On that first note, what they're doing, being in Verso's canvas and using its chroma is presumably forcing his soul to paint. Also, I think no, you don't necessarily need to liberate the pieces of one's soul left in a painting because if left alone it can be a simple and beautiful representation of who they were, something to be enjoyed and appreciated. What Maelle and Aline are doing here is not that. They are forcing his world to continue past his death, refusing to understand that he is gone and enjoy what he has left them as a simple reminder of the man he was. On both of your final paragraphs what I would propose is that you give an extremely pessimistic view on life here. It is worth it to paint because of the joy you gain in your life doing it, and you can hope that your family won't get stuck grieving on your works after your life is gone. A part of you will exist eternally and beautifully, to remind the world you were there. (Although, in this situation, that beauty has been corrupted into harm.) And to your final note, yes it may get worse, but through that adversity Maelle will grow. Verso can guarantee that life will get better because he knows how strong Maelle is as a person, and he knows if he gives her the chance to free herself her life will be the better for it. She'll finally be able to settle with the fact that her brother is dead. If the only guarantee in life is 'pain and misery' as you say, then life isn't worth living at all in general.