theory post disguised as a meme? more likely than you thinkanyways have heartsabyul because i love them and they are my favourites. i have no shame in admitting that fact
so like. I've seen a LOT of speculation, mostly from a post in the LU community on who this guy is.
i think the best way to go about figuring this out is probably to compare their design to the others, as well as certain motifs from other games.
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design analysis:
the first thing that comes to mind when I see the design on the far left is how closely a lot of the aspects resemble other links. this could be a design quirk, but look closely. there are WAY too many commonalities to be coincidence:
-the bottom of the tunic? multiple parts (four, in particular), like wind's
-the undershirt? if you look closely, it's a close-fitting dark , very similar to legend's (or even time's!)
-the neckline? VERy similar to warriors' shirt
-the sleeves? resemble the flowy sleeves on wilds tunic, as well as the arm bandages/bracers
-the pants? only one other boy has those baggy ass pants, and that's sky
(these next ones are DEFINITELY closer to speculation btw)
-the shape on the shoulder guard thingy? reminds me of twi's shadow crystal (hmmmmm)(HMMMMMM)
-the hairstyle? from what I can see of it, it resembles time in both the approx. length and amount of curls/texture (I'm also getting hat vibes from what I can see)
-the shape of the top of the boots is also pretty similar to time's too
-of course, I haven't mentioned Hyrule or four yet, but at the same time the image shown isnt fully rendered and cut off before the boots/above the mouth.
(of course, one COULD pass this off as coincidence. but most of these design aspects are limited to only one particular Link.)
note: comparisons drawn using this post
other factors:
another interesting thing that I can glean from this sketch is the metal? (gromit?) detailing of the hem (it appears to be metal). no other link really has metal detailing besides armor or jewelry, while this is just... well, its different. this could mean something I just don't know what (actually that's a lie I have my theories)
this new guy is for certain left handed! the positioning of the armor/arm guard thing is on that side for all the groups lefties and on the opposite for the righties. (lowkey this would have been juicer information if it was on the righty side)
whats the weird belt orb/buckle/object? it almost reminds me of wind's belt buckle (the round spiral thing), though it also is a lot like time's ocarina in its asymmetry + positioning. boring answer, it could just be a pouch (ahh but its relevant enoughhh to be in the sketch designnnn)
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but WHAT does this all mean?????????? HOW do I interpret this??
my personal theory right now is that the design is purposefully reminiscent of the other designs because... yeah, I think the dude is Dark Link.
but why, you ask??
well, in each game dark link is a mirror to each of the heroes. his (its?) design is literally just. dark link. link but shadowy. etc etc etc.
in linked universe, there are nine links, each with unique features and designs. in order for dark link to mirror each of them, it would have to draw from each of their character designs (this is preferable to randomly mirroring one link out of nine) (I'm imagining it now: "yo *____* why did the shadow mirror you instead of me, I thought I was special too D:")
also on the metal detailing: I think the shadow likes metal?? idk it seems pretty central to its fashion sense uhhhhhh
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but there are other theories for their identity too!!
other interesting thoughts + theories:
-spirit tracks: could be interesting, the hem detailing could resemble the buttons on ST's jacket, or possibly screws?? not to mention the similarities to wind, the bottom half of the tunic + the strange button!!
-alternate timeline Time: also very very interesting. namely, it talks about the possibility that this is link from the Adult Timeline. I like this one because of, well, the similarities between this design and wind's!! the boots and the hair resembling time make a lot of sense for this theory
-cd-i or tv show link: please for the love of hylia this would be so unnecessary but also so funny at the same time (I don't see many visual similarities tho, which, well, yeah)
-another manga character or link: this one makes sense, particularly because its a littleeee hard to tell who they are (I mean, this discourse started in the first place) and also the fact that First is ALSO a manga link
-this one is another stretch but they could have something to do with the hyrule warriors games, given the design similarities + all that
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art credit/credit for the au goes to @linkeduniverse !!
none of these designs are mine they are sourced from linked universe and nintendo.
