To hear that from Ignis warmed his heart as much as it pierced it. Noctis' next breath shuddered from his lungs, his eyes closed, just listening to his breathing. There was the brief moment of sorrow at the idea that perhaps they might have once been able to make this something, back then, before there was so little time left. Now... Could he live with the idea of hardening, hurting Ignis' heart further?

"We all know... what tomorrow will bring," he whispered, softly. "I already held your heart for so long. I want to make sure your heart is free." Not encaged forever because of his death. How did he give Ignis even a little back of everything the other had given to him? He owed Ignis, Gladio, Prompto... everything. It felt like he could give them nothing except the world, and that wasn't enough.