The Void

**The Void** (also referred as *"The View"* in some item interactions) is not exactly a place, but everything that is "out of bounds" of Purgatory. It appears at various times during Astrid's journey, either as a mere decoration or as part of the narrative.

## Solo Route

On Solo Route, after Astrid has completed all the riddles and reminisced about her own death, The Guide says she's ready to go. However, she refuses to believe that she made peace with her own death, so he decides that she needs *"another push in the right direction"*. So, as soon as he disappears, Astrid hears Volumnius' voice coming from outside the window, and so decides to find him entering the void outside her window.

While in the void, she finds Volumnius, looking just like she remembers him, causing her to break down and cry. Volumnius tells her that he is not the real man she loved, but instead a constructed vision of him containing his memories and mannerisms, allowing Astrid to hopefully get some closure. While weeping uncontrollably, she tells him of her guilt, and how she regrets their fights, wishing only that they could stay together. Volumnius tells her that he has no regrets, and that his last words of "I love you" were his way of showing that even though he had wanted more time with Astrid, he never wished for anything else than being with her. Remarking that he looks and acts just like the real Volumnius, the pair embrace inside the void.

## Guide's Route

In Guide's route, the unseen force that usually prevents Astrid from going through the Off-Limits Sign is gone. The player has the option of exploring what is on the other side or not.

If the player decides so, upon entering the darkness they will hear a voice saying *"Turn back. You're not supposed to see this. I'm warning you"*. Again, the player has the choice to continue moving forward or not.

If you insist a second time, the voice will say *"Very well. Then enter* the **void***..."*. Astrid starts to think that this was a bad idea, but it's too late to turn back. As she continues, she hears Guide's voice greeting her in a glitch-y text. Shortly after, The Guide himself suddenly jumps in with his sinister look, along with what appear to be clones, saying *"We have such wonderful things to show you",* to which Astrid responds with *"Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope! "* and runs back to Purgatory.

When you interact with him again after this, you get the dialogue option *"We need to talk about what's beyond that sign in the waiting hall."* To which he frows and says *"We most certainly do* **not***."* . He explains that humans aren't supposed to go there, because that is *his* exclusive domain, and wonders how even Astrid managed to get through, but she insists on learning more about what is beyond that sign, and he eventually gives up. The explanation he offers is that *the void* can be seen as "his mind". Faced with this explanation, Astrid says that his head is messed up, which he simply replies with *"The mind is a terrible thing to taste."*

## Trivia

* When you enter the place beyond the Off-Limits Sign, you get the achievement "The mind is a terrible thing to taste" in the Steam version of the game.