The rain fell softly over the Kingdom of Edelweiss.
Gray clouds stretched across the southern skies, while cold winds drifted through the towering mountains surrounding the royal capital. The sound of rainwater echoed gently against castle windows, mixing with the distant clang of swords from the royal training grounds below.
Within the courtyard stood a man whose name was respected throughout the entire kingdom.
Prince Kael Aerion Ethyria.
The First Prince of Edelweiss.
The heir born beneath the season of rain.
At thirty years old, Prince Kael had already become one of the kingdom's most admired figures. Warriors respected his strength, nobles respected his intelligence, and common citizens admired the compassion hidden beneath his calm and disciplined appearance.
Yet despite his achievements, Kael never considered himself superior to others.
He remained humble.
Steadfast.
And deeply devoted to his family.
The prince stood beneath the falling rain while holding a long silver sword in his hand. His black cloak moved gently in the wind as droplets of water slid across the polished steel blade.
Then
Clang!
His sword cut through the air with incredible precision.
Every movement was smooth.
Controlled.
Elegant.
Even the royal knights training nearby could only watch with admiration.
"He's practicing again in the rain…"
"When does His Highness ever rest?"
"I heard he trained until midnight yesterday."
The knights whispered quietly among themselves.
But Kael ignored the attention.
Swordsmanship had been part of his life since childhood.
Ever since he was five years old, he had devoted himself to mastering combat, horsemanship, military strategy, and diplomacy.
Some believed he was born for greatness.
Others believed he carried the spirit of ancient warriors within his blood.
According to Edelweiss tradition, every child born during a certain season inherited a special blood attribute connected to nature itself.
Prince Kael was born on Wednesday, October 1st, 1110, during the season of endless rain.
Thus, he inherited what the people called the Blood of Rain.
Or in ancient northern language
Datah Rintih.
A bloodline believed to embody courage, valor, endurance, and unwavering determination.
The elders often said:
"Every drop of rain carves stone over time."
Those words perfectly described Kael.
Patient.
Persistent.
Unbreakable.
Even as a child, he rarely cried.
Instead, whenever he fell, he stood back up immediately.
Whenever he failed, he trained harder.
And whenever responsibility was placed upon his shoulders, he accepted it without complaint.
As the first child of King Ethan Edelweis XI and Queen Alysandra Valyria, Kael carried enormous expectations from the moment he was born.
The future of the royal family rested upon him.
The future of the kingdom rested upon him.
And yet…
Strangely, Kael never seemed burdened by it.
While other noble children feared strict lessons and endless royal responsibilities, Kael embraced them naturally.
At the age of five, his father enrolled him into military and political academies specifically designed for future rulers and generals.
Many children cried during their first days there.
Kael did not.
Instead, he stared curiously at the training fields and library halls with excitement shining in his eyes.
"You're smiling?" one instructor once asked in confusion.
Kael nodded happily.
"There are so many things to learn."
From that moment onward, the young prince became known for his incredible diligence.
He studied tirelessly from childhood into adulthood.
Politics.
History.
Military formations.
Economics.
Geography.
Diplomacy.
Foreign languages.
Swordsmanship.
Kael mastered each subject with astonishing discipline.
However, among all fields of study, one fascinated him more than anything else
Royal diplomacy.
Unlike many nobles who sought glory through war alone, Kael believed peace between nations held greater value than conquest.
He spent years studying international relations, treaties, alliances, trade agreements, and negotiation methods between kingdoms.
Even foreign ambassadors were surprised by his intelligence.
"His Highness speaks like a seasoned diplomat," one envoy once remarked.
But despite his brilliance in politics, Kael's true passion remained swordsmanship.
Every afternoon, regardless of weather, he trained endlessly within the royal courtyard.
Rain.
Snow.
Cold winds.
Nothing stopped him.
Sword practice became his form of meditation.
Whenever his mind felt troubled, he trained.
Whenever politics exhausted him, he trained.
Whenever he questioned himself, he trained even harder.
Perhaps that was why his swordsmanship eventually surpassed nearly every knight within Edelweiss.
His movements possessed overwhelming precision combined with natural instinct.
Even General Gladius the kingdom's legendary military commander once admitted:
"If Prince Kael continues improving, there may come a day when even I cannot defeat him."
Yet despite his strength, Kael never became arrogant.
Instead, he remained warm-hearted and caring toward those around him.