I don't think Ive seen anyone breakdown this scene, but hi I really wanted to talk about Grian's characterization so far in volume 2 starting with his scene with HG in the latest chapter and where I think they're going with his character in DDVAU.
To star this off I want to talk about how Grian views HG (save for Valentines) Its always met with disdain or irritation, and I think its because of how HG presents himself to Grian, a cop, a threat. This means there's always a level of caution met with him and mild irritation.
So when Grian wakes up to HG in his room in ch18 its cold. There's this wall already up between the two because of how HG treated him in chapter 15. He was threatened. So already the second he's awake he's on the defense, he wont let HG get to him, hes in control of his emotions.
Or well, this WOULD'VE worked until he realizes HotGuy has interrupted the one thing Grian could distract himself with. Grian went for the DS to avoid dealing with Hotguy and i'm going to assume Grian's done this before when he visited. So being cut off is something Grian wasn't expecting, being forced to confront Hotguy in his space-
Hes genuinely mad.
(the fact that Grian has this red hue over him, the expression turns from this casual oh you annoy me to oh you have actually genuinely pissed me off is so clear in the way Doody draws Grian that I wanted to point out because LORD THE CHILLS I HAD)
But Grian lashes out, his reaction is explosive because he was thrown off, its such a quick moment also, something as simple as his DS being covered and being forced to deal with Hotguy was the breaking point and LORD WAS HIS REACTION INTENSE.
He's genuinely upset.
He's frozen, hes curled up faced down with fists punching the bed because that man has been pushed too far. Hotguy has repeatedly since the incident, been in Grian's space whether he's wanted it or not and its not letting Grian breathe. They do note a few times Grian didn't ask Hotguy before this to leave but I think that this was brewing over time and again its an impulsive reaction- the DS being obstructed isnt the issue here and it seems random for him to be so angry over it but I think this was built up over time from the stress Grian's been experiencing. Hotguy reminds Grian of the school, of Mother Spore and the trauma that he was left with. Its no wonder he just wants a break from it.
And I think Hotguy in that moment realized he went too far.
( I want to note as well that Grian doesnt actually move until Hotguy speaks, he's braced and tense. He's waiting for a bad reaction for his lash out)
But Hotguy calmly agrees and offers to leave leaving Grian stunned because he was listened to. Hotguy understood him.
Now here's where i'm going to pull up a comparison I realized about Grian in chapter 14. This is not the first time he has impulsively pushed someone away, because don't forget he's done this to Jimmy.
He cuts the conversation off before it can get anywhere, its abrupt.
Something I've noticed with Grian is when he pushes both of them away theres this moment of pause, where he wont look at them. He doesnt want to see what their reaction is. Between the two scenes I find it interesting that with Jimmy, Grian manages to gather the strength to carry on his point, he looks to Jimmy after a moment of composing himself and is firm if not emotionally tired. He's scared of Jimmy's reaction but he needed to put that line down. With Hotguy like i've said, his reaction was unexpected, its abrupt and its scary for him. He's just yelled at an emerald solider (heck, the HEAD of the emerald soliders) to leave him alone quite aggressively, I think Grian kept his head down because he was waiting for the aftermath.
Its so interesting to me because in both these scenes, Jimmy and Hotguy were unintentionally pushing themselves into Grian's space, both were made from good intentions, but it wasn't what Grian wanted and the fallout afterwards leaves them at a loss for words before composing themselves and trying to make the situation light once more.
Now, Im about to throw you all a curveball and say that I genuinely think that DDVAU is trying to hint to us that Grian has BPD (borderline personality disorder)
Why do I think this? We're only a couple chapters in Volume 2 you must be asking me.
And well, I think already there are some foundations being put down in front of us starting with: Attachment Issues.
Have you all wondered WHY Grian pushed Jimmy away in chapter 14 when we have seen time and time again how protective Grian is over Jimmy? He snapped at Hotguy at the mear mention of Jimmy being accused, He freaks out when he sees Jimmy got hurt in the hospital. Both are very visiral and panicked reactions:
And yet, when he sees Jimmy was hurt and Jimmy offers to be beside Grain to preen his wings, he outright refuses, and lord you can TELL Grian wasn't happy doing that.
