#atha only knows negatively from mortals becoming immortal

[guhamun]

@cropsimmortal said (inbox):

' hm ~ i suppose it might be a simple question to answer for the sect's scriptures and mentors, but unfortunately, i'm hardly anything beyond an aspiring practitioner, if not a humble farmer who tills and works the fields. ' yu haoyu says this gently as he brews and pours tea, the aroma strong and hearty enough to intermingle with even the raw, flowering scents of the valley around them. ' loneliness ... i suppose they would consider it another earthly desire, and an obstacle to attaining true enlightenment. but i don't necessarily believe a thing like loneliness can be utterly neglected, either. fields with thorns and weeds need be cleared, else they overgrow into something inhospitable. if the dirt is kept clear, however, then fresh crops can be planted and grown, even should they die out come winter. a stone might love a stone, but it also might fall in love with a lily-flower. sorrow, yes ... sorrow would surely be a part of it. but so would joy, i think. one would merely need to balance each one out in equal measures. ' the smile that they lend to the other is small and slight, but warm and reassuring. blinking at the other for a moment, yuyu reaches forward, just enough to set a hand upon athanasius's shoulder, patting twice, eyes fondly glimmering. ' you might have found a good place for yourself here, my friend! i knew there was something different about you by your demeanor since the beginning, and there are all sorts of immortals already that i am sure would like to make your acquaintance. when i ascend as well, i'll wait for you as one does the northern wind. shall i make it a promise? ' like this, bright life before serene death.

     ATHANASIUS COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND a desire for immortality – a desire to become divine under any circumstances. Perhaps because he had existed for such a long time that it was beyond his understanding why any would want to prolong their lifespan. Mortals were meant to be mortals. That was the way it should be and the way that he, and his creator, preferred it to be. Stepping outside of that seemed utterly bizarre to Athanasius…and yet, mortals always strove for what they shouldn’t have. However, things here might have been different from how they viewed it back in their own world, so perhaps…Yuyu looked upon this all in another way. Immortality seemed to coincide with enlightenment here; a gift given after one finally caught Heaven’s gaze. ❝Ahaha, you have an interesting way of looking at things. I do not believe I have encountered anyone who has ever compared such a topic to crops, stone, and flowers.❞ He laughed again, amused and almost pleased with this intriguing change to what he was used to hearing.

      Where he resided, immortality was not a gift. It was given to you from the beginning, or you found a way to reach it and went against the natural flow of things. Very rarely did those that fit the latter ever find joy. If anything, in time, they began to crave their own destruction or were driven mad from loneliness. Maybe it just felt more pleasant here due to one being able to be around other immortals in a way that Athanasius rarely could unless they were like himself. Finally composed once more, a pleasant smile still remained upon his lips before widening just a little more, the soft crinkle in the corner of his eyes speaking of how genuine his fondness was. A beautiful soul, this was. It always overjoyed him to encounter such individuals anywhere he went. ❝I will hold you to that. I hope, with the passing of time, you continue to shine as brightly as you do now once you ascend, and that it does not dull.❞