"GOOD skies! Are you up already, your highness?"

A look of surprise became evident to the maidservant's face when she entered the room and saw a boy sitting by the edge of his bed, massaging his forehead. The boy looked to be in his late teens with hair long enough to brush the layers of his lashes.

He was naked from above and the scarce light that illuminates through the curtained windows only managed to trace a few details of his thin, dainty body that were more of a girl's. He wore a light-coloured skirt that reaches down to his knees. His feet were yet to touch any shoe but the soles on them appeared to be too clean, as if he never stepped unto anything for the last years.

"What time is it?" the boy asked.

He looks at his maidservant from under the covers of his lashes whilst his fingers continued to press unto his forehead to ease the stinging pain.

"It is yet for the clouds to part, your highness," she answered as she walked towards the window that spanned five meters in height.

The servant pulled the string from the side, parting the thick layer of curtains that covered the glasses beneath. The room brightened a bit but the outside remained darker than it is expected. From the bed, the boy's silver hair shone from the scant amount of light that reached its strands, making his features stand even more.

The boy lifted his face to look at the world outside the window. His brows were defined and his eyes resembled that of a python's; pupils' constricted and the look hostile. Even so, his soft features contrasted the animosity that his eyes brought. The boy can be said to be beautiful, extremely beautiful.

If his hair was longer, he could have been mistaken as a princess with his tall but elegant build.

"Take me to the bath," he said and stood up.

The thin layers of silk and fur that were wrapped around his arms and legs fell down in one swoop. The boy simply ignored the mess he made and proceeded to combing a few strands of his hair with his fingers. The maidservant stole a glance at him, her eyes almost unable to look away.

There is a hint of admiration and wonder beneath her orbs. To her, the prince she has served for years seemed to change overnight.

The 2nd prince of the Western Kingdom, Caelus Kral, has always been pampered. Being the first born from the queen's womb herself, he possessed an innate right to the throne. The prince is beautiful, smart and adventurous but he was impulsive and lacked the will to learn.

Just more than three years ago, the prince has gone missing after he sneaked out of the palace and was never seen then. The kingdom was in disarray as the lands outside were harsher and more dangerous for anyone to survive. All beings in this world stick together; pushing towards cooperation against the heavy demands of survivability in this barren and savage world.

The world was named, Horai. According to the records, the name was established by the first empire, Kinunkane that ruled over several continents in the past. Horai meant "seasons" of the ancient Kinunkanian script. It was written in texts that the world was once a place of what they call seasons. There was a huge ball of light that floated in an azure firmament. It was so big that even the dragons that ruled the skies couldn't reach it. There were also colours and greens that bloomed in prairies and marshes and lands that extended over the yonder.

Neither scholar nor seer can be sure that what those records claim are true but everyone is aware of them. Some claim that those are merely myths and did not hold truth with them; others were hopeful that those times can actually be real and happen once again.

Horai of the present is far from the beautiful world that those books told. The world that everyone came to know is an arid place where the soil is infertile and storms descend everywhere. The skies remain dark all year round and the clouds above always threaten to burst any time. Lightnings and thunders are heard even from a mile; not to mention that even the seas do not encourage sailors and ships to cross.

The mountains are covered in snow and heavy avalanches destroy many villages even in distant places. Journeying to other lands is particularly difficult, although not impossible because there have been innovations to make life easier. The most dangerous thing, aside from the perils that the distance from shelter brings, is the storm that can wreck havoc anywhere and at any time.

The storms are enough to destroy villages in one swoop. Only kingdoms and major strongholds that were built in strategic places can counter the challenges of these storms. The Phospiest, notably known as the Kingdom of the West, is one of these strongholds. It may not be considered to be a reputably strong and powerful one in contrast to other islands and dynasties from thousands of miles away, but to be born inside any kingdom is already a feat for itself.

Unlike the people who live in the wastelands and villages that are only part of major territories, the protection that these shelters provide is better. Prince Caelus Kral of the Western Kingdom is among those who are fortunate enough to be born in a place that has a lot of safety to offer, only he didn't recognize that fact when he went out of the kingdom walls and ventured away to the unknown.

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Everyone was already convinced that he had met his untimely end at the age of 19 but he managed to come back to the palace unharmed just three days ago. Although there were major changes to his appearance and character, there was no doubt that the person who presented himself to the King and Queen was the second prince of Phospiest.

"Yes, your highness," the maidservant courteously replied and with her head bent down, led the prince to his personal bath.

The prince, whose eyes remained on the palace walls outside the window did not respond and merely started walking without any layer of cloth to protect his feet from the freezing cold floors. The maidservant who saw this stopped and attempted to pick the prince's shoes but he gestured her to not do so.

"But, your highness the prince, it is cold," she tried to reason with due respect.