When he gets what he wants and Jimmy backs off? He's devastated.
I think Grian is afraid of letting Jimmy be that close to him. For what reason? Im not too sure yet but this seemed very much a spur of the moment reaction- a moment of fear from Grian.
I believe that Grian is a very emotive person and at rapid paces, its quite subtle but in chapter 17 theres a moment where Grian pulls away for just a page, the second Jimmy offers again to take care of him Grian is back to that defensive wall, but its not for too long either because Grian is instantly back to being relaxed.
Grian isnt as subtle with his emotions like Scar is, he is very much an open book and while hes better at withholding them when he feels in control of a situation it shows more when he isnt:
And I think its so important to stress why this is a thing in volume 2 and not in volume 1. Because Grian seemed to be perfectly fine right?There was no issues.
This is because Grian has been majorly thrown back.
He got possessed by the spore creature, trapped Jimmy and the school and tried to kill Hotguy which he doesn't even remember, he just has brief moments of paranoia over not remembering what he did but hearing about it from everyone else. His wings are out, Hotguy KNOWS he's an avian, he's seen Jimmy hurt by what he thinks is his actions and has had Hotguy accuse Jimmy infront of him.
He's being pressured to comply with Hotguy lest he wants everyone to know hes a mutant or worse a witch which can change everything.
This man is STRESSED. Majorly so, both being pushed to his limits body wise since he was shot at and also thrown against walls numerous of times and had the spores literally eat away his insides causing his wings to be in a state of distress. But also he is under intense emotional stress seen from the feathers on Grian's face in chapter 14, he doesnt like not knowing what happened to him and Hotguy again has pushed him past his brink.
again why do I think its BPD? I just said that Grians under a lot of stress, its understandable that hes going to lash out. But i heavily think its within the context of him pushing away Jimmy and the newest scene of chapter 1 8 thats really making me lean towards something is going on. That reaction was intense and I think we're going to be getting more insight into Grian as the chapter comes.
This is a random post (shh, don't worry about the challenge right now. It's okay) that was inspired after reading the recent analysis post that @maxintime made in regards to Lou's personality and why he acts the way he does—
Y'all should read the post 😭 it's a lot and better said than what I can summarize.
What I'm going to mention is due to, like, literally one sentence that they mentioned in the post and it's about the robots and their purpose for being in the movie.
Actually, let's forsake saying "in the movie" because we're gonna treat this like the factory and all that is real. Because movies can pretty much do whatever they want, but the realities of the world itself are what we're sorting through.
They're called Exposition Robots. Why?
Who. The heck. Knows. They don't even really give JUST Exposition. I have a strong feeling that Lou learned that word and went "that sounds really smart and sophisticated" and dubbed the robots that because he felt proud of himself every time he used it.
Which probably goes for every big word he uses 😂
That scene when he's talking to Moxy and her group about letting them stay and he says something along the lines of:
"What kind of benevolent leader would I be if I didn't allow every doll a chance to fulfill their dreams?"
Benevolent? Yeah, he learned that word, loved how sophisticated it sounded, and got attached. I have a personal headcanon that he uses words like that in the wrong context, but the other dolls either don't know what it means (like Tuesday) so they can't correct him...or because it's Lou and they're not sure if they're allowed to correct him.
"Mindless sycophants!" — yeah, Tuesday didn't know what that word meant, and I'm pretty sure the only reason Lou learned that word was BECAUSE she didn't know what it meant, so he took that as a double insult toward her.
