Sejuani, was quite a scary woman to be around. Friendly, but very strong. As apparent how she beat down some kind of snow golem with her bare hands.

"So, Gray, tell me some more about you. Why'd you choose to join the Institute?"

"Oh… Uhm. I, as you may have noticed, am an ice mage and am used to the cold because I have trained in it for most of my younger years. Together with my master Ur, and my fellow pupil Lyon. When we trained, we always did it in our undergarments… and… we had to strip within seconds. And... It became a habit of mine to strip till my undergarments without realizing it." Gray says puffing a cloud of warm air "What about you?"

"I'm the leader of the Winter's Claw. The most powerful and hardest tribe in the Freljord. Only the strong will survive and we shall rule over the weaklings like the Avarosians. Thinking they are doing us a favor to offer food for the winter. It's an insult to our strength!" She smashes an ice crystal open with her flail. "Bunch of pathetic excuses of Freljordians. I am glad you side with us, we could use an ally like you in battle."

"Whoa, whoa not so fast, battle? I mean, I know I'm going to the Institute of WAR but I didn't expect to be fighting each other. I thought just… Trying to stop wars by talking it out and with as few bloodshed as possible."

"The Institute is bringing Champions from every nation of Valoran to her castle to battle for peace, or for amusement of the sorcerers. And The Avarosians, have 2 very powerful ones. Their queen Ashe the Blind archer, and king Tryndamere the dummy." Sejuani laughs a little at her own wordplay. "And if you bring champions from every region. Conflicts start and need to be solved. That is what we mainly do. Almost nobody in Valoran dares to wage a war or start an uproar knowing the institute is watching."

Gray just nods in understanding and thinks about it. "So… we are the reason we need the institute? To unite and fight as one against each other?"

"Yea basically. It is fun though, wrecking ice queen and ice witch under Bristle's feet." Sejuani smiles and looks mindlessly in the distance. Visioning it before her and giggling

"So, does that mean I get to fight Natsu when we get there, without consequence and hit him as hard as possible?"

"Who's Natsu?" She looks at him "And if he is there, yes you can"

"Alright, He is going to be there. I know it. All of us are"

"There's more than just you? Are they all just as strong as you? They could be fine additions"

"I don't think any of us except for me could handle the cold of the Freljord… unless you want a molten town. One of em, Natsu, is a fire dragon slayer. Roughly translates to very powerful fire mage."

"How many are there?" Sejuani got interested. A fire mage and an ice mage. What else could be there to see?

"Uhm… 5 of us. Me, Natsu, Lucy, Erza and Happy. Each has their own magic. You'll probably see once we get to the institute."

"I'll have to wait then. It is probably a 5 day trip to the nearest teleport pad. So, you better get used to sleeping in caves with a little fire and minimal food."

"Or he can come with me." It was another voice coming from above. Manly and friendly. "HUP!" a poof of snow dusts up in the air and a figure falls towards them. Big and holding something even bigger.

"That can work too. But we don't need you Braum." Sejuani replies gently. She knew Braum was pretty much Neutral in the battle. Even though he lives with the Avarosians.

"So you're Braum?" Gray asks looking at the big man with an even more glorious moustache than Master Makarov. "I'm Gray, nice meeting you"

"Likewise my friend" Braum's firm grip surprises Gray a little but let's go before it hurts. "Does he need to go to Institute? Braum can escort him through Avarosian territory. There is teleport pad in Queen's room.

Sejuani frowns "Fine, but I want him not to get used to the Avarosians. Get him through as quick as possible and don't let him talk to the queen."

"Braum takes his time. Rushing is not needed now miss Sejuani." Braum smiles kindly. Earning a huff from Sejuani

"Just take him to the Institute. And Gray, I would like it if you joined the Winter's Claw." Sejuani pushes him towards Braum who catches him with one hand.

"I'll consider it. But probably will Sejuani." Gray smiles and puts a thumbs up.

Sejuani was already walking back to her town. Waving faintly. "Hehe, Braum will bring you to institute Mister Gray." Braum walks forth followed by a rather confused gray. "

"Why didn't Sejuani attack you when she saw you? I figure she hates all the Avarosian people"

"I protect everyone in the Freljord who needs it. And everything. I stay out of girl's war and help those who suffer from it. I see you dress nearly the same as me. Not affected by cold?"

"No, not really. Got used to it after a couple of years. And I got a stripping habit because of my training in the cold."

"Some habits are good. And for a good looking young man like Gray, it can be good" Braum laughs and walks on with his shield in the other hand.

Gray likes this man. He just has an aura of friendliness around him. Everything he asks about Gray is pure curiosity and innocence. Unlike Sejuani who just wants to know how strong he is.

"Gray, Braum thinks you will be a fine champion for our Institute. You have made wrongs in life, but also many many rights. You have a dark past. But think this way. The darker the night, the brighter the stars."

