Spring arrived without an attack from the orcs. The kingdom celebrated Aodhán's third birthday and he was gifted a puppy to play with. Morana made her first steps and eagerly grew up to tend to her own pet one day. Though Seonghwa never believed himself in false security, they entered a period of rest. The nymphs informed them of any movement from the orcs and the diplomatic talks with the titans came along. Soon, Seonghwa would get to visit them and hope for their support in his cause.

Until then, he was busy with the inner matters of the empire and his family. The Heavenly King was looking to hand down the throne to his eldest son and San and Seonghwa were invited to his coronation. Morana often hid away from the maids trying to rein her in and Aodhán already sighed like an old man to find his sister. He learned magic quickly, fascinated by its workings, and Yunho often joined his classes with Hongjoong, awed by what his son could do even when he mistrusted magic.

As small matters kept them occupied, Seonghwa was concerned with the mortality of some of his husbands. Yeosang, Jongho and Hongjoong were undying as he. San and Mingi aged slowly, but they aged and time sped away from Wooyoung and Yunho every day. Once, while the kids were downstairs with the maids to play with the kittens, Seonghwa addressed it.

"The seasons pass in a flash. We are nearing four years since our first meeting," he hummed. His delicate fingers swirled his chalice with wine.

With big eyes, Yunho and Buddy stared at each other as they counted the years. Time passed quickly and its grains seemed to run faster and faster.

"Our duties are never-ending and every day is filled with excitement, making us forget that some of us age differently than others."

Hongjoong inspired the thought when he mentioned Seonghwa's appearance never changed. But Wooyoung lost the last of the childish softness to his cheeks and Yunho often whimpered about a hurting back or slow healing. The two were his main concern.

Jongho's crystals partook in the conversation, showing his thoughtful concern.

"Is there a need to fret already?"

"Yunho and Wooyoung will wither from us unless we eternalise their youth. Though they have many more years to live, the later I offer eternity, the more ailments your weakened bodies will pertain."

Huddled into his wings as if he could hide away from age, Wooyoung blinked at Seonghwa from owlish eyes. Hongjoong's head rested on his fully healed thigh as the sorcerer played with some gem.

"You can make people immortal?"

Seonghwa chuckled at the awe in the innocent question.

"It's an elven secret, yes. Though all elves are born with near-eternal lifespans, the celestial elves found a way to exist beyond the borders of time. I cannot die unless slain and while each of you is free to live and die as you were born to, I extend this offer to you. Though I would never demand you to stay by my side forever, it is a gift I wish to bestow upon those who seek it. It comes from my adoration for you."

Yunho gaped at him, hearing that detail for the first time. Though hidden knowledge since it involved only a few rare cases outside of the elven race, it was a priceless gift.

"You can just do that? There is no otherworldly magical rule keeping you from it?" Wooyoung asked. He had his talons in his hands, swaying back and forth in nervous contemplation. Seonghwa would never put him in harm's way, but discarding one's mortality was a difficult choice. They never questioned death and it was natural to their lives.

"What about the others? Is it only us two who will die?"

"Early, yes," Seonghwa nodded. "The seraphim and the demons get many centuries old, though the same offer applies to them. I would never wish to attend your funerals when I don't need to, so this is my tribute. Think about it and tell me once you are ready. Only love awaits you in the long future and if you ever grow tired of such a life, a blade may still kill you."

Wooyoung contemplated it. Hongjoong's hands played with the tip of his wing, grooming through his feathers as such an overwhelming and grand decision was brought their way.

"My son will outlive me by so long... After living a few centuries without me, he will forget who his father was." Terrified, Yunho clutched his face in his palms. "He will just know it was some human who died way too soon!"

When Mingi shrank between his shoulders, Seonghwa lifted soothing hands.

"That's why I suggest this. You can be his father for as long as you wish, but there is no hurry to decide. Even if you ask me in twenty years, we can still do it. I just wished to soothe my gnawing worries of late nights."

He, too, hoped to keep them close to his heart, but eternity couldn't be demanded. Though he could grant them that great gift, he would also grant them his compassion if they preferred a regular life and death. Seonghwa's wants were secondary where the crisis of the self was concerned.

As for Yunho, he already looked determined. His fragile human lifespan was nothing in comparison to his eternal child. Aodhán wouldn't even be an adult yet by elven measurements by the time Yunho would submit to age.

"So you plan to love us even when we are old and grey? Even if you uphold this appearance?" Wooyoung asked, distracted by that side information. When Yeosang pointed out that he was already very grey, a talon swiped at him.

"Of course, I will," Seonghwa hummed. "Your beauty cannot be measured in appearance and I love you dearly. I will hold your hands until your last breath and I will cry the same whether we spent centuries or millennia with one another."

At this, Hongjoong rolled his eyes at Wooyoung.

"You really want him to cry? Just say yes you moron."

Wooyoung opened and closed his mouth, still overwhelmed. Since he didn't want to stir up more discussion, Seonghwa leaned back.

"Think about it and notify me later. We have lots of time."

Relieved, they relaxed again. He could tell the topic weighed on Yunho's and Wooyoung's minds, but they took their time with their finding, as he asked of them. Soon, everyone was content again with their pastries and wine. They spent the evening with no more worries, neither talking about the passage of time nor about the threat from the orcs.

