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."

looking to the side with discomfort. Hearing Gravis speak these words in such a neutral

Stella sighed.

I have felt your pain. My Law of Empathy allows me

you genuinely

Does it matter if you wanted

again as she shook her

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

are a kind man. After all,

Gravis' eyes with apprehension. "Whenever I look at you, I can only see

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

know you, but I can't see the real

look at you, I only see a cold

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

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 he would lose

only difference between that situation and Gravis' current situation was that Gravis had been

this was hard to resolve since

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

was no correct

if Stella decided to cut off all

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

decided to ignore the

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

Every choice was horrible.

choice came with

seconds

a decision right

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

while until we are sure of what we are feeling. I would

I will be comprehending Laws for around 20,000 or 30,000 years. This should be plenty of time to digest our

I will go to the Core Regions most

and nodded. "Sounds good. I think that's the best course

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

I will not come to see you then," Gravis

was a bit surprised. "Why not?" she

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

Stella would have felt happy, but right now,

spark was

and depending on how it gets resolved, different things might happen," Gravis explained

was a bit confused.

will be resolved. In

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 make the wrong choice, I will no longer be myself, and I don't want you to lose

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