After the dinner with Nozurri ended, Seonghwa excused himself and his family. They would leave Veg Boldhir in the morning to return to the surface. After a last night in the mountain, their guide would lead them back out into nature.

And there was much to do now. Seonghwa's family was giddy with excitement about the alliance with the dwarves. Their victory had become so much more obtainable thanks to their support. Barely anyone could sleep that night, busy whispering to each other what the future would bring. Seonghwa's sleep patterns were off without the moon to guide them, but he found himself with Yeosang on the bench sometime in the middle of the resting time of the dwarves, muttering about the next steps. Pebble sat between their tankards on the table and Morana was also up, but dozed against Yeosang's shoulder, startling up only occasionally.

"Nozurri gave in sooner than I expected. The dwarves must have made losses in the past decade. But I'm glad they can compromise a weapon that allows as little pain as possible," Seonghwa said into his cup, mostly to himself. He was slightly drunk tonight. Needing the relief from his anxiety just for once. He dreaded marching into battle against the orcs, dreaded the memories of things they forced him through and their brutish combat.

"Gas... How awful," Yeosang agreed, sickened by weapons of mass destruction. The forest had its own way of fighting back against intruders, could kill with mushroom spores in the air without ever being detected. Could consume the bodies of any being. An imitation of such weapons was too much power in the hands of those who profited off war.

It was a ghastly weapon, one Seonghwa wouldn't wish having to use, but it was what they got. Better than riding into battle and sacrificing so many of his own people.

But he shuddered at the thought of what it could do. Of death without defence.

"It's what they deserve for what they did," Morana yawned, halfway listening. She rubbed her head against Yeosang's mossy arm and he patted her head. She had already refused lying down several times, so they gave it up.

"It's something. And I'm glad we can protect people. I just despise murder." Seonghwa swiped his eyes over his family. Some managed to catch some sleep, others were tossing and turning. Wooyoung had thrown one leg over Hongjoong's middle and the mage fell asleep trying to push his face off his. They were sweet, and they were worth all this fear.

Seonghwa wanted to give them back their home. Their peace. He promised.

"We should try to sleep," Yeosang suggested, and Seonghwa emptied his drink. His thoughts were calm enough that it might just work.

Seonghwa curled up to Mingi that night, needing his reassurance and heat. The demon tugged him close in his sleep, grip ever gentle as they slumbered through their last night under the earth.

-

The dwarves made no big deal out of their departure. They merely wished Seonghwa a safe journey until the weapon delivery.

Leaving the mountains to step back into nature and the crisp air of the glaciers was invigorating. Even Seonghwa missed the bleary brightness of the sun through the white clouds. Yeosang immediately unfurled his branches, gladly soaking up the cold.

Mingi also shook out his shoulders. He had been hunched over for so long, mindful not to knock into anything. Back at his full height, he looked majestic.

Hongjoong promptly had lots to do. He arranged with the dwarves for a meeting point and sent Onyx with a message to find the gryphons to bring everyone back home. While they skidded through the snow, the kids and Buddy had fun playing, but this achievement only meant more tasks for the adults.

The stormy peaks of the mountains gradually became smaller behind their backs. As soon as they crossed the invisible border to the dwarven lands, Hongjoong breathed in a shuddering gasp and Aodhán startled himself when colourful sparks suddenly sprung from his body. Their magic returned to them and Hongjoong's shine was back. Seonghwa felt the ghostly caress of a hand skimming his cheek though Hongjoong walked far from him and Aodhán used the opportunity to shroud himself and Yunho in a cloak of warmth.

Their march kept them energised and soon, the familiar caws of Wooyoung's gryphon friends travelled through the air. With a rush of wind, they caught their massive wings in the air before they landed in front of the group. Buddy barked when they whirled up the snow, trying to catch some stray flakes with his maw.

"Mulberry!" Wooyoung greeted his friend with a big hug and the gryphon nuzzled his head into Wooyoung's shoulder, happy to reunite. Both of them became anxious if apart for too long, but they already twirled around each other again, wings knocking into wings as they celebrated their reunion.

The other gryphons were also doing well, so Seonghwa didn't make them wait for too long. Everyone saddled up quickly, and Obsidian was there to pick up the kids. They would take the same route back, so Hongjoong kissed Seonghwa and wished him a safe passage to the Sky-reaching Highlands. Once he and Jongho had taken off, the rest followed on gryphon-back.

Their travel home was similarly tranquil. Yunho hunted some rabbits with Wooyoung in the hills and the area was peaceful near the same spot the golem from last time secured them. Back in the Glistening Walnut Grove, Seonghwa made sure to thank the eldest and asked her for continued discreetness and vigilance. He needed to assemble a good team for the battle against the orcs, and they wouldn't be safer and better concealed anywhere than among the trees.

But the dryads assured his worries. They were on his side, and once he spoke the word, they would heed his call.

So the only thing left to do was to go back to the Ruins of Gods and report their success to the titans.

Seonghwa was glad to enter the oversized forest, to breathe its rich, earthy scent. Bloodless and silent, their last bastion against the orcs. Just beyond these ancient woods, the villains lurked. And with them, Seonghwa's people.

