Tonight is particularly darker than usual, footsteps light and stricken with anxiety as they hurriedly rush down spacious lowlit crimson halls. Pale hands are tightly clamped across various ruby cloaks and gowns, and the rings adorning some of their fingers that glint off the circular lamps lining the walls glow either a rich emerald or a startling gold. But the lamps do nothing to reduce the pitch black gloom gradually drowning the entirety of the northern Starlight kingdom, especially the shadows of worry that currently taint their hearts.

"Hurry -- time is of the essence," they whisper amongst themselves, colourful eyes wide and petrified.

Soon enough, the people congregate within the large assembly room in seconds, their faces bowed in greeting.

The man at the very front takes a smooth step forward, his grace making him seem as though he's floating. He raises his head, his beard long and his intricately styled brown hair even longer.

"Your majesty," he begins, his voice easily filling the large area. The floating lamps in the room shine brightly upon the blond haired king currently seated on the large golden throne up ahead, his expression nothing less than inscrutable. "We're terribly sorry to barge in like this at this time of night, but this matter cannot be postponed any longer."

The king's eyes narrow, but his lips twitch with resignation. "We're safer here, advisor Cho. This palace is far too strong to be penetrated into."

"We're not any safer from the townfolk elves on the streets even with our magic, your majesty," advisor Cho refutes. "A terrible dark magic is spreading like a disease amongst our youth, holding the victims captive and infesting their minds. We cannot risk a royal elf -- the heir -- falling into this madness."

A chorus of agreement echoes throughout the room, each elf voicing their opinion.

"Silence," the king commands with a raise of the hand, and the air quietens. Thick blond tresses spill across his back as he straightens his posture, a luminous yellow underneath the dazzling lamps.

"Your majesty -- " advisor Cho begins after a second, only to be cut off.

"There is a wedding to be held next week," the King says, almost as a last ditch effort to somehow get the assembly of elves before him to change their minds. "My son has to get married to the prince of the southern's."

'The Southern's' is how the northern kingdom refers to the lower half as they frown on a majority of their customs, especially with how combative and wild the citizens can be, including the royal family. But as some sort of way to finally unite the different nations, a marriage had been arranged between King Jeong's first son and the son of Queen Jung, prince Wooyoung.

"With all due respect, your majesty, we simply cannot proceed with the wedding to...the southern's at this time," advisor Cho says, his face falling a bit as he mentions the other kingdom. "It would be unwise, and the best thing to do is to take the prince to the place where no dark magic can enter."

The king sighs as he clasps his hands over his deep blue gown, knowing fully well what the advisor is getting at. "As you all know," he begins, "this kingdom prides itself on allowing its people to make their own choices and decisions. So I shall allow my son to say whether he is in favour of this or not, because I am a just king."

A couple elves in the congregation side-eye each other.

The king clears his throat, ushers for one of the servants and she comes scrambling to his side, her modest grey dress clashing with his vivid clothing.

"Where is Yunho?" He whispers.

"I believe he is in his room, your majesty, sleeping."

"This is a meeting about his future and he dares to sleep? That darned lazy brat -- " the man pauses when the assembly members look at him. He clears his throat again, forces on a pleasant smile. "Please send for him, will you?"

"Yes my king." With that, the female servant rushes off, and for a moment everyone is just staring at each other, impatiently waiting for their future king to arrive.

Ynita's moonlight slithers through the tall windows just as a certain pair of feet saunter in, the tapping of their cotton footwear the only sound present.

Smooth lavender fabric shines across a broad chest, as shimmery as a pixie's wings as it hangs from the person's tall, lithe frame. Their bright blond hair is simply braided down their back, not at all like the way it's usually pulled and styled into delicate designs that showcase their royal blood. Their emerald green eyes slowly take in the plethora of elves gathered at the castle right at that moment, fatigued beyond comprehension.

"Yunho," the king greets, not without a clenched jaw and a sharp glare at the woman servant lingering behind his first son.

"I am sorry, your majesty. His highness would not get dressed in a more appropriate attire -- "

Yunho turns to watch her, eyes widening in shock. "You absolute snitch -- "

The king clears his throat once more, a desperate attempt to distract the crowd from his son's lax words and the fact that he chose to wear his nightgown to an emergency royal meeting. The one with the childish white dots and everything.

