Cold…

Is your first thought as you open your eyes after being sent down into the Second Layer by Klaris on an expedition. As you walk behind you, intending to unlock the shrine door, you walk past some rocks, hearing a noise.*

“Psst!”

You do a double take, walking back to where you heard the noise to see a ghostly apparition standing there by the rocks.

“Hey, traveler! …Wait, you can actually see me?”

She asks, obviously surprised, and to which you nod in response.

“Oh my gosh, finally! Can you please help me?”

She asks, giving you pleading eyes. And you nod in return.

Sure, I’ll help you. What do you need?

“Thank you! Okay, so… Obviously, this isn’t my real body, right? I’m trapped down in the Second Floor by the Kyrsgarde, and I need you to free me. Can you do it…?”

She eagerly asks. It’s a tall order, but you know if you came back up empty handed, Klaris wouldn’t be happy, so you accept her quest.

Okay. Let’s go free you.

“You are a lifesaver! I’ll just follow behind you to be your guide…”

She replies gratefully, floating around you by your side, guiding your way through the First Floor. As you reach the gateway to the Second Floor, you face Chaser, knowing you have to fight him. Mendacia now floats in front of you, hands on your shoulders, yet you don’t really feel them.

“Listen. You’ve got this! Show him what you’re made of!”

She encourages, floating up to the ceiling to spectate, not able to be of any help during the battle. You defeat him with relative ease, only sustaining a few minor injuries. Mendacia floats back down to you, giving you a hug that you again don’t feel, a cheeky smile on her happy face as you enter the Second Floor.

She instructs you to activate all the obelisks to stop the flow of time and unseal her, which you do with only slight difficulty, eventually finding her real body, defeating the surrounding guards. Spotting you, she gives you a real hug this time. Now holding her hand, it’s up to you two to make it out of the Second Layer alive.