Quote Originally Posted by thegreatonemal View Post
The only differences between zodiark and other primals(not even all of them) is the amount of aether used and a person to serve as a vessel for the summoning. I'd imagine the people of the world were deeply traumatized by the final days and Zodiark, put an end to them. He was created with thoughts of salvation, of course they worship him, not unlike a god.

It's a valid question. The people that gave themselves did so willingly, sacrificing themselves so that others and the star itself might live. Did they do this under the assumption that they'd be brought back? Nothing in the game suggests that. Souls inside zodiark said "We are the will of the star, now and forevermore. That doesn't sound like people who are itching to return. So why the third sacrifice? The final days had been stopped, the planet made habitable again. There was no real reason for it. Maybe Zodiark did need more food.
No they did not expect to return, it’s clear in EW and was implied in shb. Third sacrifice is nothing more than the survivors of a broken world mourning their loved ones and then seeing a not-impossible way to bring them back.