The tall woman with a wide smile noticed the group and raised her hand to greet them.
"Hello to you, sliding friends! I'm Bruma! And my favorite hobby is sledding in front of avalanches, hahahaha!" She burst out laughing.
"What!? Bruma! The legendary heroine of Freljord!" exclaimed Nouna.
"Yes, that's me, in the flesh! … And here is the best adventure companion: Little-White, A PORO!!" Bruma showed a small ball-shaped creature with white fur, little horns, and tiny eyes. The poro clung desperately to her shoulder because of the wind.
Alex remembered seeing these little creatures everywhere, but strangely he had never considered hunting them. Instead, he had even given them food. And he knew their bodies were abnormally warm—a true mystery (Alex forgot he also had the same ability!).
It was clear the tall woman valued these little creatures greatly.
But there was no time for daydreaming: in front of them, massive blocks of ice blocked the path. Before anyone reacted, Bruma lifted her "sled," launched herself into the air, and came crashing down at insane speed on the debris, creating an explosion of magical ice. The "sled" turned out to be a massive shield—or a door with a ram's head (who knows?). Even more surprising, pieces of pure ice and strange stone scattered everywhere. Alex wondered who could have forged such an artifact.
"Amazing! The legends aren't false, her strength is exactly as my mother told me!" cried Nouna, thrilled.
"Friends, there's a gap in the snow here! We can take shelter until the avalanche passes!" Bruma jumped into the fault without hesitation.
"Hold on!!" shouted Alex.
"We don't have time to hesitate, the avalanche will swallow us! Willa, follow her! Don't worry, Alex, things always end well with Bruma. And besides, wouldn't you like such a strong girlfriend?" Nouna winked.
Without a word, Alex leapt first into the hole, followed by Nouna and Willa. The yeti barely managed to squeeze through with her huge body. Just in time: the avalanche buried the entrance.
The tunnel seemed bottomless, winding endlessly.
"Wow, such a long tunnel! But it's really fun!" Nouna shouted, sliding down the natural chute.
Willa (amused).
"Looks like we stumbled on a secret passage… maybe there's treasure hidden here!" Alex concluded, already dreaming of gold and mystical artifacts.
"I see light! The tunnel's ending!" said Nouna.
The group was ejected and landed in the snow. Alex collided with someone, his head sinking into a large, soft, firm place.
"Hey! You alright, little one?" Bruma lifted Alex into the air with one hand, pulling him from her cleavage.
A blush spread across Alex's cheeks, but this time he controlled himself: no tent in his pants (he had inflated the thighs and crotch of his handmade clothes. Since the beginning, his huge snake had been visible in his underwear—only the wolves had seen it… rest in peace).
Bruma paused, staring at his face and small body, then smiled affectionately.
"You're as cute as a poro. Bruma wants to know your name."
"Thanks? I guess? My name is Alex, I come from very far away."
Bruma then turned to the others.
"A Notai girl and a four-armed yeti… no doubt, you are Nouna and Willa, emissaries of Freljord! Bruma has a message for you: Ashe, Warmother of the Avarosans, seeks you to resolve a conflict with the Winter's Claw."
"End our incredible adventure to do political work!? No thanks!" Nouna shook her head firmly.
Willa (explains).
Later:
"You're looking for the sacred mountain of Anivia, to find Nouna's mother? Bruma understands. There's nothing more important than a mother." she said with melancholy.
"Hey, Bruma, are you okay?" asked Alex, rummaging in his bag.
"No problem! Bruma just remembers the past… oh!? That smells good!" Alex handed her some seasoned skewers.
"Here, for you and the poro. You must be hungry." The poro jumped onto Alex's shoulder and licked his cheek with its pink tongue. Alex placed a skewer in its mouth, and the creature jumped with joy.
Bruma took a bite, her eyes lighting up.
"This is as good as my mother's cooking! You're incredible, little Alex!" she said, regaining her wide smile.
"You can count on me!" Alex replied, tickling the poro's heart-shaped belly.
"GOOD! Bruma will help you! I've heard the north has become chaotic, with strange huge creatures roaming there!"
"Thank you, Bruma! When we finish this, we'll come with you to Rakelstake," Nouna promised.
"Hahaha, perfect!"
After this, the group explored further: a vast network of underground caves. They met calm krugs, but also enraged ones that attacked them immediately.
The deeper they went, the hotter it became.
Willa (complains about volcanic heat).
"It's true, look! There's even magma!" Nouna pointed.
They arrived at a giant chamber full of magma, massive forge structures, equipment, and weapons. Most shocking: large golems carried equipment across the room.
"I feel like I know where we are…" Bruma hesitated, trying to hide the shield-door behind her.
A big poro with a hammer noticed them. With Bruma (210 cm) and Willa (290 cm), they were impossible to miss.
"Hahaha, if it isn't my big Frojo!? I see you've become a great blacksmith!" Bruma laughed as usual.
But Frojo, the poro, looked severe (still cute) and charged at her, smacking her head with his little hammer. She caught him, letting him swing at empty air.
"I know you're not happy I left you here, but who better to fulfill your dream than the demigoddess of the forge, Ornna!?"
Frojo (sulks).
"It's fine." A calm, magnetic voice echoed.
Everyone turned. In the middle of a platform surrounded by lava stood a massive female figure, 3 meters tall, hammering an anvil as she forged a sword.
"Ornna!! My old friend, how are you!?" cried Bruma.
The ram-woman raised her head, looking straight at Bruma… or more precisely at the shield-door she tried to hide.
"It's a door." she said simply, before resuming her work, leaving everyone confused.