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."

words in such a neutral and dissociated tone reminded her of that day. He had

Stella sighed.

looked back with a complex expression. "The only reason why I'm talking to you is that I have felt your pain. My Law of Empathy allows

you genuinely didn't want to

it still happened. Does it matter if

sighed again as she

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

a kind man. After all, we have talked for

she looked into Gravis' eyes with apprehension. "Whenever I look at you, I can only

reminded of the time when we fought, and I saw your burning and emotionless skull right in front

know your personality, and I know you,

I only see

he understood Stella. Going through something like this was horrible, and even if it

willing to draw Joyce's hatred towards him as long as it meant that she didn't commit the error of recultivating. He had also known that

situation and Gravis' current situation was

was hard to resolve since

retribution for her pain, but on the other hand, Stella knew why Gravis had done these things, and she

no

if Stella decided to

her feel guilty since she knew that Gravis had basically sacrificed their relationship and went through emotional pain to help her.

to ignore the previous

would never be happy and would dread the time they spent together. This would obviously be horrible

Every choice was horrible.

came

seconds of silence

a decision right now," Stella

everything is still fresh in our

sure of what we are feeling. I would suggest that you should

with an evaluating expression. "I think I will be comprehending Laws for around

looked back at Stella. "After that, I

sighed and nodded. "Sounds good. I think

into a pained one as he remembered

to see you then,"

surprised. "Why

come closer to you back then," Gravis said slowly. "Obviously, we are attracted to each

would have felt happy, but right now, she felt nothing when Gravis said

spark was not

how it gets resolved, different things might happen,"

a bit

resolved. In the end, I might either

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

haven't taken the next step," Gravis said