I appreciate you trying to logic your way through it, but forced happiness is no different than outright misery. It's just painting over the latter with a bright color.

[ That cheer and hope has to be genuine, which might be next to impossible for some people. Thoma's bore witness enough times to how deeply despair can sink its claws. ]

Do you think there are other creatures out there like the Innocent creature that possessed Estinien? There are plenty of shrines littered around...