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.

you keep comprehending Laws? Why do you go through the fear and pain of

do anything else. No Cultivator 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 want to become more powerful? Because we don't want

We don't want to feel the pain of a loved one dying. We want to spend more time with our loved ones. We

the point of surviving?" Mortis asked, looking at Azure. "From what you've said, you sound like you don't have anything you want to live for. So, why

Azure remained silent.

silent for several

that time, Mortis regretted his

had only asked some things he was curious about, but he realized that his words might have had an

He was thinking these thoughts every single

in comparison, Azure had never

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

an internal struggle. "What do

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 us. Becoming more powerful might feel way more

You're not a human, and you already accepted that, right? Why search for something

had regretted asking his earlier

the case," Azure said as she looked at Mortis with confusion and nervousness. "I know

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

Azure

you feel?"

kind of emptiness," Azure said. "It's like a black hole that sucks out all the drive in my being, and it feels like it's consuming

uncomfortable, and he

a feeling he

"Hey, listen-"

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

looked at Azure skeptically. After all, he knew how overwhelming this

Mortis immediately. Instead,

more powerful. However, as soon as you brought my attention to the purpose of life, I suddenly felt this feeling I never

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

we become Star Gods, right?" Azure asked. "So, when we get a Spirit,

thought when Azure

Could she be right?

Mortis

Azure

asked. "You said you know

it?" Mortis

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

the Law of

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

even go about

since he knew it, and he was sure that a beast couldn't

be impossible for a

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

feel love like humans?"

don't know," Azure said. "I think so, but

she looked

to try?"

Mortis froze.

That…

at Azure. "Could you be a bit more

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, and if it doesn't, we can just

back of his

don't know," he

downside, only upsides. We will come out with more knowledge, no matter

Then, Azure remembered something.

it because I'm not attractive to