Calamities explained

[Naria]

Just because an Ascian post could be refilled, doesn't mean that an Ascian wasn't killed. The WoL has killed three Ascians in the MSQ, and is partially responsible for Lahabrea's death, since he weakened him to such an extent that he was powerless to resist Thordan. More Ascians added to the belt loop if you do the SMN line, as already said.

As for how folk are raised to the station, I imagine it would involve selecting a suitable, powerful individual with The Echo, and then bringing them before Elidibus so they may be tempered by Zodiark or bestowed the knowledge and power that befits their station.

I suppose the disagreement is a matter of semantics. I don't view any shard's destruction as the same as the death of that Ascian. True death or destruction, I mean. Even if that shard is completely destroyed, the rest of that soul is still intact and it has been at best been further maimed (unless that was the very last shard). Unless destroying one shard destroys them all (maybe it does?) then only that particular aspect/shard of the Asican is gone. I mean say Ardbert's shard was killed via a blade of light, unless that act killed the player character and the other 5 shards as well, the Ascian/Amaurotine soul that they originally were would still be existent.

Edit:
If destroying one shard destroys them all, however, you'd think that the Ascian's would have weaponized that in their own favor against Warriors of Light. Hmm this is getting into a bunch of metaphysics that the game hasn't really explained yet.