[With Altissia so fresh on his mind, Asch's words almost cause Ignis to flinch. They had come so close to losing everything there, and yet the idea of something similar happening here hadn't really crossed Ignis' mind. Surely, it couldn't happen again. Not so soon. No, death doesn't stick here, but there are more ways to lose than through death alone.

Ignis takes a deep breath, swallowing hard.]

There is a powerful ring that has been passed through Noctis' family for generations. Only those who bear his family's blood can borrow its power without dire consequences.

[The judgment. The scorn. How dare you?]

Ardyn pushed me into a corner where I had no choice but to don the ring to save Noctis' life despite knowing it would likely cost me my life.

[Fire. Burning. Fear. Failure.]

Instead, the cost was my vision, burned from within me by a power I was never meant to wield. Noct must never know this.