Ashe is good, Sejuani is bad

"???"

Udyr went straight to the point, catching Herren off guard with his direct shot and leaving him somewhat bewildered.

But after realizing what he had said, he immediately replied.

No, I don't want to.

"Why? Don't you like Sejuani?"

"Of course I like it, but... isn't it a bit too hasty?"

Heron was well aware that this was the way things were in Freljord; blood alliances were essentially political marriages, and feelings were secondary.

But Herren comes from a world where free love is the norm, and he certainly doesn't want to be so hasty.

"There's no rush. Sejuani is already an adult and has become a Warmother... Normally, it wouldn't be excessive to find ten Blood Alliances."

"Then it's up to her. Anyway, for me, it's just too hasty."

Herren shook his head, still refusing.

Whether Sejuani is in a hurry or not is her business; Harren himself simply doesn't want to rush things.

She hadn't known Sejuani for very long, and her feelings for Sejuani were mostly based on her past life's experiences. Even after spending more time together and gaining a deeper understanding of Sejuani, Harren still felt that the time wasn't right.

"But... Sejuani has only just taken control of the tribe and needs the Blood Alliance to help her manage it... I just feel that, whether in terms of ability or personal relationships, you should be the first. So, if Sejuani finds another Blood Alliance first, will you still become one of her Blood Alliance members?"

"Ha, sorry, I'm not one to share, so I won't... If she has other blood oaths, I won't consider swearing an oath with her again."

Herren immediately shook his head.

Are you kidding me!

However, Udir was not discouraged; on the contrary, his eyes lit up.

"So, as long as Sejuani doesn't seek out other blood allies, you're willing to be one of them?"

"Wait... wait a minute? That's not how it's calculated, is it?"

Herren was stunned for a moment. Something was wrong. He had refused outright at first, so how did it suddenly become a conditional acceptance?

He couldn't help but look at Udir's harmless face, never expecting the old man to be so shrewd.

"Don't try to trap me, Udyr, you know exactly what I mean."

"Ha, I know..."

Udyr smiled and readily admitted his ulterior motives.

But then worry appeared on his face.

"Actually, I think it's not such a bad thing that you're the only blood oath-pledged member... Although Sejuani doesn't want to talk about her mother, in some ways they are very similar... But as her honorary sworn father, I have to consider the survival of her offspring."

Udir moved closer and asked.

"Or rather, have you ever seen a powerful tribe's war queen who only has one blood alliance?"

"Yes, I have."

"Um... Kuojiya doesn't count."

"That's also true."

"besides?!"

This time it was Udyr's turn to be puzzled. In all his years of traveling around, he had never seen a war mother like this, except for Kojiya.

"Ashe will."

"..."

Udyr blinked.

"Did you make a vow with her?"

"No."

"Did she make a vow with someone else?"

"Right now... I guess not yet?"

Ashe encountered Tryndamere, the Barbarian King, after Avaros had become powerful, and he probably hadn't even left the Frozen Sea yet.

"How did you know...?"

"Never mind that, I do know."

"..."

Udyr stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Helen ignored him, having said everything he needed to say, and threw the thirsty blood into the furnace, preparing to begin smelting.

"By the way, did Sejuani send you to ask this?"

"How could that be? I was just asking out of a sense of duty as a father."

"That's good... You'd better not tell her either. It's not a big deal, but... it just feels a bit strange when you're together afterwards."

"Of course! I guarantee it! I'm known for being incredibly tight-lipped!"

Udir immediately patted his chest and made a promise, almost as if he had sworn an oath to Heron first.

Herren finally nodded in relief and focused on forging his new masterpiece.

To integrate such a large amount of Pure Ice, our reserves are probably running out... I don't know if I can handle handling so much Pure Ice with my bare body...

……

……

That's how it is.

Udyr, who had made a promise to Harren, went straight to Sejuani's room.

I'm sorry, Herren, I'm tight-lipped, but I also won't lie to my family...

"Did he really say that?"

Sejuani immediately stood up, her expression shifting for a long time before she finally sat down, placing her hands on the fire and quietly warming herself.

"At least, he didn't swear an oath to that Ash."

"What's the difference?"

Ashe is like this? Ashe hasn't even made an oath yet, how do you know?

After much thought, Sejuani realized there was only one possibility... that Ashe had personally promised him that.

So why would Ashe make this promise to a man out of the blue?

Sejuani's eyes were unfocused, and she seemed oblivious until her palms were red from the campfire.

Seeing that she was troubled, Udir thought for a while before cautiously speaking.

"Although swearing an oath to only one blood alliance is disadvantageous for you, but..."

"So what if there's only one? He's better than ten people by himself, and I don't even think much of the others."

Sejuani immediately defended Heron.

Her worries were never about the condition of only having one blood oath. On the contrary, she was quite happy that Herren had made this condition, which meant that Herren was really considering making an oath with her.

What truly troubled her was the possibility that... Herren had already made some kind of agreement with Ash.

In her mind, a scene was already unfolding—before the icy sea, the two made a solemn vow, and Ashe swore that after achieving great success, she would only swear an oath with Harren…

What is this?

Are you kidding me?!

You, Ashe, can barely protect yourself, yet you still cause all this trouble!

"It's alright... Ashe, I'm no worse than you."

Sejuani looked at the flickering firelight, her eyes narrowed, and her gaze became increasingly determined.

……

……

"Achoo!"

"War Mother, are you feeling unwell?"

"No, it's nothing, I just..."

Ashe doesn't know why she keeps sneezing today. Logically speaking, as someone with the bloodline of ice, she shouldn't be catching a cold.

Perhaps someone is thinking of her... As for who it could be, Ashe can only think of Sejuani.

Her dearest friend, her only sister.

"I wonder how Sejuani is doing."

As Ashe gazed at the boundless icy sea, she couldn't help but miss Sejuani, and also worried about whether Harren could control Sejuani's temper.

I hope I haven't caused Winter's Claw any more trouble...

But after a brief period of worry for her friend, Ashe focused her attention on her current responsibilities.

Land was already visible on the distant horizon.

They had already traversed many lands along the way, but most were either resource-poor or already inhabited. Aisha, leading a group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, did not want to engage in conflict and had to find another place to go.

I just hope I'll have good luck this time.