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.

keep comprehending Laws? Why do you go through the fear and pain of tempering yourself?" Mortis

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

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 what

Mortis asked, looking at Azure. "From what you've said, you sound like you don't have anything you want to live for.

Azure remained silent.

remained silent for

time, Mortis

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

Mortis. He was thinking these

never even asked herself that

obviously have something to live for. Otherwise, you

an internal struggle. "What do I actually live

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

to invalidate your reasons for living by comparing them to humans. You're not a human,

now, Mortis had regretted asking his earlier question. Azure seemed to genuinely struggle right

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

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

before," Azure

you feel?" Mortis

emptiness," Azure said. "It's like a black hole that sucks out all the

uncomfortable, and he felt guilty

feeling he was very familiar

"Hey, listen-"

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

After all, he knew

she didn't try to convince Mortis immediately.

I felt satisfied with simply becoming more powerful. However, as soon as

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

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

also fell into thought

Could she be right?

Mortis couldn't be

then, Azure

to become Heaven's Magnates?" Azure asked. "You

about it?" Mortis

I always tried to think of

Law of Empathy," Azure

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

go about comprehending the Law

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

be impossible

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

that you can now feel love like

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

looked at

try?" she

Mortis froze.

That…

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

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 works, we

back of his

know," he

are you hesitating?" Azure asked, genuinely confused. "I see no downside, only upsides. We will come out with more knowledge, no matter how it

Then, Azure remembered something.

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