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 asked

it out of necessity since we want to become more powerful. And why do we want to become more powerful? Because we don't

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

about, what is even the point of surviving?" Mortis asked, looking at Azure. "From what you've said, you sound like you don't have anything you want to live

Azure remained silent.

silent for several

that time, Mortis

about, but he

were normal to Mortis. He was

in comparison, Azure had never even asked herself

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 had the willpower to get through so much

said, her expression showing an internal struggle. "What

don't need to have the feelings we humans have. For you, power might have a vastly stronger appeal than for us. Becoming more powerful might feel way more

for living by comparing them to humans. You're not a human, and you already accepted that, right? Why

had regretted asking his earlier question. Azure

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

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

Azure said. "That's

do you

like a black hole that sucks out all

and he felt guilty beyond

a feeling he

"Hey, listen-"

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 to fix me or anything. I can deal

all, he knew how overwhelming this

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 suddenly felt this feeling I

the past. I haven't felt

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

also fell into thought when

Could she be right?

Mortis

Azure

Magnates?" Azure asked. "You said you know

about it?" Mortis

main Laws, and one main Law always stumped me. I always tried to think of a way to comprehend it, but

talking about the Law of Empathy," Azure

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

go about comprehending

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

would be impossible for

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

you think that you can now feel

said. "I think so, but I can't be sure without

she looked at

to try?" she

Mortis froze.

That…

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

if we could love 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

the back

don't know," he

see no downside, only upsides. We will

Then, Azure remembered something.

it because I'm not attractive to you?"