Halmarut's True Intention

[Divinemights]

Since Patch 7.5 and the 8.0 trailer, most lore discussions have been centered around a few common assumptions:

• The next expansion will be Norse-themed
• Halmarut was attempting to trigger a premature Rejoining
• The Warrior of Light is being set up to face a classic “trolley dilemma”

However, a closer look at Halmarut’s behavior and the framing of the 8.0 trailer suggests the writers may be deliberately misleading the audience.
I would argue that 8.0 is built on a very different foundation:

• A thematic parallel to FF7, with “Meteor” replaced by “Solstice”
• The Warrior of Light is led to believe this is a trolley problem, when in reality there is always a third option
• Halmarut never intended to cause a premature Rejoining; her true objective is to become a new Hydaelyn

Halmarut’s True Objective: Becoming Hydaelyn

Rather than initiating a Rejoining, Halmarut appears to be attempting to summon a new Hydaelyn with herself acting as the “heart,” similar to Venat.
This ties into a familiar narrative principle:

“There must always be a Lich King.”

In FFXIV’s cosmology, a similar balance exists. Hydaelyn (Venat) sundered Etheirys and maintains the stability of the Source and its thirteen reflections through her divine authority: stasis, calm, and equilibrium.
If Hydaelyn’s role is essential to preserving this balance, then her absence creates a structural problem.
The “third option” is not choosing between destruction or sacrifice but replacing the stabilizing force itself.
In other words: there must be a Hydaelyn.

Notably, there is no clear evidence that a sundered Ascian like Halmarut could trigger a Rejoining independently.
Historically, the seven Umbral Calamities required the coordination of the unsundered Ascians such as Emet-Selch, Lahabrea, and Elidibus
Sundered Ascians were responsible for preparing the shards only
With no unsundered Ascians remaining, a conventional Rejoining becomes far less plausible.
This further supports the idea that Halmarut’s goal lies elsewhere.

FF7 Parallel: Solstice as “Meteor”

If “Solstice” functions as the equivalent of Meteor, then Halmarut’s role begins to resemble an Aerith-like figure.
For her to become the new Hydaelyn, a form of self sacrifice would likely be required.
This aligns with both the thematic direction hinted at in the 8.0 trailer and the visual symbolism of the logo.
However, such a transformation would not occur in isolation.

This is where the Warrior of Light comes in.
Rather than being cast as a villain, the Warrior of Light may take on a Sephiroth like role
Not in intent, but in function: the one who ultimately enables the process that transforms Halmarut into a new Hydaelyn.

This could explain several otherwise questionable narrative choices:

• Halmarut directly approaching the Warrior of Light in 7.5
• Calyx being able to contact and guide the Warrior of Light toward the Fourth Shard
• The implication that these interactions occur with Halmarut’s awareness (if not outright orchestration)

Calyx, effectively acting as an extension of Halmarut, would not be able to act independently without her consent.
This suggests a coordinated setup rather than coincidence.

Why Would Halmarut Do This?

A key possibility is that Halmarut is not acting purely as a member of the Convocation, but as a hidden collaborator aligned with Azem.
The strongest evidence for this comes from the Japanese voice lines.
Halmarut consistently uses the honorific “-sama” when referring to both the Warrior of Light and Hydaelyn, but not to others.
In Japanese, “-sama” conveys a high level of reverence, typically reserved for figures of exceptional importance.
This selective usage suggests that Halmarut recognizes something unique about both entities, possibly their shared connection to Azem.
This raises the possibility that she has been operating as a covert ally within the Convocation.
Additional supporting points:

• She appears to understand how Azem’s key functions
• She may have been responsible for giving the key to the Lalafell group that traveled to the Ninth
• Her actions consistently align with Azem’s philosophy rather than the Convocation’s

In this sense, she parallels Azeyma of the Twelve, someone who reveres Azem and acts in accordance with their will, effectively as an extension of Azem’s ideology.

The “Trolley Dilemma” Is a Misdirection

At the end of 7.5 Part 1, the Warrior of Light appears to be set up for a classic trolley problem.
However, as the reincarnation of Azem, this framing may itself be misleading.
Azem was previously faced with a similar dilemma: Zodiark vs. Hydaelyn and chose neither path.
Instead, Azem pursued an unknown third option, the legacy of which persists through Azem’s key.

From the perspective of Azem, there is no trolley problem, only incomplete thinking.
Both Emet-Selch and Venat describe Azem as a rule breaker, someone who rejects binary choices and seeks unconventional solutions.
Following that logic, the current dilemma may not be a real dilemma at all, but a test of whether the Warrior of Light will follow Azem’s path.

One possible outcome:
Not choosing between outcomes but enabling Halmarut to become the new Hydaelyn, preserving balance without repeating the sacrifices of the past.

Did Hydaelyn Anticipate This?

If this theory holds, then Hydaelyn (Venat) likely foresaw the possibility of Solstice and prepared accordingly.
The Moon and the Loporrits serve as a clear contingency plan:

• The Moon can still function as a starship for planetary evacuation
• The Loporrits’ seemingly whimsical preparationss may actually be practical safeguards

Their “cosmic” exploration may be a disguise for readiness ensuring survival in the event that the Warrior of Light fails to realize the third option.

Final Thought

If 8.0 is truly about rejecting false dilemmas, then the real question isn’t which choice the Warrior of Light will make: but whether they recognize that the choice itself is flawed.
And whether, like Azem before them, they’re willing to break the rules to create something entirely new.