The gryphons sailed among tree trunks big as entire towers. Between green oaks and dark earth flashed white marble ruins and soon, they found to the heart of the forest. Where the titans assembled between the remainders of their old world to share their wisdom. Some familiar faces drew closer to greet the landing swarm of gryphons, and Hongjoong stood at the ready with Jongho and the twins, a relieved smile on his lips.

Everyone was glad to make it into safety, to their current home. Seonghwa merrily smiled at Asteria, as she crouched next to their group and the smile on her lips guessed about his triumph in the Dwarven North.

"Welcome back," she greeted them as Seonghwa hopped from his gryphon and hugged the two kids storming for his legs. Everyone else gathered around him and Yeosang sighed, long and content, as he stretched his roots into the familiar earth after so long. HIs flowers bloomed full of life. As his skin lost its sickly grey hue, a weight lifted from Seonghwa's soul.

The twins made walking impossible, but San helped by plucking one off Seonghwa's side. He lifted Fiorello into his arm, gently hugging his crying child close. Near him, they tried to be strong, but Seonghwa always encouraged their feelings.

"I'll greet everyone and catch you up in the evening, all right? Please, be patient for us," Seonghwa smiled at Asteria and her eye tracked them curiously, their worn forms that were ripe with energy.

"We will wait as you rest, child of the stars. Fear not about our impatience. The skies already told us what we must know and soon, your star will shine so bright it illuminates the world again," the titan replied before she lifted to her full height, stepping softly so they wouldn't quake in their boots as she took off to inform her people of their return.

Lonan finally stopped crying in Seonghwa's arms, softly sobbing his name as if he feared to never see Seonghwa again. The elf didn't take it lightly. He hugged his darling with his body and his soul, soothing that distress that was ever so prevalent. Only then, the boy calmed down.

When Seonghwa got to stand up, he glanced at the others. Mingi was holding on to Yunho as he carefully helped him into the box one of the titans prepared to carry them back into their quarters and Morana had found Thistle, her partner in crime. They stood hand in hand, and Seonghwa's daughter grinned from ear to ear at their reunion. Most of them looked ready to depart and catch some sleep, but Yeosang didn't move in their direction even after the puppies raced ahead to hop around Pebble's slow steps.

"Jongho and I will stay out here for a while. You go in first," Yeosang smiled at Seonghwa's lingering gaze. The golem had flattened out on the ground already, glad to unwind after being in shape for so long. He would have much to tell about his thoughts on the dwarves now that he had some time to digest them, and Seonghwa would gladly come by later to listen.

"I see. Then I wish you a stimulating time out here," the elf replied, and he cradled Yeosang's jaw in his palm to kiss the soft skin of his cheek. Jongho also formed his head out of the puddle he was, curious to watch, and Seonghwa crouched to kiss the crown of his stone head as well. Crystals flushed pink, mimicking the shyness he picked up from others. Seonghwa stood back up with a chuckle.

Once everyone sat safely inside the large crate, their titan helper carried them into the cave. Aodhán and Morana were telling Thistle of the trip, and the boy showed her and the twins visions of the dwarves and their buildings with his magic. Seonghwa watched them, happy everything went well for once. He leaned against Yunho's shoulder with his husband's arm wrapped around him securely.

Their home was as they left it. Seungyoun greeted them at the tunnels and he looked both concerned and relieved at their sight. Seonghwa didn't leave him the time to apologise for the kids running off. He thanked him for his duties, and Seungyoun gracefully accepted it. He had prepared a light meal for them and Wooyoung immediately dashed away to fetch his bowl.

Yunho stretched, yearning for his bed.

"Time to get some rest. It'll be scarce the next few weeks, I can tell," he sighed, and Seonghwa nodded at them to disperse at their desire. Some went for food, others for a bath, some to lie straight down.

"Rest plenty, we can plot tomorrow," he told Yunho, and the human was about to kiss him and go wash Buddy when Hongjoong's cane clacked onto the ground next to Seonghwa. The mage stood with San by his side and the two didn't look near as fatigued by their journey as the rest. Though Seonghwa could tell they merely brushed off the exhaustion.

"I'll have to leave for the spire to get things rolling. I'll drop off San at the vault so he can coordinate his people once we need help with the orcs. Too risky to ask the humans, too short a notice for the gryphon-borns. Not that they know what subtlety means." Hongjoong threw a pointed look down the tunnel where Wooyoung was screeching about food with the kids.

Worried, Seonghwa searched their faces for anything but steely determination.

"Will you be fine? You could rest first," he suggested, hands reaching for San's prosthesis on instinct, but the seraph squeezed his fingers to reassure him.

"The quicker I return, the faster I can be with you. Stay in touch," Hongjoong replied, throwing San one of his communication crystals. San's free hand caught it without effort before he lifted Seonghwa's fingers to his lips.

"I'll be with you again in a heartbeat, my peerless paramour. Then we can celebrate," he vowed, before he pulled from Seonghwa with a lingering gaze from those fathomless eyes. Hongjoong opened a portal for them and they were gone in a heartbeat.

Seonghwa also gathered his remaining energy to check on the others. The wheels started turning now. Soon, everything they worked for would come together.