The rumbling across the lands spread far and startled up the birds hopping around the fields. Jongho tried to collapse as little of the surface as possible so nature could grow again after being stomped down for so long, but Yeosang assured him that he and the other dryads would take care of it. This ground was easily nourished and it would recover quicker from the blood spilled on it than the Crystal Sphere.

Once the tunnels were buried and Jongho lifted his palm off the ground to peer back at Seonghwa, the elf gave him a proud smile.

"Well done, my love. Now come. You can relish the trees while we take care of the elves."

They left the ramparts as they were. Their people could disassemble them later, use the resources to build new shelters and medical equipment for the elves.

On speedy gryphons, they made their way back to the encampment. The forest greeted them, but there was no grand cheer despite their triumph. Though they spilled little blood, eradicating an entire race was cruel business, no matter how much of a threat they were. The condition of the elves left everyone shaken and their allies were needed for their aid, no matter their healing abilities. Bodies were rushed left and right, bandages exchanged, and a few pregnant prisoners had gone into labour from the stress and needed the attention of the nymphs.

Seonghwa spotted Lillwen laying on hands herself, webbed fingers glowing with a faint turquoise hue as she healed broken bones and bruises. Wynn knelt in the grass next to her and soothed a group of young girls who were whispering in fear, their arms clutched around their knees.

The forest helped the elves calm down. The soft grass under their bodies, the scent of the trees. Some had sprawled out in the spots of sunlight on the ground, relishing the warmth after missing it for so long. Freedom came naturally to some, and they cried in joy, while others were defensive and hurt, not believing what was happening.

Seonghwa marched over to his war table, where he found Hlin with Mingi. The chieftain was drowning her stress about the prisoners in her cup of mead, needing alcohol in her veins to deal with this much suffering all at once. Mingi had taken some distance from the elves, not daring too close since his appearance would scare them, but Aodhán helped instead, putting on bandages, handing out drinks, healing along with the nymphs.

Thistle was with Mingi, hiding for the same reason, since the elves didn't need any goblin or demon nearby right now. But she lit up when she spotted Morana.

When Seonghwa came over, Mingi stiffened in his chair, picking up on his presence. As soon as he heard the song of his soul, his tense body relaxed.

"That's all of them," Seonghwa said to their round in general, and Aodhán threw a glance over his shoulder, making sure everyone was there. With no time to waste, he rushed off to help at the next place.

Yeosang and Yunho jumped right to their aid as well. The rest lingered, waiting for Seonghwa's verdict.

"About time you stopped digging up more. Pulled 'em out like turnips; I thought you had a whole population of knife ears in there," Hlin gritted out and Seonghwa swiped sad eyes across the camp.

"They were too many, yes. But I have work for you if you are sober enough." Standing firm, he studied her, the first streaks of grey in her dirty blonde hair, braided to fall over her pelts. She shook out her wings, scarred face pulling into an ironic smirk.

"I'm not working sober, elf. What do you need me to do?"

Seonghwa had to smile. Years ago, he was repulsed by their people, wished they learned more manners. But he found so much strength in them. They were fiercely loyal; messy, yet strong. He could always count on Hlin's help.

"I want you to exterminate every orc outside this tunnel system. Don't let any single one get away," he ordered, and Hlin gladly downed the rest of her drink and slammed her cup onto the table, making Mingi flinch. She plucked the axe from her belt and beckoned it at her people, rallying up their muscular, spirited forces.

"We're on it," she promised, trudging off on terrifying talons.

Wooyoung pressed a quick kiss to Seonghwa's cheek before he hopped after her.

"I'm coming with!"

They took off together, rushing off into the skies to scout out all stragglers. Unless they had something to plunder, orcs rarely left their caves, but some would always be wandering about, looking for new victims. The gryphon-borns would find them.

On his way over to Mingi, Seonghwa peered over his shoulder at his family.

"As for the elves, restore their sanity and leave them to the nymphs and the dryads, so they may be healed. We will bring them back home only once it's safe."

If the space ran out, the titans could provide plenty.

When his eyes caught Thistle, he nodded at Morana and Jongho.

"Their children get a chance to have a proper life. Talk to the dryads about education and a caretaker. Thistle can offer some ideas. Unless the elves wish to parent them, the goblins best stay in their own circles."

"Will do, emmya," Morana beamed, glad to be given a task that allowed her to flee the crowds of people. She took Thistle's hand as they ran into the forest together, searching for Sylvia's aid. Jongho trudged behind, keeping a flame on them.

A few seraphim awaited orders behind San, and one of them spoke up tentatively.

"Your Majesty, I don't think some of these elves wish to be damned to another period of life..." she muttered, eyes still wide from what they witnessed inside those caves. They were all in shock, but she had a point.

Some victims could barely communicate their needs. Their bodies broken beyond repair and their souls scarred and shut off from everyone else. It was difficult to tell which mercy they wished for.

Seonghwa bit his lip, but he had no other choice but to nod.

