next attack.

Her feet are slowly losing their strength, and her stamina is draining, but she could still move. Somehow, her current condition made her remember the event when she was defending her land with her body years before.

"Hm... You have some great eyes, there," Lyan smiled when he saw Wilhelmina's eyes that are burning with resolve.

"Come!" (Lyan)

The two warriors resumed their battle, exchanging blow for blow as they moved across the training grounds. Their swords clashed and magic exploded around them as they fought with everything they had.

Despite her best efforts, however, Wilhelmina found herself slowly losing ground to Lyan. He was simply too skilled, too powerful, and too relentless. She was starting to feel herself tiring, her movements slowing as Lyan continued to press the attack.

"You're not giving up, are you?" Lyan said, as he launched another series of attacks.

"Never," Wilhelmina replied, summoning all of her remaining strength to defend against the incoming blows.

In the end, however, it was not enough. Lyan's sword found its mark, striking Wilhelmina in the side and sending her to the ground.

"Kuh!" Wilhelmina groaned because of the direct hit before having her knees fall to the ground.

"Good fight," he said, offering her a hand to help her up. "You're a skilled warrior, and your control over your mana is impressive."

"Thanks," Wilhelmina replied, taking his hand and getting to her feet. 

"You're not too shabby yourself."

Lyan noticed how she recovered so quickly from his strike which could make a normal grown man remain weak for several minutes.

(As expected, her mana is holy-attributed, huh?) (Lyan)

He has noticed the particular strength of her mana, but he's quite surprised to know that her element is similar to a holy attribute. Her endurance is high, her speed is not to be underestimated, and she got raw strength as well. Her eyes are wise and always takes the best option she could take, and her heart is unbending.

(I won because of the number of tricks under my sleeves, I guess. If our fight consists of swordfight alone, defeating her would be quite a hassle) (Lyan)

The reason for Lyan's deadly and precise strikes is because of his experience in the demon world back then when he saw still in the middle of his quest to slay the evil dragon god, Tiamat. After looking at 

Wilhelmina, she somehow reminded him of his former comrades, making him to form a smile on his face.

"Um... Is there something?" Wilhelmina asked as she sees that Lyan was lost in his own thoughts for a moment.

"Hm? What? Oh! Right, you can just call me Lyan. No honorifics needed," Lyan said as he shook off his mind from his past.

"Ah. My pleasure then, Lyan. You could also call me Wilhelmina. But um... Can I ask you where you learn to fight until you could be so strong like that?" Asked Wilhelmina as she tilts her head.

"Hm... You could say that I learned them from facing lots of mortal danger. It's already late, it's time to have some rest," Lyan replied shortly before going ahead to the house, leaving Wilhelmina with a vague answer.

Looking at Lyan's back, Wilhelmina didn't ask him further about it. She understood that he didn't want to tell her about it, and looking at his face when he answered her, she felt that she might make him remember something he didn't want to remember with that question.

Somehow, his complex expression made a strange feeling to well up inside her. She was interested, she was curious, and the urge to want to ask him why is he making that kind of face crossed her mind. But she shakes her head, it's a strange feeling, but it's rude to ask something personal like that. So she let him go back to the house ahead.

Wilhelmina then shifts her gaze to the shining moon in the sky. Somehow, the moon that has always seemed to be haughty and mocking her when she was still a slave looks very beautiful tonight.

"One's status affects one's perspective, huh..." Wilhelmina uttered as she stared at the moon with a mysterious smile.

___________________________________________________________________________

Name: Lyan Arkanium Evocatore

Occupation: Mythril-ranked Mercenary

Money: 3,797,710,950 Elnes / 3797 gold 71 big silver 9 big coppers 5 coppers

Weapon: Magic Glaive, 1 (Decent) One-handed Sword, 2 (Good-Quality) One-handed swords, 1 (Decent) bow

Equipment: Black leather cloak, Leather Armor, Breastplate, 2 Health Potions, 2 Poison Vials

Grimoire's Companions: 8 High Spirits, 3 Valkyrie, Shadow Goblin Lord (Lv. 5), Papilio Slime (Lv. 45), Galewing Butterfly (Lv. 45), Rock Golem (Lv. 50), Deadlight (Lv. 63), Moonlight Butterfly (Lv. 45), Ice Golem (Lv. 50), Acid Ant Queen (Lv. 9), Magma Bear (Lv. 1), Fey Mammoth (Lv. 1), Arcane Retriever (Lv. 1), Winter Wolf Alpha (Lv. 12)

Grimoire's Army: 6 Shadow Servants, 800 Skeleton Army