I think I know what's going on here, inspect the lab tables to gain the essence that bloats up Elysia (the elf princess) and then look for an area blocked off by a laser gate. This should allow you to progress normally.
If this isn't where you are stuck, mind posting some screenshots of the bridges you are unable to cross?
Also a pro-tip, don't feel pressured to use your essences to go to obvious dead-ends, at the end of the lab there is a potion(?) stand object that gives you each of the essences which you can collect as many as you like to get all the other paths that lead to dead-ends. But I will say that there are enough essences in each area to unlock all the paths without using the stand if yo would rather do it the natural way instead.