Final Fantasy XIV’s latest update, Patch 7.35, holds a truly hidden quest that keen-eyed players and lore enthusiasts will adore. Discovered after conquering the new deep dungeon, this mission brings back one of Shadowbringers’ most iconic characters, offering a captivating glimpse into what the future of Eorzea—especially the 8.0 expansion and beyond—might hold. The rich, interconnected story threads are a hallmark of FFXIV’s journey to becoming one of the most celebrated MMORPGs, and it’s fantastic to see Square Enix and Creative Studio 3 continuing to reward those who delve deeper into its world.
If you’ve already conquered all 100 floors of the Pilgrim’s Traverse deep dungeon and still haven’t stumbled upon this elusive quest, you’re not alone. The sheer challenge of the deep dungeon, followed by the new hard-mode trial ‘The Final Verse (Quantum),’ means many players might overlook it. While the Fuath NPC Aenc Daen provides a subtle hint to seek out someone ‘steeped in both Darkness and Light,’ unraveling this mystery requires a touch of intuition and prior knowledge, as the quest giver isn’t explicitly marked.
Note: The following section contains story spoilers for FF14 patch 7.35 side content relating to the Pilgrim’s Traverse deep dungeon and the Shadowbringers role quest series. You have been warned!
The key to this secret lies with Cyella in the Crystarium, a pivotal figure from the Shadowbringers role questlines. These quests explore the history of the First’s original Warriors of Light. By completing all four role quest arcs (for tank, healer, magical ranged DPS, and physical DPS), players unlock a final set of missions that reveal Cyella’s past identity as Cylva, the ‘Shadowkeeper.’ She was brought from the Thirteenth reflection by the Ascians to orchestrate events, ultimately leading to the devastating Flood of Light that nearly consumed the First.
Cyella’s journey through the optional post-Shadowbringers quests allows her to find a path toward atonement. Since then, she has worked alongside her fellow Thirteenth-born, Unukalhai, acting as a crucial informant on all matters concerning Darkness, Light, and the Void that engulfed their home reflection.
If you’ve followed Cyella’s story thus far, you can now approach her to discuss Eminent Grief, the formidable boss encountered at the climax of Pilgrim’s Traverse. This monstrous fiend is a terrifying fusion of Light and Darkness. Titled ‘The Pilgrim’s Answer,’ this quest is truly hidden, as it won’t appear on your minimap – you must seek out Cyella directly. Trust us, her insights are well worth the effort.
Pulling you aside, Cyella humorously laments your “singular talent for dredging up memories I’d sooner forget.” She reveals that Eminent Grief closely resembles a voidsent she once sealed away in memoria on the Thirteenth. Reflecting on her past, she acknowledges that such a powerful creature could have swayed the battle in her favor against Ardbert and the Warriors of Light, but she feared “being twisted by Darkness like so many memoriates before me.” Instead, she chose to imprison the crystal containing its power within her old quarters. She speculates that its concentrated Darkness eventually drew in sin eaters, whose Light, paradoxically, helped free the creature before they were consumed by it. After recounting this, she expresses gratitude for your victory over the reborn voidsent, bringing a quiet closure to the matter. The full dialogue for ‘The Pilgrim’s Answer’ is available on various fan wikis.
The implications of this lore drop are significant. With our recently acquired ability to transfer Light and Darkness across reflections (from post-Endwalker quests) and the ‘Key to Interdimensional Fusion’ now in our possession, this revelation suggests a dramatic shift in how these energies might interact. Could we be on the cusp of encountering more hybrid creatures in the upcoming 8.0 expansion, or will even more formidable beings find new ways to breach the barriers between worlds, much like voidsent? The possibilities are thrilling.
It’s important to remember that this rich piece of lore is tucked away behind the completion of all four Shadowbringers role quests – a commitment many players may not undertake. Therefore, it’s unlikely we’ll see Cyella or Unukalhai become central to the next Main Scenario Quest. After all, the community already debates whether fan-favorite Gaia, Ryne’s companion, should be integral without requiring everyone to complete the Eden raid series (which, by the way, you absolutely should experience!). Regardless, the sheer existence of ‘The Pilgrim’s Answer’ has our minds racing with speculation about the future direction of FFXIV’s grand narrative.