Though Seonghwa was unconscious only for a few moments, it was enough to twist their current situation upside down. Snow whirled from the skies in agitated gusts and the howling of the wind around the towers drowned out the noises of battle far below. When Seonghwa came to, he hung in San's arm, more carried than he trudged along through a wintry breeze and Yeosang supported his back with a hand of soft branches.

The castle beneath them shook and groaned. The movement of the earth was so agitated, as if all golems and all titans marched at once and if it drew any nearer, they would lose their footing at the intense quaking.

"What is going on?!" Yeosang gasped against the snow whirling into their faces, fed up with sudden unexplained events. Was this an orkish weapon or were their allies drawing near? The misty horizon showed no movement in the forest, no towering giants on their way to stomp the orcs to bits.

And they weren't supposed to be here, anyway. They fended off the source of their enemies in the Cavern of Nightfall.

So why did it seem as if solely the hill the castle was built upon was shivering in its foundations?

"Unthinkable," Seonghwa whispered from dry lips. This couldn't be the orcs' ploy, right? To dig tunnels below until the castle caved in with all its precious cargo? Until they could claim it as their underground palace, to trap their prisoners in and rape them in halls of honour and peace?

San's grip around his waist tightened. While Yeosang hastily grabbed some snow to give to Seonghwa to chew on and have a drink, Mingi stemmed against the wind with the two babes in his arms. He had crouched in a defensive position so he wouldn't lose his footing, but his confusion had no answers either.

"Call for someone, Hwa!" Yeosang urged. "We can't wait to find out what this is."

Seonghwa was too frazzled to think. What was the situation of the palace? Was there anyone worth saving before it collapsed or would it bury their foes with them? Was Seonghwa supposed to go down and fight with his people?

But he couldn't. Everything ached, and he was so worried about his injured husbands. About the bleeding stump San pressed against his chest. For Hongjoong's constant state of unconsciousness.

No, they had to flee. They had to gather their wits and find out which allies were still able to fight and form a new strategy. If the orcs wanted the palace, they could have it.

Seonghwa opened his mouth to send his plea to the skies and nature, so they may send whoever was left to aid them when another tremor had them collapse. Jongho's rock screeched over the ground and he balanced the bodies on his shoulder with a surprised huff. Buddy barked in turmoil, and San lowered Seonghwa to his knees to sit in the snow and catch his breath. While the seraph made sure they weren't being followed, Yeosang and Jongho tried to communicate with the wailing castle what was going on.

But as the cold snow below his fingertips whispered the secrets of the wind, Seonghwa's mind cleared with understanding.

These were no orkish tunnels below and neither a natural earthquake. Something stirred the ground, much more ancient than the elves, yet unlike any golem or titan. Something that hadn't stirred in millennia, and which was never supposed to be woken. The disorder above brought it to draw a shuddering breath, and each of those made the castle tremble.

In the hills, where each of the three castles of the Crystal Sphere throned, lived ancient guardians. They slumbered for aeons, listening and resting, for rousing them meant mayhem on such a big scale that no one dared do so lightly.

The three dragons, of dawn, of dusk, and a starry night, were the guardians of the celestial elves. Come to serve them back when they were hunted and friends of the royal family ever since. Seonghwa never had the honour of meeting one, but the scholars taught him about the mighty creatures with hushed awe.

They were much more dignified than the elves, carrying souls of stars themselves, deities hidden in the earth. They weren't to be woken light-heartedly, and only the call of a royal family member could stir them in moments of great need.

It was a moment of great need, but Seonghwa didn't call for them. So he was startled when a voice, deep and resounding, chasing shudders down his spine, reached his mind.

A voice he never heard, yet knew was more powerful than any other being in this world.

"What has you this worn, the lands at unrest, oh mighty Moon Emperor?"

Seonghwa stilled. For the first time, he felt as if the sky he so often communicated with had earned a voice. It was all-encompassing, male and female, life and death. It was everything and nothing and combined more power than all voices of nature Seonghwa had heard.

"You shouldn't be awake," the elf whispered and his husbands stared at him in concern, not hearing the dragon speak in his mind. "There should never be a reason to call you." Seonghwa dug his fingertips into the snow, leaving traces of glimmering silver. He was tense, didn't want to infuriate a dragon on top of everything which was happening already. They were divine. Unbothered by all. Waking them meant death and destruction.

It was the sole way to eradicate every enemy nearby, but also every friend. Seonghwa couldn't ensure the safety of his family if the dragon roused. And thousands would fall under its wrath.

This was the dragon of the starry night, Nox Eltanin. It was the star of the dragons itself, swathed in the body of a powerful wyrm. Seonghwa never had a run-in with the placid dragon slumbering below the Moon Castle, but Eltanin was said to be particularly fickle in its personality.

Yeosang understood what was going on, similarly educated. He shushed Mingi's babbling and wrapped the demon's cloak around a pitifully shivering Aodhán.

The dragon hummed, and its rustle almost threw Yeosang over. He also crouched low, mindful as even the slightest twitch of the massive creature sent shock waves through the earth.

The dragons rested on mountains of treasure they gathered in their lifetimes, cushioned by gold and silver. As far as Seonghwa knew, there were shrines for their worship deep in the hallways below the dungeon, but inferior items never got touched. Only the most rare and enchanted treasures found a dragon's liking.

