All main operations would happen from their camp while Seonghwa and his husbands led a smaller group into the tunnels. They set up a provisional table and spread out the map they spent piecing together over the years, marking every orc fort and places where they liked to hunt or forage wood. The quiet of the morning cast a low mist across the lands, making it hard to see, but Onyx sailed through the air from spot to spot, making sure the orcs didn't choose this random day to rise early.

The seraphim followed closely as soon as the dryads and scouts of the gryphon-borns confirmed that they could move in. Each cradled a jar with deadly gas in their arms, which they carried to their marked exits. Their wings cut through the air silently, placing the deadly bombs amidst the sleepy forts and uncorking them before they rushed off. Orcs saw no purpose in guards or alarm bells, thinking themselves capable of defending against any danger large enough to shake them awake. Death struck silently from above, and the fog coiled thicker thanks to the mages to swallow the seraphim back up.

Seonghwa followed their progress from his table, with Yeosang by his side. They had a few specialists in matters of war from each fraction, and they coordinated the mission together. In the meantime, San helped Yunho put on some leather armour and Jongho tried out shapes on the grass, figuring he moved quicker if his lower half was a ball to roll on, but not sure where to put his face to it could roll properly.

Hlin and Morana sharpened their axes together and Lillwen oversaw their medical station, where the nymphs had gathered fresh water, bandages and ointment. They directed Mingi's tall height in pinning some cloth for privacy to the tree the dryads placed conveniently in their midst, and the demon gladly helped their singing voices.

The dryads and titans would hold the line and keep their eyes out for stray swarms of goblins and attack before they could ambush the group in the tunnels. With the support of the mages to hide their camp and get out the elves through quick portals, they would minimise any conflict.

Seonghwa had only estimations of how many prisoners they needed to free, but he hoped to be done by the evening. Death would linger heavily in the air tonight, even if they spilled no blood.

But he was glad to be here, on this cold morning. Was doing something that should have been done long ago, if only his people weren't so faulty in their yearning for peace. It felt good to think it was for a greater good.

And no better timing than now, before the orcs would come for his family as soon as they learned of his survival.

The people at the war table near Seonghwa kept sneaking glances at him. They had a hard time trusting their eyes, attracted to his beauty that they missed for so long. Some muttered praise about his endurance, others looked more apprehensive. But thanks to Seonghwa's and Hongjoong's iron fist over their people, they all behaved. (The gryphon-borns acted like always, free and rowdy and strong.)

The tension was exhausting as Seonghwa waited through long minutes while the gas was placed. They needed to delay until the gas took its effect and scout again to make sure the path was cleared.

A small fight had broken out with a group of goblins who had sniffed them out and tried to hack through the thicket to get to them, but their battle cries fell quiet before Seonghwa needed to send out people. Yeosang reassured him the trees would use the nutrition wisely.

With only the silence to share while they waited, some of the soldiers gathered their courage. A small group of seraphim approached Seonghwa with no haste and bowed politely while he wasn't busy.

"Your Majesty," they addressed him, insisting on the title even when he was just there as Seonghwa today. When he smiled, one of them lifted her fist to her chest. "We stand behind you, no matter what. Your return is a beacon of hope. May we succeed today and bring back harmony."

Honoured by their trust, Seonghwa bowed his head at them gracefully.

"For harmony," he agreed. "Thank you for your dedication."

The song of his voice, his gentle eyes, they were all the same. Baffled as they were to see him alive and unharmed, they realised it was the same ruler they had mourned for so long. And his spell was enrapturing as ever.

"We can't believe you made it out. The Crystal Sphere was charred to ashes. The palace crumbled. When the dragon soared, we knew you were gone," the same woman told him with an awed shine in her eyes. Her group agreed with nods, remembering well how bloody red the skies shone that night, how many died.

Seonghwa remembered, too.

His eyes trailed through the camp, spotting San patting Yunho's back and getting a cheeky comment about something. Found Hongjoong crouched next to Aodhán as the boy concentrated on a spell of light to accompany them into the tunnels. Mingi was getting cooed over by the nymphs, and he hid behind his hair when they shared their awe about his appearance with him, well-versed only with the many peculiar shapes of the beings below the water.

They were all there, supporting him all the way. He couldn't ask for any better family.

"It's thanks to my loves, who never gave up on me. I was locked away in the dragon's den for ten years, but ever since they found me, we've been plotting our retaliation. Today is that day." He pulled from his memories, remembering the excruciating pain of meeting them again, of realising how much time they spent without him. All their change, their suffering. It had been so long.

"I never stopped thinking about what I owe. To the elves, but also to the empire. I regret what happened on that day, every night. So I can only humbly try to make up for my mistakes. Please forgive my long silence and the lies that brought you here today. We work for the same goal. That much, I swear," Seonghwa explained, and his mellow smile was met with grim expressions.

"Getting betrayed and ambushed was never your mistake, Your Majesty," the seraph replied. "There is great strength in your return and in picking up the battle anew. We are honoured to fight by your side again. For what is a ruler if not one who keeps coming back to fight for our peace?"

