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."

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

Stella sighed.

talking to you is that I have felt your pain. My

you genuinely

Does it matter if

again as she shook

don't know," she said. "I know that you have done all of these things to

you are a kind man. After

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

I saw your

know your personality, and I know you,

I look at you, I only

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

it meant that she didn't commit the error of recultivating. He had also known that she might never forgive him, but he

that situation and Gravis' current

to resolve since there

on the other hand, Stella

no

if Stella decided to cut off all

that Gravis had basically sacrificed their relationship and went through emotional

if Stella decided to ignore the previous

to her whenever she looked at him, she would never be happy and would dread the time they spent together. This would

Every choice was horrible.

came with

more seconds

decision

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

of what we

comprehending Laws for around 20,000 or 30,000 years. This should be

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

I think that's the best

he remembered something. After some seconds, he made a

I will not come to

bit surprised.

sighed. "There is a reason why I haven't come closer to you back then," Gravis said slowly. "Obviously, we are attracted to each other, and I'm

felt happy, but right now, she felt nothing when

was not there

depending on how it gets resolved,

a bit

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

person you got to know. If I make the wrong choice,

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