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 comprehending Laws? Why do

would rather 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

don't we want to die? Because 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 to spend more time with our loved ones. We want to see

Mortis asked, looking at Azure. "From what you've said,

Azure remained silent.

silent for

that time, Mortis regretted

curious about, but he realized that his words might

were normal to Mortis. He

in comparison, Azure had never

to answer, and you also don't need to question yourself regarding this topic," Mortis added. "You obviously have something to live for. Otherwise, you wouldn't have

an internal struggle. "What do I actually live for? Why do

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

not a human, and you already accepted that, right? Why search for something unimportant to you?"

now, Mortis had regretted asking his earlier question. Azure seemed

looked at Mortis with confusion and nervousness. "I know what you're trying to do right now, but your worry

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

felt before," Azure said. "That's why it was so difficult for me

do you feel?" Mortis

out all the drive in my being, and

and he felt guilty

a feeling he was very

"Hey, listen-"

a second," Azure interrupted Mortis. "Keep in mind that I'm not some mortal. I'm a Star God, and I've gone through worse. You don't need

at Azure skeptically. After all, he knew

convince Mortis immediately. Instead, she wanted to tell him what

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

in the past. I haven't felt anything even

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

fell into thought when Azure said

Could she be right?

now, Mortis couldn't be

Azure

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

it?"

to become a Heaven's Magnate, you need to know all the four main Laws, and one main Law always stumped me. I always tried to

the Law of Empathy," Azure

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

a beast even go about comprehending

the Law of Empathy since he knew it, and he was sure that a

would be impossible for

Magnate if it's impossible for a beast

now feel love like humans?" Mortis asked

Azure said. "I think so, but I can't be

she looked

to try?" she

Mortis froze.

That…

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

each other," Azure added. "If it doesn't work, we can just stop. After 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

the back of his

know,"

asked, genuinely confused. "I see no downside, only upsides. We will come out with more knowledge, no

Then, Azure remembered something.

attractive