A thing or two about Werlyt

[Kesey]

My beef, though, is that Gaius shouldn't WANT redemption, or even feel that he NEEDS redemption. The revelation that Ascians have been pulling the strings behind the scenes should not automatically make him back down from his ideals of a strong leader being necessary for the good of all. The Ascians need to be rooted out of Garlemald, that goes without saying, but after the job is done he should be all about setting Garlemald back on its path of conquest. The strong should still govern the weak, after all, and the Ascians aren't responsible for the Eorzean leaders weak-willed insistence on continuing the worship of the Twelve. (Or maybe it is - all the more reason to step in and take control!) Ascian corruption and the proliferation of weak Eikon-loving rulers are two seperate problems, and both need to be solved.

But Gaius needs to WANT redemption to FIND redemption. And I'm pretty sure he finds that by spending time with the peoples he formerly wanted to conquer. You can also see the fights with the WOL that Gaius lost as moments that forced him to open his eyes, because by his logic if we beat him he isn't the rightful person to save and rule the people of the world.