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.

you keep comprehending Laws? Why do

would rather do 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 become more powerful? Because we don't

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

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

Azure remained silent.

silent for several

that time, Mortis

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

thoughts were normal to Mortis. He was thinking these thoughts every single

never even asked

and you also don't need to question yourself regarding this topic," Mortis added. "You obviously have something to live for. Otherwise, you

her expression showing an internal struggle.

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

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

Mortis had regretted asking his earlier question. Azure

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

Mortis raised an eyebrow.

felt before," Azure said. "That's why it was so difficult

do you feel?" Mortis

a black hole that sucks out all the drive

and he

a feeling he was very familiar

"Hey, listen-"

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

at Azure skeptically. After all,

Mortis immediately. Instead, she wanted

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,

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

when

fell into thought when Azure said

Could she be right?

now, Mortis couldn't

then, Azure

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

about it?" Mortis

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. You know why? Because it seemed simply

talking about the Law of Empathy," Azure

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

go about

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

would be impossible

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

that you can now feel

don't know," Azure said. "I think so, but

she looked

to try?"

Mortis froze.

That…

you be a bit more specific?" Mortis

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 can both experience love, and

scratched the back of

know," he

only

Then, Azure remembered something.

it because I'm not attractive