Is Sphene a single AI or were there two of them?

[Catwho]

I think aetherial constructs like Carbuncle and Eos are a bit of a difficult comparison in this regard. These summoned beings are created from the summoner’s aether and sustained by it whilst manifest. Any constructs the Milala had created would’ve been ‘desummoned’ after they were wiped out by calamity. That’s not to mention, personal aether is a finite resource (Sylphie learned the hard way lol). There’d have to be a Dalamud-sized battery full of still-living Milala Arcanists all praying for the manifestation of Sphene/Living Memory/Etc.

The part about having no will or consciousness of their own is also highly debatable given Eos. Not only does she (attempt) to communicate (through inaudible whispers lol), and retain memories, but there are various points throughout the Scholar storyline where she actively acts counter to our instructions. Despite being created for and by someone else, the fairy is still able to exert its own will. Carbuncle I believe is the same, in that an inexperienced Arcanist will have trouble getting it to follow orders (like Tataru lol).

I’d liken Sphene/Living Memory more like moving projections of a once-dead person. They aren’t tangible physical things that can act outside of what the AI dictates. Like a picture except you can talk to it. Not only is it based on a specific context in that person’s life, but it’s not a complete representation of who/what that person was. The Living Memory projections were the same; approximation of what the people were to give comfort to the living, not fully realized manifestations of them who can live on after death. That’s my thoughts anyway

You actually answered my question - arcanima use the summoner's energy, not their own. The Endless needed soul aether because if they were similar to an arcanima construct, they didn't have any aetherial reserves of their own.