Thanks to RebeccaETripp for the inspiration!

They have endured some of the most horrifying physical punishments we can think of, but that’s not it even the true horror of what they face. The characters have to do some things that nonpsychopaths couldn’t possibly be ready for. Imagine having to kill for the first time. The heroes of light have to battle to survive and to protect others. And not just monsters, they have to kill humans too. Some of the protagonists are unmistakably good, compassionate and merciful. So try to picture how they might feel for during and after killing a human soldier knowing that he might have had a family waiting at home and knowing that he too believed him when he was fighting for better or worse. The killer will be forever changed.

So this brings us to the question: how do many of the Final Fantasy characters retain their attitudes?

For someone battle hardened like Auron and Barrett, this might not be too much of a problem. But what about Vanille, who graciously accepts the gun.

Or Penelo, kills for the first time. Maybe it’s not her first time,  you never know.

This is something future Final Fantasy titles could explore:

The progression of characters from inexperienced on the battlefield to hardened war heroes.

By this note, the cast of Final Fantasy XV seemed really realistic. They’ve destroyed machine-soldiers while killing animals for food.

And you can see the toll the fighting starts to take on some of them.

However, Noctis is still somewhat of a sheltered prince in a battle against monsters and machine soldiers. And they still have their moments of celebrating after a long, hard-fought battle.