Seonghwa didn't expect her words to be so reassuring. Like ointment on his soul, they mended the scars of his regrets. It was difficult sometimes to listen to himself or to his husbands' reassurance, knowing they loved him unconditionally. They would tell him what he wanted to hear, but not these people. The seraphim were prideful and just, and they wouldn't care for just any foolish king.

Ever impressed by them and their resilience he admired in San every day, Seonghwa smiled, more genuine this time. He allowed himself to hope he deserved forgiveness.

"Thank you. I will live up to your expectations to my best abilities," he promised. The seraphim saluted with their fists on their chests.

"We'll see you after this is done, then you can tell us your tale," the woman invited him, and Seonghwa would gladly sit down with them to catch up. Once all this was over, he had time to listen to how everyone else had been doing in those ten years.

"I look forward to it," he promised, before the seraphim took off to relay the conversation to the rest of their group. The mages would be listening in, caring more for the political opinions of the angels than the ever-relaxed gryphon-borns.

Seonghwa turned back to his table and Yeosang walked over from their campfire with some energising fruit drinks. He handed Seonghwa one and looked out over the forest, impenetrable like stone. Yeosang shared his silence, both straining to pick up on any distant noise.

The dull sound of hooves on the grass was familiar to Seonghwa, and he turned when Mingi approached him. The demon looked equal parts determined and scared, so Seonghwa immediately stretched out his hand when Mingi muttered his name, trying to find him amid the bustle of noise and scents. Their hands found each other and Mingi exhaled when he pulled Seonghwa into a shy hug, reluctant to do more while people were watching.

"It's going well, right?" Mingi asked, tentatively dipping his face to Seonghwa's neck until the shadow of his horns fell over the elf. Seonghwa heard someone hiss in the corner of the mages, but familiar golden magic flared and shut them up before a word could escape their lips.

Tender fingertips traced Mingi's jaw, reassuring the fear that bubbled from his blindness. Seonghwa didn't allow any doubt to poison his faith.

"So far, everything is working in our favour. Once the gas spread out, we will go in and bring back the elves," Seonghwa explained to him patiently. Mingi disliked the idea of visiting the orcs' lair, of getting trapped under the earth, but Jongho was his reassurance. Even if the orcs realised who stumbled his way conveniently into their midst, Jongho could bury them within seconds.

Seonghwa only feared for his elves. Eradicating the orcs wasn't such a hard task with the golems by their side, despite how quickly the fiends dug. Orcs suffocated like any other being with lungs. But as long as they had prisoners with them, Seonghwa risked innocent lives.

Mingi nodded, glad everything went according to plan. His hands smoothed down Seonghwa's arms, cradling him.

"Be careful. Don't get hurt," he mumbled, and Seonghwa hugged him back with the same adoration.

"I won't. You also take care here," he asked, and Mingi promised. When he stepped back, Aodhán popped up by their sides.

"I'll be with him and watch out if you need us. Wooyoung has a few lanterns I made," the boy chirped, bringing warmth and sunlight to the otherwise cold and misty morning.

Proud of him, Seonghwa caressed his fingers through Aodhán's hair. He wisely picked staying in camp over a front-line confrontation, like Morana preferred it. Mingi also reached out and Aodhán preened under their praise. The boy had long since lost his fear of the tall demon, finding him as gentle and sweet-hearted as everyone else.

"Thank you for watching out for me," Mingi whispered to him before he turned to Yeosang, gathering a hug there too because the physical touch helped ground him. Yunho and Wooyoung veered closer when they noticed, getting a little snuggle session in to share the feeling of their warmth.

It was nerve-wrecking to prepare for an assault. When they got attacked before, Seonghwa had little time to react and defend. This time, they needed to be patient.

Thankfully, their people returned soon. Morana had been climbing around in the trees, aided by the safe touch of the dryads lifting their branches for her, and Thistle peered with her across the lands. They cried out first when the seraphim returned from their quest, all in one piece and without the jars. Once the mages opened their magic to them, they landed in the grove, shaking out their wings. Immediately, they reported to Seonghwa.

"No complications. The gas went off and no orcs or goblins around. I think we can approach," they informed and behind them, Hlin stretched out her wings before she and Eldrid hooked their axes to their belts. They fought as one, and their people followed behind when Seonghwa instructed everyone.

"Perfect. We wait a few minutes until the effect settled. Seraphim and gryphon-borns, you check the exits and help us bring out the elves. Signal to the mages if you need help."

"We'll be ready," Lillwen confirmed with him and Seonghwa twirled around to pick up his spear, the same gleaming weapon that served him against the orcs once.

"The rest stay behind and watch for an ambush through loiterers. With me."

Seonghwa's family hopped onto their gryphons and Hongjoong grinned charmingly at Jongho when the golem squeezed his narrow waist with an appreciative hand as their duo travelled together once more.

Morana could barely contain her excitement as she waved Thistle goodbye and hopped onto Obsidian.

Seonghwa let his eyes linger on Mingi, saddened to leave him behind, but he was safe here. They would be back soon.

"We'll go in." With that, they swung into the misty skies.