I wouldn't say we or Minfilia are Ascians, but definitely reincarnated Ancients, souls cycling through time. In Minfilia's case, I wonder if she was always so in tune with Hydaelyn was because her Ancient soul might have been one of the summoners, or one of the ones who speared the faction to summon Hydaelyn? I'd imagine though that there were no unsundered tempered of Hydaelyn left, else She wouldn't need to adopt sundered Champions. In a way, I wonder if there were ANY tempered by Hydaelyn; what little of the Ancients were left, half gave themselves up to summon Her, so the other half were all Zodiark's tempered.

I believe Ryne's appearance can be deduced to have been her natural appearance before her awakening as the Oracle of Light. It was Minfilia's "parting gift"--to let her be herself again.