Looks like I'm getting the return ending.
Edit: Sorry didn't mean to make three posts in a row. Got really hyped and it doesn't look like I can combine them manually.
Edit #2: Also, I felt I fully explored everything. I even went back to the outskirts to re-explore it. It rounded perfectly to 19 vitality so I dunno where four more beads would be. Maybe it has to do with the ending I got. Because I never fought Owl again.