Lightning Is the Only Way

"Little brother?" Gravis asked, quite confused. He never met his siblings. He wasn't even sure if he had siblings.

The man just grinned. "Yeah, you're my little brother, and I am one of your older brothers." He stood up, walked around the desk, and patted Gravis on the shoulder. "You can call me Brother Orpheus." Seeing that Gravis still looked unsure, Orpheus laughed. "Man, this brings me back. I had the same look you have when I met my first sibling."

Gravis looked dejectedly at the floor. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I had siblings. Father and mother never talked about their other children." Gravis realized what he said and quickly tried to correct himself. He didn't want to give his newly met brother the feeling that his parents didn't care about him. "No, no! They probably did, but I didn't notice." Gravis rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, sorry."

Seeing this, Orpheus laughed loudly. "Haha, don't worry!" Orpheus patted Gravis' shoulder again, showing that he didn't mind. "Maybe you didn't notice, but our siblings are forbidden to talk to the center child until their way has been established."

Now, Gravis was confused again. "What do you mean with center child?"

"The center child is the newest born child from father and mother." Orpheus pointed at Gravis. "So, right now, that is you."

Gravis furrowed his brows. "Okay, but why? Also, what did you mean with 'established way'?"

Orpheus sat back down on his chair and beckoned Gravis to sit too. Gravis did just that. "This practice comes from father. He cares very much about us and wants us to find our own way in the world, without outside influence. Only a heart and will born out of itself is the strongest. If, for example, I persuaded you to start cultivating, you might not truly have the heart for it. This would be an obsession implanted by others and not born by yourself. There's a difference in that."

quiet life. Some want to cultivate, and some want parts of both. When father sees what his child has decided to do with their life, he brings them on the right course." Orpheus took a sip from

skeptical. "How are you so sure that is what

laughed again and continued. "Father has chosen the hardest path for you. Even if it doesn't

"I am also confused by that. Couldn't he just grant me strength, or give

There are multiple major realms above that, and if you didn't forge your path with blood, calamity, and setbacks, you wouldn't have the experience or will to get much further in life. A stable palace must be built one brick at a

than he could imagine. Yet, not even that was the end. He also remembered that

"What do you think? How

sure, but he knew that his parents had been alive

loudly

"Thousands? I have thousands of brothers and

"Yeah, and imagine that. All those siblings have

he had

by itself. He beckoned Gravis to drink, and Gravis took a gulp. He had tasted coffee before, but this cup tasted like crap. He tried to hide his disgust, but Orpheus noticed and laughed again. "Do you know how many people would lick my

his brother. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Orpheus waved his hand. "Don't worry. As if my coffee can keep up with our

family. He felt that his brother was honest with him and had only goodwill. Though, he was still unused to the fact that he had a brother... or thousands of

you don't like it, do what you deem necessary without a complaint. You truly are my younger brother." He drank from his