Seonghwa treated every precious day of peace as a gift. He spent as much time as he could muster between his duties with his children, attending to their first steps in life. Aodhán soon spoke in full sentences, sharing his wisdom on which fruit he liked and which he didn't. His puppy was named Sunny - with obvious inspirations - and her white fur rivalled the shine of his golden locks.

Morana's first word was 'sleep' and she demanded it after a long time spent outside. After a few whines and blinking against the blaring sun in Mingi's arms since neither half of her appreciated its light, she choked out the plea. Seonghwa rushed her inside right away and made sure her room was dark so she could rest under the light of the stars in the night sky.

Soon, the two could both walk by Seonghwa's side and babbled merrily whenever someone sat with them. They loved the gardens and playing with Jongho though at different times of the day. The golem always indulged them, picked up on their habits and made nonsensical noises as he entertained on the soft grass. He understood they were squishy and easily hurt, so he made sure to cover parts of him with soft mosses that Yeosang gladly helped him grow. Sunny and Buddy were often with them and got along maybe a tad too well as dogs grew up so fast. Seonghwa heard Yunho scold them at least twice.

Morana named her raven 'Onyx' and learned how to handle him from early on in her age. The looming animal was comically too large on her childish shoulder, intimidating those who came her way in the corridors. She adored Mingi and how gentle he was and once she understood that he couldn't see, she often offered her hand to guide him in the same way others guided her. The first time Seonghwa saw his two kids leading the demon down the corridor with merry chatters while Mingi hunched over to accommodate them, his soul felt as if it might crack from fondness.

Seonghwa sang a lot for them, or read them stories. Often, when no one occupied them, he sat in the library and told them the tales his father once told him. He introduced them to the creatures they never saw before, told them the legend of the dragons watching over the elven castles and drank up their breathless awe whenever reality blended into fiction. Morana was more interested in their readings than Aodhán. While Seonghwa's son often brought something else to busy himself with and listened only with one ear while he learned how to sprout plants with his magic, Morana liked to sit on his lap dutifully. She ran little fingers over the illustrations in the books and pointed them out to Onyx. As the soothing voice of their father lulled the two, they often fell asleep draped somewhere across him or on his feet. At those times, he sat very still until one of his husbands came to find them and saved him. Once, he fell asleep along with them after a long night. He felt Morana's hot head pressed under his cheek for a while and stirred only when they were separated. Yeosang and Hongjoong had come to carry his children to their respective beds, and San picked up Seonghwa to make sure he got some proper rest.

They cherished every morning to wake up cosied into each other, every day spent with mundane little tasks that caused only the most irrelevant bickering. Seonghwa made sure to distribute his many kisses equally, never leaving anyone to grow doubts. He brought many presents for Wooyoung, dressed him in the expensive fabrics of the elves. Hongjoong received a second room in the tower opposite the astronomer so he could brew his potions in peace without anyone from their growing family disrupting him. Yunho participated in a joust held in the town and won first place, wearing his triumphant smile for weeks as Seonghwa praised him daily. San and his sheep plush often joined Seonghwa together, losing some of their shyness when Seonghwa kept assuring him that San was free to tell him which pastries he liked and which music he wanted to hear so Seonghwa could demand lots of them. Mingi followed some studies so he could teach Morana and Seonghwa often sat with him during long nights to teach him the history and culture of both elves and demons. Yeosang visited the grove occasionally, getting accustomed to his people and Seonghwa came with him every time, was Yeosang's anchor in this world of strangers. Jongho indulged in his music, learning to play well enough to teach the two kids with similarly clumsy hands. Whenever Seonghwa halted to hum along to him, the golem lit up with glee.

Things were peaceful and Seonghwa relished them that way. The threat of the orcs had concerned the empire for a long time, longer even than the moment the kingdoms started joining into one. Seonghwa wasn't the first emperor to dedicate his time and hope to solve the matter, though he wished to be the last. He didn't want to stand by Morana's side as his father did now to guide her. He didn't want the demons to monger war in their impatience.

Seonghwa promised himself that he could do anything with his husbands by his side. So he could show the world that the orcs could be reeled in without slaughter.

As the empire celebrated the determination of their Moon Emperor and his crown bore heavily on his head, Seonghwa still had many more adventures to go through. But with his family, he looked forward to them with steady feet. He would be the emperor everyone wished for. And he would be the husband, father, and friend he swore himself to be.

Ever-lasting like the moon, he would continue to shine his healing light.

*********

Hello hellooo

Another beautiful adventure with the Melf found its end! Of course, this isn't the last we will hear of him, however. I don't know yet when book 3 fits into my schedule but it will come! Follow my Twitter Susimau_s for news ^^

This time I won't forget: I did a little feedback survey for this series. Those who have some time and haven't done it yet are welcome to tell me their opinions since I always work on publishing my fics as books! Thank you a lot. https://forms.gle/2YiKBUG49wRueaP48

As for my next book, we will see Woosan in a post-apocalyptic setting! Inspired by Halazia, we got zombies, floating orbs and dystopia! Check out "From the Darkness" tomorrow ^^

As often as I say this and as little as it might mean, always thank you for your support and bringing a good mood! Having people to enjoy this with makes uploading all the more fun <3

See you soon, take care!