Lightning Is the Only Way

The four of them perked up. They had just now entered the highest world, and everyone but Orthar was uncertain about their future paths. The three children wanted to know what their grandfather would tell them.

By now, all three of them knew fully well that they sat on the same table as one of the most powerful beings in all the worlds. The wise words from such a being were worth more than gold.

"Cera, I will start with you," the Opposer said as he looked at her.

Cera felt nervous. Why was she first?

"Your current circumstances are damaging to you," the Opposer said.

Everyone at the table but Gravis' mother was surprised about this. Even Gravis was a little surprised. What was damaging about Cera's circumstance?

"You see your siblings, and you see that they feel things that you don't," Gravis' father said. "You see how Yersi is happy when she sees Gravis, and you see the bond between Aris and Gravis. Yet, you do not feel these things and try to adapt."

"You try to find these feelings that your siblings have to not feel left out, but you just can't. If you continue like this, eventually, you will succeed, but is that truly who you are? Is it correct to adapt yourself to the others around you when it means that you will be someone you are not?" the Opposer said.

Aris and Yersi were quite surprised as they looked at Cera. Was this true? They knew that Cera acted far more like a typical beast in comparison to them. Yet, was she genuinely trying to find these feelings inside her? She always seemed so sure of herself.

After a while, the present people and beasts understood. Cera probably felt left out and different, making her feel like someone else had something that she didn't. This could even result in feelings of inferiority.

"Don't," the Opposer said. "You are you, and being more beast than human is not worse than being more human than beast. Don't try to change who you are. Accept yourself as you are and concentrate on your own growth and power."

At first, Cera didn't want to acknowledge that she strived to have something that her siblings had. Acknowledging this would mean acknowledging that she felt inferior. Yet, as time passed, she slowly accepted it, even if it felt horrible.

Running away from these feelings was easy, but confronting them was hard. If she wanted to progress, she needed to confront these feelings. Fortunately, Cera was old and experienced enough to see the truth with her current circumstances and managed to accept it.

"What should I do, grandfather?" Cera asked. Calling the Opposer grandfather felt unnatural, but she wanted to do it anyway.

up and send you to different worlds according to your personalities," the Opposer said, his words hanging

this. Family was great and all, but for their own good, the three of them should be split up. Up

them had to learn to live by themselves, without the help of their family. One always had to find compromises with themselves when constantly being with someone else.

more beast than human, she still saw the other two as her closest companions. They had been together for over a thousand years, nearly ever since they

forces you into the path to power. It is your decision. What I have said is also only a suggestion. In the end, it is up to

he wasn't sure if his siblings also wanted that.

to her mindset, Cera could accept this. Beasts always put their own power above feelings of

siblings. She liked growing more powerful, but she preferred the companionship of her siblings more. She would

little kids getting separated, but he knew that it was

power!" Cera said with

Yersi once and then also looked at the Opposer. "I want

didn't want to leave them, but she also felt happy for them. It

noticed the lie. With their power, seeing through such a lie wasn't

said. "Then I will tell you now

said, and Cera nodded. "You need to be apart from humans. Accept that you are a real and pure beast. Don't be ashamed of your different emotions and priorities. In here, you feel like a stranger, but among beasts,

to a higher natural world. There will be no humans in this world, and you can fully mature into yourself,"

I'm not

you to a middle world is also possible, but you will have a minimal number of enemies there," the Opposer said. "There are plenty of

thought about this for a while and nodded.

and

power was stronger. He wanted to know what his grandfather

to Cera, you have it more difficult with your mindset," the Opposer said. "Half of you is thinking like a beast, and half of you is thinking like a human. When you see Yersi feeling for her father, you can understand, but you also feel that it

it is not entirely

at Aris. Was that true? Did their brother have such intense feelings of

shook slightly. He had grown used to feeling unnatural about everything and had put it in the back of his head. Yet, when these

have mixed feelings about everything. Being human and being a beast are not mutually exclusive. You can be both at once. Simply follow what feels right for you without thinking