Though everyone was thrilled and wanted to spend time with Seonghwa immediately, he had to see his people one after the other. As soon as his family withdrew and he had coddled his children enough, the rulers approached him with congratulations and pledges of their support. They wouldn't need another crowning ceremony or vow for the empire. Theoretically, they had only taken a break. But Seonghwa was pleased to formally welcome their newcomers into their rows.

"Marvellous work, Seonghwa. It's most riveting to join with you. What a monumental day. We will remember this for a long time and we shall follow you with pride," Lillwen vowed to him as he kissed her cold knuckles. The moon hadn't left the sky all day to witness his rise. Doused in its light as the evening grew darker, he illuminated the space around him.

"You did well for an elf. There will be many lucrative opportunities for us from here. No need to marry one of the mountain yet, we believe in your vows. Next time," Nozurri said as he shook Seonghwa's hand.

Crius and Asteria smiled down at him with fondness. They watched as the stars stood true to their promise yet once more, shining brilliantly to bedazzle their favourite child.

"You proved your strength today and we are proud to have fought at your side. May the stars bless your eternity, moon child," Asteria hummed at him.

Seonghwa thanked them one by one, bowing deep and accepting the mug of mead Hlin handed to him as she squashed him into a bone-crushing hug. He made peace with Richard, thanked the golems and dryads for their faith and promised them to restore nature to its peace so it may yet strive again.

Morana brought her demons over for a more private talk as well and, though they had been glancing at Mingi all evening, they were wise enough not to comment about him. A woman with a sharp-toothed smile nodded her head at Seonghwa.

"We have plenty to make up to and we know we are not everyone's friends. So put us to work where you need us, Moon Emperor. Our people may follow and reign in each other if someone steps out of line."

"Morana will guide you wisely and communicate with our people. The elves need housing and strong hands to help them move and plant new fruit. We can need any pair of hands you can offer and we pay well," Seonghwa replied with a gentle hand caressing through Morana's hair. His stubborn daughter was so strong. In the little time she slipped away from him, she became the queen of her people.

Truly, she was made for great things.

Once his allies wandered off to help everyone else prepare their shared meal around the fire, where the crowd could mingle, Seonghwa got a moment to breathe. He smiled at all the laughing faces, all those peculiar and different beings joining into one. It was a timeless sight. One of peace and of hard efforts that finally paid off.

He couldn't be happier for them. He had plenty to do, but for tonight, this was all about celebrating those who survived and who returned peace to their lands.

When Seonghwa peered down at his side as his peripherals caught movement there, Pebble was staring back up at him. She mimicked Morana by stemming chunky little arms into her rotund torso and looked out over his crowd like a proud father herself.

Seonghwa had to snicker at her sight.

"Satisfied?"

In response, she toddled away, bored with him and finding other things to do. Seonghwa followed her gladly to join his people.

He spotted Mingi talking to Morana, embracing her while she excitedly told him her story. The twins were playing with the dogs and some elves cheered on them and praised their handsome looks, making the duo all shy and stuttering out some fanciful lines San taught them.

Wooyoung was with his people, drinking and celebrating and hitting each other's backs as they claimed to never have doubted even once.

Soon, all the dishes their various people had prepared were gathered around the fire. There were plenty of meats, fruit and vegetables, pastries and rice. Everyone found something they enjoyed and Seonghwa sat with his plate and talked to a few humans who accompanied their king, listening to news of their lands since he disappeared.

It was a celebration for their coming together, but also for his survival. They were glad to have him back, and even happier to promise him a new castle to reign from.

"You should let my people build it. We can get you the grandest of palaces within days," Nozurri boasted, and the elves protested.

"Your digging will wake the dragons! It's more fitting for nature to shape him a new home, like it did last time."

"No more caves?" Jongho wondered, and Yeosang looked green just at the thought of more caves.

San also took the word during a somewhat quiet spell, making sure people were sober enough to listen to him.

"I will use this opportunity to formally step back from the throne of the Vault of Heaven. As I promised my sister and our young prince, I defended our position in this discussion. From now on, I shall retreat to be with my family and be a just diplomat between Seonghwa and my people. Rowan's coronation shall follow once the most pressing reparations in the Crystal Sphere are finished. Thank you for trusting me." He lifted his cup in thanks and earned another cheer, even by those not involved with his politics. When he caught Seonghwa's gaze on him, San came over to kneel before him, looking so knightly in his white uniform and the shining wings.

"You mustn't give up your place for me. We can go on as we were," Seonghwa crooned at him and their people attended as San cradled his fingers to kiss them with the lightest of caresses.

"My heart belongs to you. I wish to dedicate you my every hour. To build this empire with you. I shall always care for my people, but my place is by your side."

It was soothing to hear him say it. To be assured that he knew. That he no longer thought himself undeserving of this position. It was him and no other.

Seonghwa tried to hide the dazzle of his blush behind his long hair, but people saw it and hooted, charmed by his shyness.

"Then we shall celebrate Rowan tonight as well. May our kingdoms rule in harmony," Seonghwa smiled and San stood as their young king accepted everyone's regards.

