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

We all do it out of necessity since we want to become more powerful. And why do we want to become

We don't want to feel the pain of a loved one dying. We

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

Azure remained silent.

remained silent for

that time, Mortis

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

He was thinking these

had never even

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

you were right," Azure said, her expression showing an internal struggle. "What do I actually live for? Why do

don't need to have the feelings we humans have. For you, power might have

by comparing them to humans. You're not a human, and you already accepted that, right? Why search for something unimportant to you?" Mortis

his earlier

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

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

I have never felt before," Azure said. "That's why it was so difficult for me

do you

a black hole that sucks out all the drive in my being, and it feels

became uncomfortable, and

he was

"Hey, listen-"

not some mortal. I'm a Star God, and I've gone through worse. You

looked at Azure skeptically. After all, he knew

convince Mortis immediately. Instead, she wanted to tell him what

feeling before, right?" Azure asked. "I've never had an issue with life, and I felt satisfied with simply becoming more powerful. However, as soon

I wouldn't have felt anything like this in the past. I haven't felt anything

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

also fell into thought when Azure said

Could she be right?

Mortis

then, Azure added

managed to become Heaven's Magnates?" Azure asked. "You said you know a Heaven's Magnate that's

about it?"

Magnate, 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 I never came up with one.

Law of

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

even go about comprehending

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

be impossible for a

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

you can now feel love like humans?" Mortis asked

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

she looked

try?"

Mortis froze.

That…

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

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

the back of his

know,"

downside, only upsides. We will come

Then, Azure remembered something.

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