Quote Originally Posted by Darske View Post
White and Black magic.... the two function on the same principle... which is drawing power not from oneself but from the aether around them.
I would like to discuss this plot point from another angle, specifically that of the modern-day problem of the rampant summoning of Primals which threaten the delicate balance of aether in Eorzea.

The fact that there have only been two summoners in recent memory is relevant to this point. That's because the other summoner was essentially a rogue mage who had been encouraged to revive the magic by the Ascians.

It fits their modus operandi: Throughout the story, the Ascians have been actively abetting individuals or communities to summon Primals out of fear or hatred. It's not just the beast tribes that have fallen for their ploy, but also members of the "enlightened races" like the Ala Mhigan refugees and the moogles.

We may not know much about the true nature of a Primal, but we do know for a fact every Primal requires prodigious amounts of aether to sustain.

Which leads me to believe that the Ascians' overall plan may well be to induce an Umbral event through the rampant summoning of Primals, through any means.

If one thinks of aether as Hydaelyn's lifeblood, it may well be that the Ascians are ultimately trying to kill Hydaelyn through this plan.