The pang of worry grows, something awful churning in his stomach as Gladio watches Ignis struggle to speak about what happened (happens?), about what he saw.

And then the words come out.

For a minute time stops.

He says nothing, staring in confused horror and disbelief at his closest friend.

"What do you mean 'he won't live to witness it'? That can't be - I'd die before I let him down an' you're sayin' he dies anyway? Do I at least die for him first?"

He can't allow himself to accept the thought Noct dying, but part of him can find solace in the possibility that he dies first - as is his duty as Shield.