The past that haunts: Balthier’s case
A liberated man soaring through the sky, yet his heart is earth-bound...
Balthier soars as his heart desires, drinking and enjoying the presence of women. At first glance, he seems to be completely free, but he is obsessed with one thing: Balthier is not at the top of the bounty list. This is not because he's afraid of rising the bounty on his head, but because the empire has been cracking down on sky pirates and having connections within the empire makes him easy to track.
Balthier’s skills in operating the latest machinery and his sophisticated behavior was nurtured in the past. To the father who gave him everything, Balthier said goodbye at the age of 16 and fled to the sky. Just as Vaan does now, the boy saw in "sky pirates" the symbol of freedom. Abandoning the role Balthier had been given, he chose to run away from reality. His encounter with Vaan brings him face to face with what he had been running away from, and teaches him the true meaning of freedom and the sky’s limit.
Balthier is troubled by his past. Reddas points out that sky pirates are not bound by their past.
Balthier’s harsh remark to Larsa reflect his bitter experience.