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 go

Cultivator would rather do anything else. No Cultivator goes out and tempers themselves just for fun. We all do it out of necessity since we

to feel the pain of a loved one dying. We want to spend more time with our loved ones. We

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

Azure remained silent.

remained silent for

Mortis regretted his

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

were normal to Mortis. He was thinking these

had never even asked herself that

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

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

we humans have. For you, power might have

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

now, Mortis had regretted asking his earlier question. Azure

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

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

Azure said. "That's why it was so

do you

hole that sucks out all the drive in my

and he

was a feeling he was very familiar

"Hey, listen-"

mortal. I'm a Star God, and I've gone

all, he knew how overwhelming

Mortis' expression, but she didn't try to convince Mortis immediately. Instead,

an 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

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

"So, when we get

thought when Azure said

Could she be right?

now, Mortis couldn't be

Azure added

asked. "You said you know a

about it?" Mortis

stumped me. I always tried to think of a way to comprehend it, but I never came up with one. You know

Law of

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

would a beast even go about comprehending the Law of

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

be impossible for a

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

you think that you can now feel love like humans?" Mortis asked in

think so,

she looked

try?"

Mortis froze.

That…

"Could you

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,

scratched the back of his head

know," he

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

Then, Azure remembered something.

attractive to you?" Azure asked, genuinely