Theory: This Silhouette Was Not Gunko, But We Know Who It Is (Ch 1195 Spoilers)
It’s Candelle.
It seems odd that Imu would move heaven and earth to acquire Shuri, only to have her in a position where she could have chosen to die. After all, then he would lose her valuable eyes. That is why I think the silhouette talking to Imu is not Shuri, but her mother Candelle, because:
- 3/4 of the main Esperia characters are shown in their “last moments” (Reuven/Shuri before they are Domi Reversi’d, Brook before he is stabbed), but not Candelle. Instead, we see Imu in the same panel spot where we saw Candelle’s grave. It is almost like he is surprising memories of Candelle specifically.
- We never saw what Candelle looked like dying, just confirmation that she died. The two other flashbacks mothers this arc, Estrid and Ida, were bedridden before their deaths.
- Candelle was bedridden in the past, notably before Shuri was born, and presumably right before she dies of illness. Shuri would not have memories from before she was born, but if St. Marcus Mars did cause the poisonous fog that ruined Esperia, then Imu would have the ability to appear there as well. We know both Mars and Imu later appear in Esperia on its final day.
- We never got any other hint as to why Oda gave Candelle unique SFX font reserved exclusively for Mihawk, who at the very least has some visual similarities to Imu, namely his eyes. Shuri/Gunko show us that unique eyes are a trait that can matter in this world.
In SBS 108, Oda states Mihawk “experienced a great betrayal” in his past, and we might be seeing something like that here with Candelle.
I think Candelle was indeed a Manmayer Devoted Blade/Gods Knight, one who strayed a little too far from her mission for some reason. Mars caused the fog not to twist Reuven’s arm, but Candelle’s. She thought Imu would relent, stopping before potentially harming her or her family, which is why she is so confident the fog would go away.
Instead, she falls ill, and Imu “visits” her one last time via Mars. Shuri accidentally saw this meeting, and more importantly was seen by Imu, hence the very last panel of Imu’s eye. Shuri didn’t understand what was happening with her mother and probably thought the whole meeting was just a nightmare. For Imu, it was a dream come true, he found the best possible replacement for Candelle, one with her family’s gifted eyes.
Afterwords, events play out like Brook remembers. Candelle dies, and Gurou is sent to recover Shuri, who is his niece. I believe Gurou is Candelle’s brother because it would then be an exact mirror of what is happening with Loki in Elbaph at the same time, 62 years ago: Environmental disaster -> Mother dies from illness -> Maternal uncle comes in.
Elbaph:
Esperia:
Currently with Shuri, any reveal seems to raise two more questions, but it looking more and more like Imu granted Shuri’s wish to be strong just like her mother.
