They’re not mortal souls given form in the afterlife, because we’re told that all souls that go to Bastion become Aspirants.
They’re not animalian souls, because we’re told that they all go to Ardenweald.
They’re not constructs created out of Anima, because we see constructs made out of Anima, and they look and act nothing like Stewards.
Plus, there’s the fact that you can soulbind with one, implying that whatever they have going on under the hood is equal to a mortal soul, even though they don’t have one…? What?
to my understanding… they are actually constructs created out of Anima… but not in the normal fashion… we were told during the Bastion campaign quests that Stewards were “created to serve” the Kyrian. So we know they are constructs… though unlike normal constructs they do seem to have souls… possibly artificial souls…
The SL has native creatures too who evolved from the anima and don’t originate from life. Stewards are some of these. Each covenant has a race or two of caretakers the SL made for them to be companions and helpers in running things. And a whole assortment of wildlife and ecosystems.
They’re a different kind of soul. Similar to us, but different.
That’s not necessarily what we’re told, but is also not relevant to the question because stewarts are not like the souls that are sent to the shadowlands.
“Animilian” doesn’t really have anything to do with anything.
I thought they were just created from anima from the people, like how Denathrius created Renathal from “his will” In similar fashion but with anima. As well as the Fairies. I don’t believe they were once souls either.
