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.

Why do you go through the fear and

We all do it out of

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

the point of surviving?" Mortis asked, looking at Azure.

Azure remained silent.

silent for

Mortis

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

were normal to Mortis. He was thinking these thoughts every single

comparison, Azure had never even asked herself that

regarding this topic," Mortis added. "You obviously have something to live for. Otherwise, you wouldn't have

her expression showing an internal struggle. "What do I

have the feelings we humans have. For you, power might have a vastly stronger appeal than for

humans. You're not a human, and you already accepted that, right? Why

asking his earlier

and nervousness. "I know what you're trying to do right

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

overwhelmed by something I have never felt before," Azure said. "That's

you

that sucks out all the drive in my being, and it feels like it's consuming

became uncomfortable, and

feeling he was very familiar

"Hey, listen-"

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

After all, he knew how

convince Mortis immediately. Instead, she wanted to

issue with life, and I felt satisfied with simply becoming 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 even a

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

fell into thought when

Could she be right?

Mortis couldn't be

then, Azure added

Azure asked. "You said

about it?"

need to know all the four main Laws, and one main Law always stumped me. I always tried to think of

about the Law of Empathy,"

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

even go about comprehending the Law of

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

impossible for

Magnate if

can now feel love

said. "I think so, but I

looked

to try?" she

Mortis froze.

That…

only looked at Azure. "Could you

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,

the back

don't know," he

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

Then, Azure remembered something.

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