I was always under the impression that the Echo was just an ability granted to us by Hydaelyn's Blessing.
But then we lose the Blessing and still are able to ascertain Ascian speech... which just throws the whole damn thing out of whack.
MIND YOU, there is always the possibility that the Echo is still an ability granted by the Blessing but is not necessarily something that can be 'lost' once granted. Also keep in mind that the Ascians themselves also possess the Echo, meaning that it is not something exclusive to Hydaelyn (with Zodiark being Hydaelyn's polar opposite, it makes sense that they'd have some overlap).
All this being said, it's pretty obvious to me that the Echo and the Blessing are intentionally vague and ambiguous mysteries and that this is something they're going to elaborate on down the line. All we know right now is that the Blessing is one thing, and we lose it, and the Echo is another thing and we still have it. Somehow.
Edit: It could be that the Blessing itself is only a shorthand for the powerful, protective aether that Hydaelyn provides us in times of dire need, and the Echo is separate from that (but still something granted to us by The Mother Crystal). I'll have to go back into the main story quests but I believe Minfilia took our possessing the Echo as a sign that Hydaelyn speaks to us.
But then we lose the Blessing and still are able to ascertain Ascian speech... which just throws the whole damn thing out of whack.
MIND YOU, there is always the possibility that the Echo is still an ability granted by the Blessing but is not necessarily something that can be 'lost' once granted. Also keep in mind that the Ascians themselves also possess the Echo, meaning that it is not something exclusive to Hydaelyn (with Zodiark being Hydaelyn's polar opposite, it makes sense that they'd have some overlap).
All this being said, it's pretty obvious to me that the Echo and the Blessing are intentionally vague and ambiguous mysteries and that this is something they're going to elaborate on down the line. All we know right now is that the Blessing is one thing, and we lose it, and the Echo is another thing and we still have it. Somehow.
Edit: It could be that the Blessing itself is only a shorthand for the powerful, protective aether that Hydaelyn provides us in times of dire need, and the Echo is separate from that (but still something granted to us by The Mother Crystal). I'll have to go back into the main story quests but I believe Minfilia took our possessing the Echo as a sign that Hydaelyn speaks to us.