I'm getting distracted...what was I talking about—
THE ROBOTS—
Okay, so, the purpose for the robots MIGHT be because they were originally the teachers for the dolls. Before the doll prototypes were made. Here's why:
✨ They have access to the Rule Book
✨ Still oversaw the training (as we see in the movie)
✨ KNEW what a doll's true purpose was even though they never told anyone
✨ All the other "obstacles" (dog, baby, training stuff) is mechanical
✨ They're shown in the videos about the Institute, but not Lou
Keep in mind that in the entirety of the breakdown of the Institute of Perfection, when the Uglies are walking through and they see the holograms and the short video, Lou isn't mentioned at all. There's not even mention of a teacher or prototype doll. The robots are seen in the videos (like the one where the dolls are graduating and one of the robots is dressed in a graduation gown; another standing near the portal whilst the doll walks through) but not Lou.
Don't you think, for a bit, that if Lou was really such an integral part of these dolls getting to the Big World that he would have been in the videos?
Like, Nolan doesn't even know who Lou is when he's first created. None of the new dolls know who Lou is. But they don't blink an eye at the robots.
Why?
Because the robots are literally the first thing about the Institute of Perfection that they see and interact with. I had to go back and watch a clip of the beginning and sure enough—
There they are. And there are even ones further ahead by the Individualization Scanners, too.
Maybe they're called Exposition Robots because they were there in the beginning?
Not just the beginning of the life of the dolls, but maybe also the beginning of the factory in general?
Maybe the robots weren't created to help Lou, but maybe Lou was created to help THEM.
Because what better way to teach a doll than someone who looks like them.
My guess is that the dolls were originally taught by the robots, but because the dolls couldn't connect with something that didn't look like them (again, going back to the whole theme of the movie with looks and, mind you, the Pretty Dolls thought the Uglies were something to be feared before Lou even mentioned anything to them) Lou was created.
The factory made something that looked like one of the Pretty Dolls in order to get them to actually learn.
If not Pretty Doll, why Pretty Doll shaped? 😂
Here's a wild card that definitely isn't in line with my short stories, but that's mostly because I'm just now thinking of the idea thanks to Maxintime—
What if Lou isn't a prototype for the Model 12 Dolls, but he's actually a prototype for what the factory wants the Exposition Robots to look and act like? Because the dolls don't learn as well from something that looks so different from them?
Anyway, that was my Ted talk 😂 thank you again to @maxintime for that amazing post that inspired this one!
RC9GN Theory: The Ultimate Lesson and The Ninja Mask
*Spoilers for those who haven't seen the series yet*
While creating an RC9GN au/future story idea in my head titled "The Tengu Warrior", I started to think about the Tengu's connection to the ninja mask which made me start to analyze some things that lead to this theory post.
In the Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja episode, "Evil Spirit Week", viewers are introduced to the mystical bird demon called a Tengu. According to what the Ninjanomicon told Randy, the Tengu was an evil bird demon the first ninja battled but couldn't destroy. It was only until the first ninja found the source of the Tengu's powers that he was able to imprison the demon bird in the eye of eternity. The first ninja weaved the feathers of the Tengu together to create the ninja mask that Randy and countless others have used to fight the Sorcerer and protect Norrisville.
Back when I watched the episode the first time, I didn't really make much of it and thought it was some cool lore for the tv series. But now, I realized a few things. Based on the imagery Randy was shown in the Nomicon about the Tengu, I strongly believe that the First Ninja basically up and grabbed feathers off the Tengu, technically stealing them. That combined with being imprisoned in the eye of eternity equals to one angry mystical demon bird. One thing I learned from folklore, urban legends, religion, media, and books, is that it is NEVER a good idea to make a demon angry. The Nomicon also told Randy that the Tengu and ninja (through the ninja suit) are forever linked. That they share strengths and weaknesses. Who's to say that the Tengu didn't take advantage of the link. So, this is where my theory comes in. I believe that the Tengu cursed the ninja suit and whoever wears it in revenge for the stolen feathers and imprisonment.