Especially his siblings.
Among all his brothers and sisters, Kael shared the closest bond with the youngest princess—
Princess Elara Ethyria.
The entire palace knew how inseparable they were.
Whenever Elara caused trouble, Kael protected her.
Whenever Elara cried, Kael comforted her.
Whenever Elara dreamed about adventures beyond the kingdom, Kael listened patiently without mocking her childish imagination.
To Elara, Kael was not merely an older brother.
He was her hero.
And to Kael…
Elara was someone he wished to protect forever.
One afternoon, the two siblings sat together atop a grassy hill overlooking the royal fields.
Elara swung her small legs while staring at the horizon.
"Brother Kael?"
"Yes?"
"Do you think the outside world is scary?"
Kael remained silent for a moment before answering gently.
"Yes."
Elara looked nervous.
"But…"
Kael smiled softly.
"It's also beautiful."
The young princess' eyes sparkled immediately.
"I knew it!"
Kael laughed quietly while patting her head.
Their relationship was so strong that many palace servants believed Kael would sacrifice his own life without hesitation if it meant protecting Elara.
And perhaps they were right.
Still, Kael cared deeply for all his siblings.
Prince Elian admired Kael's leadership and wisdom.
Prince Ryker respected Kael's combat abilities.
Princess Aira often discussed music and philosophy with him during royal gatherings.
Princess Liana trusted him more than anyone else within the family.
Even though Kael loved teasing them from time to time.
Because beneath his mature appearance hid a surprisingly mischievous personality.
In fact, many people believed Elara inherited her playful nature directly from Kael.
Ever since childhood, the prince had always enjoyed causing harmless trouble.
One of his favorite childhood activities involved teasing chickens within the royal farms.
Whenever chickens found worms beneath the soil, Kael secretly tossed tiny pieces of wood nearby, startling the birds and causing the worms to disappear back underground.
The shocked chickens would flap their wings wildly while Kael laughed endlessly from behind fences.
"Young Master! Please stop bullying the chickens!" the farm workers shouted desperately.
"But I'm helping the worms survive!"
"That's not helping!"
Even as an adult, traces of his childish mischief never truly disappeared.
Sometimes he hid royal documents just to confuse his younger brother Ryker.
Sometimes he secretly replaced military training schedules with fake ones as jokes toward knights.
And sometimes
Only sometimes
He intentionally challenged Princess Elara to ridiculous competitions simply because he enjoyed hearing her dramatic complaints afterward.
"You cheated!"
"I used strategy."
"You distracted me with bread!"
"A valid military tactic."
Despite his playful behavior, Kael always knew when seriousness was necessary.
The moment danger appeared, his expression changed completely.
Calm.
Focused.
Fearless.
That was the true Prince Kael Aerion Ethyria.
A man carrying both kindness and strength within his soul.
Yet beneath his accomplishments and responsibilities, Kael carried one hidden belief he rarely shared with anyone.
Although he was the crown prince…
He did not believe he was necessarily the best person to inherit the throne.
Deep within his heart, Kael questioned whether another sibling might someday prove more suitable to lead Edelweiss into the future.
Perhaps Elian's intelligence.
Perhaps Ryker's determination.
Perhaps even one of his sisters.
Kael did not cling desperately to power.
To him, protecting the kingdom mattered more than possessing the crown itself.
That selflessness only caused the royal family to respect him even more.
Especially King Ethan.
One evening, while standing together on the palace balcony overlooking the snowy capital, the king spoke quietly to his eldest son.
"You know," King Ethan said calmly, "you carry too much responsibility alone."
Kael smiled faintly.
"It doesn't feel heavy to me."
"That is exactly why I worry."
For a moment, silence filled the cold night air.
Then Kael glanced toward the distant city lights below.
"As long as this kingdom remains safe… I'm satisfied."
The king stared at his son quietly.
And within that moment, King Ethan realized something important.
Kael had already become more than merely a prince.
He had become a protector.
Not because duty demanded it.
But because his heart chose it willingly.
Beneath the endless rain of Edelweiss, Prince Kael Aerion Ethyria continued walking forward—carrying the courage of the Blood of Rain within every drop flowing through his veins.
A warrior.
A diplomat.
A brother.
A son.
And perhaps one day…
A legend whose name would forever echo throughout the frozen history of the Kingdom of Edelweiss.