Once Morana secured her triumph over getting to come along into the worst possible place for anyone to be, she happily played with the twins, acting like the pinnacle of innocence and manner. Seonghwa still worried, but he gave up trying to get through to her right now. Hongjoong was right, his magic could help them out if the kids regretted it later.

For the rest of the plan, Seonghwa needed his allies. He needed to make sure people were positioned at all exits and that his family wouldn't come to harm. Their total estimations of elves missing in the orkish tunnels averaged at a few thousand, though only a fraction would have survived since the beginning of their kidnapping.

Seonghwa had to think of Freya, the elf they once saved from a fort and who died under the orcs' brutal hands, ultimately. She had been lucky, determined and eager to run no matter what. Others wouldn't have been so lucky.

"We will operate from the grove, hide under the trees. Once everyone is assembled, we strike fast so they won't realise we are plotting an ambush," Seonghwa summarised for their group. He peered up at Crius and the titan nodded thoughtfully.

"We will be here, star-born. Watching over you and squashing your enemies," he promised. If the titans moved, the orcs would easily be alerted by the shaking ground. So the giants would protect their border instead.

"We will call for our allies these upcoming days. Once everyone is assembled, we sneak in. Is a week long enough for you?" Seonghwa asked the last part towards Hongjoong and San. They would provide specialists for matters of combat, but Seonghwa's voice needed to carry the message. As soon as the people learned of his survival, they would rally for him. But the orcs would find out just as quickly and crave a taste of his blood.

They had to be quick. No time for long reunions. With his elite prepared at the heart of the empire, they could upheave their past mistakes and bring forth a new dawn.

"That's plenty," San agreed, already drafting a missive that would be hung up on every garrison that had been dutifully training their soldiers these past few years.

Hongjoong also flicked a lazy hand.

"They are here tomorrow or they burn."

"Take your time to prepare," Seonghwa told them with a grateful nod. They didn't expect combat, but they needed to be ready. Even him.

His spear, a weapon forged of the unbreakable metal of a fallen star, had been unearthed from the rubble by stray looters a year back. Yunho had been chasing it across the markets in the Kingdom of Man for weeks until they could finally recover it. It waited for its call now, singing to Seonghwa's soul to bring justice for all the pain, his and that of his people. Seungyoun had it polished and ready in his room.

When Seonghwa stood, the others followed. Suddenly, a dozen things needed to be done. Armour tested, boots patched up and rations packed. The commotion startled the twins, but Yeosang took them on a hand each, cooing to them as he led them away to play so they wouldn't have to witness war preparations.

Morana and Aodhán stood at attention, Seonghwa's most heartbreaking of soldiers.

"How can we help?" Morana asked, willing to submit to his plans, though she usually preferred her own mayhem.

Seonghwa sighed as he looked at the two.

"Help Hongjoong with his equipment, Aodhán. And you, Morana..." Seonghwa caressed a hand over her hair, equally proud and sad about her stubborn strength. But her skin burnt hot and her muscles had killed plenty of goblins already. She was right. She was more capable than Seonghwa when it came to willpower.

"Make sure you have a good grip on your weapons and don't bring too much in your bundle. Yunho can help you."

"Will do!" She chirped and ran after Yunho before he left. Wooyoung had taken off with Hongjoong so he could inform his people as well since Hlin made it abundantly clear that she wanted to be there if orcs got slaughtered, so she was of course invited.

This time, Seonghwa was confident in their plan. It was the first time he got to prepare properly and wasn't ambushed or in a rush. The pieces fell into place.

Seonghwa busied himself with letters and only took a break when it was time for dinner. His twins were confused about the sudden tumult, but Lonan promised Seonghwa that he would protect him no matter what. Hearing it from his grave little voice, Seonghwa's soul eased its weight.

He kept them close, spending as much time with them as he could and feeding their hungry mouths. Time had passed so quickly, and he wanted to be with them always, to see them growing up. This time, he had to come back. He had to be there for his family and his people.

This would be the last battle for the empire in a long while. The demons would either surrender or remain locked away. After the last war, they didn't have the strength and order to retaliate by themselves.

The empire was ready for this last strain. Prepared only for this. Seonghwa couldn't foresee his future, whether he would sit on the throne again or not, but he would sleep peacefully only once he knew his people safe.

San stuck around after dinner to spend time with the twins. He awaited Hongjoong's return to use his portals as a quicker way to visit his home, so he had a moment of time. The strain in his shoulders was bothered not to be doing anything, but spotting Seonghwa cooing over their kids reminded him that this was just as important. After the others left, the four sat under the blooming tree together, sharing the peace amid the storm. The twins rolled over the grass, wrestling playfully and flaring their wings. Fiorello was convinced he was bigger than Lonan. Lonan thought the same about himself. In truth, they were the exact same size, even after every single one of the adults measured them.

When Morana wanted to tease them, she picked either one and told him he was the smaller one.

They were competitive, but it was healthy. Having each other as playmates and inspiration to do better, they were rarely alone.

