Everyone had gathered. Seonghwa's parents and the elven scribes as witnesses. His harem, Seungyoun, his babies and their pets. The fairies hovered in the near trees, not tired despite the sinking sun, since they wanted to attend the spectacle.

In the moonlit clearing, the white marble gazebo glowed under the night sky. No cloud obscured the view and a full moon traced its pale course, chasing after the one it would never meet.

At serene peace, Seonghwa waited for the right hour next to the altar. His giddiness and nervosity were veiled behind a refined expression. The night air caressed his hair and tangled in his veils, enrapturing the whispering crowd that awaited his ritual.

Jongho, Yeosang and Hongjoong supported the others, and they mingled with the crowd to marvel at their ethereal ruler. The night bedazzled Seonghwa's skin and hair, making him look as if a star had fallen from the skies to be trapped among earthly trivialities. Tonight, he would prove yet again how much more he was. How little this world compared to his divine soul.

Morana and Aodhán perched in Jongho's arms, one in each. The former had Onyx in her arms, ruffling his feathers as her small arms squished the raven close. She looked apprehensive about this place, but her brother assured her. He could tell the magic in this place was ancient yet came from the nature which cherished all elves.

Yunho wiped his sweaty palms on his pants for the twelfth time. Though Seonghwa didn't ask them to, all four of his participants dressed nicely. It must have been Yunho's idea, and he had helped Mingi button his see-through black blouse that handsomely hugged the demon's form.

Wooyoung donned his expensive white ferret fur Seonghwa gifted to him. He gnawed on his fingernails, talons dug into the ground as if to anchor himself there so he wouldn't surge into freedom.

In a tailored white suit with golden linings and pins, San waited at ease. His eyes were stuck on Seonghwa, resilient in their patience.

Another wipe of Yunho's palms. He huffed into the night air. Earlier, he talked with Seonghwa's mother to distract himself from his nervosity whenever he glimpsed at the altar. Though he trusted Seonghwa, the four knew little about what was to happen tonight. Soon, the elves couldn't distract him anymore and Yunho went to pacing between his son and the two dogs that played around the trees.

Seonghwa settled a delicate hand on Yunho's arm. His eyes sought the moon, bathed in its healing light. Though his vision enraptured everyone and sparked the desire to think to their knees in worship, his eyes were calculating on the one blessing him from above.

"We still have another hour. Unwind," he suggested to Yunho and Wooyoung groaned next to them.

"An hour? I need another pee break."

He had taken pee breaks about once every half an hour until then, and though he held back on the ale and switched it out for water, he had a nervous habit of drinking to battle his anxiety.

Before he could slink off, the extravagant sorcerer by their side spoke up. He wore a black cape over his left shoulder, pinned with extravagant swirling symbols.

"You better cherish this gift. You have no idea what it means for an elf to-"

The chuckling emperor interrupted him. Seonghwa was glad to have them all here. To share this moment with them. Had they been awful husbands, he never would have offered eternity to them. Their love for each other brought them together.

And while Hongjoong wanted him to be honest, tonight was a festivity, an oath like no other. It was sacred, so Seonghwa refused all squabbling before the eyes of the stars.

"Hongjoong, shh. Let them celebrate their way."

The sorcerer snapped his head away while Wooyoung slinked off for his business. The four couldn't wait to have this over with and return to the castle. Seonghwa would reward their patience with endless cuddles.

The hour passed quickly, and soon, Seonghwa lifted his gaze to the moon. Its light was about to fall perfectly through the circular hole in the gazebo's dome, so it was time.

When he nodded at his father, the former emperor shuffled their crowd between the trees. Hidden in the shadows, they were no part of the stars' view.

Yunho hastily parted from Aodhán.

"I will be right back. Wait for me," he promised his son, and ran his fingers through his angelic blond curls. Some of them shimmered a faint pink, as his experiments didn't just affect Sunny now.

"What are you doing, father?" The boy asked, curious about Hongjoong's determined position and Seonghwa's graceful floating by their side.

"Your athair prepared something special for us. But no worries, I will look super awesome," Yunho boasted.

Immediately, Morana perked up. Her eyes found Seonghwa and then back to the basin, understanding this was the source of the magic.

"Can have?" She asked nicely, but Seonghwa had to shake his head.

"Not yet, my sweet. First, you must grow up to make this decision," he promised. Before she could inquire, he gave her a mysterious smile and stepped up to the altar. The moon shone down on him as he beckoned his four husbands to form a line. The other three tucked away while San stepped up first, trusting Seonghwa with his life.

"Tonight is a special night," Seonghwa announced to the forest. It listened to the melody of his singing voice with rapt attention, eager to witness his blessing. The news would carry far and wide, and the twinkling stars seemed inquisitive about the favour he was about to ask of them.

"I wish to grant eternal life to these four men. No more illness shall befall them. Age shall no more reach its tendrils to draw on their skins. Here, tonight, I appeal to the stars I was born of to grant me their favour."

Every elf had an innate magical core. It couldn't be cultivated in the way those of the mages could be, and most elves tended to the magic bundled with their heritage. In that way, many wood elves could make flowers bloom and knew the healing magic of the plants.

Seonghwa was a celestial elf. Born from the stars and the moon. Often, his magic showed in his glow, but this was one of the rare abilities only his kin had.

To ask his patrons for a spell much more powerful than that of any other elf.

And the stars were fond of their favourite child. Of the being of beauty and elegance they created. Of the creature so divine he stood out even among those born of the same kin.

As the moon's light filled the opening, San held his breath. Seonghwa opened his arms, offering his palms to the moon as if he wanted to cradle it against his chest.

