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."

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

Stella sighed.

I'm talking to you is that I have felt your pain. My Law of Empathy allows me to feel

genuinely

matter if you wanted to do

as she shook her

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

you are a kind man. After all, we have talked for several

Stella said as she looked into Gravis' eyes with apprehension. "Whenever I look at you, I can only see your

I saw your burning and emotionless skull right in

know you, but I can't

you, I only see a cold

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

had been 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

situation and Gravis' current situation was that Gravis had

was hard to resolve since there was

hand, Stella knew why Gravis had done

no correct

if Stella decided to cut off all

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

decided to ignore

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

Every choice was horrible.

came

more seconds of

can't make a decision right

agree. Right now, everything is still fresh in our minds, and we are both still riled

what we are feeling. I would suggest

"I think I will be comprehending Laws for around 20,000 or 30,000 years. This should be plenty of

I will go

I think that's the best

a pained one as he remembered something. After some seconds, he

not come to

was a bit surprised. "Why not?"

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

right now, she

was not there

with something, and depending on how it gets resolved, different things might happen," Gravis explained as he didn't look at

bit confused. What

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

got to know. If I make the wrong choice, I will no longer be myself, and I don't want you

why I haven't taken the next step,"