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.

do you go

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 want

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

Azure.

Azure remained silent.

remained silent for several

Mortis

things he was curious about, but he realized that his

normal to Mortis. He was thinking

Azure had never even

to answer, 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

said, her expression showing an internal struggle. "What do I actually

to become powerful. You're not a human, and you don't need to have the feelings we humans have. For you, power

humans. You're not a human, and you

Mortis had regretted asking his earlier question. Azure seemed to genuinely

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.

never felt before," Azure said. "That's why

do you feel?"

hole that sucks out all the drive

expression became uncomfortable, and

feeling he was

"Hey, listen-"

Star God, and I've gone through worse. You

looked at Azure skeptically. After all, he

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

life, and I felt satisfied with simply becoming more powerful. However, as soon as you brought my attention to the purpose

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

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

fell into thought when Azure said

Could she be right?

Mortis couldn't be

Azure

about beasts that managed to become Heaven's Magnates?" Azure asked. "You said

it?" Mortis

become a Heaven's 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. You know why? Because it seemed

the Law of

Mortis' eyes widened.

Right!

would a beast even go about comprehending the

Empathy since he knew it, and he was sure that a beast

would be impossible for a

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

can now feel love like

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

looked

try?" she

Mortis froze.

That…

Azure. "Could you

stop. After all, even if I can't feel it, I know a bit about how it works, and I

scratched the back of

know," he

only upsides. We will come out with more knowledge, no

Then, Azure remembered something.

it because I'm not attractive to you?" Azure