"Heed my call. Witness my feelings for those before me. Grant me my wish to stay with them for a long time," he whispered. His eyes reflected the round beauty of the mysterious wanderer of the night sky. The many stars twinkled back at him, enthusiastic about nursing his rare wishes.

And the moon heeded Seonghwa's plea.

A pale ray of light fell from it, almost as intense as the sun's rays in the late evening as they doused the valleys in their glow. This one was singular, abnormal, and it cascaded in its pale blue hue as if the moon had turned into liquid, which fell from the sky like a waterfall. Slow and enchanting, it flowed through the opening to bless the water below. Seonghwa received it, doused in it as the basin gleamed in the moon's colour. The flowers symbolising the Moon Emperor were bedazzled with the shine of the stars and their blessing.

This was what Hongjoong meant.

This was no elixir for eternal life and it wouldn't work on anyone but the ones Seonghwa's heart called out for. Because the moon, his patron, heeded his innermost thoughts. Unless one was deeply cherished by a rare celestial elf, no one obtained the glory so many sought.

In breathless awe, the crowd attended as Seonghwa picked up the basin. His expression was serene and dark hair framed his features with the shine of the moon dancing upon it as if playing with the strands.

When he neared, San fell to his knees. He was powerless before the beauty of his intangible husband, believed to look a deity in the eyes. Enraptured, he couldn't bring his eyes away, even when his own person was so gorgeous and otherworldly.

Seonghwa elegantly bent to his height.

"Two gulps, no more, no less," he sang at the seraph, and San allowed himself to be fed. His fingers twitched in his lap, immobile, as his throat bobbed as instructed. Once Seonghwa pulled the stone basin from him, San took in a shuddering breath. The effect was imminent, and it rushed through his body like a thunderstorm. As it took him over, he wavered, but he didn't give in. Seonghwa waited patiently, knowing of his strength as San battled his instinct to repel the spell. Time froze inside of him at that moment. Took away all ailments and all age. Made him youthful and powerful forever to serve by his elf's side.

Soon, the seraph found back to himself. He shuddered, and then his eyes lifted once more to find Seonghwa, stunned beyond words. The elf balanced the basin on his arm, and his smile was full of fondness.

"Well done," he praised. San's lips fell open as he wanted to say something, but no sound escaped. Wordlessly, he got to his feet and disguised his minuscule stagger in the turn of his body as he left down the stairs.

The moon didn't move, too enraptured with the ritual to continue its path. It waited, witnessing the elf's bond as Wooyoung stepped up. He kept his hands balled into fists as he stood before Seonghwa and his drawn shoulders made him look adorable. Seonghwa wanted to hug him close and kiss him, but it had to wait. For now, he offered Wooyoung the basin.

The gryphon-born nodded and went for his gulps.

He braced himself, but the effect hit him hard. He clutched a hand to his chest, not understanding the feeling inside that seemed to chill him yet bedazzle him as if with his very own stars. When he stumbled, Seonghwa offered his free hand. Wooyoung caught himself between his fingers and a pillar.

"I'm fine," he whispered, gasping for air. His expression seemed as if refreshed, as if light broke through years of darkness. As he saw eternity before him, he stumbled off to sit down. A mortal mind might take years to comprehend eternity. The change inside his body.

Glad to see him rest, Seonghwa directed his gaze at his demon. Mingi fidgeted, but Yunho led him closer by his shoulder. When the demon reached the stairs, he took Seonghwa's hand to assume his position by his side. In the dark, the demon appeared frightening, but the moon caressed his horns and blind eyes with fondness.

Seonghwa lifted the basin and guided Mingi closer with a tender hand.

"Open your mouth, my dear."

The demon obeyed and accepted his sips. When he staggered, he was unsure whether he was supposed to remove himself, but Yunho leaned in to stabilise his step over to Yeosang. The demon got to lean against Wooyoung's side and the two held onto each other's hands for dear life as they felt swept away by towering waves. Since the spell was so powerful, it would take a while for their limited bodies to digest.

Once Mingi was taken care of, Yunho neared the gazebo. He nervously wiped his hands before he sunk onto a knee before Seonghwa, offering himself. Seonghwa chuckled since it wasn't necessary to kneel, but Yunho's struck expression told him he definitely thought it was.

"Two gulps," Seonghwa reminded since he couldn't be sure if Yunho was coherent enough to listen. At his nod, Seonghwa touched the basin's rim to his lips and had him sip the water. The flowers danced in the ripples his gulps created, and Seonghwa's hair fluttered in the breeze.

Seonghwa just lowered the basin to put it on the altar behind him so the moon may remove its magic and move on when Yunho collapsed. From one moment to the next, he was out cold, not having foreseen the impact since the others played it down. With a noise of shock, Seonghwa lurched to catch him. His human rested in his arms, breathing staggering breaths.

Before Hongjoong could rush over, Seonghwa sent him a soothing glance. He cradled Yunho's limp head to his chest and held him as he glimpsed up to the moon.

"Thank you," the elf smiled, and even the sky couldn't imagine higher praise. Charmed by him, the moon moved on and the stars twinkled extra brightly to convey their celebration.

After lying Yunho down in the grass for a few minutes, he woke. Though he coughed and spluttered, he didn't throw up the water. As the ritual ended, Seonghwa allowed Aodhán to clamber to his father in terror.

"Father!" He cried, horrified since he was promised safety, but Yunho nuzzled him with another cough.

"Don't worry. I was really relaxed there," he heaved, eyes wide on the stairs as he was taken over by the sensations.

Chuckling, Seonghwa picked up his son. His four husbands would need some time to find back to their senses, and Seonghwa couldn't wait to share his pride and love with them.