Lightning Is the Only Way

Two days passed until Stella appeared in front of Gravis.

Gravis sat on the ground, just thinking about several things when he saw Stella appear in front of him.

Stella came alone, without Liam.

The two of them looked at each other for several seconds in silence, both of them having complex expressions on their faces.

Their entire dynamic had changed. There was now something horrible between them that couldn't be ignored.

"Liam doesn't want to see you right now," Stella said.

"Understandable," Gravis said.

More seconds of silence.

"How do you feel?" Gravis asked quietly.

"Hurt, betrayed," Stella said.

Gravis felt a sting in his being after hearing these words.

"It was the worst day of my life, and I still don't know what I should feel right now," Stella said, keeping several meters of distance between the two of them.

"I've had several days to think about your actions, and I realize why you did them," Stella said with a sigh. "I understand freedom now, and I know that I wouldn't have understood it otherwise."

"But I still feel immense pain whenever I think about that day," Stella said with a shaky voice. "You have hurt me deeply, Gravis, and no matter what reason you had, the pain won't disappear."

"I can understand your reason, and a part of me is also thankful for that, but I can't ignore the pain," Stella said quietly.

Gravis sighed. "I know. Something like this isn't easy to resolve. There is no right choice," he said. "So, what are your plans?"

"That depends," Stella said as she sighed. Then, she looked at Gravis. "How far would you have gone?"

Gravis closed his eyes. He didn't want to look at her while saying these words.

"I would have gone further, but I would have stopped before penetration," he said.

Stella's body shook as she heard the word "penetration". It sounded so sterile, but the word shook her being.

"If you had still been unable to comprehend freedom before it, you obviously would never learn freedom," Gravis said. "The Law of Freedom isn't easy to learn, and it would have been impossible for me to create a better circumstance. This was the full extent of what I can do to help you understand freedom."

"If you hadn't comprehended freedom, I would have left. Obviously, I would have summoned Liam too."

"However, my shame would have been far too great, and I would have left. I would be unable to look into your eyes after what I have done. Our contact would have stopped."

the side with discomfort. Hearing Gravis speak these words in such a neutral and dissociated tone reminded her of that day. He had spoken the

Stella sighed.

she said as she looked back with a complex expression. "The only reason why I'm talking to you is that I have felt your pain. My

you genuinely didn't want to do

happened. Does it matter if you wanted to do it or

as

she said. "I know that you have done all of these things to help me, but the pain

a kind man. After

with apprehension. "Whenever I look at you, I can only see your cold and

I

you, but

I only

was horrible, and even if it was done for the right reasons, it still

draw Joyce's hatred towards him as long as it meant that she didn't commit the error of

between that situation and Gravis' current situation was

to resolve since there was

on the other hand, Stella

no correct

if Stella decided to cut off all

relationship and went through emotional pain to help her. Stella would

Stella decided to ignore

possible. As long as Gravis appeared like a monster to her whenever she looked at him, she would never be happy and would dread the time they

Every choice was horrible.

came with

seconds of

decision right now,"

agree. Right now, everything is still fresh in our

a while until we are sure of what we

evaluating expression. "I think I will be comprehending Laws

back at Stella. "After that, I will go to the Core

and nodded. "Sounds good. I think

expression changed into a pained one as he remembered something.

come to see you then,"

was a bit surprised.

Gravis said slowly. "Obviously, we are attracted to each other, and I'm

have felt happy, but right now,

spark was

on how it gets resolved, different things might happen,"

a bit confused. What

be resolved. In the

no longer the person you got to know. If I make the wrong choice, I will no longer

why I haven't taken the next step," Gravis said