Chapter 1056: Pastimes Rowan had never expected to find a Soul-type realm, one that was separated from Reality, it meant that finally he could experiment and discover deeper layers of souls in this realm. Perhaps his survival after he was struck down by a Primordial Weapon could not just be because of the lack of expertise by the wielder, but perhaps because he was in an enclosed realm that had its Soul Origin system which had therefore given him the boost to push past the edge of death. It was in his nature to never back down when he had seized an advantage and would pursue this course to its completion. Leaving his introspection and his plans clear for the future he peered at the mortal beside him. When he had killed the Explorers in that dead continent, he had harvested all their lingering soul energy, and therefore the woman before him was like a fading flame, it did not matter if her vitality was still robust, her soul energy was at its limit, and in a while, she would be gone, what was left inside of her was not enough to carry the weight of her power. In Rowan's eyes, she was like a shining star, pouring out her radiance one last time into the universe before it vanished forever. Her fragile soul was filled with countless holes all leaking out lights of various colors that were eerily similar to his Primordial Sea of Ambrosia and his Prismatic eyes... This was the color of the soul when it was wrapped by the experiences of one's life. Gently holding Nyla's hand, he led her to her designated spot and sat beside her, she usually sat at this spot alone, a habit she had found herself doing for centuries, it would be a peaceful death if she could die in the midst of such beauty, he wanted to leave, but something within him urged him to stay, Rowan sighed and tapped her nose once, drawing a hint of life back into her eyes, "Breathe... I know what you are feeling right now. It's like you are howling your lungs out in the middle of a crowd. Yet no one can hear you scream. Understand that this feeling will never fade away, you have seen deeply of my nature when you are yet a mortal, even an Ascendant would run mad. You have been scarred for it. However, you can choose to remain inside this hole in your spirit and languish there until your fragile mortal flesh ceases or you could see it as what it is... just a scar, one among the plenty that you bear." Not waiting to see if his words would have any effect on her, he sank back into his mind. The fight was left to her now, the only solace he could offer her was to sit by her side as she died, even if she was resurrected again, she would only last a few hours before she perished. Rowan manifested a pen and paper in his hands, and for the first time in an extremely long time, he began to draw. He set the paper in the air and his pencil began to slowly crawl upon its surface. Perhaps it was due to his weakened consciousness, or for another reason entirely, he tried not to think about it too much, he knew it helped him in the analysis of the nature of this realm and how he could use them to his advantage in the future. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺 Already he had another great advantage, what the World Will was seeing of him was disjointed and chaotic because most of Rowan's consciousnesses apart from the one driving this Explorer's body was dormant. Without a guiding mind that was awake, it could never take shape. In addition to the fact that this body was an Explorer, it granted Rowan a double cover against the World's Will. No matter how much the Will of this world could peer into Rowan's consciousness, the only thing it would find was placid and dormant, and of the few details it would discover, they would all be meaningless. He focused on what he was drawing because his mind had wandered and he realized he had drawn the entire garden. It was a perfect picture even though it was rendered in black and white, but Rowan frowned. Once drawing had brought him peace, but now, even while he drew, his mind had been focused on nothing but plotting and war. This odd mortal pastime was not something he could indulge in any longer, he blinked and the paper and pen vanished. The soft voice of Nyla whispered beside him, "How can you do that?" "Do what?" he replied distractedly, "Hold two separate natures inside you. Hot and Cold, Light and Darkness, Death and Life..." Rowan paused his internal musing and looked at her, "Is that the question you want to ask of me?" Licking her lips in nervousness, Nyla placed aside every doubt in her heart and forged ahead, "I believe that is the most important question I can ask you. You are not a Calamity God or an Ascendant, none can hold two differing concepts in their soul." Rowan was silent before he asked, "Can you paint?" Nyla shook her head, "there is no reason to learn such a skill in the times of war. To become a Temple Maiden is to accept a life of service and sacrifice. We learn no skill that does not suit our cause." "Ah, of course," Rowan nodded, "That creed of yours. But perhaps you can see from my position how lacking your question is in merit. You ask how can I hold two things in my heart at the same time yet you have never looked outside your Creed for other answers, you have always chosen warmth and never tried venturing out into the cold, so you will never understand what I will tell you." Nyla shook her head, "Your argument is false. We do not share the same baseline. I know the only thing waiting for me outside the light is the darkness, outside of my life is death, I cannot be both light and dark at the same time." Rowan smiled, "Says who?"