Awaken in the real world

Almost like a moon led tide, your consciousness rises from the depths. That place just now, those ever reaching spires like trees stretched out for the heavens, the workshop from which a many Hunter's tools are spawned from, and that haunting doll of a woman. You can scarcely remember it at all, almost like a dream passing through, but you retain the memory of the place with you. The doll's extraordinary kiss upon your forehead as well as the weapons you now carry will serve as a reminder of this new haven that is open to you now. Snapping at one of these lamps shall provide you a way into that place, you know for certain now.

Your ears suddenly perk up at a sound: moaning. It's awfully close. Walking to the clearest source of the sound, only a few steps from the moonlit lamp and towards a building's window, you can see a sitting figure through the strangely barred and nearly opaque glass, stained a faint but sickly yellow light from the lamp that hangs just beside the window. You knock on the window. If she's not out on the street, then she's likely not like those you've encountered earlier. And speaking of earlier, it is your intent to ask this woman about the concerning matter of Palelove, which you found mentioned on a note when you woke up in that clinic after your nightmare.

You see the figure inside jump, startled by your knocking. She takes a moment to calm herself it seems before she turns towards you. "Oh, hello. You must be a hunter if you're knocking at this hour, and by the look of it, not from around here." You find it apt to stay quiet for now. "I'm Bertha. A fellow outsider. I can see it in your eyes, you haven't been treated to Yharnam's special way of things yet. I wish I could help to keep it that way, but I don't think I could stand if I wanted to... I'll do what I can to help aside from keeping you clean." She's suddenly hit by a small coughing fit, then continues. "Still, you should plan a swift exit from here, from this cursed town, whatever your reasons. It's nothing but degeneracy here, nothing good to be gained from it." This time she lets out a stronger cough but doesn't continue. Taking a moment to think about it, is that a moan you hear before her coughing fits?

You ask about Palelove, and how you found it mentioned within the nearby blood ministration clinic.

"Palelove? Can't say I've heard of that. There's only lustful degenerates here in this town and the Healing Church... If you found mention of it within a blood clinic, maybe someone from the Healing Church might know. Across the valley to the East of Yharnam lies the town of the Healing Church, known as the Cathedral Ward. You might be able to find someone with knowledge on Palelove there, or at least a lead. Palelove... what a strange thing." Another coughing fit hits her figure, as you see her bend over in her chair. You stick around for a few moments to make sure her shadow in the window doesn't keel over, but after that, you proceed on your way.

At least, you attempt to before you’re startled by her cry for you to wait. “If you do plan on sticking around, mayhap you could spend a little time with me. Wouldn’t hurt, I’ve nothing contagious and it’s been a lonely night. What do you say? I won’t keep you for long.”