Jade was not the type of person to hope about things. If anything, he thrived in certainty and its cousins logic and action. Hope had the connotation of passively sitting around and waiting for things to happen. Hope was a denial of the present status quo, searching for a final lifeline by means of something called a miracle. Hope meant looking out into a sunset-tinged horizon, casting his gaze upon the remains of Eldrant and wondering when a certain redhead would come out, smiling as brightly as the sky that moment as if he did not just say goodbye to them a moment ago.

So when he saw a familiar figure emerging from the remains of Eldrant, he dared to hope. For a certain redheaded noble—a product of a forbidden science of his creation—he dared to hope. Hope that once more in his life, he was wrong. For the first time in his life, he hoped that theories based on fact would be proven wrong by a miracle known as Luke fon Fabre.

However, his hopes sank along with the setting sun, for it was the wrong Luke that appeared from the rubble.

"Asch!" Natalia gasped, running towards the figure that stumbled towards them. Her outburst seemed to have broken a similar spell that took over his companions, for the others followed suit as Asch collapsed into Natalia's waiting arms.

Jade allowed himself to trail a few feet away from them, his heart growing heavier with each step he took. Whatever spark of hope he had in that moment disappeared once recognition dawned upon him. Knowing he was right about perfect isofons and the Big Bang did nothing to ease the weight in his chest—scientific truth won't bring back the Luke he came to consider as his friend.

As Natalia laid Asch on the ground and knelt next to him, casting a healing arte, Jade closed his eyes, steeling himself before he joined the rest. He knew it wasn't fair of him to label Asch as the "wrong" Luke. Asch was the original Luke fon Fabre, after all, and anyone in their right minds would be able to clearly see that there was more to gain by having him—the original, instead of an unstable replica—live.

But Asch wasn't the Luke that accidentally stole an apple from a certain vendor in Engeve. Wasn't the Luke who he took a fonslot seal for. Wasn't the Luke that dredged up memories he thought were better left forgotten—buried deep in the snow-covered fields of the far-flung past. Wasn't the Luke that destroyed Akzeriuth and along with it, his innocence. Wasn't the Luke he chastised shortly after his self-imposed change. Wasn't the Luke that he dared to call a friend, right before effectively sentencing him to death. Wasn't the Luke who told him not to ask for the impossible, shortly before doing what was thought to be unreasonable until that fateful day.

Today, that is.

Perhaps he should've taken his advice back then, but being the stubborn old man that he was, he viciously clung on to hope. Maybe he could've spared himself from this emotion called "hurt", upon seeing his hopes dashed to bits. He fought the urge to laugh at his foolishness. Not too long ago, he would have laughed if someone told him that he'd end up mourning the loss of a Kimlascan noble, but looking at himself now, the unexpected was all too real—and all too painful.

But now was not the time to grieve. For now, the others surely sought answers, and it was up to him to provide answers that they might need. Taking a deep breath to collect himself, he joined the rest of his comrades in the small semi-circle they formed around Asch, just in time to see the person of concern stir, eyes fluttering open as the last of the sun disappeared into the horizon.

"N-Natalia?" Asch shot forward to a seating position, only to groan as he brought a hand to his side.

"Asch!" Natalia's brows creased in concern as she placed a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him down. "Please lay down for—"

"No," Asch peeled the other's hand away from his shoulder, only to bring it to his abdomen once more as he gritted his teeth in pain. "I'm… fine, really."

"You don't look too fine, y'know," Anise said, folding her arms as she frowned at him thoughtfully. "Though I guess it's better than…"

She trailed off, leaving out words that were better left unsaid. Yet, everyone knew what she was going to say, and Jade was sure that the question was burning at the back of everyone's minds.

"…Being dead, huh," Asch said quietly, his gruff tone from earlier turning serious, voicing what everyone else could not.

An awkward silence fell over them as Asch got to his feet, only for his knee to give out on him. Natalia offered a hand to Asch, which he reluctantly took as she had him wrap an arm around her shoulders for support.

So he knew. Not that it was going to change anything.

"So, where's Luke?" Tear tried to keep her tone casual, though there was no mistaking the undercurrent of hope beneath it. Jade could sense the same from Guy, who suddenly stopped staring at the ruins of Eldrant and turned his attention to Asch.

"I'm not sure."

"What do you mean, 'you're not sure'?!"

Guy would have lunged at Asch, if not for Anise grabbing hold of his arm, causing him to freeze at the contact.

"I thought," Asch took a deep breath, cringing at the effort, "he'd be with you. I guess… I was wrong."

"I see." Tear's voice was steady, though there was no mistaking the crestfallen expression that crossed her face momentarily. "What happened, then?"

"Asch, are you sure you want to keep on standing?" Natalia asked, still worried. "We can sit down for a while, or head back to the Albi—"

"I'm fine, Natalia," Asch said, reflexively throwing an irritated glance at Natalia. Though upon seeing the hurt in her expression, his gaze softened. "Sorry, I appreciate the concern, but it's best if I answer now, instead of leaving this for later."

Mollified, Natalia managed a feeble smile at him. "Very well."

"To be honest, I'm not sure what exactly happened." Asch closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I know I blacked out after some Oracle Knights stabbed me. When I came to, Eldrant was already a bunch of rubble and somehow, I found my way to you guys."

"Though, I think…" His eyes opened, meeting Tear's squarely. "I felt something enter me between those two events. Something… warm." He tore his gaze away from her and let it fall to the ground. "Maybe that dre—Luke did something. Something that kept me alive." He pressed a hand to his forehead, knitting his brows as seemed to struggle to remember something. "Damn it, I can't remember what it was exactly—my memories feel all jumbled up at the moment."

"Then if he's not with Asch or us, where is he now?" Anise asked out loud, cupping her chin in thought.

"Ask him. I'm sure he knows." Asch glanced pointedly at Jade, who felt four other pairs of eyes on him as they gazed at him expectantly. As if he held all the answers they sought.

Well, he did, but they were not going to like it one bit. For a moment, he considered lying to them. He could have made something up at that moment, which his trusting comrades would have certainly eaten up, but unfortunate as it was, he owed them the truth. Luke… would've wanted as much.