4. Among Dryads

The march into the Glistening Walnut Grove wasn't far, and it was shrouded in the protection of ancient trees, obscuring the group with their coat of lush green leaves. Gnarly branches intertwined into tunnels were flooded with the scent of fresh flowers and the buzz of insects. The grove was striving, healthy from the studious care of the dryads. Soft mosses cushioned their steps and a deep peace filled Seonghwa at the similarity to his own home and the air of Yeosang that spread all around him like a soothing spell.

While hidden from curious eyes in these lands cleared of goblins since dryads were aware of all living beings on their soil, Seonghwa could safely begin the next step of their journey.

The new eldest of the grove had offered shelter for him and his allies after the news of his survival. The dryads' resolve to support the empire was unwavering after the war, perhaps even more so since they made their foolish mistake of trusting Yongguk once.

Seonghwa and his people were greeted with open arms, walls of vines pulling apart to grant them passage, and the fairies that fled from the Crystal Sphere peeked from below the leaves to marvel at their emperor.

Time was short. Few communicated with the orcs for matters of politics, but soon enough, word that Seonghwa was alive and striving would carry to the demons and other potential foes. They needed to get to the Dwarven North quickly, strike while no one expected them. By the time the goblins spread the news, Seonghwa wanted to be inside the tunnels of the orcs and free his people.

The quickest way to get to Veg Boldhir, where it was hidden among jagged mountains covered in ice and snow, was through the air. San had offered his pegasi to carry the group, but they weren't equipped for the cold temperatures and harsh winds.

No, the creatures awaiting them in the heart of the grove clicked their hard beaks and flapped sturdy wings when the dryads offered them fresh apples.

Wooyoung lit up by Seonghwa's side as soon as he spotted his people. Among the loitering dryads, the sturdy warriors of the Cliffs of Zephyr looked both out of place and at home.

It had been a while for all of them. Some husbands travelled home frequently for their secret preparations and their duties. Hongjoong and San barely found the time to be at home. But Wooyoung missed his tribe, as always.

Hlin had come in person, Eldrid by her side. They looked up when Wooyoung stormed their way, catching the wind under his wings to rip up as little earth as possible with his talons. He crashed into them for a hug and Mulberry also jumped in, playing with the other gryphons, who donned spectacular hues.

Seonghwa bowed deeply next to the dryad guarding the entrance as his husbands filtered inside, marvelling at nature's cradle. Other than the elves, dryads had no use for buildings. They shaped the nature to their needs, shaping furniture of branches and melting with tall pine trees to look out over the forest. The clearing here was formed of them shuffling the foliage and bushes aside to create enough space for their visitors. Tall and yet gentle in their step, the walnut giants wandered among them and offered them the fruits of the forest.

Yeosang stuck to Seonghwa's side, closer than ever with his people, but his place was with his family.

"Thank you for welcoming us and aiding our quest," Seonghwa addressed the dryad, and she nodded her head at him, barely making an effort to form eye holes into her bark.

"Our eldest awaits you."

Seonghwa swiped his eyes over his husbands to make sure everyone was gathered before he ventured further in. Yunho and Buddy looked nervous before the towering dryads, who took so much more menacing shapes than Yeosang preferred. Faceless and with jagged wood and thorns creating natural weapons. Jongho found a fairy to converse with, exchanging stories about the time after the war. The rest stuck to Seonghwa, ready for new orders.

The moss was soft under Seonghwa's bare toes, greeting him with delicate touches as he made his way over to the bickering pile of gryphon-borns. One of the men had tucked Wooyoung under his bulging arm, choking him brotherly while the smaller gryphon-born scratched back at him. The rest were laughing at the display and though Seonghwa would never participate in their rough-housing; he had to smile.

"Chieftain Hlin. Eldrid. An honour to see you again," he greeted the two leaders of their bundle and Hlin turned to him, looking strong as ever with her indomitable folk.

Some others, like the demons or the humans, hadn't recovered well from the war. Hongjoong still did damage control for his enraged mages.

"There you are, long ear! We've been waiting for you. For being so closely related, your leafy cousins sure look weird." Hlin lifted a hand to clap it down on Seonghwa's back but thought better of it and settled it on the axe peeking from the pelt around her hips instead.

"Thank you for your patience and quick response. I'm sure the dryads were also glad to have an exchange with their allies." Just like the golems, the dryads rarely left the boundaries of their home. Not wandering and mingling like others did. Just as rare were strangers in their grove. But the dryads recognised how hard the gryphon-borns tried to behave.

"Oh, we could never say no to your adorable little family, Your Elfness. Where did you leave our favourite little kid?" Hlin peered around among his fellowship, awed to spot Mingi, but her lips tugged down when Seonghwa shook his head.

"This journey is too dangerous to bring her," he hummed, saddened by the lingering upset he felt in Morana's soul and which ingrained itself in his heart.

He would be back. This time, he wouldn't go missing for a decade.

Hlin looked at him as if he grew another pair of arms.

"Hogwash. Our young swing an axe against orc bastards much sooner. How will she get stronger if you don't take her along?" She roared, ever out for battle, and some birds in the trees squawked back at her ruckus indignantly.

Seonghwa tucked his hair behind his ear, open about the sad smile on his lips. He learned not to mask his feelings before people he considered friends and family. The graceful moon emperor had long since fallen. These people deserved insight into his thoughts.

