Important aspects to the story that were just dropped

[Ralphe2449]

The Garlean Empire didn't try and salvage it from his notes because they weren't interested in it in the first place due to their anti-magic bias

Yet Varis openly said he would do anything if it furthers the empire, and again the resonant is a RIDICULOUSLY powerful weapon, I would understand if we are talking about a garden variety weapon but the resonant literally makes you able to challenge unsundered, to throw it away due to some silly anti magic bias is like throwing nuclear weapons even though they would easily allow you to dominate other nations

Yeah remember how we absolutely murdered that 2nd boss in Ala Mhigo? Yeah that was the lead scientist behind Resonants. Just like how Black Rose was eventually canned by Zenos so did that project.

It's kinda funny how Zenos single handedly destroyed any hope for Garlemald to succeed

At least that is understandable, Zenos never cared for the empire, but you would assume at least someone would be interest in the power that made him be so damn powerful.

[Jandor]

Yet Varis openly said he would do anything if it furthers the empire, and again the resonant is a RIDICULOUSLY powerful weapon, I would understand if we are talking about a garden variety weapon but the resonant literally makes you able to challenge unsundered, to throw it away due to some silly anti magic bias is like throwing nuclear weapons even though they would easily allow you to dominate other nations

IIRC, Aulus was laughed out of the capital trying to sell the Garlean government on his research, with only Zenos being willing to provide him with the resources required to pursue it.

I don't recall if we're told how long ago all that happened, but given that Varis didn't become Emperor until Heavensward there is a decent chance that Aulus was trying to appeal to the Emet/Solus government, not the Varis one. After Varis takes over, it's likely his only familiarity with the research is that it's some pet project funded by his son, a son he doesn't have a particularly high opinion of.

After Varis sees it used to challenge an Unsundered, and likely gains some inkling as to its potential power, he's killed, and Zenos takes over.