The frozen Carousel in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 may seem like another lost artifact buried in the snow, but don't rush by it.
A quick detour near Monaco's Station ends up being one of the game's most emotional side quests, with a bittersweet reward and Grandis holding on to memories of a better time.
Once you're well into Act 2 and set to uncover the world's secrets, this one's worth diving into.
How to Find & Fix the Carousel for Grandis
This minor side quest becomes available in Act 2 after unlocking full access to Monoco's Station and adding Monoco to your team.
After the main events wrap up, make your way out through the northern exit. Stay near the left edge of the path as you navigate the narrow cliffside route through the snowfields.
As you continue, you'll come across a frost-covered structure resembling a carousel, with Grandis standing alone by its side. If you have a word with the Grandis, you'll learn that he's been sticking around, yearning for the Carousel to turn again—something he fondly recalls from the world before it fell apart.
The structure is trapped within three thick ice formations, and it's up to you to break it free. While it seems simple, you'll find normal attacks and weapons won't do anything to the ice. There are two valid methods to melt it—and one is much quicker than the other.
To follow the long route, make sure to unlock the Paint Break ability. You'll need to find at least four out of the nine Lost Gestrals scattered across the world to do this. After rescuing a sufficient number, head to Sastro in Gestral Village to claim Paint Break.
With this skill, you can shatter the blue crystalline paint formations, and it works just as well on the ice blocks surrounding the Carousel. When it's unlocked, just walk up to the icy formations and break through with the skill.
If you're not planning to hunt down Gestrals yet, there's a faster solution. Just activate your Strike ability—the same one you use for those pre-emptive battle hits. On consoles, press R1/RB, and on PC, it's generally F. Walk up to the ice blocks and hit the Strike button.
The move might seem fragile, yet it has the potential to shatter the ice entirely. Once all three are broken, the Carousel comes alive. Once the carousel is up and running, go back to Grandis. A memory of a young girl will surface, her hair catching his attention through the blur of time.
As a token of gratitude for allowing him to relive that fleeting happiness, he gifts you the French Bob haircut for Maelle, which can later be used on other characters.
Before you head out, make sure to check the area just beyond the Carousel for a Colour of Lumina collectible tucked away behind some crates. If you keep going, you'll reach the high-level Frozen Hearts zone with tough enemies and good XP, but wait until Act 3 unless you're grinding.
This quest doesn't merely grant a reward; it uncovers a fragment of warmth, long buried under the world's frost. A quiet favor for someone clinging to one last memory and a reminder of what the world once was.