"As I was saying," King Jeong speaks, motioning for his son to join him on the raised platform. He bites back a curse when Yunho almost stumbles over his own smaller throne. "My son, prince Yunho, will get to decide whether he wants to go to the human world for the time being while we figure out a way to cast out the dark magic ravaging the nation."

What on Ynita's blessed green earth? Yunho sits upright instantly, his sleep quickly leaving him as his heartbeat pounds with surprise. "Father, what is going on -- "

"It is in your best interest to listen to advisor Cho, son," the king interrupts, liking how caught off-guard his son is. The more Yunho hates this, the less chances there are of the prince getting whisked off to live with those god-forsaken humans.

"Your highness," advisor Cho addresses the befuddled prince. "You are well aware of the...illness that has been targeting our youth as of late, and we won't want you to risk contracting this. For your own safety, we have suggested to your father the king to send you to the human realm to remain there for a while. Do not worry -- there are people there who deal with cases like ours often. You will be staying with one of them."

"He will get to decide," King Jeong adds once more, then faces the fair prince. He can't exactly read the look on Yunho's face, but he fortunately doesn't look happy. "What do you think, my son? I know this is quite a shock, as you were to be wed with the southern's prince next week -- but it's for your own good. I know you may hate it now, but -- "

"I accept," Yunho crosses his arms, and beams.

King Jeong chokes on his spit. "W-What?"

The assembly murmurs, half-relieved the prince agreed and half-puzzled he answered so eagerly.

"You accept?" Advisor Cho mirrors their thoughts, brown brows arched.

"I mean," Yunho leans into the cushiony material of his throne as he tries hard not to grin at the bewildered state his father's in. Serves you right. Jeong Yunho: +1, King Jeong: 0. "I am the future king. I must face every uncertainty bravely, without any cowardice."

Advisor Cho scratches his beard. "I mean, that is true -- "

"And I know you lot need me to be safe for the future of our kingdom," Yunho continues as his father keeps wordlessly seething in his seat. "And I also will do my best to blend in with the humans and not draw attention."

"Yunho," the king starts lowly, his teeth gritted. "Think this over, will you?"

"I accept this challenge with open arms," Yunho announces even louder, getting to his feet for more impact. His green eyes shimmer with satisfaction at how the king tightly grips the handlebars of his throne.

Jeong Yunho: 2, King Jeong: -1 (new).

"I shall accept this as a necessary evil, a sacrifice I must make for the betterment and the sanctity of our great nation," Yunho keeps going, because he wants his father to get even angrier, and mostly because he can. "...When do I leave?"

"Uh, we will have to contact the humans first about your arrival, your highness," advisor Cho answers, eyes darting between the red-faced king and the boyish smirk of the future one, cautious. "But tomorrow night will be the most ideal. Your...travel will be a private matter, and you will get enough time to say goodbye to your family."

Yunho thinks about his father that disapproves of everything he does, and his younger brother that undoubtedly dislikes him for not taking his duties and responsibilities as seriously as he does. Yeah, not happening.

"I can leave even earlier."

"But, your majesty, I think night will be best, as it reduces your chances of being seen. Our magic also works better when Ynita's sun sets."

Yunho can feel his father's smugness from the back, and he bristles, his eyes sparkling an icy mint due to the elven magic in his veins. "...Fine, whatever."

The king claps. "So this is settled, then?"

"I will be on my way to bed," Yunho says immediately, snapping his fingers. Two personal servants gather around him. "Make me some tea -- silver root, to be precise. I'm quite parched, and I need to be well rested for tomorrow, Eunha and Jihun." He ends his sentence with addressing them by their actual names and a sleek, disarming smile, one that has never failed to charm the common folk and lords alike whenever he took one of his monthly compulsory patrols through the streets.

On cue, pink dusts the cheeks of the two servants, and they both look down.

"Yunho," his father warns behind him, but Yunho just rolls his eyes.

"Good night father," he states, nodding as well at the assembly. While the servants scramble to make his tea, he walks off, already not looking forward to tomorrow.

Sure, Yunho acted like all confident in front of his father the king to further push his buttons, but the truth of the matter is that he's a little...unnerved by the situation. Dark magic targeting specifically the young is basically unheard of, as Ynita is particularly fond and protective of their children, and the fact that he has to go to live with the humans now has him questioning the state of his future.