Seonghwa caressed Fiorello's hair when the boy sprawled out beside him, breathless from the laughter and the rough-housing. His pink curls were a mess around his pointed ears, wings flat by his sides. The glow of the mushrooms along their gorgeous tree cast him in his own shine.

His twin came crashing onto San's lap, sticking his tongue out at his brother.

"You will never protect our emmya like I will! Coward," Lonan called him and Seonghwa tutted gently. They picked up those behaviours from Morana and Wooyoung, ever squabbling like gryphon-borns, and Yeosang apologised many times, claiming he did his best to educate her. Seonghwa gladly let it slide.

But the twins also got a warning look from San and instantly quieted to a mumble.

"You will protect me?" Seonghwa diverted their attention, and the two perked up, eager to win his favour.

"I will protect you more! I won our fight! And then you'll gift me a flower after I kiss your hand!" Lonan ranted, pressing a big smooch onto the back of Seonghwa's hand.

The elf had to snicker, hiding his mirth behind surprised fingers.

"Oh, my. You are learning to charm me already at your age?"

"Like father! I will fight for your favour in the next tournament; I'm ready!" Lonan hopped to his feet, arms swinging an invisible sword.

Seonghwa peered over at his husband, who looked both proud and shy that his instructions got exposed. To him, being kind and mannerly was just as important as knowing sword fighting. He was traditional like that, but Seonghwa was glad the two seraphim learned from him. Their kind was righteous in their blood, but San was the best teacher.

"You can't win his favour. He's our father! You cellar rat," Fiorello complained to his zealous brother, and once more, Seonghwa almost gasped.

"Come now, let's not call people cellar rats over honourary goals," he tried to shoo Morana's influence out of their minds. Even Thistle was a pinnacle of purity compared to that wilful princess.

"Besides, I already protect him. You two can protect our people," San threw in. His good arm braced behind Seonghwa on the earth, and the elf leaned into his strong shoulder. San's familiar body supported him, sharing the warmth like the sun radiating off him, but towards Seonghwa, it wasn't blinding.

Lonan and Fiorello looked defeated at that statement. There was no way they could defeat San, so they huddled away a few paces from the couple to discuss their new strategy. Now the best of friends again, they hugged their perched knees and muttered with serious faces.

Seonghwa turned to look at San, marvelling at his beauty. The occasional scars marred his skin, and he frowned at the future that was coming their way, but he was handsome as ever. When Seonghwa let his eyes linger in silent awe, San glanced at him, meeting Seonghwa's gaze with his dark eyes. A chuckle fell from his lips, almost nervous to be scrutinised.

"My apologies if I said something unbecoming. I like to think myself just as worthy of protecting you as before, but... maybe the twins are right. My strong hand is gone." San lifted the stump of his right arm, not donning his magic hand since Hongjoong was far right now. Sometimes, San preferred its aid, other times it bothered him since he hated the lie. Today, he looked bothered by his handicap for the upcoming fight.

"You're wrong. You are still the mightiest of my protectors. I am nowhere safer," Seonghwa said without missing a beat. It wasn't pointless flattery. Without San, Seonghwa would have joined the stars many times already.

But the frown on San's face persisted. His mind was far ahead, tangling around itself when his sense of duty wasn't fulfilled how he imagined.

"You got hurt. Even when I promised to be there for you. I have to make sure that will never happen again, but I have one hand less than last time," he growled to himself, frustrated, but Seonghwa hurried to cradle his jaw in gentle fingers. Caressed the skin with the lightest touch.

"You did your best then, and you will continue doing so. I know you will. You are strong," Seonghwa whispered to him, trying to convey his honesty through his eyes, but San had locked himself behind a wall of regret, scorning his every shortcoming.

"I'm faulty now. Another might beat me in the same tournament today," he gritted out bitterly, and Seonghwa leaned their foreheads together. His hands cradled the stump of San's arm, cherishing its sacrifice, its strength. Without San storming in back then on that day, no one would be here today. Their children never born, their corpses ravaged by orcs.

That was a win worth any pain.

"But that doesn't matter. You are perfect, just as you are. No one else will take your place in my heart," Seonghwa promised him, and San exhaled to reel himself in. They breathed together, overcoming the rush of self-doubt and fear.

After a moment, San's breathing slowed. His shoulders dropped, and with some effort, he overcame his struggle.

Proud of him, Seonghwa pulled back to peer at his face.

"Better?"

A smile danced around San's lips, showing those lovely dimples of his. When he chuckled, dropping his head, Seonghwa also melted into a smile.

"Yes... Thank you for your devotion, my peerless paramour. I'm the luckiest man alive," San said, and he meant it.

Gladly, Seonghwa moved in to return the promise with a kiss, but their lips only just met for the lightest touch when the twins suddenly pounced on them. Surprised, they caught the babbling two toddlers, eager to prove themselves in any other way. A brief shared gaze promised they would catch up later, then their attention was diverted to the two boys.

They lingered under that tree for a while, catching up on the time they would miss, but it was a vow to return to twins soon and in one piece. This time, with the happy news that no one needed to fight anymore.