The last time I saw her was a long, long time before she had children, but...she always struck me as a kind, warm woman. I even heard she risked her life fighting alongside Sparda to push through Mundus' forces, up to his doorstep.

All of this...I can't imagine her ever being this cruel if her soul was her own. You're right, though...souls get consumed by others all the time. And they aren't always simply broken down completely for raw power.