#granted even SS/VW/AM Rhea doesn't put survival at the top of her priority list so...

[randomnameless]

seteth negative character growth in cf thoughts?

why must you tempt me so when i'm already struggling to write things about metodey !

I won’t say it’s as flagrant as other characters.

Cichol left after the War of Heroes to look after a comatose Cethleann. It is not said where they rested (Flayn mentions she slept in a casket).

Apparently, some 18 years ago, Rhea called him back. Now, Cichol could have refused and continued to watch over Cethleann like he did for the past 1000 years, but for some reason, he answered her call and came to the Monastery.

Seteth’s main concern is Flayn’s safety. He mentions it once to Billy I think, but Flayn is the most important thing to him, not the Church, not Rhea, not the world, but Flayn and only Flayn.

When things become dire in the monastery, after Flayn’s been recovered from Emile’s clutches, and he thinks they know about her “mysterious blood” he wishes to run away and hide, to protect her. It doesn’t matter that if Emile and pals know what is Flayn, they might know what is Rhea, nope. But Flayn tells him to stop and reconsider, and ultimately Seteth accepts to trust Billy with her safety (lol).

Then, things happen and Flamy does their stuff. Before being fridged, Rhea asks Seteth to support Billy, after revealing who Billy is supposed to be. Depending on your earlier choices (I suppose it has something to do with your support or if you accepted Flayn in your class or not?) Seteth accepts.

He accepts looking after and supporting Billy, if something happens to her (meaning GM is ruined and people know she’s a giant lizard) instead or running away with Flayn to hide until the world becomes dust.

SS Seteth even says “Each of our situations is unique. What we share is companionship and the will to fight as one.”

The BE humans are now his “companions” and the fight as one. That’s not the words of someone who only wants to protect his daughter.

In CF... this does not happen, because Billy betrays.

Billy is definitely not Sothis, nor shares her consciousness or anything like that, because Billy sides with Flamey who ordered Metodey to seize “bones and hearts” of the fallen Nabateans - Billy sides with the “eww dragon” crowd.

Betrayed by humans he reverts to his old persona - Flayn must be saved, no matter what.

“Dear Flayn. I only brought you with me because you were so insistent. Still, no matter what happens, you must not go near the front lines.”

Seteth never says that in the other routes. Are we supposed to understand he recognised her abilities and let her do as she wanted, instead of “allowing” her to be there only if she doesn’t go near the front lines?

“Even if we prevail, I doubt that the church can ever fully return to the way it once was... “

From the guy who reforms the Church in every ending - Seteth knows the Church cannot return to what it was, but strives to rebuild and better the institution.

Then, during the fateful battle :

“I cannot approve of your actions. But I also cannot follow Rhea on her current course”

Which is all kinds of “meh” + “player pandering shit” (you really cannot ‘approve’ seteth? Where did all the fire from the first battle go?) but it is explained later with :

“If Flayn and I survive this battle, we will withdraw from the world and leave you to do as you please.”

Rhea’s current course of action is to fight for survival and throw everything in the fight, even her life (she doesn’t run away or flee Fodlan). Seteth knows if they continue to fight, they’re not going to survive. Unlike her, he isn’t willing to put his, but moreover Flayn’s life, on the line.

Flayn knows it, when she goes “ When this is over, my brother and I will go into hiding. It is the only way.”. Implying even if they won, they would not continue to side by Rhea and instead run/hide.

Rhea knows this, and she expected it :

“ I see. As expected, I am the only one left.”

After all, Seteth always made it clear Flayn was his top priority :

“ I detest that person with all my heart. However, Flayn's life is more important to me than all else.”

Rhea, Flayn and Seteth all know in CF he is going to hide with Flayn after the battle in GM, and not finish the war.

Seteth reverts, not to his old WoH days, but to the days where he and Flayn hid from the world.

Contrast with SS, where Rhea’s surprised to see them at Billy’s side (even if she asked Seteth to support them!) :

“Seteth, Flayn... You are here as well...”

:) bonus Inoue!Rhea lines because she was allowed to emote

Rhea even thanks him for rescuing her! To which Seteth replies :

“Rhea... I am overjoyed that you are unharmed. I could not stand losing another of our kind “.

And then they go in their old people mode, reminiscing about the good’ol days in Enbarr.

I’m not implying Seteth couldn’t gaf about Rhea dying in CF, or other relics to be crafted, but Flayn was more important. In SS, Flayn is still important, but Seteth still wishes to rescue Rhea, because she is his kin, and they are old friends?/sibs? (the game is still a bit muddy on their exact relationship).

Tl; Dr : Seteth in SS (AM/VW presumably) goes from a guy who was only looking after his daughter and wanting to protect her from a guy who wants to protect the world and rescue his sister, while of course protecting his daughter. His endings makes him become a public person (in charge of the church), he “ditches” his old isolated life.

In CF? Seteth goes from a guy who was only looking after his daughter to... a guy who only wishes to protect his daugher, let his sister or the world be damned. He “returns” to an isolated life.