Well, things get a little weird at the beginning, as you're introduced to the Lilikin and Jiant forms. You can freely switch between the two by pressing L1/L and Circle for Reynn and L1/L for Lann. Note that while you're free to explore in either form, whenever a battle is started, you will be stuck in that form. Once you have adjusted to things, move forward and you'll run into a Chocochick, initiating your first battle against a Mirage.
| You will need a prism compatible with that Mirage in order to capture it. Luckily, Enna Kros will give you one whenever you encounter a new Mirage. |
There will be a few tutorials about the prisms and Mirages, as well as using Libra during battle to learn a lot more about a Mirage. This includes weaknesses to elements and ailments. Usually, you have to use Libra on your own, but Lann automatically casts it at the beginning of this battle. If you take a look at the bottom of the screen, you will see that you need to use physical attacks to create a prismtunity with the Chocochick.
You cannot just try to imprism a Mirage at any time during battles, as you will need to fulfill certain conditions in order to create that chance. In the case of the Chocochick, attacking it with any physical attack will do just that. This prismtunity is represented as a glowing circle underneath the Mirage when you fulfill the condition. Once it appears, you can select the Imprism command to try and capture it. Note that this chance doesn't last forever, so use the opportunity to get it!
| With some Mirages, you can perform the same action over again to increase the chances in which you can imprism them. For example, hitting the Chocochick with another physical attack after doing it once will make the prismtunity circle stronger. |
After successfully capturing the Chocochick, you're introduced to another game mechanic, which is one of the more important ones, Stacking. Basically, each Mirage is assigned a specific size and using the menu, you can stack them on your characters and other Mirages. As an example, the Chocochick you just got is a Small Mirage and can be placed on top of Lann or Reynn. Note that Lann/Reynn's Jiant and Lilikin forms both have set sizes (large and medium, respectively), and you can only stack in the following order; large, medium and small.
| During battles, the stacks all have their HP and abilities pooled together. However, enemies may have attacks that can actually topple over your stack. Should this happen, use the Stack command to restack, but unstacking has some advantages. This includes having more targets and being able to act individually. |
Play around with it a bit and then go forward to a dead end. Here, you'll be taught about Gimme Golems and also the Mirage Board. The former are basically like walls that you will encounter throughout the game that ask for a specific item. Give them the item and they will disappear, allowing you to go past where they stood guard. Mirage Boards are basically charts for each Mirage that you can use to power them up, increasing stats, learning new abilities and even some other surprises. In order to use the Mirage Board, you will need Skill Points (SP), which are earned by Mirages as they level up.
To get the Lusterleaf needed to get rid of the Gimme Golem, go to the Chocochick's Mirage Board and learn Stroll. Doing this will make the Chocochick appear in the field as a little companion. Pass by the nearby bush and it will signal that it's found something, which is the Lusterleaf upon examining it. Give this to the Gimme Golem and continue along the path, stopping to open the chest along the way, netting you 3 Potions. Past that will be another side path with a chest, which contains a Phoenix Down.
As you continue, you will come across some strange, black cube. Before Tama has a chance to explain what it is, Lann and Reynn jump in. These things are Murkrifts and they usually house some rare and powerful Mirages. The current one has a Behemoth and if you use Libra, you will find it is unimprismable. Unfortunately, you can't escape or win the battle, as the Behemoth will one-hit both of your characters.
You'll reappear back at Nine Wood Hills (the prologue area), thanks to Tama. There is no penalty for being defeated, but you will have to fight back to where you were when you lost. There is one caveat, though, as if you're inside the threshold of a powerful Mirage (you'll learn about these soon), then you will get a Game Over instead. Anyway, Enna Kros informs you that there is a strange visitor who has come to Nine Wood Hills, so head on over to North Promenade to find out who she is.
As you approach the Lilikin, she will introduce herself as Chocolatte, who has "washed ashore" in this strange place. She sets up a shop that you can use to buy items, such as Potions and the like. Feel free to peruse her inventory, although you don't really have much in the way of gil at the moment to even purchase much of anything. Her stock of items will increase as you progress through the main story, usually shown as a prompt on your screen, so make sure you return to see what new items she has to offer.
Upon your return visit to the gate to go back to Grymoire, you will run into Serafie, who takes care of something called the Prism Case. Basically, you can only carry so many Mirages with you, so you will have to pick and choose as you gain more and more. Any Mirages you have that you can't carry are sent to the Prism Case, and you can access this in Nine Wood Hills or at Gates/Save Points. You will also get a Seraphone, an item that lets you access the Prism Case from wherever you are. In addition to all of that, you will gain a new Mirage, Sylph.
| Sylph has a handy ability called Subdue, which inflicts nonlethal damage. This means the ability cannot kill a Mirage, so it will be left at 1 HP. |
Now you can go back to the gate to be treated to another cutscene, then you will be able to continue with the main story. Access the gate and travel back to Wellspring Woods. Run around until you get a battle with a Mu, which will be the only other Mirage you can get in this area. Luckily, to create a prismtunity with the Mu, you need to use physical attacks. Once you capture it, continue past the Murkrift you encountered before and head to Bridge Overlook, triggering some kind of opening credits...
