"So, where can we gather our people that isn't a wasteland of ash?"

Seonghwa and his family were gathered below the tree again, potentially for one of the last times. Its white blossoms had become such a constant paradise to them, soothing their craving for life and nature in the otherwise cold and naked caves. Its branches were laden with fruit, a rare sort of pear that shaped funnily. The kids loved collecting and comparing them, giggling over the inconvenient shapes.

Yeosang had Onyx perched between his branches. He grew a woven circlet of branches today, matching with the tree's crown he cultivated to such beauty. The twins had also insisted on getting some, so he was busy weaving flowers while they talked. Their two little angels rolled around the grass, bored with all the conversing and little playing among the adults these days, but the end of all that was in sight now.

"We can meet in the forests near the Cliffs of Zephyr. Gryphon-born territory, strictly speaking, but it was mostly spared by the war," Seonghwa said as he showed them the area on the map. Close to the border of the Crystal Sphere, it was the nearest safe place that didn't get destroyed by fires and blood spill.

Baffled, Wooyoung traced the borders of his lands with a finger, trying to picture where that was.

"That belongs to us?" He asked, unaware there was more land under their name than just the cliffs they all lived in. Seonghwa confirmed it with a chuckle.

"The land below the vault has also avoided the worst. It's safe and nearby if you need more space," San threw in from behind Seonghwa's shoulder. He had taken up to braiding long curls of dark hair, decorating it with the flowers he plucked off Yeosang's shoulder. Not letting go of his meditative task, he pointed his elbow further north to where the forest intersected across their border. Since the vault floated in the clouds, the seraphim didn't use the lands for any other purpose, protecting a beautiful and wild forest from above.

Seonghwa nodded, glad he could ensure safety for all the visitors that would gather in the area.

Jongho's neck crunched when he leaned over. He smoothed out his edges, only for his arm to crunch instead when he pointed at his home lands. Every day was a constant cycle of readjusting his shape to every position. When he was lazy, he just became one solid rock, not mimicking joints.

"You could come to the Sky-reaching Highlands, too. Lots of free space and the golems don't move if visitors are near," he advertised, and Yeosang asked him when his people ever moved. They weren't too known for their pilgrimages.

Seonghwa accepted the suggestion with gratitude, but didn't change the plan.

"Our allies might feel threatened. The golems can turn any lands into a death trap and clearly favour the elves. We need neutral ground, so we may discuss everyone's needs."

Hongjoong lazed with his arm propped up on his knee. His magic flicked around his fingers as he pondered the situation, dancing with his thoughts.

"Good, so we assemble our people in the forest. Where do you need us?" He asked and Seonghwa leaned into San's chest behind his back, craning his head to peer up at him. The seraph knelt dutifully, ready for orders, and Seonghwa thanked him for the beautiful pleat with a smile.

"Hongjoong and San, I would like you two to bring your people first and then be present at the meeting point to help direct everyone who arrives. Some will be angry, some will make trouble. I need you to have an eye on them, so there won't be any issues," the elf informed, and Hongjoong smirked at the idea of putting some troublemakers straight. A rule of terror was not how Seonghwa wanted to petition for the return to his throne, but he understood Hongjoong's rage. Many spoke lies about Seonghwa's disappearance. Claiming he had discarded his people and that the elves were weak. No one could stop Hongjoong, but Seonghwa hoped the decision on the empire's future would come from genuine truths, not malicious rumours.

"Consider it done. We'll sniff out any traitors while we're at it," the mage replied. Seonghwa trusted him to know when to stop.

"Thank you. Wooyoung and Yunho, you can travel together to inform your people. Tell them the emperor is back and that he seeks a common ground for the future," he addressed the two. Wooyoung had stretched out in the grass and Yunho was grooming Buddy's fur, the dog panting happily in his lap as gentle fingers massaged him. The two exchanged a look, surprised to be paired up, but it made most sense based on the geography.

"Hlin will be on your side anyway. We can send Onyx," Wooyoung said, frowning at the idea of travelling alone without Seonghwa for an elongated period. Everyone was clingier than ever and Seonghwa was none the better, but he needed his diplomats to show their faces. And their kingdoms needed to trust their call, not comply merely for Seonghwa's beauty and name when he called in favours.

"Then take the journey with Yunho. He will need help," Seonghwa pleaded with him, and Wooyoung pouted, but he flicked his grey hair over his shoulder to study Yunho with an appraising look. He seemed excited and conflicted at the same time. However, travelling to the Kingdom of Man was a first for him too and it would be a fun trip.

"I can help?" He asked and Jongho plucked a loose feather from his wing carefully, adding it to Seonghwa's braid, since that's what was happening in his eyes. Seonghwa wore it proudly.

"Always. I'm happy about company," Yunho grinned back at him and the glint of his eyes was up to no good, but they would make it work, somehow.

Seonghwa made eye contact with Yeosang. The dryad had the twins dangling over his thighs as he crowned their pink heads with the crowns he made. They were squabbling about which of them was king and which was only a prince, as if they weren't equal princes of two kingdoms already. Jongho was by his side, watching San work his nimble fingers over the braid. The magical hand functioned seamlessly with his will, and the seraph was ever-grateful that he still got to do this.