I don't know what this curse fully entails, but I think it ties into the need for The Ultimate Lesson. In "Enter the Nomicon" Randy tells Mac Antfee that the knowledge of all the Ninja's powers and abilities can make a person go crazy if they are not mind wiped after four years. I believe that is due to the influence of the Tengu. Wearing a suit made of demon feathers and basically using powers fueled by demon energy can likely make anyone go insane over a period a time. It's possible that those who are 'pure of heart' can withstand the corrupting effects of the Tengu feathers for a limited time before they develop an obsession for the ninja powers. I think The Ultimate Lesson is a method to save each ninja and purge them of the Tengu's influence mentally and physically.
The Bookman Clan's secrets - more Theories & Updates
What I want to address this time:
Blood Connection / The Clan's Powers
The new Bookman & The Junior
Wisely and the Bookmen
Lucia's Role, The Family Staff & Joe
Noah Powers & The Helix / Dark Matter & Innocence
Allen's Role as 14th & Noah Abilities
Includes spoilers up to that chapter of course; leading up from older posts like
DGM Theories afer CH 256
Who is the Bookman waiting at the Campbell Residence (Spoilers up until Ch 249)
Spoilers Ch 251 +
DGM 253.5 - More Theories
This chapter gives us a lot of lore regarding the Bookman Clan, their interaction and some hints for Characters to give them more depth. And you know the deal I avoid posting panels from the newest chapter and replace them with own drawings or use older panels instead.
But let's begin:
Before I hop into the new topics a quick conclusion over older theories I won't go deeper into as they were either resolved or weren't adressed at all.
Wisely released Bookman (this was also pointed out by a lovely person before that it was mentioned in the Manga as Mana/Nea (Allen) met
Access of the Campbell Manor = still pretty much a mystery as Wisely drops (new) Bookman at the Zoogle Bookstore and not at the Manor
We still don't know why PLavi was the "Black Sheep" even before leaving the Clan
Which leads us to the things addressed this chapter
Blood Connection / The Clan's Powers
We do learn that the Junior is born with a seemingly hollow eye, which is the mark of being a heir of the Bookman Clan. At least the last Junior had this specific mark.
For now Hoshino avoids to show how the mark looked like for the former Junior as she only draws him with both eyes closed or his glasses reflecting. Later on he has a scar over his eye. As said we don't know why he is the "Black Sheep"/"Child of Calamity" and why "the folks back home" state things that bother him in his role way before he meets Nea. It could be because of his mark being different or him being a direct blood relative to the now deceased Bookman.
I think i addressed it in an older post already that I am pretty much certain he injured the eye himself to get rid of his connection to the Clan.
As we learn the leadership and knowledge of the hidden history is passed on by a ritual fueled by blood. The drop of blood, a part of the former Bookman's helix, fuses with the hollow eye, the shell of the next Bookman.
Lucia already said the Clan is connected by Blood. This is most likely another reason Bookman sr told his Junior not to even think of becoming a Crystal Type and that they need to leave the Order once he showed signs of turning into one as it would contaminate their blood line and could destroy the overall connection, the records could become faulty.
We yet have to learn how much this ritual changes the Junior / his personality.
But this mark could also be specific to a Junior not being directly blood related to the current Bookman. We certainly don't know, I do think there is a difference.
In Volume 27 in Komui's Lounge Cross points out the Bookmen are more durable and their bodies differ from normal humans, he also points out that their Language is similar to the ancient ones. Which means the Bookmen exist for several centuries, maybe even since the Millennium Earl came to be.
It's also said all Bookmen are trained in all kind of weapons. Both of them were limiting their abilties and powers to the bare minimum to survive but not to change the outcome of battles as they are superior to regular humans. Which means the Bookmen could have turned most likely every war around to someone's favor if they wanted to, but they didn't because they only record the happenings.
The new Bookman & the Junior
As he has become the next Bookman the former Junior whose last record name was Lavi ceased to exist. The persona that was the Exorcist has stopped being important.
To note it again, 'Lavi' confirms in Komui's Lounge in Volume 26 that the name of the current Record, the one about the Holy War, is "Lavi". The name of the Junior changes with the war they record to keep them sorted. Aka when they revisit a war they same name is used (that's the reason the former Junior was also named "Lavi" as they recorded the Holy War).
