[When Gladio asks his question, Ignis begins preparing the answers he should have found the time to give the Shield long before now. He's actually startled when Ardyn takes the initiative to answer instead. After all, Ignis knows well how much the story pains Ardyn, but at the same time, it is his story to tell should he choose to do so. Choice or not, it doesn't take long for signs to appear that make it clear--at least to Ignis--that Ardyn's emotions are starting to get the best of him. He squeezes back on the hand that holds his, the hand that Gladio freed moving to rest against Ardyn's back so he can rub soothing circles into the tense muscles there. His head remains tucked against Ardyn's chest so his hair is free for stroking if it will help calm the redhead. All in all, he is doing for Ardyn what Gladio was doing for him not long ago.]

Before you say anything about that not being what is in the books, I ask you to remember a phrase we are both, no doubt, familiar with: 'History is written by the victors.' The Lucis Caelums were never meant to be victors. From the first to the last, they were only meant to be tools. A line strong enough to carry the magic until it was able to undo the mistake that Ifrit made. The people lost along the way mean nothing. If they did, the magic would not have eaten our Kings' lives and scarred the Glaives who used it to protect them. It was never meant for us. For any of us. But does that matter to the Astrals? To Bahamut? No. They merely wish to remove the stain from their prefect reputations.

[Ignis shakes his head, expression saddening as his voice softens.]

All this time we were taught the sacrifice was an honor, when really, it was a curse.