Vindication! :P
Interview with Yoshi-P, 2021.09.03:
What’s Thancred and Minfilia true feeling for one another? What did Thancred actually say with his silent words?
Q: Things have been really hard for Thancred in SHB, he is constantly worrying about losing his family and the final result is far from great for him. What’s really going on in his mind?
Y: Thancred true feeling toward Minfilia is obviously not seeing her as a sister, but if that’s what Minfilia wanted, then no matter how much it pains him, he will respect it. However, it would be a lie to say Thancred hasn’t thought of the possibility of getting together with her. He constantly trying to reject himself from having these thoughts by always addressing her as "my sister". On the other hand, Minfilia believed that it was her mission and role to bring the light and people to posterity, her personal feelings and her own very life are something that she has to set aside. She thinks if Ryne could follow the journey with WoL and the others under her own will, then Ryne will be able to follow her heart and find her own happiness. That’s why when Ryne give Minfilia her response, she said: “You share that self-same hope as me ... That’s more than what I could have ever asked for, I could leave proud and pleased now”.
As hurt as Thancred is about Manfilia's passing, he knows he gets to have a few more moments with Manfilia before her departure, hence Thancred had little regrets. The same could not be said for F'lhaminn (Manfilia adopted mum). That’s why in my head, Thancred would not spare any details, he will tell F'lhaminn everything about Manfilia and her deed in the First. After his battle with Ranjit, Thancred was lying on the ground and you can see he was expressing all his feelings as Manfilia parted, I was very particular about that scene, I made sure the last scene he was lip-syncing when he made a silent voice with no subtitle. (To allow people to guess what he said)
Q: So, what did Thancred actually say in that scene?
Y: I won’t say it. But I can tell you it is something I will never want to hear from you (the interviewer) saying it (Laugh).