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."

his eyes and saw Stella looking to the side with discomfort. Hearing Gravis speak these words in such a neutral and dissociated tone reminded her of that

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 Law

genuinely didn't want to do

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

as she

of these things to help me,

After all, we have

looked into Gravis' eyes with apprehension. "Whenever I look at you, I can only see your cold and emotionless expression from that

we fought, and I saw your burning and emotionless skull right

and I know you, but I can't see the

you, I only see a

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

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 she might never forgive him, but he had been willing to do it, even if it meant that

Gravis' current situation was that

resolve since there was

other hand, Stella knew why Gravis had done these things, and

was no correct

if Stella decided to cut off all

she knew that Gravis had basically sacrificed their relationship and went through emotional pain to help her. Stella would feel like

Stella decided to ignore the previous

like a monster to her whenever she looked at him, she would never be happy

Every choice was horrible.

choice came with

seconds of

make a decision right now," Stella

nodded. "I agree. Right now, everything is still fresh in our minds, and

would suggest that we cut off all contact for a while until we are sure of what we are feeling. I would suggest

the side with an evaluating expression. "I think I will be comprehending Laws for around 20,000

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

good. I

expression changed into a pained one as he remembered something. After some

come to

a bit surprised.

to you back then," Gravis said slowly. "Obviously, we are attracted to each other, and I'm not a person that is too shy to

right now, she

was not there

on how it gets resolved, different

bit

uncertain how it will be resolved. In the end, I might either stay the same, die,

am not afraid of dying, but I wouldn't want you to go through enormous pain after I am no longer the person you got to know. If I

haven't taken the