"I heard your voice calling for me distantly."

Shivering and hurt, Seonghwa shook his head through the fog in his mind. He didn't. Or did he? Had his desperation howled for anyone near in his agony for his husbands?

Fear had the elf tremble all over. He huddled in Yeosang's arms, pale as the snow. When he shook his head, San's jaw gritted, upset something tormented Seonghwa he couldn't access.

Seonghwa had to put the dragon back to sleep. He couldn't fail here. Couldn't ruin the last remaining crumbs of his empire.

"Mine? I haven't called for you." Seonghwa tried to make himself sound confident and battled down the wince of pain and terror.

But Eltanin saw everything. Could read Seonghwa's mind with a clarity even Hongjoong didn't possess. It knew it all, and it stirred only because the end of the royal family would produce a call desperate enough to rouse the beast.

Had Morana and Aodhán called for aid, unknowing of the power in their voices? Eltanin didn't respond to Yongguk, otherwise it wouldn't be taking Seonghwa's side. Surely, the voices of his kids sounded similar to his own, and they were just as worthy of protection.

"Then it must have been the voice inside of you," Eltanin replied and Seonghwa stilled once more. He stared into the whirling snow, into the ball of Mingi's form as he whispered assurances to Seonghwa's babies, though he was overwhelmed with everything going on.

Seonghwa's mind thought it had betrayed itself and cried for the dragon when he was in his darkest hour. Not for his empire, but for his suffering family, since he had become so selfish.

But his hand moved as if on its own accord. It lifted, not since he steered it, but because something else did. The stars, a dragon perhaps, or even just a part of him that had this hunch a while ago.

It settled on his abdomen and his voice echoed into himself, testing something he had done two times in the past.

For the third time, he received a response. Of a whispering, minuscule core, barely conscious enough to be called a mind. Barely celestial enough to be one of his kin.

But strong in its despair and cry for help.

Seonghwa hadn't suffered alone. All this time, he had tormented the life inside of him and he hadn't realised how much they needed his assurance.

Tears brimmed in Seonghwa's eyes. Clueless of his inner process, his husbands clung to him, huddled closer to understand the emotion in his eyes. Yeosang didn't let go of him and Jongho stretched his legs to form a little wall around their circle, protecting them from tumbling off.

Faint, Seonghwa leaned into Yeosang's chest. Once soft mushrooms had wilted and no flowers decorated the stressed grey of his leaves.

Seonghwa needed to protect them. All of them. His unconscious husbands who fought for him, those who sat with him now to share his fear and his sweet, dear children who counted on his guidance.

Unleashing a dragon had never been done in the history of the elves' rule, but this was the end of the empire, the end of Seonghwa's reign. If he could save even just a few of his people, he would. This was the forbidden weapon, the worst chaos upon the races.

But Eltanin was an ally.

"I... Yes. We called," Seonghwa gave in and lowered his head. His husbands weren't realising what he was doing, lacking information and education. Only Yeosang watched like a hawk as Seonghwa committed to this decision.

"What may I serve you with?" The dragon asked, shrewd in its satisfaction to be needed. After not seeing the surface for millennia, it became curious what it was like. And the dragon felt the armies marching, knew of the might of their enemies. It felt the titans near; such fascinating creatures, and it wanted to see the one with the courage to rouse a dragon.

"End this war," Seonghwa pleaded. "My loves, my family... I need them. Our people are hurting. I know your might is all-encompassing and you cannot protect singular people aside from me, but... Hear my echo in their souls. My bond with them. Please, Hongjoong, San, everyone, please save them," Seonghwa choked out and more tears streamed down his cheeks.

This was the end of everything as he knew it. Potentially the last time he saw them.

But if he could please the dragon. If he could become the shining treasure in its lair to ogle and cherish for some extra caution in saving them...

"Seonghwa, wait," Yeosang choked out and his alarm had San grab Seonghwa's arm, but it was too late. The dragon read the offer in his mind and it was pleased.

"I never owned a celestial elf, not to mention two of them. I feel your bond with them, your blessing. If they make it out of the castle alive, they shan't be touched by my breath."

Hastily, Seonghwa nodded. He strained against San's grip, pulling from them. Standing against the quaking and whimpering of the earth.

The orcs and demons rushed up the stairs of the towers, so near now. So undeterred by the moaning ground.

"I will be yours," Seonghwa promised, unafraid. This was no unfair pact. He could sacrifice himself for them. Could bring clarity to their torment.

When he turned, worried stone encased his feet to keep him trapped in place. Only part of his family could look up to him in shock, could attend his confession.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to them, but his smile was bright. "I'll have to leave you now, but you will make it. The gryphon-borns will come. Ride far away with them, where no one will find you. And be safe. Be safe forever."

It wasn't enough of a goodbye, but nothing would ever be. As he looked at his babies' helpless expressions, he apologised for leaving them. Apologised for all this pain he couldn't save them from.

Mingi scrambled to reach him and anger grew out Yeosang's crown.

"Seonghwa!" He roared, but the dragon had the promise it needed. It roused against its confinements, and the rainbow quartz beneath them cracked ominously.

Seonghwa let it happen when the Crystal Palace crumbled from below and he was broken apart from his family by falling debris.