Time flies, and before we knew it, it was the end of 990.
Now, as the year 991 approaches, on the planet Runeterra, the same thing remains the same: Runeterra is still Runeterra. However, the difference is that because the Twin Cities chose to intervene in Runeterra this year, "inviting" various countries to join the Federation in the first half of the year, the relations between the countries on the continent have undergone some subtle changes.
First and foremost Freljord, we must mention the northern region of Freljord. The merger of Avarosa and Serylda miraculously ushered in an era of peace that had not been seen for thousands of years.
The weather here will still be the same awful thing, but in Freljord now, people no longer freeze to death from hunger and hypothermia in winter.
Just like now, in the dead of winter, the Winter's Claw tribe has chosen to migrate south early, preparing to join Avarosa this winter and enjoy the winter festival with other tribes, large and small.
A long procession crossed the Dragonspine Mountains. Among the procession, elk, snow wolves, yaks, and wild boars were particularly conspicuous, carrying heavy loads on their backs, following the Winter's Claw tribe members wearing blue down jackets.
Donna, a young girl who has already become an elite warrior in her tribe and serves as Sejuani's bodyguard, would probably not be recognized Donna Jinx if she saw Donna now.
What was Donna like back then?
Oh, wearing a tattered animal fur coat and grayish, slightly smelly fur boots, with fair skin but bare arms covered in patches of gray and red, one might mistake him for a wild little man who ran out of a cave. How wretched could he possibly be?
But Donna was wearing a goose feather down jacket made in Twin Cities, with a warm and comfortable wool sweater made of Shurima goat wool underneath. She was wearing large sunglasses that covered most of her small face, and a scarf covered the lower half of her face and neck.
Of Donna's entire face, only her slightly reddened little nose was visible.
It's incredibly stylish!
"Three more days! In three days, our people will return from Twin Cities, bringing us a large amount of supplies! This winter, we will be safer and happier than ever before!"
Ahead, the old priest's voice rang out in the procession, his voice filled with a deep smile. This old priest, who was missing several teeth when he laughed, had noticeably more wrinkles on his face than before in the past year.
But those wrinkles weren't from worry, they were from laughter.
A snow-white Little Fox lay on the back of a Drüvask Boar, and beside the Little Fox was the tall, rosy-cheeked Sejuani.
Holding the reins in one hand, Sejuani's attire didn't completely transform like Donna's. She still maintained the Winter's Claw style, but her clothes were brand new, and Sejuani had removed her previously dirty and oil-stained helmet.
She revealed a rosy, healthy face and a head of hair that wasn't exactly smooth, but at least it was no longer split or frizzy.
Having visited the Twin Cities, Sejuani, well, after returning to the Twin Cities, is now finding it somewhat difficult to adapt to the Freljord environment.
When Sejuani lived in Zaun, she could wash herself with hot water every day. The hot water sprayed from that thing called a shower head was incredibly convenient for taking a bath.
Therefore, in Zaun, she ate well, rested well, and was in a good mood. However, after staying in the Twin Cities for less than half a year, Sejuani gained almost 20 pounds.
Twenty pounds!
This is why Sejuani, who is nearly 1.9 meters tall, doesn't look like she's gained 20 pounds.
Moreover, Sejuani used to be too thin, but now she has gained almost 20 pounds, which has actually made her face look better. Her once prominent cheekbones and sunken temples have become fuller and more attractive.
"Where are they?" Sejuani asked Bai.
"I couldn't come, huh?" The Little Fox yawned and said sleepily when Sejuani asked her.
She sat up and stretched, shaking her body and wagging her fluffy, soft tail. She jumped towards Sejuani, then perched on Sejuani's shoulder, muttering, "Jane and Rilfen seem to have been given a mission. The witch sent them to guard a passage, so they couldn't come over."
"Tsk, since when did Rilfen and Je get the right to order them around?" Sejuani raised an eyebrow, somewhat displeased.
Bai had no intention of intervening in this matter; she wouldn't take sides with anyone.
Let the Three Sisters handle their own affairs. What's the point of me, an outsider, getting involved?
Should we be rational and objective?
What a load of rubbish!
Even if sisters or relatives fight fiercely and cause death, it's still a family matter!
That guy Jie is such a big idiot. Lissandra and Ashe were arguing, and you, a snake, suddenly ran over to talk to them and tell them to stop arguing. Ha, now look what happened, you've been captured and are now guarding the cave!
Thinking of this, Bai suddenly let out a wicked laugh.
A chubby Little Fox was squinting its eyes and cawing loudly; the scene was truly comical.
