That Garlean guy, what was his name? Gaius Van Baelsar

[Nalien]

Thorden basically did this in reverse. He used Ascalon to reduce Lahabrea to Aether, then he ate him.

Sigh...

Except it was Nidhoggs Eye in the Ascalon which absorbed Lahabrea, not Thordan. The animation is very specific, and similar to Nabriales being absorbed by the White Auracite which, of course, did not kill Nabriales.

At this point I don't care if people want to agree or disagree that Lahabrea is still kicking or not, the point here is that Thordan did not absorb Lahabreas aether. The animations specifically shows Nidhoggs Eye doing the absorbing.

Far be it for me to remind everyone that Saint Shiva is still seemingly "alive", after being consumed by her lover... Now we have Nidhogg consuming Lahabrea...

Lahabrea is probably dead. I can see them bringing Estinien back though. Nidhogg and Estinien might be at odds with fighting over control of the Dragon's body. Maybe why Nidhogg temporarily leaves Ishgard alone. Or Nidhogg wants Ishgard to rebuild before tearing it back down again.

It makes no sense to let Ishgard rebuild, as I explained earlier.

Before, Ishgard was an isolated City-State, and they were against Dravania. Nidhogg periodically attacked, tormenting them but not finishing them off, letting them rebuild only to do that all again with them growing up hating Dravania.

Now, Ishgard is part of the Eorzean Alliance, it has three separate armies to back it up in a fight with Nidhogg. They're making good relations with Dravania, potentially making allies out of Nidhoggs own sibling/s. The truth behind their history has been revealed and accepted. If he attacks now, they know it's just him being a jerk, they know they have Dravanians they can trust.

Unless he has gone off to find some powerful McGuffin (and most McGuffins in Eorzea are either anti-Primal, or anti-Dragon in nature...), he has missed his chance to finish Ishgard off. Had he attacked during 3.1, then he would likely have succeeded, given Ishgard was fighting itself at the time. He could have left survivors as always, and Aymeric and co would all be remembered as Heretics who foolishly allowed Nidhogg to gain the upper hand, and the truth would have been washed away again. He'd have perpetuated the cycle he was enjoying for so long. He has now missed his chance to do that, because he was busy doing something else.