Still lost in the tundra, we started running out of supplies. No vegetation, no animals around us, and it lasted for weeks. In the end, a snowstorm came, then… nothing. We lost consciousness, and the rest, you already know."
She finished her story.
" Amazing! Are you one of the chosen ones, destined to fulfill some sort of prophecy!?" said Alex, wondering why she had told him her whole life story. She didn't have to, but he was surprised. Deep inside, he also wanted to experience this kind of adventure.
Willa (explains with a growl)
" What!? Your power can help defeat the Void? And what the hell is that?"
"I said the Frostguards and Lissandra watch over the Howling Abyss. That's not entirely true… The Abyss is actually the gate that seals the Void, preventing it from breaking free and exterminating us all. The bucket of Pure Ice is the sacrifice of the Three Sisters and the ancient Yetis, 9000 years ago. I don't know the full details… only Lissandra knows what truly happened that day."
Alex held his breath. Then, he made a decision.
" That's it!! As compensation, I'll come with you."
Willa: Hohoo (claps)
"Great, I actually wanted to ask you!!! I feel something special in you."
Yep… something big and special indeed, thought the boy, forcing a normal smile on his face.
"But anyway, while you were telling your story… you and Willa finished all the meat I had. We'll have to head to your mysterious place and find food, especially with the big glutton here!" Alex teased.
Willa (offended)
Willa picked up Alex with her fluffy hands and placed him on her shoulder.
Nouna also jumped using her magic and landed on the Yeti's other shoulder.
"Hold on tight, I've got a feeling this is going to be fun!!!"
"Already!? But… where the hell are we going!? Aaaaahhh waaaii—t !!!" Alex screamed, as Willa rushed forward without waiting.
"We're going to (where we need to go)!!"
"(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻"
On the Yeti's Back
Enjoying the ride, me and Nouna clung to Willa's fur and horns while she ran on six legs, giving her incredible speed.
"Well, while waiting to find the way to that Yeti temple or whatever, can you check these shiny things?" I showed her the bag with the eyes and fangs of the wolves I killed.
"Oh, you must have run into a mute Frostfang wolf. Would you mind if I absorbed their power? Or you could trade them in the villages for something you'd like," Nouna suggested.
"No, go ahead. Honestly, I just wanna see some magic!"
"Then watch. This is a spell from Aunt Lissandra that I fused with one of my flute songs."
She pulled out her flute and started playing while making strange gestures with it. Within a minute, the glow in the objects sparkled brighter, then drifted out of them, floating in the air. The objects themselves went dull, looking like worthless trash. The light then moved towards me… and sank into my body. A chilling freshness flooded me, icy runes traced across my skin before disappearing.
"But… weren't you supposed to absorb it?" I asked.
"No, don't worry. It's way more useful for you than me, since you're not Iceborn. This grants you the power of the Frostfang wolf temporarily. And besides… your body absorbs magic really effectively. I've never seen anything like it!" she explained.
I nodded, though inside I thought: Alright, another temporary power… but I kinda love this!
Nouna's Flute
Later, Alex couldn't help asking more about Nouna's flute, the Svellsongur, set with a shard of Pure Ice.
"Your flute… it's really made of Pure Ice?"
"Yes! And only Iceborn can touch it. But even then, it burns them. Ordinary people… they just die instantly." She showed him the shard embedded in her flute.
"With it, I can do many things. Including… controlling animals."
"I really wish I had a magic weapon too…" Alex grumbled, glaring at his pathetic little bone axe.
Hunting Elnuks
During our journey, we stumbled upon a herd of Elnuks, huge yak-like beasts with blond fur and massive tusks.
The poor creatures didn't stand a chance against a starving Willa. Half of the herd was slaughtered, though the other half was spared (so the species doesn't go extinct, you know).
Of course, one of my favorite hobbies is looting them all. I hate wasting stuff.
I stitched several bags from their hides, and with Willa's help, we carried most of the loot (mostly meat and furs).
The rest of the meat we couldn't take was used for a giant barbecue, much to Willa's delight.
After stocking up on supplies, and thanks to the cold keeping it from rotting, we returned to our path with full bellies.
Bonding and Games
The group continued their journey, well-fed and confident. Taking advantage of the moment, Alex didn't waste time improving his relationship with the girls:
telling stories, listening to Nouna's music, tickling Willa's ears, and of course… an epic snowball fight (with normal snowballs, no magic cheating).
After so much fun, they all fell asleep around the fire.
Alex's Dream
"The blood of an ancient creature sleeps inside you… You have a great duty."
A beautiful, wise voice echoed.
"But I want to have fun, explore the world… not stay locked up here!!" protested a smaller voice.
"You're not locked up. If you wish to leave, then go. I've already prepared a place for you to live. When the time comes, I will return to teach you magic."
"I'll miss you… my little dragon!"
The blurred face of a slender woman opened a magic door to a new home: a city of metal and concrete.
Then the memories faded. Alex found himself floating in a cosmic void.
"Was it her who sent me into this new world!?" he wondered.
But another voice answered:
"No, little puppy… it wasn't her!" said a joyful voice.
Alex turned, but saw no one.
"Who's there!!!?"
"Ohoo, why so many questions? Here, have some cake and relax!"
Still no one. But suddenly, a cake appeared in his hands.
He didn't feel anything.
"Show yourself!!!"
"No! Why ruin the surprise effect?"
"Who are you!??"
"You will be me… in the future. I just wanted to see you younger, hehehe. And you were so cute!!"
Alex felt his cheek being pinched.
"My friend of time, from another world… you've been chosen as the traveler of the multiverse. You're so lucky!!"
Traveler of the multiverse? That sounds badass… NO, pull yourself together, Alex!
"So it was you who threw me naked into the snow!?"
"Hahahaha yes!!! It was hilarious! Look, I even recorded it!"
A spatial rift opened, showing Alex sprawled in the snow like a pancake, shivering naked like a chicken.
"NOOOO!! My privacy, tainted by a cosmic being! My career is ruined!!!"
"Don't worry! I'll only show it to a few friends… And also, good news: you'll have the biggest, most diverse harem of all time! You naughty boy."
"How the hell do you know that!?" Alex demanded.
"Who cares about the how!!!" mocked the voice.
"I'M the one who decides that!!!" Alex shouted, accepting his fate.
"And don't worry… your icy friend can't peek into your dreams. You can keep entertaining me—uh, I mean, pursuing your adventure in peace! WELCOME TO RUNETERRA, BYEEE!!!"
A gorgeous girl mocked Alex from the stars…
And then he woke up, to the sound of corrupted wolves howling.