He now is Bookman, he doesn't have a "Name" anymore. Aside the fact that the Junior is the one who has to invent a persona for every Record while Bookman remains Bookman, a nameless Guard of the hidden History. This duty was now passed onto the new Bookman.
And his duty will be to pass it on to his next Junior, someone who will be born soon with the passing of the former Bookman. He will have to take this person under his wings and teach them to be a Bookman. Depending on how things are this person either has to be unrelated to him or in fact be his own child, we are kept in the dark regarding this.
We know new!Bookman struggled with his role, this is most likely why he is so lost and afraid to take over, he is lost in the helix, as he is now also a mixture between different persons. He is not this one person anymore, he carries several lifetimes within himself now. Plus of course he lost the person who was his mentor, teacher and father figure all at once, as we don't know how old he was when Bookman sr took him in. We can assume it was short after he was born.
I will come back to this in a later part of this post, but Allen is also part of the Bookmen due him being fused with the former Junior and will have his role in this.
As Lucia told they are connected by blood, but also through their Helix, they fuse. Similar to Allen and PLavi, but within one "blood line", aka their lives add up and up to build an enormous archive collected over several lifetimes. This is what gives the Bookman their special rang in this world.
They are their own species of human, with abilties we don't know yet. They have their own language, they can connect with the Noah of Wisdom (see next paragraph), they can manipulate their own Helix to be able to accomodate Innocence, they can influence it to fuse with other people (PLavi filling Allen's helix with his own).
Wisely and the Bookmen
We have the next bigger secret dynamic, which is Wisely and the Bookmen. I have been playing with this special connection a lot during my times as fanfic author and have my HCs in Wisely being important but he plays a much bigger one than we thought.
Wisely is the one who stops the other Noah as Bookman sr - in his last breaths - ask him to. And he is the one who rescues the new Bookman and brings him to the Zoogle Bookstore.
Wisely is - aside Road (and Nea) - the only Noah who knows what happened 35 years ago.
Bookman undertook Nea (the german translation said he took him in I am not sure if that is correct, I will post the panel a bit more down for another paragraph), he lost his Junior to "him". I am very certain there is a special connection going on and there is a much heavier reason why Wisely was incarnated last.
It's either that his death was much more intense than the other Noahs or he was ... killed last. Because either Bookman or even pastLavi had their saying in Nea acting against him; as Wisely is connected to the Bookman Clan.
It also could be that Wisely's incarnation is dependend on the Bookmen Clan being intact. As the circle was broken by the Junior dying/someone else had to be born, the circle for Noah's Wisdom could have been interrupted too. But maybe that is a bit too far fetched... possible still.
A little hint for this is the image of the Helix we got a few chapters ago. The helix behind Allen interwines - of course - but if you look close enough a person who has Wisely's handband is in fact not on the Noah side. He's on the Bookman side. In fact there is even two people who could be a former incarnation of Wisely and they both lead to the Bookman side of the helix within Allen.
Anyways I think Wisely is tied with the Bookman Clan, the whole world is not as black & white and even more gray than we had assumed. The borders between them are blurred.
Also Wisely - as he brings newBookman to the Zoogle - has his eye hidden and glowing just like newBookman's during the ritual as his eye formed. Another hint for a deeper connection.
As mentioned before he is also able to talk to Bookman through their language / Wisely can be reached by Bookman through ... a hive mind? (please notice I am using this word for my fics and I do think the Noah have a hive mind) I know Wisely can freely talk with other Noah, like he talks with Allen, but Noah also can talk to all Akuma.
Wisely is not part of the Noah who captured the Bookmen and keep them imprisoned (those are first front Sheryl, then Tyki and Fiedla who used his parasites on newBookman).
Looking up Komui's Lounge from several Volumes Wisely also knows why both Bookmen are able to accomodate Innocence. Yes, of course, he could have picked this up due mind reading, but as said he is not around as both are held by Sheryl and he only can read it when they think about it.
