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.

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

just for fun. We all do it out of necessity since we want to become

something in our life that we don't want to lose. We don't want to feel the

have nothing you care about, what is even the point of surviving?" Mortis asked, looking at Azure. "From

Azure remained silent.

silent

Mortis

he realized that his words might have had an unintended effect

Mortis. He was thinking these

Azure had never even asked herself that

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

right," Azure said, her expression showing an internal struggle. "What do I actually

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

for living by comparing them to humans. You're not a human, and

regretted asking his earlier question. Azure seemed to genuinely

that's not the case," Azure said as she looked at Mortis with confusion and nervousness. "I know what you're

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

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

do you feel?" Mortis

said. "It's like a black hole that sucks out all the drive in

uncomfortable, and he

a feeling he was very familiar

"Hey, listen-"

God, and I've gone

looked at Azure skeptically. After all, he

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

and I felt satisfied with simply becoming more powerful. However, as soon as you brought my attention to the

I haven't felt anything even remotely like

Star Gods, right?" Azure asked. "So, when we

fell into thought

Could she be right?

now, Mortis couldn't

Azure

asked. "You said you

about it?"

I always tried to think of a way to comprehend it, but I never came up with one. You know why? Because it seemed

about the Law of

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

beast even go about comprehending

comprehend the Law of Empathy since he knew it, and he

be impossible for

Heaven's Magnate if it's impossible for a beast to feel

you can now feel love like humans?" Mortis

"I think so,

looked

try?"

Mortis froze.

That…

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

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

the back of his

don't know,"

confused. "I see no downside, only upsides. We will

Then, Azure remembered something.

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