MANA = EARL THEORY
theory-related assumptions:
Mana & Earl being in the same places 35 yrs ago is a red herring (see “COMMON CRITICISMS” below for more on this)
Mana “dying” is another red herring (Kanda thought Alma died too)
The Earl’s costume can act independently (like Crown Clown)
As Wisely said in 187, the Earl has lived 7000 continuous years, but not all of it was necessarily in the same human body
Until the end of his time with Allen, Mana still had free will and was not yet fully the Earl (like Tyki’s resistance to fully going Noah)
When Mana “died,” he then became the Earl we know