"She said the same. Your teachings show every day," he smiled, unperturbed by Wooyoung bickering with his folk in the back.

Eldrid gave him a more understanding smile.

"Poor Morana. She must be heartbroken right now. Are your children doing well otherwise?" Her smooth distraction helped, and Seonghwa got to nod.

"Aodhán grows up well and is mastering his magic. Lonan and Fiorello are healthy. San is very proud of them." As was Seonghwa, every day. So fond of his dear children and their strength.

Hlin ogled San over his shoulder, taking in his wings and the new hand with the eyes of a historical rival. Since it was him, however, she didn't start an argument.

"Did you meet the new eldest already? Anything I should know?" Seonghwa asked as they made their way across the clearing, where the dryads gathered in a crowd around their leader.

"Yep. She's as tree as the rest of them," Hlin wisely informed him and Seonghwa had to chuckle. He felt Hongjoong and San following close behind him, steadfast guards. Yunho had grabbed Mingi's hand, calming himself by describing their surroundings to him and making sure Mingi ran into no dryads that stood still as half trees, half elves.

When Seonghwa drew near, the crowd parted. Heavy steps took the dryads towards their forest, weaving into the regular trees to observe wordlessly. Curious squirrels and birds hopped along their crowns, feeling safe with them despite the disturbance.

One dryad remained. There was no visual difference to other dryads, but her branches were old and mighty. The shape of a woman that grew from her bark was almost perfect, green skin spanning pointed ears and hair made of vines and leaves that covered her chest. Her age croaked through her voice as seniority mattered most in terms of leadership for dryads.

After the destruction Yongguk wreaked, the foulness that had befallen the prior eldest of the dryads couldn't be cured anymore. Once the war cut him off from aid by elves and nymphs, he submitted to his fate and became one with the earth to nourish it. A new eldest had been elected. Her name was Sylvia, and she had been gracious in her letter exchanges with Seonghwa. Though she conveyed her interest in aiding him, however, none of his acquaintances met her in person, so this was a first.

"Moon emperor. We meet face to face," she greeted him and when Seonghwa bowed his head, she bowed back at him. Their conversation finally hushed the mayhem in the clearing as the gryphon-borns huddled into their corner and Seonghwa's husbands joined his side.

Jongho had shaped a stone leaf on top of his head to fit in.

"I'm honoured. May your forests be bountiful and your health long-lasting," Seonghwa wished her, and she accepted with a nod.

"The same goes for you. We watched the stars every night and finally, you are here to restore peace. We will gladly serve. The elves will always be our allies."

"Thank you for harbouring the gryphon-borns for us. I won't ask you to fight another war for me. I shall personally see through our recovery."

Buddy barked at the talking tree, confused by her size and movement, but Yunho crouched to hush him, throwing her an apologetic smile.

"We trust your dedication to these lands. I only wish for these forests to thrive at peace. But I see Yeosang by your side and I see him glow with health, so I know you care for my kind."

Seonghwa glanced at Yeosang, at his proud grin. The shine of his own aura brightened.

"He is my dearest friend. Use him to communicate your needs with me, and I shall see to having them met. Once the elves return, nature may be released from its agony," Seonghwa vowed. He didn't go into great detail about his quest since he didn't want information to leak out, but Sylvia didn't push him.

"Then be on your way, Your Majesty. You are always welcome to tell us what you need." With the rustle of leaves, she turned to join her forest and her dryads, leaving them to finish their planning.

Hlin grinned at him when Seonghwa turned to her. The beckon of her finger brought over the unoccupied gryphons who had been playing with the dryads. Their feathers sported gorgeous shades of brown and grey and they flicked their heads pridefully before the group.

"Five gryphons, as you ordered. Though I don't recommend sitting on one together for long periods of time. They get snappy." Her eyes counted his companions, ever confused how many he married. But Seonghwa lifted his hand to caress the beak of the gryphon closest to him with delicate fingers.

"Jongho can't fly with us, so Hongjoong will bring him close to the border and join us on foot. The rest of us will fly."

Though Yunho and Yeosang said they weren't confident about flying such long distances by themselves, it was the quickest method to cross through their lands without setting foot into the infested Crystal Sphere. No one would notice them in the air.

"Damn, you elves have it all figured out, huh? Did we count right?" Hlin turned to double-check, but Seonghwa soothed her with a chuckle.

"You did well. Thank you for your support. I shall make sure no harm will come upon them and they will return to their lands in a flash."

Yeosang already befriended a gryphon, adept in the art of feeding them after living with Mulberry for so long.

"Right, no problem. They'll find their way. Good luck with those pesky dwarf cumberwo- The gryphons, I mean. They can be uncomfortable to sit on, yep," she caught herself before the ever-present forest would carry on the message.

"Thank you and see you soon. Be careful on your way home," Seonghwa replied without missing a beat. Hlin patted her axe before she shook out her wings.

"I'm in the mood to spill some demon blood if any cross our way." So nonchalant about the brutal comment, she only stopped scowling when Eldrid hooked their arms into each other.

"Let's settle on a boar, dear. Seonghwa might need those demons as allies," she soothed, and the two wandered off to say their goodbyes to Wooyoung. Seonghwa smiled after them before he beckoned his husbands closer so they could get acquainted with the gryphons who would carry them.

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