I've been thinking about an alternative timeline where the events described in From a Distance did not take place and the Continental Accord on the treatment of bearers was not established. Given the inherent power differential between those with magic and those without, how would society develop and what would the structures and hierarchies look like? Would bearers have become the abusers of power instead lording it over those without magic? Given the natural limitations of the power with the curse of petrification, what would they have done to alleviate that downside?

Obviously, it's impossible to know, but I just want to hear some fun ideas and speculation. Probably wouldn't have turned out well IME. I mean there is a good reason why Clive destroys the wellspring of magic at the end.

I think it's also an interesting crystallization of the philosophical question in real life. How could we implement the concept of meritocracy and egalitarianism if some people are born with innately more talents and abilities? The answer to this philosophical dillemma that FFXVI offers is basically to level the playing field magically by removing the ability to be born differently. But magic isn't the only source of power differential that one can be born with. And there aren't wellsprings of strength, wellsprings of intelligence, etc. that we could destroy in real life.

What do y'all think?