While Caleb was still wondering why he had only started catching a cold after spending so many days in the Freljord, Kai'Sa had already silently begun helping the hearthbound carry their belongings.
Moving an entire tribe up the mountain was a major undertaking, and generally speaking, Iceborn would not waste time or strength on this sort of noncombat work.
"Did you find the food?" Caleb guessed, looking at Sejuani's relatively softened expression.
"Quite a lot. Even the wealth the Ice Children accumulated over the years will be ours to use from now on." Sejuani nodded, revealing a smile.
Caleb and Kai'Sa had Yuumi, Ashe was a ranged fighter, and with the mammoth shaman's protection, she had barely been injured. Udyr and Tryndamere both had the ability to heal themselves.
Sejuani was one of the only two who had suffered some injuries.
The other was Zev. In order to protect Sejuani, his body was covered in minor wounds.
"Not going to bow your head to my Bristle? He might be a descendant of the god you worship, you know?" Sejuani teased, looking at Tryndamere, who stood beside Ashe.
Tryndamere's tribe worshiped an undying demigod.
A massive, powerful beast king who could not be killed.
The Iron Boar.
It was precisely that frenzied god, once an ally of Volibear, who had bestowed upon Tryndamere a nearly undying power.
And it was relying on that power that Tryndamere had created miracle after miracle in battle.
His wounds would always heal miraculously, especially when he was angry.
Caleb gazed eastward, in the direction where he and Sejuani had once stolen that great cauldron together.
Compared to these warriors, who may or may not have crossed the peak of mortal strength, Caleb cared far more about Ornn and Volibear.
"I don't bow to anyone. A large portion of my people died because they knelt before what they believed to be gods." Tryndamere scoffed at Sejuani's mockery.
The massive blade he had forged stood out sharply among all the weapons.
That made sense. Since he used his flesh as a shield, there was no need to add armor on top of that. Forging that metal into a massive blade so he could cut people down more smoothly was instead the wiser choice.
"My sister really has terrible taste."
Sejuani let out a mocking sigh, then led Bristle toward the treasury.
According to the agreement, the Winter's Claw would receive the larger share of treasure.
After all, the Avarosans had obtained this village.
So the Winter's Claw, which roamed from place to place, had actually received less than the Avarosans.
After all, a camp like this, with ready-made fortifications and hearthbound who already understood how to operate it, was an extremely helpful gain for the Avarosans.
"What are you planning to do after this? Stay here the whole time?"
Sejuani was still quite confident that she could keep Caleb. After all, the Avarosans liked to settle down.
And judging by Caleb's goal of searching for something, the Winter's Claw should be much more suitable for him.
"I'll spend the winter here. It's pretty good."
Caleb shook his head slightly, and his thoughts grew bold once more.
Right now, both Ashe and Sejuani had enough goodwill toward him. With the Ice Children's village as a camp, they could safely make it through this winter.
"I'm going to look for Ornn. I'm afraid I won't be able to travel with you after this."
Caleb's words made Sejuani freeze for a moment.
She could only say that he truly was a man who had escaped from Volibear. The moment he opened his mouth, his words were terrifying.
"Why are you going there?"
Sejuani's brows knitted together.
Although Ornn was a reclusive figure who did not concern himself with worldly affairs, his temper was not easy to deal with either.
And one of the participants in that earth-shaking battle had been Volibear.
"To find an answer."
Caleb did not explain much. The fact that Volibear had let him go that time had already left a trace of worry in his heart.
Azir of Shurima had stayed away from worldly affairs for a long time, so it was normal that he did not understand the outside world.
But Caleb also knew that his own "kind" was probably somewhat different from the people of this world.
Generally speaking, people's bodies were like a completed circuit diagram, while the body itself was like a battery responsible for sending out arcane energy.
So even if they had a great variety of skills, at their core, those were still different applications of the same ability.
Even a genius like Udyr could not use magic outside of the spirit beasts.
But Caleb was different.
He could use the Arcane Shift that came from Ezreal's gauntlet.
He could also use Volibear's Stormbringer, which summoned thunder and lightning.
And even Ionia's wind-gathering Mortal Steel, Last Breath, and Shadow Step, which allowed him to enter walls.
He could use all of them.
On top of Yaanogel's possession and alteration of his body, Caleb could basically confirm that his current body had definitely left the category of any race on the continent of Valoran.
Janna might have seen that he was different, but because it was not a bad thing for the twin cities, she had not brought it up.
Even so, Caleb had still noticed something strange from it.
If he traveled between nations with an absolutely neutral identity, one even more neutral than Kai'Sa and the yordles, then he could fully serve as a bridge while maintaining his independence.
Holding different posts in different regions at the same time would be no problem at all for Caleb.
He did not need to restrict himself simply because he had started in the twin cities. Across the entire world, he could fight for positions everywhere.
And now, the two strongest tribes had destroyed the next most powerful one, the Ice Children, who had occupied such advantageous terrain.
Matters among mortals were more or less settled. It was time to interfere in the affairs of the demigods.
As long as Volibear remained obsessed with killing humans and calling back the wild, the Freljord would never have a single day of peace.
"When the time comes, I'll bring Olaf and Bristle with me and go with you."
Caleb's thoughts were interrupted by Sejuani's words, and he could not help looking over in surprise.
He and Kai'Sa could already be considered mutually in love, with only the final step left between them.
But seeing Sejuani's resolute face, then remembering what she had said to him that day about becoming her oathfather...
"Uh, you know what, I need to hit the bathroom."
Caleb casually found an excuse and fled directly.
"What were you talking about?" Ashe also came over to join the fun.
"He's planning to look for Ornn. Maybe he wants to go tug on his beard." Sejuani shrugged and said proudly.
"What's so special about that? I'd dare to go too."
Tryndamere, unconvinced, joined the conversation while holding his massive blade.
"That Iron Boar you worship was allied with Volibear."
"Don't let that big blade of yours get smashed apart by a hammer."
Sejuani still found her childhood friend's oathfather displeasing.
"Then you should worry even more. What if Ornn makes another pot and stews your mount in it?"
Tryndamere immediately shot back.
Caleb silently wondered whether slipping away right now would count as rude, and whether anyone would chase him down for it.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing that Caleb's expression was even graver than it had been when they stole that great cauldron, Kai'Sa also grew nervous.
"Are you thinking about whether there are enough noodles to slurp?"
Yuumi came over as well, joining in the commotion.
"Go, go, go. All you think about is food." Caleb pushed Yuumi's head aside and continued studying the map he had swiped from the Winter's Claw.
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