"Braum, you are a wise man. And I hope there are many more like you. Brave, and standing for those who can't. A real hero of your people." Gray was legitimate happy that Braum found him. He's like a father figure, even though he has only known him for a short 30 minutes.

"That is very nice of young Gray to say. We are nearly there. If you keep walking and show your request of the Institute to Ashe or Tryndamere or anyone in the town. They will let you teleport. And I know I said to Sejuani you wouldn't meet the Queen. But I just…" he holds his hands before his eyes "lost sight of you. Good luck Gray. I have poro to take care of" he walks away from him and waves.

Gray could see some wooden and ice structures in the distance and figured it had to be the town Braum was referring to. So setting it to a short sprint he walks up to the gates. Still in nothing but his boxers.

It looks empty. No people on the walls it seems and the gate is locked. "Hello! I was sent by Braum here! Can I speak with Queen Ashe?"

"Talking with" A woman with long white hair stands up from behind one of the barriers of the wall. A bow and arrow made of ice aimed at him. "State your business"

"I need to go to the Institute of war and Braum said you have a teleport pad to go there!"

"Out of the question! To go to the Institute of War you need to be a champion! Leave now!"

"I am the new champion! Gray Fullbuster!" He shouts slowly approaching the wall

"Show it to me! The request!" Ashe releases a warning arrow just before his feet "That is your first and last warning. Next one is between your eyes."

Gray mumbles but takes the request he had gotten from his back where he stuck it with some ice magic and shows it from a distance.

"Now show it to me at close range. Good luck getting inside" Ashe sits on the wall and watches in amusement as multiple men come from more barricades. Each a bow drawn at Gray.

"Alright then… Ice make: Tunnel!" Gray shouts at the top of his lungs and concentrates his magic in front of him. Creating a crawlspace for him to go through without being harmed by the arrows.

The archers fire a barrage of arrows at the tunnel, and all just bounce off of it. Not piercing it to their surprise. "He has talent…" Ashe muses to herself "Let's see how he is going to get up

Gray only smirks as he crawls further and reaches the wall. "Ice make: Stairs!" he shouts loudly again and runs up the forming stairs up the wall. Standing in front of Ashe within a couple of seconds shoving the request paper in her face. "Satisfied? Queen Ice?" Gray says with a smirk. All the men having their bows aimed at him.

She grabs the paper and reads it carefully. "Welcome Gray Fullbuster, to our village. I'll take you to the Institute as fast as possible." The men lower their bows and go back to guarding duty. "Follow me" Ashe says as she walks down the stairs of her wall. Followed closely by the still half naked Gray

The villagers give some suspicious glances at the handsome young man walking with the queen. Whispering to each other. "King Tryndamere is not going to like this." But many just look away and some of the women keep staring.

"You are lucky my man isn't here at the moment. He would have ripped of your arms and used them to beat you if he saw you with me." Ashe chuckles and continues walking up the icy stairs to her castle.

"Sounds like he's a brute man." Gray hardly keeps up with the archer. Seeing she has quite a fast pace.

"He is, but he is also a gentleman once you get to know him… and if you're a woman." She opens the doors to the throne room and walks behind her ice sculptured seat. Towards a door in the back. "Fancy something to drink first? I would love to discuss some things with you."

"No thank you. I promised Braum and Se… Erza to get to the institute as fast as possible." Gray swallows his words and hopes she didn't notice his mistake.

"Who?" She turns to him with a small frown on her pretty face.

"One of my team members. We came with 4 others. Listen, you'll get the details once I get to the Institute." He knows it is dangerous to stay here since he had allied with Sejuani. Or… promised to.

"Four others? I would like to know more about them. And why aren't they with you?" Ashe grins and walks slower.

"Uh... yea, Natsu, Erza, Lucy and Happy. We are supposed to meet in the Institute… I guess? Can we just get to the teleport pad?" Gray sweats a little

"Hmm… You shouldn't lie Gray Fullbuster. If that's your name." she walks forth. "The teleport pad is in front of you. And run. Because." She draws her bow and looks angry. "The winter's claw is not welcome here!" A fire burning in her eyes

Gray knew he had to run for his life. Making small walls of ice to try and block her advance. But the arrows pierce through the ice. "Smooth Gray, real smooth!" he curses at himself and sees a stone pad on the ground. Glowing with dark blue energy. Figuring that has to be the teleport pad, he makes a dive for it, just as one arrow hits his shoulder and makes him scream in pain and agony.

Ashe curses softly under her breath "I should have figured he sided with Sejuani. He came out of nowhere. Probably some kind of ice assassin. I'll kill him one day. I know I will." She punches her hand through the little ice wall. "I promise Gray Fullbuster, You made a new dangerous rival."


So... I really feel like I rushed this and that it might suck. I don't know anymore. I'm just confused as to why I am writing so much now.

Sincerely, The voice you hear in your head when you are reading this.