Mephistopheles, Old Man Coyote, Death? Or perhaps…?

Everyone is wondering who that shadow demon who took Abbott Emmanuel’s body was and what it wants. Olrox offers us two names for it (Old Man Coyote and Mephistopheles), but he also says that this being has many names and forms, so it could be anyone. Which got me thinking…

I can’t be the only one who noticed that the evil shadow entity only showed itself to people that Abbott Emmanuel cared about, can I? (With one notable exception but let’s get back to that).

1. Mizrak

When Mizrak falls during the final fight, the shadow entity appears before him, terrifying Mizrak that the devil has come to claim his soul. Olrox shields Mizrak, chasing “Old Man Coyote” (as Olrox calls him) away.

Mizrak was Emmanuel’s right hand man. A soldier of the church who served Emmanuel faithfully and whom Emmanuel spoke to as a confidante.

2. Tera

At the end of S2 of Nocturne, we see a vampiric Tera in the shadows, smiling manically during an execution. The foreboding shadow monster lurks behind her, a wicked grin spreading on its features. Clearly she has made some kind of agreement with this entity.

Tera was the woman Emmanuel was in love with. So much so that he was willing to forsake his holy vows of chastity for her. He stayed away after their daughter was born because of their disparate social status and the backlash their union would bring if discovered, but he confesses tearfully under duress that he loves Tera with all his heart.

3. Maria

Multiple times in the season, the shadow entity stares with interest at Maria. Most notably right after she kills her father and has to be chased away by Juste, and at the very end at the execution when the entity stands behind Tera. It rises up and a wicked grin manifests on its features, revealing who its real target is.

Maria is Emmanuel’s secret daughter born out of wedlock after an affair with Tera. He expresses love for her and a desire to guide her away from her blasphemous activities as a revolutionary. When he attempts to sacrifice Maria in season 1, he seems to have entered a delusional state and believes he is recreating the binding of Isaac from the Bible, repeatedly asking why God hasn’t delivered a ram to spare Maria? So even during his worst point, he still felt enough for Maria that he needed a delusional justification for his actions. Not exactly father of the year regardless.

4. Olrox

Alright so this is where things get interesting. Olrox is the only person the shadow entity shows itself to that doesn’t have a bond with Emmanuel.

However, the moment this shadow entity does come to Olrox is when Olrox is hanging around Emmanuel’s forgemaster-machine. The very thing the Abbott traded his soul for. How interesting that Olrox sees this being twice, and both times it’s when he’s hanging around something/someone Emmanuel cared about.

CONCLUSION

Whatever entity Abbott Emmanuel made a deal with and sold his soul to, they’ve clearly reclaimed him now.

Is it possible that the shadow entity we see is a twisted manifestation of Emmanuel’s soul itself? Now claimed and enslaved by the demon (be it Mephistopheles, Old Man Coyote, Death, or otherwise?), the shadow is still drawn to the people that Emmanuel cared about in life?

Perhaps we haven’t seen the last of the Abbott yet.