"It's fine." The prince nodded and continued walking.

The maidservant can only sigh in defeat and gestured the rest of the servants who are stationed outside of his sleeping quarters to follow.

"YOU'VE come."

A dark mist appeared out of nowhere in front of Caelus who was comfortably sitting on the plunge bath that could house twenty people in general. Strands of wet hair rested on his pale skin, almost like jewels that lay unbothered on the snow-filled land while the northern winds continue to blow. Hot steams clouded the entire room as a woody fragrance that came from the oils and herbs in the water danced around the place.

"You called for me, my lord."

A pair of dark boots, reaching half of the owner's calves stepped out of the mist. The newcomer was a man who looked to be in his thirties. His looks appear ordinary; with dark, red hair that reaches until his waist and a sharp gaze that do not seem peculiar for his slanted, draconic eyes alike Caelus'. He wore a thick coat with layers of inner shirt and pants enough to counter the unending cold even inside the bathplace.

"What's the situation in the palace?" Caelus asked the man.

"The princes are planning to host a grand ball for the consort's birthday, my lord."

"Other than that," pointed Caelus and gave the man a knowing look.

"The board is also in a bit of chaos because a storm has destroyed four villages last night and they were debating whether they should let the refugees inside," the man replied.

"Do they seem to agree with letting those people inside?"

The man shook his head. "I doubt, my lord. They reason that the resources have been constantly being used to support various villages in the territory. The outcomes of the storm are beyond the kingdom's capacity to back up which is why those civilians should fend for themselves."

Caelus' forehead crumpled from hearing that.

"They have the funding to hold a grand ball but they cannot spare some gold to assist the victims. Ironic, aren't they?" he asked the man before slowly standing up.

A wave of water was created from this simple movement. Caelus tucked the lose strands of hair behind his ear and motioned the man to give him his robe.

"What shall you do, my lord?"

Caelus did not respond and simply received the clothing. He fell into a deep thought for a moment before he proceeded to wearing the robe.

"I'd be a subject of scrutiny from my brothers if I interfere with this directly," he said and stepped out of the plunge bath.

His maidservants were all dismissed when he entered the room as he does not want to be disturbed. In addition, they also cannot see Vritra since this person is someone he wants to keep a secret from everyone after he has returned. For the mean time, his companion should stay away from the eyes of the subjects here as it may affect some plans he wants to slowly undertake.

"I will go out tonight," he said seriously.

"I will accompany you," Vritra responded.

He gave him a nod and motioned his subject to exit. Vritra gave him a final bow before he disappeared from the mist that he created earlier. Caelus was left inside the bathplace, pondering on the situation. He has returned from three years of wandering in the savage wilds that spanned thousands of miles of snowstorm with the goal of earning the seat of King.

When he was 19, his pampered life was suddenly put to an end when he was chased by a group of assassins in the middle of the stormy night. As young and naïve as he was, he did not know how to protect himself which led him to almost lose his life countless times as they gave him chase.

He is not very sure about the exact details of his escape, but he could vaguely remember that he fell in the icy Witrotean River after he was pierced with an arrow on his chest. The storm that night was growing even stronger that was why those assassins couldn't continue searching for him outside the kingdom walls.

He woke up a week later, nursed by a villager who found him by the riverside.

"Your highness, the King wants you to join them for breakfast," his maidservant informed him while he was being dressed.

"Will the queen be joining us?" he asked while his gaze settled on his reflection by the full-sized mirror.

A number of his servants stood behind him, each carrying a set of clothes for him to choose for the day. Because it has always been cold, the quality of clothing has always been dependent on its capability to keep the wearer warm. Magic is unique in this world but few people possess the ability to manipulate elements. Swordsmanship has always been the most practiced skills among the youth and for humans, it can be learned by men and women as long as they can afford to have a sword made.

Swordsmanship in Horai is the centre of all combat. If one can train their swordsmanship in a certain level, they can be drafted to the military and earn merits for themselves. This can mean the start of a better life. For people who are gifted with magic, swordsmanship can be cultivated infinitely and according to the records, there was one person who reached an astonishing level in his sword that he could even conquer plains and slay dragons if he wanted to.

The downside is that he had no interest in doing so and lived a solitary life. There was no news about the person anymore and historians were not very sure how long has this story had been passed down to people.

"She will be, your highness."

Caelus nodded. He wanted to dismiss them right away as he can dress himself but he doesn't want stories to spread across the palace about his behaviour so he would rather endure this painstakingly long routine every day. In the past, he wouldn't have any problem dealing with this practice but things are quite different now for him.

He had been away from this style of living for too long. His bones and skin was rejuvenated with a new layer, harder and firmer than he had back then. He faced too many life and death situations outside for years which is why to be pampered like this once again does not sit right to him anymore.