The Maiden and Cursed Soh(the defiled Goddess) are the only two we ever shown with 'halos'.
In the last image, Soh appears as an extension and knight of Yoshiro, who is an 'abode for the Goddess'.
(She's called a yorishiro in the Japanese text)
A yorishiro (依り代) in Shinto is a physical object or place that attracts and serves as a temporary dwelling for a kami (divine spirit) during religious ceremonies, acting as a "substitute for approach" for worshippers to connect with the deity, often a natural object like a sacred tree or rock, but can also be ritual items or even people (yorimashi). Once inhabited by a kami, it's called a shintai, and these sacred items are often marked with shimenawa ropes to show their holiness. Yorishiro can also be persons, in which case they are called yorimashi (憑坐
Yoshiro being a yorishiro and not a yorimashi...is it because she is inevitably crystallized?
Is she a yorishiro when she's crystallized and not before then? And her channeling of the goddess is because of her Kagura dance? But she's not always dancing.
In the beginning, Yoshiro summons Soh, like the Goddess would summon her Messenger to do her bidding.
(Or is she activating her abilities to allow Soh to manifest?)
The mask allows Soh to convey the Will, Message and Actions of the Goddess. Through the mask, the physical form she takes is that of the Goddess.
(If we see her as the previous Maiden who inherited the mask)
When Yoshiro calls out to Soh for aid, the effects on her voice sound as if they emit from the mask itself. (The mask acts as the link between the two, allowing telepathic communication?)
In the artwork, the Maiden and Messenger have the same face:
 |
| I can feel her contempt for humanity |
 |
| WHY does she look so ominous? This feels like a whole different girl |
The only differences are lack of eyebrows and different make up. But the structure and eyes are the same.
Strangely, Yoshiro's eyes appear 'dead', devoid of life. Soh's are bright.
Possible evidence to support the old 'Soh as Yoshiro's spirit' theory, especially if we consider the relationship to the Goddess each woman has. (but are we passed that theory?)
Yoshiro as the body and Soh as the spirit is a still a cool theory. We've seen in media bodies that can speak without their souls.
Soh's face is actually very close to Yoshiro's original face:
 |
| give her heavy eyelashes and you'll see |
Is this confirmation Soh is a previous Maiden? Eh...it's probably not wise to interpret a trailer this way. Let's forget that.
In the Normal Ending, what occurs between the two gives the impression of either:
Soh returning the mask to the Goddess.
The mask being passed onto the new Messenger.
I've suggested the Maiden merges with the Goddess and sends herself as the next Messenger, using the mask to access her full power as she has descended as a lesser version of herself.
But isn't that a little convoluted?
Look at how Yoshiro is presented, and the play specifically calling her the 'beacon of this world', highlighting her great importance... the whole 'Birth of a Goddess' scroll...
I want to know why she can affect Cursed Soh.
Why is Cursed Soh friendly upon meeting Soh but antagonizes Yoshiro if Yoshiro is similar enough to her to be able to affect her power? Why is Yoshiro not seen as Cursed Soh herself? (Or is she, as Soh can purify her when defeating Cursed Soh?)
Cursed Soh is a defiled yorishiro, isn't it? Or her vessel is.
Is Cursed Soh greeting Soh as her Messenger?
Since Cursed Soh is a goddess, Yoshiro is seen as human to her. (plaque)
The Defiled Goddess doesn't like humans.
Why does Cursed Soh, in her final phase, shatter the Goddess symbol? This shattering is what allows her to use Tsuba Guards.
But why can't she do it earlier?
(What are her phases, actually? She does a movement but what else? Is it meant to let the player know she's changing tactics? The animation is called 'level up' in the files)
Does the Goddess sever her relationship to the current Maiden by doing this?
(We also gain the ability to see which Tsuba guard she is using, much like when we wear the Cursed Soh skin. She can use tsuba guards quickly too, the way we can if we equip Uncontrolled Spirit. I really think we should have this ability when we wear the Cursed Soh skin.)
In this final phase is when the soft piano plays, the piano we hear in the base themes. Themes that naturally remind us of Yoshiro. This same gentle melody plays when we look upon Yoshiro's sleeping body here:
...
When I first finished NG+, I thought 'we're fighting the Yoshiro from the previous cycle'.
It's still true.
We're battling a defiled yorishiro that's cursed the Goddess's spirit.
Overthinking might really be doing me no favors.
But this halo thing is quite interesting. If Yoshiro houses Soh's spirit then indeed, she'd have the halo. Soh becomes a weaker version of herself when manifested in this physical realm.
