[He's known the answer long before Asch has deigned to reply, yet it causes his gut to twist all the same--a reminder of the fate that awaited Luke whether or not he's decided to fulfill his promise to Lorelei. As much as he's learned to accept his powerlessness to stop it, time hasn't done a good job of easing the pain associated with such a thought. Reflexively, he balls his fist more tightly than is warranted, willing this very much unwanted and untimely emotion down.]

I'm afraid you've been operating on a misunderstanding this whole time.

[Despite his inner turmoil, he keeps his expression level as he slips into a professional mask he's used to donning, letting a deep breath escape him before he dives into an explanation he's long since theorized.]

While I wouldn't call the symptoms of the Big Bang painless, the fact is that you're not the one who is dying in this situation.

[At the end of it all, that is. The death of the original and his subsequent revival is a part of the Big Bang, however he feels it's not wise to spring that fact on Asch just yet and confuse him even further. That, and he feels oddly uncertain about condemning Luke to a second death once more.]

The healing magic here may not always agree with our bodies, but they tend to be serviceable.

[There's a small pause as Jade considers something he's briefly thought of earlier, but decided not to pursue until now.]

If you're amenable to the idea, perhaps you'd like to stay with me for a while. [Time may be on pause in their worlds or from whatever point in time Asch was taken, but their bodies certainly tell another story.] I'd be more equipped to handle your case and given what I know about the technology here and in our world, perhaps I may be able to devise a way to alleviate its effects.

[Or even prevent the Big Bang from happening, but somehow he feels that's wishful thinking on his part.]