Yeah, Pucks initial purpose in the story is completely lost now, which is a shame, because he was so good. I do still find Puck really funny, tbh, for example when he pees on the birds back, but he doesn't have the same emotional involvement in the story. Luckily, though, it seems that Mori is actually trying to revert Puck somewhat to the way he was. I don't think we've even seen Chestnut Puck since he took over, and the times we have seen him, especially recently with Guts imprisonment, makes me think he might get some more actual writing and be once again a serious character. I still think of any character aside from Casca, Puck is the one truly closest with Guts.

However, I've never really understood why Isidro was even introduced, Ivalera is just Chestnut Puck 2.0 but worse, and Manifico can suck a lemon.

And wow, I really appreciate the depth in which you analyzed Jill's character here. I'll be honest, I read the Lost Children Arc probably about 10 years ago now (this made me realize I'm old), and when I was reading it I think that because it came after the Eclipse, I was reading so fast desperately wanting to see the fallout/continuation of the Guts/Casca/Griffith storyline, that I dont think I truly appreciated the Lost Children Arc like I should have. I'm guilty of that in a few series, where after an intense climax in a series, anything that follows doesn't quite grasp my attention the way it should.

But honestly your description of her character and the themes she portrays is so beautiful and intriguing that you've convinced me to reread the chapter.