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 pain of tempering yourself?"

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 to

why 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

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

Azure remained silent.

remained silent for several

time, Mortis

asked some things he was curious about, but he realized

thoughts were normal to Mortis. He

had never even

this topic," Mortis added. "You obviously have something to live for. Otherwise, you wouldn't

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

to have the feelings we humans have. For you, power might

a human, and you already accepted that,

regretted asking his earlier

looked at Mortis with confusion and nervousness. "I know what you're trying to do

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

simply overwhelmed by something I have never felt before," Azure said. "That's why it was so difficult

you feel?" Mortis

Azure said. "It's like a black hole that sucks out all the drive in my being, and it feels like it's consuming my

became uncomfortable, and he felt guilty beyond

was a feeling he was

"Hey, listen-"

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

all, he knew how overwhelming this

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

never had an issue with life, and I felt satisfied with simply becoming more powerful. However, as soon as you brought my

the past. I haven't felt anything even remotely like this, not even a weaker version. It's

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

thought when Azure said

Could she be right?

now, Mortis couldn't be

Azure

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

about it?"

you need to know all the four main Laws, and one main Law always stumped me. I always tried to think of a way to comprehend it, but

about the Law of

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

a beast even go about

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

would be impossible for a

a Heaven's Magnate if it's impossible

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

so,

she looked at

try?" she

Mortis froze.

That…

at Azure. "Could you be

know a bit about how it works, and I know that it

the back of his

don't know,"

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

Then, Azure remembered something.

attractive