"This..."
Caleb froze on the spot. A pure-blooded Iceborn from the eastern Freljord?
He had served time in a Piltover prison, become the Governor of Zaun, and even served an emperor in Shurima.
Caleb felt like one of those geese at a carnival ring toss, except his whole body was stacked full of buffs.
"That's still something I can't talk about..."
Caleb coughed twice and brushed it off.
Anyone could tell he was deliberately hiding something, Caleb himself included.
But Ashe simply showed a knowing smile.
"Perhaps the Avarosan oathfather..."
Ashe left before finishing her sentence, leaving Caleb standing there in complete confusion.
And Kai'Sa, whose cheeks had gone bright red.
"Tell me! Did you come here just to become their oathfather?"
Kai'Sa's accusation startled Caleb so badly that he jolted, then he tried to calm her down.
"What? My roots are still in the twin cities. I still have to go back."
"Then are you going to bring them back to the twin cities with you?"
Kai'Sa was practically about to cry.
"What are you even talking about... What are they to me...?"
Caleb helplessly gave Yuumi a look, and Yuumi obediently burrowed into Kai'Sa's arms.
"I really did come to the Freljord for a reason..."
Seeing that no one was around, Caleb lowered his voice and spoke to Kai'Sa.
"The Void is lying dormant here."
That one sentence made Kai'Sa instantly alert. Void spines nearly replaced her originally delicate skin.
"Calm down."
Caleb grabbed Kai'Sa's wrist.
He did not want Kai'Sa putting on a layer of Void skin in front of everyone.
It would be a little frightening, and it would not be good for Kai'Sa's future relationship with them either.
"Is the information reliable?"
In an instant, Kai'Sa went from a somewhat adorably dazed, beautiful girl to a cold hunter in the endless night.
"It's true. It's in the east."
Caleb nodded slightly. Unfortunately, the people here knew practically nothing about the Void.
And then there were those Frost Priests with unclear motives. Caleb could not quite trust them.
Lissandra, far away in the Frostguard Citadel, was the only one of the three sisters from ancient times who had survived until now. What exactly was she carrying on her shoulders?
If Caleb remembered correctly, Trundle, that slightly smarter-than-average Troll King, was loyal to Lissandra.
Caleb had seen trolls before in Stillwater Hold.
To be honest, back then, facing something of that size had almost suffocated Caleb.
Even Vi, when they sometimes dragged her off for a "talk," was said to come back with strained muscles and bruised bones.
If Caleb had stayed a few more days, by the time he was dragged off for a shower and a "talk," he probably would have lost many important things.
Fortunately, that huge idiot had appeared early.
"What a shame... If only I'd used that warden for practice before leaving the city..."
Caleb felt a little regretful. This really had been something he had overlooked.
He could have paid back all the fear and anxiety he had suffered in prison while he was at it.
Trundle would only be stronger than that warden, not weaker.
Caleb quietly thought about this as he packed his things.
Maybe he really was fated to wander, with wind in his blood or something like that.
Still, Caleb was fairly open-minded about it. The Freljord was truly a nice place to escape the summer heat, but spending winter here was another matter.
Caleb still preferred enjoying something close to the four seasons of his previous life in Piltover.
Not too hot, not too cold.
Aside from the occasional Vastaya who looked a little unusual, everything else was pretty good.
They could even use solid ice from the Freljord to lower the temperature.
"They all came?"
Caleb frowned, looking at the group walking toward him, each of them practically having the words "not ordinary" written on their face.
There was the spirit walker followed by at least several spirit beasts, the murderous warrior holding twin axes, the graceful figure with the longbow, the giant boar, and the guy dragging an enormous blade.
"Are you here... to see me off?"
Caleb looked at these people and saw that all of their expressions were rather serious.
"No. We plan to go east with you and explore everything there."
"That place is dangerous. You don't even know what's out there yourselves."
Caleb looked at these people and wondered whether the bitter cold really did freeze Iceborn brains solid.
Mm... Caleb suddenly wanted to raise a husky.
At least at a time like this, Caleb could build a sled, and a team of sled dogs could pull it over mountains and ridges.
"It's exactly because we know that we can't let you go alone."
Caleb looked at them, a little stunned.
"Fine, fine..."
At the very least, if they ran into trolls, he would have some ability to fight.
"But aren't you going to consider defending your tribes? What if some Ice Children remnants attack the village?"
"This place is easy to defend and hard to attack. Aside from you, it will probably be very difficult for anyone else to sneak in again."
Sejuani explained.
"And you helped us twice in a major way, preventing our two tribes from having to oppose each other any longer. We have to repay you."
"All that stuff they're saying is empty talk. They've got their eyes on you!"
The moment Olaf said that, cold sweat poured down Caleb's back.
Seriously? Was this guy really saying that in front of Tryndamere?
Zev was still standing behind them too.
"No, no..."
Caleb hurriedly explained, and seeing Sejuani and Ashe remain silent only made him even more anxious.
"I don't plan to live in the Freljord long-term!"
Caleb's words rang out firmly, causing the entire tribe to fall silent.
"In any case, I need a glorious death, and you can give me one, buddy!"
Olaf's large hand reached out, ready to pull Caleb into his arms, but Caleb silently stepped back half a pace and dodged him.
"I appreciate the kindness..."
Caleb gave Olaf a sidelong look. This guy really was hardheaded.
How did he dare say things like that?
"What's the route?"
Ashe also asked.
Winter was originally the hunting season, and Warmothers had to travel in order to solve their food needs.
With the great cauldron and the camp Caleb had brought them, the winter problem had been solved.
If nothing else, Sejuani wanted a better weapon.
Although the flail she used now was fairly handy, no matter how one looked at it, it could not compare to the bow in Ashe's hands.
If they could meet Ornn, then they could ask him to forge a weapon.
When that happened, the Winter's Claw under Sejuani would have an even stronger Warmother.
"We'll head west first, then turn north, and after that, we'll appear there."
Caleb pointed at Frostguard Citadel, the place guarded year-round by the Frostguard.
"What are you searching for?"
Everyone who had originally thought Caleb was going to find Ornn was somewhat surprised.
"Lissandra. She controls almost the entire eastern region. Don't you want to further expand your influence?"
Caleb's words made both Warmothers somewhat tempted.
"But before we go, we need to set a few rules."
Caleb spoke seriously to the people around him.
"If you can't accept them, then there's no need to follow me."
Looking at Caleb's face, everyone around him nodded.
"Then since none of us object, let's make this clear."
"First, when a fight breaks out, I won't be responsible for taking care of you. We can discuss the route, but when it comes to necessary negotiations with demigods, I'll handle them."
Listening to Caleb's words, Sejuani silently nodded.
Nearly half of the Winter's Claw owed him their lives. As their leader, it was only right that she respect him.
"Second, keep this matter quiet. We'll each find different excuses to leave, then gather here."
Caleb tapped a spot beside a small frozen lake.
"Third, safety comes first. When it's time to run, run."
"Olaf, you're the exception."
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters on all my fanfics //[email protected]/Razeil0810