[And "dying" is just what his original had gone back to. How much longer did he have -- 5 months? Maybe 4? -- until his time on Auldrant ran out? Then he would die. Just as Sync and himself would die two years down the line, though under very different circumstances.]
[Ion... he had wanted to live, hadn't he? He wasn't a replica. He was never intended to be anyone's replacement. He had a reason to live. Surely he would have wanted to stay here, where he could be by Arietta's side forever, right?]
...t-that's right.
[How odd. He didn't mean to stutter like that, but that's how his voice came out. His shoulders are shaking too, but he's not cold.]
[It isn't until he feels something running down his cheek that he realizes he's crying.]
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[Ion... he had wanted to live, hadn't he? He wasn't a replica. He was never intended to be anyone's replacement. He had a reason to live. Surely he would have wanted to stay here, where he could be by Arietta's side forever, right?]
...t-that's right.
[How odd. He didn't mean to stutter like that, but that's how his voice came out. His shoulders are shaking too, but he's not cold.]
[It isn't until he feels something running down his cheek that he realizes he's crying.]