Thread: Zenos will return in 7.0

Originally Posted by Absimiliard

The most logical (and seemingly accurate) explanation for why Zenos didn't get involved with Eorzea sooner is simply that it wasn't his row to hoe. Someone that "done" with life isn't exactly going to go out of his way to intervene on behalf of another ranking Garlean officer without a very good reason, and at that time the WoL was likely beneath his notice.

As for why a man with all that power wouldn't just go do whatever he wanted? Lack of drive. It was made known to us that Zenos's childhood was uh... horrible, to put it bluntly. He was vastly superior to all of his peers, and even the man chosen to teach him the art of the sword could only hold an edge over him due to the Garlean people's inherent deficiency in manipulating aether. Zenos was so determined to master his teacher's skills that he shoved crystals into his flesh, allowing him to utilize their aether. With this, he proceeded to slay his instructor with the man's own technique. It would be the last time he felt much of anything until meeting the WoL, an individual in whom he saw a great rival.

Being raised as a child soldier, or in his case a child supersoldier, kinda robs you of a lot of perspective. There are a great many things in the world you're like as not never going to consider pursuing, and life paths other than those thrust upon you by your caretakers are pretty high on that last. His upbringing aside (noting also that he had caretakers/handlers, as his parents couldn't be arsed to bother with him), his unusual abilities more or less meant he was a pariah. Not just to others, but even in his own mind. He knew he wasn't like them. Prodigious talent has a way of alienating people to an insane degree, unfortunately.

Varis was also far from father of the year material. He knew that swordmaster could kill his son and didn't do anything to stop it. He talks about Zenos being a monster later on but he created that monster with neglect, indifference, and zeal to just use him for Garlean's own ends.

I didn't really care for Zenos until EW and reading the Chronicle of Light story, but now I feel it's a shame he never got the chance to be someone else. Gaius did (but they admitted his living was a retcon), but Yotsuyu didn't and neither did Zenos. Not all villains need some sort of redemption. Ilberd and Thordan show us that. But EW showed that Zenos did take what Alisaie said to heart and I felt that sort of development deserved at least a chance to follow a different path.

We didn't see him dissolve into aether, so I do still have some small hope we might see his return.

Originally Posted by TaleraRistain

But EW showed that Zenos did take what Alisaie said to heart and I felt that sort of development deserved at least a chance to follow a different path.

My read on that was that Zenos just doubled down on his existing path. He still didn't care about actually doing anything constructive with his power; he just finally realized that the only way to get the fight he wanted was to help clear our obstacles so we'd have no further distractions. He has no interest in saving the world or stopping the Final Day; he only helps us fight the Endsinger to get her out of his way.

Originally Posted by TheMightyMollusk

My read on that was that Zenos just doubled down on his existing path. He still didn't care about actually doing anything constructive with his power; he just finally realized that the only way to get the fight he wanted was to help clear our obstacles so we'd have no further distractions. He has no interest in saving the world or stopping the Final Day; he only helps us fight the Endsinger to get her out of his way.

Nobody's encouraged him to do anything constructive with his power. I think just like Fourchenault thought we were a bad influence on the kids, we could be a good influence there. Like Cid (and Jessie) turned Nero to constructive uses.

Originally Posted by Absimiliard

It's possible there was nothing left within him to facilitate dissolution. If Zenos used up the aether of his soul in that fight, then he would be well and truly gone; his body naught but an empty shell. Hydaelyn lasted long enough after completely draining herself to share a few parting words (and a gift for the WoL) with the Scions, so it stands to reason Zenos would be able to hang on long enough for a brief exchange as well.

Admittedly Hydaelyn did dissolve after her death, but her body was also made up entirely of aether. Zenos' body is quite physical, and he was nowhere near anything resembling a lifestream to which he could return even if his soul is still intact.

It's possible but after Gaius (and Koji flat out admitted that was a retcon) I'm suspicious anytime we don't see the body dissipate now.