"Yes, I'm quite certain I did," Ignis feels overwhelming relief to hear that his blindness wasn't the cause of their separation. After the tension Prompto told him about, it seemed a real possibility, however, the relief fades quickly as Gladio continues and when his friend finally pulls away completely, Ignis frowns, hand following until it manages to snag the Shield's again.
"Now, stop pulling away from me. It's quite obvious that you're blaming yourself more than necessary and I'm not going to stand for you punishing yourself more on top of it," his words start with a sharpness to them that is quickly replaced by a softer, more understanding tone. Oddly enough, there's almost something apologetic to it. "The me who told you that, he knows things he will never tell you, not until this is over and perhaps not even after that. I struggle with the idea of telling you now, but I've already told Noct and Prompto knows as well. It's unfair to leave you in the dark."
He gives Gladio's hand a squeeze before releasing it, taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders as if he's about to relive one of the worst moments of his life. That would be because he is.
"In Altissia I was shown things, Gladio. Visions of the future that awaits Noctis once he returns to the Citadel. I don't know if Pryna acted on her own or if Luna used the last of her power to command it, but I've seen the price he will pay. I suspect you know what I speak of now so close to the end as you are, but I've known what was coming since that dreadful day when we lost so much. The literal truth is that the last thing I saw were those visions, because I still see them and will continue to see them for the rest of my life."
"That me who could not agree is the same one who will be doing whatever he can to abort the future he saw. Preparing for the worse? In his mind, it's the same as standing still and not trying to change the fate the Astrals laid out Noct so long ago. Accepting either Noctis never returning or things going along as the Prophecy proclaims both lead to the same place--Noct's death. That is something no version of me can accept."
A sad smile crosses his face then, "You always were the realist among us. You and the Marshal. You aren't wrong in wanting to plan for the worst. There are just some things people can't accept if they wish to keep what little hope they have left in their hearts alive."
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"Now, stop pulling away from me. It's quite obvious that you're blaming yourself more than necessary and I'm not going to stand for you punishing yourself more on top of it," his words start with a sharpness to them that is quickly replaced by a softer, more understanding tone. Oddly enough, there's almost something apologetic to it. "The me who told you that, he knows things he will never tell you, not until this is over and perhaps not even after that. I struggle with the idea of telling you now, but I've already told Noct and Prompto knows as well. It's unfair to leave you in the dark."
He gives Gladio's hand a squeeze before releasing it, taking a deep breath and squaring his shoulders as if he's about to relive one of the worst moments of his life. That would be because he is.
"In Altissia I was shown things, Gladio. Visions of the future that awaits Noctis once he returns to the Citadel. I don't know if Pryna acted on her own or if Luna used the last of her power to command it, but I've seen the price he will pay. I suspect you know what I speak of now so close to the end as you are, but I've known what was coming since that dreadful day when we lost so much. The literal truth is that the last thing I saw were those visions, because I still see them and will continue to see them for the rest of my life."
"That me who could not agree is the same one who will be doing whatever he can to abort the future he saw. Preparing for the worse? In his mind, it's the same as standing still and not trying to change the fate the Astrals laid out Noct so long ago. Accepting either Noctis never returning or things going along as the Prophecy proclaims both lead to the same place--Noct's death. That is something no version of me can accept."
A sad smile crosses his face then, "You always were the realist among us. You and the Marshal. You aren't wrong in wanting to plan for the worst. There are just some things people can't accept if they wish to keep what little hope they have left in their hearts alive."