He tells us that he was Tempered, but there's some contention there.

1. He could have been lying to draw the conversation to a close, as it was paining him.

2. He told the truth, but not the whole truth. He is tempered, but the tempering effect is weakened on him, because Zodiark was split by Hydaelyn. This gave him enough agency to lay his own will in place for the events of 5.3.

3. Due to being an Unsundered Ascian vs. a Sundered Primal, his will became stronger than Zodiark's, He is no longer tempered at all, until Zodiark is fully restored.