Minfilia (spoilers ahead)

[Anonymoose]

So, to be clear, that opening parade was an Echo flashback, and you weren't actually there?

Correct. As your player comes in on the chocobo carriage, there's a swoosh, and right after you see the starshower. This is the exact moment Hydaelyn awakens you.

Wow! This explains stuff but confuses me at the same time.

Imagine how much I'll be able to clear up once I know what I need to... lol

So we're too assume that years passed during the intro + those quest that revealed the conspiracy up to when we first encounter Minfillia?

Roughly 10 years, yes. If you watch the scenes again, look for gentle SWOOSH sounds. This is perspective shifting to and from ten years ago via the Echo, which the player had been unaware they even had at the time.

Hmmm....Doesn't explain why our Archons are still as dashing as ever 15 years later..... :P

This remains a mystery, lol.