Lightning Is the Only Way

Ferris told Gravis everything that had happened in the time since his last visit, and the longer Ferris talked, the more shocked Gravis grew.

The events themselves didn't really shock Gravis, but the sheer amount of what had happened shocked him deeply.

None of the things were that special. There were just some fights here and there and some restructurings.

However, there were just so many incidents. The sheer number of them was simply shocking to Gravis.

Ferris had talked to Gravis for nearly a week before he was done recounting the events, which left Gravis surprised.

'All of that happened while I was away?' Gravis thought. 'It doesn't feel that long to me. It feels more like I've only taken two naps, and that's it. It only feels like I've been away for only a couple of years. I don't even particularly miss everyone since I feel like I had just met everyone yesterday.'

'Is this the effect of using Samsara too often?' Gravis thought. 'Over 150,000 years passed, but 150,000 years doesn't actually feel that long. I went through much longer periods of time.'

'However, if I break it down with my actual, physical age, It would make more sense that so many things had happened. I'm about 950,000 years old, and 150,000 years is just a bit less than an entire sixth of my life.'

'For a mortal, it would probably feel like they would have been away from their family for ten years.'

'For mortals, a lot of things can happen in ten years.'

While Ferris was continuing to talk excitedly, Gravis looked around Manuel's faction with eyes reflecting complex emotions.

Now that Gravis actually focused on his surroundings, he noticed that the entire feeling of everyone was… off. It was like a lot of things had changed.

However, the surroundings weren't the issue. The issue was more with how Gravis' friends felt to him.

A good example would be Dorian. Gravis still remembered how he had talked to him the last time. Dorian hadn't appeared any different from normal, but right now, Dorian appeared far more serious.

Gravis could see how Dorian talked to many members of Manuel's faction with a serious tone. He was currently giving them a lot of advice for the off-chance that they would be outclassed by their enemy. He was telling them how to retreat and how to use the changing environment to take their enemies by surprise.

Surprisingly, Dorian didn't joke around while teaching these things to the members of Manuel's faction. Instead, he was teaching the members everything very methodically. It was like he had been doing that for an eternity.

Dorian had always had a peculiar personality. He had always been crass and didn't take many things seriously, but right now, it felt like he had grown up, for lack of a better word.

could feel the weight of

grandson. Lazar had always appeared exhausted due to his job as a

It was like Dorian placed the importance of the effectiveness of his teachings

usual, except for the absence of her jumping into Gravis' arms. She was reviewing a lot of Formation Arrays and was also changing the Formation

had told Gravis that Stella had become pretty

expression. 'I think that should be enough to learn

Formation Arrays to being good enough to alter Formation Arrays that cost millions

gone for a bit

looked at Meadow, who quickly noticed that Gravis

you look at that. The great lord of Sitting-On-Your-Arse

only chuckled a bit. "How have you been, Meadow?" Gravis asked

over me?

I meant that, Meadow," Gravis

know how I meant that, dickwad. How about you

on it. Normal people sit on the floor, but you're underground. In your case, the floor sits on you. That

her roots. "Little baby boy finally got some teeth. Why didn't you show them

of his head with an awkward smile. "Well, I fear I might have done

Again? What's it this time?"

break," Gravis said. "I don't feel like a lot of time has passed, but

Makes no difference to me. Has

than me," Gravis said. "It probably won't feel any different to you, but

example: Take a look at Dorian or Stella. If you compare them

at Dorian and Stella. "Sure, but that's normal. Humans and beasts change all the time. It's like I take a short nap, and everyone I know is

perception focused on Gravis again. "You don't feel different. It's like you haven't changed since the last time, which is surprising. You humans change

"So, everyone else feels different, but I don't

what I said, you deaf fuck,"

remained silent for

changed, but he

sort of time capsule or something. It feels like no

Ferris, who was