I genuinely believe Brain and Ian are the same person (same soul, same personality, everything) just obviously Ian doesn’t have Brains memories. I believe the difference between Ian and Brian was the way they were raised. Brian was raised to be confident in himself and his abilities and not have to hide himself or anything. Ian was born in a system that oppressed him since the beginning he’s been constantly manipulated and put down. Every key characteristic about Ian, he’s had to hide and push down and now he’s suddenly in a world where he doesn’t have to suppress himself anymore which is already really hard to grasp already but now he has to wrestle with the concepts of Brian.
I think Sol is wrestling with the same concept because he obviously misses his lover, anyone would. But he didn’t realize how much Lorkans manipulation and mental abuse to Ian would change him. If Brian was in the situation he would act the same way as Ian has, but luckily Brian never had to be in that situation so he’s never had to suppress every key part of him.
I don’t think Ian will “become Brain” but I think Sol will realize that even though they were raised differently and I’ve gone through life differently the very core of both of them is the exact same.
I wonder, if what you said is what Author is at.
But wdym, Ian won't become Brian? If you think they are the same person, I understand you mean that, he won't suddenly get his memories back and go "wow sol it's been a 1000 years" and suddenly start acting like him.
But in essence Ian will just end up being Brian.
A Brian without memories of what happened and History will repeat itself.
To be really honest, I kinda want Ian to only share goals with Ian and soul, nothing else, I want Ian to be a completely different person, I kinda want Sol's worldview that was caused by Brian to shatter due to Ian but honestly I don't think we are getting that :)
I'm not sure if this is entirely relevant, but I think Sol might have a type. When someone has a type, they often fall for people who remind them of a past love—either in looks or personality. That could explain why Ian feels insecure. He doesn't want Sol to love him just because he's Brian's reincarnation. He wants to be loved for who he is now, not because he fits the mold of someone Sol once loved.
So I have let this marinate, and haven't actually properly read this so don't hate me for what I'm about to say.
This story has left me in a dilemma about Brian and Ian, and concept of souls or whatever, what Sol fell in love with was Brian, Brian's Ideologies and who Brian was as a person, but Then Ian is born as Brian's reincarnation? But I don't understand how can a reincarnation even be the same person as the one they share a soul with? Ian in his essence is not the same person, his thinking, the way he forms his thoughts and etc are just not the same, and do not mix with Brian's at all, So What made sol first interact with Ian was the fact that Ian was Brian's Reincarnation and then the comments say, he still treats him like he is his own person, but the whole point behind Sol's interaction with Ian is the fact that he is Brian's Reincarnation and all the abilities Brian has, he has the same but just not the same person.
Which comes down to the point that, just as much Ian is blinded by Lorkans manipulation and grooming, I feel Sol is also Blinded by his love for Brian, maybe Lorkans manipulation will come over and Ian will learn all the truth, and then what? Will he become Brian? I hope Author doesn't go at that point.
I really just want Ian to share his abilities with Brian as reincarnation but not him as a person, and I kinda want to Sol to think above Brian, which is sort of impossible as he was his motivation to do everything, but I still want something unique to happen but I don't know I'm just a reader who hasn't even read this properly