The ideal world Rowan described was indeed enticing.
But as a ruler without any power, Rowan could not make his words convincing.
If reshaping a world's order took nothing more than a little talk, Ascension would have unified the entire Shadowlands long ago.
"What you say sounds wonderful, but it isn't realistic. The rules established at the birth of the Shadowlands are upheld by the Six Death Gods. Any creature that attempts to break them will face an assault from the other Covenant powers."
"Like the Jailer of Soulrender?" Rowan interjected, half-joking.
The Archon froze for a second, realizing she had trapped herself in her own argument. By her reasoning, wasn't the Jailer a villain attempting to overthrow the order?
Following that line of thought, Rowan's position was not only sound, but firmly defensible.
No, there must be something wrong with this mortal's position. Even if there isn't, I must find something.
The Archon pondered for a moment, answering Rowan's question with silence for the time being.
What's wrong with me today? Why does my thinking keep stalling in front of a mortal creature?
For the past several million years, the Archon had been the ultimate interpreter of Ascension's path of ascension. She alone held the authority to interpret every law and rule within the Kyrian Covenant's territory.
During her tenure, she had encountered many confused Kyrian, as well as souls from the universe's various planes inhabited by intelligent beings. In the end, however, she had persuaded them all to join the Kyrian and embrace the path of ascension.
Over those millions of years, the path of ascension had subtly influenced the Archon. Gradually, she had come to consider it the optimal form of existence for intelligent life in the universe.
Ascension was, after all, the destination of all righteous