Picking up from the "Clan's powers" information about the Bookmen speaking a language from ancient times, which could mean they speak the language from the days of the great Flood, aka they are tied with the Noah; they could be a branch of Noah with lesser powers but also able to implant their memories through the ritual.
The Noah all can access the memories of their former human shells, which also the Bookmen can do once the ritual was performed.
Oh and Wisely is the only Noah who is able to talk to Road after she was injured by Apocryphos, he does so in Volume 25 while he was about to guard the Earl (and failed as he was too engaged in their conversation).
Another thing happens during the Ark Arc. As Lavi is about to find the Key Jasdero and David mention that the Bookmen are on the Enemies side "this time". But they remain quite relaxed, almost too casual about this. Thing is though their memories from 35 years ago are sealed they don't know exactly what happened last time. They remember there was Nea and that he went berserk but don't have details. This could imply the Bookmen are actually interacting with the Noah more often. The german translation here is more like "currently on the enemies side" ("Momentan seid ihr auf der Seite des Feindes") which gives a deeper implication; also they know that a Bookman has such abilities to find a Key among all those fake ones, the Bookmen abilities are known quite well by Noahs.
Something different is: why did the Noah let Bookman & Junior close to Mana & Nea in the first place? Noah aren't known for keeping humans around unless it's for a disguise or it's fun for them (Tyki & his friends, Sheryl & Tricia), they would not let in some human chronist unless they hold respect for said man. Which leads back to Bookmen are around since the great flood/are tied to the Noah closer than we assumed.
In this panel Bookman even says the Earl asked him to take Nea in. Bookman is good with words he like to twist stuff around or play dumb when he doesn't want to give any hints, but this?
I am pretty sure there is something more to the relationship of Noah and the Bookmen, we will learn more in the future I guess.
Update Feb 6th '26: Due a better translation we learn the Noah are actually forbidden to kill the current Bookman, therefore my theory stands they are around either since the Flood or they are tied with the Noah.
Lucia's Role, the family Staff & Joe
What brings us to another connection.
We do assume according Allen's speech towards PLavi that Bookman was his father by blood. As we learn that Joe is PLavi's sister and Lucia is her daughter this means ... Joe potentially could be Bookman's child and Lucia his grandchild (Hoshino confirmed this in a Livestream but she doesn't want us to use that information as canon but I think it's more than implied already). Unless they had different fathers which is possible but Lucia just looks like her Uncle with a different haircut, I think this is intentional.
Hoshino also said she wants them to look like they all belong to the Clan there is an intention behind that.
Joe is also the person we got teased for a few chapters, the "precious" person PLavi got his staff from. This also resolves my question how Lucia got the staff it is not a replica, it is most likely her mother's staff.
Which still underlines my theory that the clan uses such weapons in general. Another information from Komui's Lounge is that the Junior is taught to use all kind of weapons but prefers weapons that are handled like a staff. It seems to be their prefered weapon.
If Joe is indeed blood related to Bookman this opens up the question for me if in former generations the Junior always was the Bookman's child. And that the balance got overthrown by PLavi leaving the Clan/dying and then a not blood-related Junior had to be born.
We do not know if newBookman is blood related, we don't know Bookman's nationality. The people shown during the birth scene could be Zoogles and involved with the Clan. How could a Clan like the Bookmen who act in the shadows and record the hidden history be known in a random village that the elder can call in Bookman to tell him his new heir is born?
Joe's role here is being a housekeeper of the Campbell Manor, but as I pointed out in my Theory post about Ch 256 the Manor is not accessable without an Ark Gate, which Nea left in the Zoogle Bookstore.
We know that both Bookman & his former Junior lived with Nea & Mana, also with Road as we see her with Mana and Bookman is watching in a Flashback (first time we see younger Bookman sr). This could have been in the Manor. There is also a possibility that not only Bookman & PLavi but also their extended family/the Zoogles lived there for some time and therefore took over the Manor before shit hit the fan.
