>>517927281That's the paradox. The purpose of life is god union, where peace and bliss is perpetual, but how does water that has frozen itself into an individualized structure rejoin the ocean? It increases in frequency, becoming energized and dynamic, no longer taking a fixed shape; heating up. It does not cease being water with unique properties that make it distinguishable from the totality, the ocean, but the shape it takes is in perfect harmony with the tide. This is apotheosis.
The ego structure of the individual is merely a melting ice cap. However, the water can decide to harden and create an ice age with other ice caps. This is epitomized by war, stagnation and death.
This is likely why before reaching the Haligtree there is a vast frozen tundra to overcome, signifying the temporary intensification of egoic influence before it's dissolution, and the sanctuary itself, specifically by Elphael, is next to tides of water. This ties itself into Malenia's own Water Fowl Dance technique, and the Blind Swordsman who sealed the Rot God.
The dissolution of the ego, the collapse of individualism and the embracing of all that is can also be represented by Miquella's choice to accept the discarded and hunted remnants of the Golden Order into the Haligtree. There is also an acknowledgment that this doesn't lead to a self-death, as an individualist might fear understandably, but a self-realization through purification.
Miquella and Malenia are both fully realized yet nonetheless altruistic, hot and dynamic like geyser waters, yet distinguishable even in their harmonious support of one another. This is why Malenia says "I am Malenia. Blade of Miquella" repeatedly, affirming her identity and later succumbing once more to the Rot during her boss fight, and why Millicent's questline is about returning Malenia's sense of self that exists beyond the ice cap "Malenia" which stagnated and forgot who she truly was beyond her undefeatable persona when she gave into the Rot.
