Some time should be spent as we talk about Path of Life of the parallels between Horatia and Gladiia, as well as Aegir and the rest of Terra. I don't believe this is a particularly inspired point of commentary for me to actually discuss, because the game itself juxtaposes them against each other, but I think it's worth talking about and providing my own commentary.
Horatia raised Gladiia by herself despite being told repeatedly she would not be a fit mother to do so. This isn't some triumph either: Horatia raised Gladiia very poorly. Her status, work, and disposition caused her to neglect Gladiia, causing deep emotional scarring, even if Gladiia tries her best to not show it to anyone. She doesn't see Gladiia's rebellions are proof of her lack of ability either. Since Gladiia became a Hunter and put her life on the line for Aegir, Horatia sees herself as ultimately having done the right thing.
This is, essentially, mirrors how Aegir feels about the rest of Terra. Aegir can easily step into the role of worldwide mediator, Heratia feels, despite the best objections of Kal'tsit. They can solve everyone's problems, because they've experienced them all as a nation. A little diplomacy here, a little Collapsal extermination there, Aegir can solve it all. In a way that the land nations themselves couldn't do. You can even still see this in their final message. They'll be the ones leading the new alliance against everything. Over and over again, it is repeated that pride and arrogance are the flaws of the Aegir. To put it a little more aptly, just like the Greek and Roman folklore of our time, their fatal flaw is their hubris. They dramatically underestimated the Seaborn, their capacities against them, and their infiltration by the Church of the Deep. They rejected the idea of getting help from others. Horatia felt she could raise her own daughter just fine. Aegir feel they can effortlessly lead the land nations into the coming threats. They are but mere babes in the eyes of Aegir.
This, ultimately, is contrasted against Kal'tsit. While Aegir have the records of their past struggles, none of them are old enough to remember them directly. They can learn from history, but it is merely that: history. Kal'tsit, on other hand, has the direct experience with the peoples she talking about. She knows about the Ursus, the Bolivarians, and the Sami more than the Aegir possibly could. Kal'tsit, herself, has been humbled time and time again. Made painfully aware of her limitations and the consequences of exceeding past her grasp. What it means to have knowledge and still fall short. Kal'tsit is the voice of reason to the haughty, prideful Aegir, warning them of their obvious mistake.
Is it no real surprise then that Horatia remarks that the only person she's ever seen Gladiia put her full trust is Kal'tsit? Calm, collected, ever careful Kal'tsit? Who never assumes she can plan for every contingency, who understands her own limits? Who, ultimately, puts the life of Gladiia above the potential benefits of the mission? Compared to her mother, who seemingly very quickly declared her own daughter dead? Who deliberately obscured the actual plans?
Kal'tsit, is ultimately, not her mother. She reminds Gladiia of her mother, but Gladiia puts her full trust in her, unlike Horatia.
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