We still don't know what happened to Katherina (she was attacked by the Earl yes, but we don't know if she survived) and Cross most likely has his role here too. Cross also knows way too much about the Bookmen and we have more secrets to unlock about him.
Noah Powers & The Helix / Dark Matter & Innocence
In the preview of Ch 257 we see Sheryl attacking with Dark Matter beams that do look like a spiral, the spiral we know as Helix of Life.
I don't think this is coincidence as usually the attacks look more like straight beams or are round. They do change when the impact has a different intention than just injuring someone though.
This could imply not only Wisely but the other Noah know that the Bookman are different from normal humans and destroying their core, their 'Helix', would hurt them more than anything.
Keeping Nea's past a secret is so sacred to Bookman that he risks to die himself to save his Junior, as he knows the keeper of the secret will not be killed.
We also see Dark Matter acting like Innocence back in Volume 25 as the Earl attacks Allen (controlled by Nea), the Dark Matter spirals like Innocence does when it's called by Apocryphos. It also almost turns into a spiral here, it is the second time Nea remembers pastLavi and the importance of the Spiral is pointed out.
We also learn that the Earl eats the Soul - which is a part of the spiral of life - of his victims, something that we didn't know in before. And what is the gruesome hint in the direction of what happenes to Nea's original body.
Allen's Role as 14th & Abilities
Allen has several roles in healing newBookman. First and foremost he is a Noah, the one who carries Nea's Memories and therefore is the 2nd half to the Millennium Earl. Which means he can neutralize the other Noah's powers like Fiedla's poison.
Nea's powers are unknown so far, we know he had the sword the Earl now carries and Allen has the same sword but made of Innocence. We know he was able to transfer his memories into a human and was able to heal Allen from injuries as he was about to die as Nea appeared. And he can control the Ark.
We know Nea has no Noah Memories on his own as he is an "addition" to the Family, the Memories of the Earl are sleeping within Mana, Nea has no access to them. (Well Mana doesn't as well as he got brain zapped by himself way too much and then by Allen but that's for another time).
But Allen is not only a Noah but indirectly a part of the Bookmen due him fusing with the deceased Junior. He holds a part of his records in his veins, a part that is missing from the Bookman archive.
He carries the memories what happened with the former Junior, why he left the Clan originally and the secret on how he used his own Bookman abilities.
Allen also got enhanced by PLavi as ever since he remembered that his hair turned silver due him helping him his eyes have star shapes in them.
I do wonder if these are maybe a hint towards how PLavi's eye looked like, because he didn't cover it. Hoshino will tease us longer with this secret I guess. I still think it was different from the hollow eye we now know. And I hope we will learn the reason why he most likely himself removed his eye (I went into that in an earlier post already).
It's also possible newBookman will now be able to make the connection between the spirit that helped him as he got shot as a child, the person who pulled him back from the Helix as he already remembered him as he met Allen for the first time.
We certainly can't say how newBookman will react upon meeting Allen who is a Noah but also the carrier of the Helix of the passed Junior, the son of his mentor.
That "Lavi" and the Exorcist "Allen Walker" were friends is not helping here as it only complicates their relationship, for the new Bookman all ties to the persona of the Lavi-Record will be cut, unless he decides to keep the record the one he will work on until the war is over to finish what the deceased Bookman started. But he is not supposed to carry the Persona of the Record anymore. In theory he could decide not to continue this record as the Clan suffered enough already.
I know people want to see heavy implications for their relationship going onto another Level but I don't see that. Bookman isn't supposed to have friends. They are allowed to have children as we know but even then attachment is only allowed within the Clan.
A Bookman isn't supposed to help with a war, he is a bystander. So we will see what happens the next chapter if the new Bookman keep up the former Persona or the mask will drop and we will meet his true self, the one he hid all the time, the self of a Bookman who now has the blood of his predecessor in his veins.
sun misses being with moon in the same body..sure it was bad but it wasn't as bad as there relationship now...He misses being close to his own brother he's jealous that NovaFrost has such a strong bond while his bond with moon is horrible he wants there old dynamic back when they were in the same body...