"Will you two rally your people? If just a few to speak for your kind? We need leaders, diplomats, anyone who can make decisions for the community," Seonghwa asked the pair, and Jongho's crystals shone a pensive purple.

"I wonder if they will communicate. But they like how the elves kept the peace in our mountains, so they won't mind you on the throne," he figured, so it wouldn't hurt to ask. Not as if the golems would give them a proper writ of their will.

"I might not return to the throne and in that case, they need to decide who they prefer to rule. If anyone. You can speak for us, but please bring at least another witness, even if the golems trust each other."

"There is no reason to lie. Eternity unveils every truth," Jongho rumbled, and Yeosang snickered at the ominous message. His smile at Seonghwa was confident.

"We'll take care of it. What will you do?"

Relieved that they cooperated to the best of their abilities, Seonghwa folded the map between them. Mingi and Morana were on its other side, knocking their shoulders into each other in a constant sway left and right. The girl was tired after celebrating long into the night last evening, barely dragging herself out of bed earlier. When Aodhán hopped around to bring the pears he plucked from the tree for them to eat one last time, she groaned about his energy.

"I will try to find as many scattered elves as I can so they may attend our council. Lillwen and Crius will join us and bring the ones we freed. The others are hiding in the forests nearby, so Morana and Aodhán can help me find them. Their sight will spark hope. I'll keep Mingi by my side so my name protects him from all who seek revenge," Seonghwa replied. He would send letters to his allies, and Crius already agreed to meet them in the far lands. They could travel there together.

Now that their names fell, the kids perked up. They had distracted their boredom with their pets and Pebble, with feeding Mulberry who rested on the patch of grass nearby to prepare for the upcoming journey. Morana huffed at Seonghwa's plan.

"Oh, yeah. Been there before. Guess we can finally carry good news to those poor bastards..." She sighed and Seonghwa tutted gently.

"Morana, wording."

"Poor weaklings," she tried and Wooyoung broke out in laughter, but Aodhán gasped by her side.

"That's worse!"

"She's right, though. The elves have been waiting for a sign desperately. They will regain their strength when they witness you and your children," Yeosang threw in before a fight would break out. They were a big family, had always been. People were bound to get heated.

"Actually, I would like to stay home this time. With the titans," Morana said, lifting her head to sit up straight. Mingi quietly listened, happy to stick to Seonghwa's side to watch over him, even if he was no guard. Likewise, Seonghwa was glad so long as nobody touched his demon. His people's reputation was broken enough to threaten him.

However, Seonghwa didn't trust he heard right just now.

"You? Are you feeling unwell?" He asked his daughter, and she rolled her eyes at him.

"Why, is that so weird?"

"The Morana I know would never miss out on getting into trouble," he teased her gently, but the girl shook her head.

"Even I have boundaries. The orcs were a lot, even if you only saw my strong side. Is it so wrong that I want to relax and spend time with Thistle this time? Politics are boring. Besides, I hated how those elves looked at me last time. As if I was some deity to worship. That's your business, not mine."

That much, Seonghwa understood. He trained all his life to live for his people. To show them kindness and patience. It wasn't in Morana's blood, and even less so in her character. A lot of pressure rested on her shoulders as his heir, and she deserved more time to take on that role.

"You could accompany me to see Hlin! We don't do politics at the cliffs, we'll just drink and pretend we discussed Seonghwa's letters," Wooyoung chirped, always offering her a home at the cliffs, and Morana smirked back at him.

"A tempting offer. But no, I'll stay. You can go this time, emmya." He sounded tired, and Seonghwa couldn't fault her. These past few weeks were a lot on someone who preferred to roam the forests alone and without the makings of an empire on her mind.

She deserved a break.

"All right. I understand if the burden is overwhelming to you, though I would have preferred to show you off as a warrior for our people. You can catch up later, make sure you and Mingi get received well. But tell us if you feel unwell, yes? Otherwise we'll worry."

Her words would help soothe the rage of anyone who wanted the demons gone, even Mingi. As the child of their emperor, she had a powerful voice.

But that could happen in due time. Aodhán would be there, and the twins would accompany San to the vault so she could stay mostly under the radar for now.

"I'm fine, I promise," Morana mumbled, and Seonghwa gave her an uplifting smile, glad she shared her troubles with him.

"I believe you."

When he turned, Morana leaned against Mingi again and he whispered to her, asking if she was truly fine. Thistle could stay with her. One step at a time, as Seonghwa arranged the safety of his family.

He addressed the family again, peering at their ready faces.

"Then we'll meet in the forests of the gryphon-borns with our allies. We shall hold council about the next ruler and gather as many volunteers as we can find to rebuild the Crystal Sphere. A fortnight from now, I hope I can greet our people unafraid," he summarised, and Hongjoong stretched his back before he hopped onto his feet, golden eyes glowing with motivation.

"We'll be there."

Seonghwa also lifted to his feet, and the others followed to pack their bundles and say their goodbyes until their reunion. Seonghwa gladly encouraged them with kisses.

"Then let's depart. I wish you success and safe travels. Let's meet there soon."