Clearing up some lore misconceptions

[kiagenwa]

NPC: Quick WoL! No time to lose, the enemy is straight ahead!
Party WoL: With me my 7 echo blessed friends that I always bring with me!

NPC: Quick Sidika! No time to lose, the enemy is straight ahead!
Sidika: (got bored with MSQ) BRB farming Anima

The descriptions of your encounters are often vague and inconsistent, and I personally have come to believe it has been done that way on purpose, essentially leaving how you actually cleared something up to player interpretation.

Some trials leave no room for doubt i.e. Ifrit normal.
Regardless of what the story says, you can solo anything unsync if you're strong enough (unless have wipe mechanics) except when the situation should be that you were caught unaware.
Even for Ravana, I can also say Sidika called her friends in preparations and lie in wait until her turn to battle.