Quote Originally Posted by Theozilla View Post
So you also agree with the reading that Varis was being literally and not just metaphorical?

And where was it stated that the new life Zodiark cultivated/renewed before the Sundering was less powerful/had less aether power than the average Ancient? I see that stated a lot, but I can’t recall where it was stated in the game itself?

Also I assume that even among Ancients there was individual variation in aetheric power (even if the “weakest” Ancient would still be significantly more powerful than an average sundered soul) like the variation in ability to see/identify souls, as we saw in the short story with Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus.
I just don't see Varis as a metaphysical type. It mostly comes from the 2nd Emet story from the Tale from the Shadows side story. Though when you pick up the convocation crystals I want to say there's at least one or two that talk about how the new life that has been born are seen as ugly and thus the need for them to be killed. There seems to be hints that even among the Ancients there was some who were weaker. As when we do that quest to make the black cloak they mention that if you can't do it on your own you can check out the recipe for it and use that acts as a boost.