Quote Originally Posted by Enkidoh View Post
The more I think of it, the more it seems to me that SE are using a similar idea from Dissidia here (the first one, not Duodecium which just had an excuse plot and the non-existent plot of the recent arcade version), where like Cosmos placing a portion of Her life into the crystals that her 'champions' recover, knowing that it would weaken Herself fatally, something the antagonists would be quick to exploit, in much the same way, what if the Crystals of Light have actually been infused directly with Hydaelyn's power, which is actually what has weakened Herself to empower us instead?
The antagonists in this case have very cleverly taken advantage of our link to Hydaelyn. Lahabrea unleashed Ultima fully expecting her to expend a good deal of her power to protect us. Somewhat less expected for him but likely still draining on Hydaelyn was the weapon of Light that she granted us to drive Lahabrea from Thancred's body. Though many may see Lahabrea as having failed, he accomplished much as far as weakening Hydaelyn went. In addition, from what I can make out of Y'shtola's comments to Thancred in the Japanese version in the scene when he is about to enter the Antitower with us, at least part of the danger that exposure to aether poses to him results from his possession by Lahabrea.

And that, like Cosmos, ultimately it would result in Hydaelyn''s physical 'death' knowing that the Ascians and by extension, Zodiark, would not waste time in trying to eliminate her... but, as her life continues to 'live on' within the Crystals and by extension, through us as her champion, allowing Her to finally destroy Zodiark and the Ascians for good and end the cycles of Umbral and Astral forever? Note the similar terms here: 'champion', 'crystals infused with the goddess's light', 'goddess of Light and god of darkness', 'Cycles of war/destruction/death/darkness and peace/rebuilding/life/light'. Making this whole thing one giant Batman Gambit on the part of Hydaelyn.
The crystals are more of a conduit we use to access her power. This seems especially evident when they grow dark as Midgarsormr seals the Blessing. He is literally severing our connection to her, as he says himself. Then there is Praetorium, where our chest glows when Hydaelyn intervenes to protect us through our crystals. So I would say that yes, we are empowered by the crystals at Hydaelyn's expense, but that no, Hydaelyn does not continue to live on in the crystals. In fact, if Hydaelyn were to perish or be destroyed, whichever the case may be, I suspect that her crystals would also be destroyed as a result.