It wasn't until Sejuani glared at her that she became obedient again, covering her face with her large tail and whimpering as she lay down for a nap.
It wasn't until nearly evening that the group entered Avarosa from the outskirts. The people of Avarosa were very welcoming of the Winter's Claw. Of course, the reason for this welcoming reception of the Winter's Claw tribe was that Avarosa was a multi-tribal clan.
Avarosa is a large tribe composed of twenty or thirty clans. Of course, not every clan is hostile to Winter's Claw. Therefore, the first Winter's Claw and Avarosa Winter Festival together did not encounter any unexpected situations.
After scattering the tribe members into Avarosa, Sejuani led Donna and Bai into Ashe's tent.
As soon as she entered the tent, she saw Ashe's Blood Alliance member, a scruffy but good-looking guy, especially with his muscles and those wild, emerald green eyes. Tsk, Ashe certainly has good taste.
Welcome back, my sister.
The curtain was drawn back, and Ashe, wearing a long blue dress and with her white hair tied up in a bun, appeared. She looked at Sejuani with a genuine smile.
"Don't look at me like that. When did we become so close?" Seeing Ashe smiling like a flower, Sejuani pouted and crossed her arms.
That wary look on Ashe face only made Ashe laugh even harder.
"We've always had a great relationship, haven't we?" Ashe said, winking at Sejuani, then smiling. "Before we were rivals and enemies, we were best friends, and we both know that. Besides, our disagreements are a thing of the past."
Sejuani walked up to Ashe, looked down at her, and said calmly, "I didn't come here to talk about sisterhood with you."
"I knew, so she came too," Ashe said.
Sejuani was taken aback, and then she knew who Ashe was referring to.
Frostguard's Great General, with white hair and muscular build, resembling a female Flara, appeared. She drew back the curtain, then stood aside holding it up, making room for the person behind her.
Then, Lissandra appeared, wearing a long white dress, with her white hair cascading down her shoulders, her eyes closed, and her face bare of makeup. Her pretty face was pale.
"You didn't tell me she was coming too!" Sejuani glared at Ashe immediately.
"Calm down, Sejuani. The Frostguard is part of us, isn't it?" Ashe blinked, her tone somewhat innocent. "This is something we all witnessed. It was Li Ke who did it."
"."
"Speak, what is it!" Seeing Ashe bring up Li Ke, Sejuani, who had received a lot of help from Li Ke, immediately calmed down. She could hit Ashe and scold Lissandra, but she really couldn't bring herself to have any complaints or grievances against Li Ke.
Winter's Claw has received too much help from Li Ke, both in the past and now.
Therefore, Sejuani spoke directly, "Stop with the nonsense. If it's Li Ke's idea, I'll consider it carefully. So, when I returned to Winter's Claw from Twin Cities with the tribe, what did you discuss with Li Ke?"
Lissandra said softly, "It's two things, Sejuani."
Sejuani glanced at Lissandra, raising an eyebrow, her meaning clear.
Lissandra's thin, pale lips moved slightly as she spoke, "The first thing we need to do is send a representative to be stationed in the Twin Cities as an ambassador for the Federation, responsible for ensuring that the integration of Freljord with the Federation proceeds smoothly without any unexpected incidents."
"Silco told me about this, I know about it," Sejuani said.
Lissandra nodded, then continued with her eyes closed, "The key point is the second thing."
"Dealing with the Ice Watchers is the second thing Li Ke wants us to do."
"What's that?" Ashe and Sejuani exchanged a knowing glance, then spoke at the same time.
"It's the secret you've all been wanting to know, the secret buried by the Ice Fortress." Lissandra said, her brow furrowing slightly, clearly hesitant. But then, as if remembering something, her furrowed brow relaxed, and she explained in a melodious voice:
"The Ice Watchers, that was a mistake I made, a mistake I must make amends for. To explain to you what they really are, I can't, because they are not creatures of Runeterra at all."
All you need to know is that both Li Ke and I are eager to eliminate the Ice Watchers. Previously, we didn't have that ability.
Indeed, she didn't have that ability. After all, Anivia was shattered to pieces and sacrificed her own life to seal away several Ice Watchers. Those enormous monsters sealed by Anivia are still buried beneath the Hall of the Nine.
"But now, we have it."
Lissandra opened her eyes, her hands calmly placed in front of her. Her pale eyes looked at Ashe and Sejuani, and she said earnestly:
"I will remove True Ice and break the seal to prepare for the battle against the Ice Watchers. Rilfen and Ge are currently guarding the Hall of the Nine, ready to be deployed at any time."
"As Li Ke said, this time, it's our turn to sound the clarion call."
Lissandra said quietly.