At dinner, the group caught up with the prospect that Seonghwa would be gone for a few days. Though he would drop by each time after one of his trips to freshen up and take along one of his other husbands, the time he spent at home would be short, and Yunho would be deprived of his presence for weeks.

"It will be boring here without you," Wooyoung commented and Jongho grunted an agreement.

Since Seonghwa was their median, they bonded over their mutual dedication to him. If one of them suffered his absence, the others also did.

"I hope you can use the time and become better friends. May my castle still be intact when I return," Seonghwa smiled. He would miss them. Though he would be busy with diplomacy and favourable relationships with each of their kingdoms, he would notice he had only by his side instead of seven. Their general chaos grew on him.

"No promises," Yunho grinned. His mischief got him a chuckle from Seonghwa.

Wooyoung played with the ring Seonghwa had given him. It matched the elf but wasn't so filigree to look odd on the gryphon-born. When Seonghwa spotted it among the others, cradling a pale grey moonstone, he couldn't resist.

"They help people find their path when lost, as the moon does, and they protect you," he told Wooyoung. The scout nodded in awe, finding the gift precious.

"How long does the journey to the Spire of Magic take? On horseback, we travel to the Kingdom of Man within three days," Yunho inquired with Hongjoong. The sorcerer had been busy all morning preparing their visit from a distance. He had meetings to arrange and a room to prepare, and his fellow mages did little to help him. Since he ranked so highly, Hongjoong was expected to take care of such things himself.

Clad in a suit of poisonous green velvet today, Hongjoong crossed his legs. Golden rings twinkled on the fingers he used to push his hair back.

"There is no need for trivialities in the Spire of Magic. We have portals for that."

Intrigued, Jongho looked the smaller sorcerer up and down. When he noticed the stares at him, Hongjoong had pity on the poor fools and explained. His lecturing voice was arrogant and cold, scolding them for their cluelessness with every word.

Since Seonghwa's teachers had only ever been patient with him, he wondered if Hongjoong grew up taught the same way. If so, it was no wonder he turned out to be the one he was. The mages and their inherent superiority usually looked down upon other races, but they involved each other just as much.

A survival of the fittest.

"Portals are doors of magic, activated by casting matching spells in two different locations. The Spire of Magic has several such entries. Our rookies learn how to turn any flat surface into a portal to match these so we can travel back home wherever we are. With my flawless abilities, I can summon portals even on the fabric of the very air around us. It takes one step through, then we are there."

Sounds of awe echoed from around the table. San nodded along, having known about this peculiar way to travel. He finished eating a while ago, but he politely remained at the table and doused everyone in his heavenly glow.

"Seems excessive. A horse does the same work," Yunho noted, ever so put off by magic and its mystifying uses.

Hongjoong glowered at him from above.

"I didn't expect you to fathom their versatility, peasant. Either way, it saves us the travel. We should depart as soon as you are ready, Damiana."

With an elegant nod, Seonghwa rose from his chair. The others scrambled to come along, finding no time to discuss their favoured means of travel. Seonghwa heard the path to the Caverns of Nightfall was perilous, but Mingi couldn't tell how much.

"In that case, let's not linger. Please inform the servants of anything you might need and be cordial until my return, the rest of you."

Wooyoung muttered something under his breath about how that was no problem so long as Hongjoong wasn't there. Though it was a mean jab, Seonghwa had to agree. Wherever trouble brewed, the shrewd sorcerer was involved.

"Have a safe journey, no matter how short," Yeosang said. Without glancing his way, his arm shot out to stabilise Mingi when he tripped over his chair as he stood. The demon seemed to be stuck on something he wanted to say. When nothing came after a beat of silence, Seonghwa smiled at their gathering.

"I will see you in a few days."

They called their goodbyes to him and while Hongjoong went to summon his portal in his room, Seonghwa got changed. Seungyoun had lugged the trunk with his things to Hongjoong's brewing chambers, so he was left with the outfit he laid out to wear for this formal occasion.

Since it was proper to match the colours of their garments to show their affiliation, Seonghwa had picked a green transparent cloak that settled over his shoulders like a feather. It was embroidered with silver swirls across the edges to match the sleek travelling gown that clung to his frame. It was besashed with a matching belt that framed his hips. The sleeves were long and airy, carrying the cape. Though the silken skirt fell around his legs smoothly to accentuate their shape, it left enough space for long strides and lifting his leg to slip into his soft leather boots. Once he had adorned his ears with silver and donned the circlet that dropped a moon of emerald on his forehead, he was ready.

Hongjoong awaited him in front of his door and his eyes dragged up Seonghwa's body, drinking in the sight. Contrary to Jongho or Yeosang, he could promise Seonghwa that no dirt would touch upon him during their stay, so he could look pretty however he wished. Though the sorcerer's compliment when unspoken, Seonghwa saw it glinting in his eyes. Pride mixing with desire.

Hongjoong offered him his arm, and Seonghwa accepted it. On long legs, he was taller than the sorcerer, but Hongjoong balanced them with his boots and aura of power.

