Lightning Is the Only Way

"There is no one that elicits these kinds of feelings from me," Mortis answered. "I see so many different Cultivators, but they all look the same to me. They are either strangers, friends, enemies, or whatever. There is no difference."

"So, do humans need some kind of connection with a stranger for love to exist in the future?" Azure asked. She was genuinely curious about all of this.

Mortis' brows furrowed. "No, not really."

"Then why does that have to exist for you to try?" Azure asked.

For the first time, Mortis didn't answer immediately.

Why didn't he just get to know more people?

Was it really necessary that his spark had to exist for a relationship to blossom?

Obviously not.

There were plenty of mortals and Cultivators that got together with people after just being friends for years on end.

There had been no romantic attraction between them in the beginning, but they had eventually ended together.

For some reason, a kind of pressure appeared in Mortis' insides.

'Is it because of my past?' he thought. 'I've felt how Gravis have felt for so long. I've felt these intense bursts of warmth and love inside myself so many times.'

Mortis looked into the distance. 'Is it because I fear disappointment? Do I fear that my eventual love won't be as vibrant as the love Gravis feels for Stella?'

A moment of silence passed.

'And then, this entire thing with Joyce happened, which confirmed my fear. I was attracted to Joyce, but I never felt anything remotely as intense as what Gravis felt for Stella back then.'

'And then, Joyce died, and I felt like my ability to love died with her.'

Mortis glanced over at Azure, who only looked into the distance with a thoughtful expression.

'I think I fear disappointment,' Mortis thought. 'It might be possible that I'm afraid of losing my hope. I can dream about how great love is and how it makes me feel, but I'm afraid that my imagination is off.'

Another moment of silence.

'If even love turns out to be a disappointment, what else is there left but greyness in my life?'

'If love doesn't live up to my expectations, what reason do I even have left to live?'

"Azure, why do you cultivate?" Mortis asked.

Azure was surprised by the question. How did Mortis even come up with that question?

"Why do I cultivate?" Azure asked.

Mortis nodded.

Azure remained silent.

"I don't know," she said after several seconds. "Honestly, I haven't really thought about it. Living just feels natural to me, and it's like something I just have to do."

"Is there something in your life that you don't want to lose, no matter what?" Mortis asked.

Azure remained silent for a bit longer as her expression became uncomfortable.

"Not really," Azure answered with an unsure voice.

do you keep fighting? Why do you keep comprehending Laws? Why do you go

goes out and tempers themselves just for fun. We all do it out of necessity since we want to become more powerful. And why do we

have something in our life that we don't want to lose. We don't want to feel the pain of a loved one dying. We want

Azure.

Azure remained silent.

silent for

that time, Mortis

curious about, but he realized

He was thinking these thoughts every

Azure had never even asked

to question yourself regarding this topic," Mortis added. "You obviously have something to live for. Otherwise,

Azure said, her expression showing an internal struggle. "What do I actually live for?

added. "Heaven made you to become powerful. You're not a human, and you don't need to have the feelings we humans have. For you, power might have a vastly stronger appeal than

for living by comparing them to humans. You're not a human, and you already accepted that, right? Why search for something unimportant to you?"

asking his earlier question. Azure

said as she looked at Mortis with confusion and nervousness. "I know

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

Azure said. "That's why it was so difficult for

you

hole that sucks out all the drive in my being, and it feels

expression became uncomfortable, and he felt

a feeling he was very

"Hey, listen-"

mind that I'm not some mortal. I'm a Star God, and I've gone through worse. You don't need to

skeptically. After all, he

she didn't try to convince Mortis immediately. Instead, she wanted to tell him what

feeling before, right?" Azure asked. "I've never had an issue with life, and I felt satisfied with simply becoming more powerful. However, as soon as you brought

anything like this in the past. I haven't felt anything even remotely like this, not even a

Star Gods, right?" Azure asked. "So, when we get a Spirit, does it also mean that our emotional concepts become more

fell into thought when Azure said

Could she be right?

now, Mortis

then, Azure

Heaven's Magnates?" Azure asked. "You said you know a Heaven's

about it?"

one main Law always stumped me. I always tried to think of a way to comprehend it, but

about the Law

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

even go

of Empathy since he knew it, and he was

impossible for a

the Black Magnate become a Heaven's Magnate if it's impossible for a beast to feel like a

you can now feel love

said. "I think so, but I can't be sure without

she looked at

to try?" she

Mortis froze.

That…

at Azure. "Could you be a bit more specific?"

all, even if I can't feel it, I know a bit about how it works, and I know that it would hurt you if I couldn't reciprocate. So, we can just try, right? If it works, we can both experience love,

back of his

know,"

you hesitating?" Azure asked, genuinely confused. "I see no downside, only upsides. We

Then, Azure remembered something.

it because I'm not attractive to you?" Azure asked, genuinely