Maechen and the black mage dressphere (possible spoilers)

[Little Blue]

Was he still alive when the fayth were made? It is known that there was a final battle against Bevelle on the Calm Lands. Even though he was old, he was a mage, and could've fought, ultimately dying and becoming an unsent. That's my theory at least.

The Calm Lands is only used for the Final Aeon fights. In context of the war, the game makes it seem as though Bevelle was pushing on Zanarkand and broke the city defenses (Gagazet). There's no reason for Zanarkand to leave the safety of their mountains.

In the final battle, I believe that they only used summoners, their last resort. He seems to have no knowledge of the act of summoning itself, even if he knows what it is. He could have been killed as a citizen, or in a previous battle, but I doubt this.

Actually, one of Maechen's lectures, specifically the one when you first arrive on the Calm Lands states that it was a battlefield in the war. However, there is no mention that it was the final battlefield of the war, perhaps my own ideas have got the better of me. It should be noted though that it appears as though Bevelle never actually breached the city, or never got passed the Fayth on Gagazet, or in fact even reached the Fayth in the final campaign of the war, for that was when Sin first appeared, according to Maechen again.

It could easily be suggested that Maechen died in Zanarkand when Sin attacked. A straggler who didn't make it to the mountain in time to become a fayth, someone who refused to be a fayth, or perhaps unsuitable. Who knows?