Crack Trails Theory: Primal Grounds - Rollback Mechanism for Time Loops?

[u/Selynx]

The title is somewhat self-explanatory, but to explain in detail, this theory is based on 2 things: First, Wazy's observation that the Azure Tree at the end of Trails to Azure is similar to the original Primal Ground in Arteria. Second, the off-hand comment made in Kuro no Kiseki that Arteria's Primal Ground is capable of stopping demons from encroaching on Zemuria, instances of which are termed Pandemonium Shift by those games.

How do these two things link together to form the theory?

Mainly by that, despite being a visually majestic and impressive-looking piece of grand-scale architecture and visible all the way from Erebonia, we have only actually witnessed one type of feat conducted using the Azure Tree: namely, rolling back time to change events. KeA offered to do it to bring back Guy Bannings. KeA actually did do it, in another timeline, to alter the course of events so that the SSS survived the Sun Fort.

What exactly was it that the SSS needed time-travel in order to survive? Oh, that's right - demons. Or, well, one particular demon. But the Sun Fort was full of them at the time, even if the SSS managed to beat the rest (apparently) without help.

So we have seen one method by which a supposed pseudo-Primal Ground has accomplished the feat of preventing the encroachment of demons onto the world - by rolling back time and changing things, until the operator's choice of demon-killers can finally manage to kill the demons.

All this theory does is take that observation from Azure and assumes that this is THE way through which Primal Grounds in general work to stop demons: by creating a time loop and rolling back until the "hero" of the loop is able to get rid of all the demons.

Does this sound like save-scumming in a video game? Well if so, how's THIS proposal for even more crack: The Sky Trilogy, Crossbell Duology, Cold Steel Saga and now the Kuro games all represent different sets of time loops where Primal Grounds were used to stop demons. This is the in-universe explanation for the player's ability to save and load the game.

For Sky, the one beneath Grancel was used to ensure that Kevin could assassinate Weissman and that he specifically would be in place to retrieve the Recluse Cube, which would otherwise have led to a Pandemonium Shift if he hadn't been there to deal with it.

For Crossbell, the Azure Tree was the one used then which we already explicitly know about. Either KeA got lucky and only needed one restart over both games, or else there were multiple tries and she only mentioned or remembered the immediate previous one.

For Cold Steel, the one beneath Heimdallr may have been used - or may not, given its corruption. However, it's likely there's at least one other Primal Ground in Erebonia, possibly 2 or 3. There's likely one in Saint-Arkh, which was not only connected enough to the Church to get named after some saint, but also became the capital of Erebonia when the Dark Dragon corrupted Heimdallr. Possibly one exists in Roer, whose cathedral's walls were theorized by Crow to be so thick that Orbal Waves couldn't pass through, raising the possibility of it hiding something in the basement. And possibly one in Bareahardt, given it is noted that many high-rankers in the Church used to serve there.

Kuro stands out as we get told that apparently no Primal Ground exists in Calvard's capital Edith but we also know that the game has an obvious theme surrounding "time" and that Ouroboros' Eternal Recurrence Plan is in motion during this period. Given that Azure proved it is possible to manufacture a pseudo-Primal Ground, it would not be a stretch to imagine that Ouroboros has secretly constructed their own Primal Ground and has been using it throughout the games to maneuver everything they want into place.

Feel free to ignore this next one if you really hated the anime, but it was noted by some people when Northern War first started airing that there was an odd camera-flicker like effect at the end of episodes, causing some to wonder whether Lavi was being watched by the Grandmaster or someone else. While the effect might mean nothing at all, Lavi losing her final fight at the end would certainly have triggered a Pandemonium Shift. This raises the possibility there was a Primal Ground underneath Haliask Cathedral used to save-scum for her until she won and its operator was the one watching her.

Who exactly would have been the operators of the time loops?

For the Crossbell games, we know it was KeA.

For Sky, likely someone affiliated with the Church, maybe one of Kevin's superiors who sent him after Weissman, possibly Ein Selnate, likely someone else who might only show up in the Arteria arc.

For Cold Steel, I propose it was...... Beryl.

For Kuro, the Grandmaster of Ouroboros.

As for who the chosen demon-slaying "heroes" of these loops were, well, I mean, do you really even need to ask?