Yeosang shuffled up to Seonghwa to offer him a subtle shoulder to lean against. He accepted wordlessly, relishing in the dryad's refreshing scent. Yeosang also sighed, happy with everything they achieved. It was a long and painful road, scarred them eternally and they endured many losses. But all that brought them this peace.

"Jongho wants more music. I demand a swing," Yeosang shared their secret plans with him and Seonghwa nuzzled against his shoulder as sweet moon flowers blossomed on Yeosang's arm to frame him like a crown.

"I will give you the most beautiful of swings," Seonghwa vowed to him and he felt Yeosang pressing a kiss against his hair, holding him with a dedication and a reverence that spoke more than a million words about his feelings.

Seonghwa cherished the affection, sealed it in his heart as he blinked the tears from his eyes.

He knew his parents would be proud of him if they were there with him. Knew they only ever wished him this strength and happiness.

They pulled apart when the elves approached Seonghwa to bow deeply before him, but he hastily ushered them back up, not allowing them to grovel for his favour. Many of them were in tears, crying out their happiness with each other and sending out hasty word to their people who couldn't join today to spread the merry news.

"Thank you so much, Your Majesty. We owe you our lives and our happiness. You cared for us so much back then and even now, we couldn't even thank you for our freedom yet when you bless us with more prosperity. The stars cherish you dearly. We thank them for sending you to us," a nearby woman choked out, and Seonghwa gently cradled her hands.

"Please. I want to be a better emperor for my people. Many of you suffered because of my shortcomings. Even now, we are missing family and loved ones. We still have much to do and we are only getting started. So please be patient with me." He shared a smile, and they tried to grin back at him, ending in sniffing and weeping.

"Let's create our new lives and happiness. We can rebuild and no one will hurt our people again. One day soon, we shall gaze upon healed land."

His words were meant to soothe, but they only caused more tears. They held onto each other, sobbing for the future gifted to them and mourning their past lives. Seonghwa sat with them, gazing at the stars and relishing their shine on his skin.

Their dinner lasted long since people kept finding new things to discuss. Races that barely interacted before were suddenly curious about each other and got to know each other for the first time. The gryphon-borns challenged the dwarves to a drinking contest and Morana was first row and centre to participate, showing everyone what kind of empress she would be in the future.

Luckily, people found her differences to Seonghwa amusing and endearing, so they cheered her on as Wooyoung feverishly tried to win, only getting more alcohol into their system.

After everyone had toppled over back there and lost count who even won, the people moved on to shake out their sleeping limbs. The mages whisked up instruments that played by themselves and many came to dance around them. Each in different styles, some stumbling into one another and trying to teach their dances with breathless giggles, but they danced together.

Seonghwa witnessed the spectacle from the fire, ingraining the sight in his mind like Jongho would. To be remembered as the most peaceful day in the empire in many years.

When he turned to look at Yeosang, the dryad was already grinning at him knowingly.

"Go on. Have fun. Dance. Be a person before you must be our emperor again," the dryad shooed him away before he went to sit with Jongho.

Seonghwa sprang to his feet, his dress shimmering like a river of moonlight on his body. He skipped over to the spot where Mingi was being flirted with by a dozen nymphs at once, melting into a little ball of shyness as they complimented every part about him and enjoyed how he wound himself for them.

"May I steal him away?" Seonghwa asked them with a solemn face, and they nodded back, directing their haunting eyes at the dwarves instead to learn more about their grumpy little selves.

Seonghwa grabbed Mingi's hand to pull him along, and Mingi shyly stumbled behind him.

"Thank you for saving me," he mumbled, and Seonghwa had to laugh.

"Would you like to dance, hawthorn?"

Mingi paused for a moment, surprised he was Seonghwa's pick among so many. But his confidence returned with a sly grin as pride had him lifting his horned head higher.

"Gladly."

Seonghwa twirled among the others in Mingi's arms, guiding his blind demon, who cradled the most beautiful of them all, showing he was neither weak nor anything less. His fellow demons stared at him with unveiled jealousy, and the pair's differences of light and shadow melted into an image so captivating that everyone else was enraptured.

Of course, Seonghwa also attracted his other husbands like hungry bees. Hongjoong bowed before him next, with one leg dipping behind him. His magic whirled around them, creating flowing currents around Seonghwa to compliment his movements as he fluttered over Hongjoong's arm in the pulse of the music.

Everyone danced with him. Wooyoung looked at Seonghwa as if he hung the moon in the sky as the elf led him gracefully in simple steps, beguiling him with every spin and twist. Yunho kept whispering compliments and curses because he was so stunned by Seonghwa, so in disbelief at him. San was a master of the courtly steps, reminding everyone they were a royal couple and making even Hongjoong scoff when their dance earned the grandest applause.

Seonghwa danced with Yeosang and Jongho, guiding his dryad with the gentlest of hands and the fondest of gazes. Jongho had to stay relatively still, but Seonghwa twirled around him, was lifted by his strong arms until his twins marvelled up at him with awe.

He also danced with his kids. Allowed Aodhán to lead him and huffed fondly at Morana's protests until she complied for a brief piece. The twins just liked to hop in merry circles, but Seonghwa did it with them, celebrating everyone the same.

The night seemed to last forever, blessed by the moon and the stars as everyone relished the happiness they fought so hard for.