The maroon marble floors seem to ripple under his feet as he shifts across his bedroom, the area dark save for the soft lamps shining in the corners. When the moonlight kisses his skin, the veins in his wrists radiate a vivid silver. A crescent glints over the surface to show he is one of Ynita's blessed, a deep green like his eyes. Like his mother's.

The servants scrurry in with his silver root tea -- its rich taste helps calm him down -- leaving as soon as they're done.

Yunho soon sits and takes a sip of the tea, its warmth soothing him from within. But the warmth his only artificial, doing next to nothing to quell his anxiety about the future events.

Yunho's more than used to having others decide for him, from what he wore to what he ate -- even down to who he married -- and now, once more, it seems as though his life isn't his once again.

"I need your help, mum," Yunho mumbles, staring down at his cup of tea. The dark drink reflects his furrowed brows and worried eyes. "I don't know what to do..."

Some say Ynita sends the spirits of your loved ones to contact you when you're at your lowest, and while Yunho thinks it's bogus, a chill rolls down his spine at the cold air that wafts through the windows.

Before long Yunho's on his feet and beelining for the windows, pushing them apart in seconds. The bright moon watches over him, so close yet so far.

Yunho thinks of how the moon lingers in the sky, igniting their kingdom at night without fail. Thinks of how the moon does not listen to anyone's commands, and just does what it wants to do, freely.

Be as free as the moon, a voice whispers, so faint yet so familiar. Yunho figures it's probably his mind playing tricks on him again, but he wants to believe he's just been spoken to. Wants to believe he's not alone in this.

He shuts his windows and falls into his bed, an array of silky fabrics and the softest wool, a little warmer now on the inside. This heat is real, hugging his heart and electrifying his skin. He holds himself, and smiles.

Thank you.

• • •

Everything's utter chaos. Icy wind drifts along Yunho's flowing locks, a few soft strands tickling his face as he peers at a whirring machine and watches as it noisily decends down the sky beside advisor Cho and a few other royal subjects. His dad and brother aren't there.

"Helicopter," advisor Cho clarifies for the confused prince.

"Oh," Yunho mumbles as the 'helicopter' finally settles on the middle of the spacious clearing of The Eight Leaders and quietens, the circular arrangement of the stone statues holding potent and protective elven magic. The prince figures the machine's been doused with an anti-barrier spell that allows for uninterrupted entry, one that's cultivated at the heart of Starlight kingdom.

The 'helicopter' doors open, and out steps a rather tall woman with brillant wavy red hair that stops at her shoulders. The round curve of her ears betray that she's human, even though Yunho has never seen a human of that height before.

She smiles, big and vivacious, all donned in black as well as the other stern-faced humans currently situated inside the helicopter.

"Good night, guys. And, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, prince Yunho. I'm Song Gia, but you can just call me Gia," she introduces, suddenly holding a palm out. Crimson colours her nails, and in her other hand holds a thick fabric.

Yunho just stares at her hand, not knowing what to do.

"Humans shake hands as a greeting," advisor Cho says, even though it's obvious he doesn't want the prince to touch the human woman's hand.

Yunho picks up on this, and as a result he swiftly shakes her hand. It's softer than he'd expected. He preens when advisor Cho gulps.

"Pleasure to meet you too, Gia," he mirrors. Gia's smile broadens further. He watches as she holds up the fabric in her arms, the design large, plain and dull under the light of the moon.

"A hoodie, to protect your gorgeous hair," Gia compliments.

Yunho pulls it on, figuring out the clothing also works a cloak as he pushes the hood over his face. His blond hair is now fully hidden.

Gia seems pleased at his cooperation. "Now we have to get in the helicopter, and we should be in Ilsan in about...three hours."

Yunho casts a brief glance over at advisor Cho and the other members of the counsel. To others, their expressions can't be any more indifferent. But Yunho can tell none of them are pleased with this.

Yunho isn't either, but as he enters the flying machine with Gia in tow, he wants to believe this won't go as badly as he thinks it will.

He wants to believe that he's going to be fine.

He can only hope he turns out to be correct.

• • •

a/n: starting off the month with another med appointment cuz no one knows whats wrong w me nd im just getting worse 😃

buttt at least i published a new gay ass fic in a gay ass month so like—

hope this chapter wasnt too bad?