"You are right. Try to get through to them. Through magic or words, whichever reaches their thoughts and feelings. If they seek life, give them whatever they require and fund it with my treasure. If they seek peace... make it quick and painless," he sighed. It was a difficult thing to say, especially after saving them, but he understood. If Yongguk had succeeded in selling him to the orcs all those years ago, Seonghwa would have done his best to end his existence before he would submit to those brutes and get ravaged by them.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The seraphim took off, and San accompanied them to help with the wounded. They were safe in the grove, so he focused all his fury about the situation on doing good.

Seonghwa would catch up with them later. Make sure his husbands were fine as well, especially Hongjoong.

Lillwen heard his last order as she took a break to come see him. She was wiping her hands on a piece of cloth and though the field looked busy and was full of groaning voices; she seemed to keep order over everyone. Her nymphs worked efficiently, putting the elves to sleep after treating them so they could recover.

Her fathomless eyes conveyed her awe at what Seonghwa had done. It was a difficult call to make, gambling for the alliance with the dwarves and attacking the orcs. Seonghwa ended an era of suffering, their greatest foe, all with sheer willpower and using the love of his husbands.

It was no easy feat. Today was possible only because of all their past losses. The war with his brother, the empire falling, the dragon, all of it had led them here.

But he pushed through and persevered. And though everyone was running with stress right now, they knew what this meant. Knew that freeing these elves meant the beginning of a new era.

His name would be written in the stars, whether he became emperor again or not. Once more, he proved why he had been chosen.

Lillwen's wise eyes acknowledged all that. And she knew the same sentiment would echo across the continent.

"Some of these elves you saved are quite healthy. Glowing, even. But we can't get through to them. It's as if they don't hear and see us. An ability of the orcs, I assume?" She said, leaving Seonghwa some time before the brunt of the political repercussions would catch up with him.

The elf had taken Mingi's hand where it stretched out for him, concerned about how he was doing. The demon was glad to hold on to him, to listen to his strong voice. There would be time to catch up with their suffering later, but Seonghwa was physically unharmed.

Mingi felt hotter than usual, but that might just be the permanent chill to Seonghwa's spirit. He would gladly crawl into the arms of his demon later to warm his soul back up.

"Yes... They have been broken in their minds. I'm not sure if there is a cure. It's infinitely harder to heal than a wound of the flesh," Seonghwa replied, depressed by their fate. The elves in question sat to the side, fit enough to help, but instead, they were lost and terrified, shying away from touch and squirming desperately for the orcs, as if put under a spell. They were mindless to anything but the purpose ingrained in their minds, and their bodies so trained to please that they couldn't spend so many hours without it.

"I'll take them to the Spire of Magic on my next visit. We have some mystics who might be able to enter their minds and tie the cut strings anew. They might not be the same as before, but they could recover slowly," Hongjoong offered. With their potions and their magic, the mages would try to change things.

So Seonghwa gladly nodded. Lillwen floated away to tend to another person crying out in sudden terror, but there would be time to talk later.

Seonghwa used his moment of reprieve as Hongjoong took off to command his mages to caress his fingers over Mingi's horns. The demon was sitting on the bench nervously, guarding their tent.

"Hawthorn, how are you?" He asked, glad that Mingi had been patient for them, even if he must have been so scared. This time, he wasn't alone, but Seonghwa vowed to himself to spoil him as soon as he found the time.

Mingi shyly wrapped his arms around Seonghwa's waist, hugging him carefully. His face buried in the elf's chest as he sighed deeply, breathing in his scent.

"I heard so much groaning and suffering. Was it bad? Are many people hurt?" He lifted his head to Seonghwa to peer at him unseeingly. Seonghwa caressed his cheeks, his ears. Soothed Mingi how he himself needed soothing after all this, and it worked on both.

"I never wished to be blind so badly," he whispered, and Mingi's arms tightened around him.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, feeling with Seonghwa's people since he saw Seonghwa in every one of them. Heard him crying out all those years ago when he was the one getting tormented by the orcs.

Seonghwa hugged his head back, fighting against the rush of misery that hit them. They were strong together, neither getting swept away.

Today ripped many wounds open, for all of them. The scar on Seonghwa's shoulder burnt with bright pain, and he just wanted to embrace his little twins and know everything was fine.

It was hard to believe, but they were done. Truly, completely done. No other foe posed an immediate threat. From now on, people could return to the Crystal Sphere and rebuild their home.

Of course, there was still lots to do. Hunting down the remaining orcs, so they wouldn't start the whole cycle anew; dealing with the treason of the demons. On a political scale, the voices would roar louder than ever until everything was resolved.

But for the elves and for Seonghwa's family, this was it. Their haunt was over.

They could go home without having to fear for their safety. Could rebuild their homes and unite with their families. The elves they freed deserved their place of healing, the affection of their people.

Seonghwa hadn't been this excited in many years. He could barely contain himself. He wanted to jump and cheer and hug his family close because they finally resolved this ongoing terror, but it wasn't the time yet. His judgement was coming, and he would need to be strong for those who needed him. While the elves recovered from years of torment, Seonghwa had to keep on pushing. They could celebrate once everyone earned a chance at peace.

For now, they readied the path back home.