"Have you used a portal before?" Hongjoong asked. He was mellow with Seonghwa, interested in his answer rather than mocking him for his lack of knowledge.

"I am familiar with them, yes," Seonghwa responded as they came to stand in front of the flickering gate Hongjoong opened on the wall next to his bed. It showed a distorted mirage of the spire, some study room inside the mighty tower.

"In that case, let me bring you to my lands," Hongjoong hummed. A flick of his fingers sent the two chests behind him into the air, floating orderly as the couple stepped through the portal.

It felt like treading through water when it was still and sombre. A brief icy touch travelled over Seonghwa like a film, then they stood on the other side of the wall, a kingdom and across the ocean away. The crates lowered to the ground behind Hongjoong in a neat stack.

An apprentice mingled inside the room to witness their arrival. When he met their eyes, he scrambled from his chair to alert his superiors. Hongjoong sighed at the mess he left behind, full of open books and scattered parchments. A wave of his hand sorted them into two neat piles and pushed the chair to the table.

Seonghwa glimpsed outside the windows. The spire had different levels for different weather and seasons, similar to the Moon Castle. The sorcerers needed them for their spells. Their current level was doused in grey clouds that allowed little view of the forests outside. Seonghwa appreciated the raindrops clinging to the windows to protect him from sunnier areas.

Since the life of the mages revolved around the academy and the spire, one could say this very tower made up the kingdom. As its name suggested, it was their centre and pride. The few who lived outside to keep clear of studies and competitions were branded outsiders and users of forbidden magic.

Not that there was much of that since the spire cultivated all; healers and herbalists, clerics and summoners and alchemists and necromancers. Anyone with magical talent could learn how to use it here. What they did with such knowledge wasn't the spire's concern.

Hongjoong parted from Seonghwa to open a book seated on the shelves overflowing with wisdom. Magical artefacts and animal skulls for research mingled with countless scriptures. Brass instruments to measure the skies and the wind lay between heaps of other equipment.

While Seonghwa strolled to the window to glimpse at as much of the ocean as he could see, voices raised outside. A group of people scurried down the corridor to their chamber, and a moment later, they appeared at the door.

Seonghwa always found mages dressed a certain way. They fancied bright colours to influence the vibrancy of their auras. Certain fabrics diverted such power best or didn't impede spells. Yet they always matched their magical needs with the extravagance of status.

Three men and one woman greeted them. Seonghwa couldn't tell their ages since they were far older than they looked, the same as he. Their leader fancied the beard of the wise elders, but the others preferred to adorn themselves with amulets and gaudy hats to impose hierarchy.

"Grandmaster Hongjoong," the eldest greeted Hongjoong with a chilling gaze from icy blue eyes. "Crown Prince Seonghwa." This time, he nodded. Not near a bow appropriate for Seonghwa's status, but he didn't mind. So long as he visited the spire, he overlooked their claim for superiority.

"Welcome to the Spire of Magic. We are pleased you heeded our call so quickly."

"It's my pleasure. I know of the many duties that keep the spire busy all day, and I would hate to impede the processes at work," Seonghwa replied. When he was beckoned to follow, Hongjoong let him leave first to walk behind. Splitting to frame the visitors as two and two on each end of their procession, the magister led them through the tower with a quick stride. Seonghwa didn't get to marvel at the students and their odd pets lingering about or at the dragon eyes encased in sealed displays.

"Thank you for your understanding. You may stay in the spire for as long as you please while Hongjoong takes care of his business. While you are here, you shall not fret about tending to any matter. For now, meet the Magus Maximus and sign our peace accord and approval of your marriage. Afterwards, Hongjoong may show you anything you wish to explore."

The Spire of Magic wasn't ruled by a king, since there was no place for one in a world of constant competition and strict hierarchy. The most powerful mage of the spire oversaw the academy and its ancient rules that directed themselves. More than an executive function, he served as a supervisor and spokesperson.

The Magus Maximus was the sole rank higher than Hongjoong. Seonghwa's sorcerer was part of the slim elite challenging his position every day.

Impressed by the high rank Hongjoong retained with his skill despite leaving this place for another, Seonghwa agreed. He sounded like a bother; as if his arrival brought bothersome dust to the well-oiled clockwork of the tower. A foreign body that was tolerated for as long as necessary but blown away once the opportunity so arose.

Seonghwa learned the mages were at peace with their elven emperors simply because it allowed them to brood in their magical tower without needing to change their ways for war. It was always best to sign things off with them quickly and leave them to their devices.

But Hongjoong had things to do here. The few days he needed gave Seonghwa time to look around his home.

Rushing through the narrow, winding corridors together with the mages, Seonghwa didn't feel out of place despite being the sole elf nearby. Since he was inherently blessed by magic, they accepted his long-eared existence without a comment.

Perhaps it was good not to be treated like an almighty prince for once. Seonghwa preferred all ranks to plunge during his visit rather than be treated below the pompous mages. Despite their rush, the change of scenery was healing for his soul.

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