FFXIV Leafing Through the Past: Why This Quest Still Hits Hard

You're standing in the Dravanian Hinterlands. The music—that somber, piano-heavy track "Sere" or the more whimsical "Aetherpause"—is doing most of the emotional heavy lifting. If you’re like me, you probably remember the first time you hit the FFXIV Leafing through the Past quest. It’s not just some random filler. Honestly, it's one of those moments where the game forces you to stop being a "Warrior of Light" for a second and just be a person investigating a ruin.

It’s about Matoya. Well, mostly about her cave and the memories tucked away in the dusty corners of the Great Gubal Library’s backyard. This level 59 quest is the bridge between the high-stakes drama of the Heavensward expansion and the realization that the world of Eorzea has a very long, very messy memory. People often breeze through it. They shouldn't.

What actually happens during Leafing through the Past?

Let's look at the mechanics first, though they aren't exactly "Dark Souls" level difficulty. You’re sent to the Sharlayan Colony in the Dravanian Hinterlands. Your job is basically to find some old books. Specifically, research logs left behind by the Sharlayans when they pulled up stakes and fled back to their island home during the "Exodus" of 1562.

You go to (X:16.7, Y:23.0), (X:16.3, Y:23.6), and (X:16.5, Y:24.5). It sounds like a grocery list. But the text in those logs? That’s where the gold is.

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The logs detail the study of the Aetheric Convergence. They talk about the Sharlayan's obsession with observing the world without interfering. It’s that classic academic arrogance we see throughout the game. You're reading the notes of people who were watching the world end and thinking, "Hmm, I should probably write down the exact temperature of this apocalypse."

It’s kinda weird how much lore is packed into these tiny interactable objects. You find out about the "Matoya’s Cave" situation—not the one she lives in now, but the legacy she left behind. You’re looking for a specific tome called the Tome of Water. It’s not just a book; it’s a key.

The Sharlayan Exodus wasn't just a move; it was a ghost story

Most players think the Sharlayans left because they were scared of the Garlean Empire. That's true, mostly. But FFXIV Leafing through the Past shows the sheer scale of what they left behind. It wasn't a tidy move. They left entire libraries. They left sentient brooms. They left frogs that used to be people.

When you're poking around the crumbling stone walls near the Maker’s Quarter, you’re literally walking through a city that was abandoned in a single night. The quest name is literal. You are leafing through the leftovers of a civilization that decided the rest of the world wasn't worth the trouble.

I’ve always found it interesting that the developers chose this specific moment to slow the pace. You’ve just dealt with the fallout of the Vault—if you know, you know—and then the game asks you to go read some soggy diaries in a field. It’s a breather. It’s the game telling you that history matters as much as the current war.

Why does Matoya even care?

Matoya is prickly. She’s the definition of a "tsundere" grandma. She acts like she hates everyone, but she stayed behind when everyone else fled. Why? Because she didn't want to leave her research, or maybe because she saw the cowardice in the Exodus.

In this quest, you’re acting as her hands. She can't—or won't—leave her cave. You find the Tome of Water because it contains the knowledge required to enter the Aetherochemical Research Facility.

• You realize the Sharlayans were hiding things from each other.
• The logs show a growing sense of dread as the Garleans approached.
• There's a subtle hint at how the Isle of Val disappeared, which ties into the Eureka storyline way later.

Don't get lost in the Hinterlands

The navigation here can be a bit of a pain if you haven't unlocked flying yet. And let's be real, most people doing this for the first time haven't. You’re dodging those mechanical colossi and wandering around the river.

The quest flow is basically:

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1. Talk to Matoya in her cave.
2. Head to the Hinterlands.
3. Find the three "Scattered Research Logs."
4. Find the "Aetherially Conductive Plate."
5. Go back and deal with the aftermath.

It's a "fetch quest" on paper. In practice, it's a mood piece. If you skip the dialogue, you're missing the context for why the Sharlayans in the Endwalker expansion are such elitist jerks. This is where those seeds are planted.

The Aetheric Plate and the deeper lore

The plate you find isn't just a piece of metal. It's a piece of Sharlayan technology that interacts with the ambient aether. It’s a precursor to the kind of tech we see in the Aitiascope much later. It's wild how Square Enix keeps these threads going for years. They wrote this in 2015, and it still feels relevant in 2026 because the world-building is so tight.

I remember someone on the forums once argued that this quest was a waste of time. They wanted more fighting. But FFXIV isn't just an MMO; it’s a Final Fantasy game first. The "leafing" part is the point. You are a historian with a very large sword.

Common mistakes during this quest

Honestly, the biggest mistake is not having your map open. The verticality of the Hinterlands is legendary for confusing new players. You think the log is on the ground level? Nope. It’s tucked behind a broken pillar on a ledge you have to circle around to reach.

Another thing? Not reading the logs. Seriously. The logs describe the "Aetheric Eye," which is a recurring theme in the game’s cosmology. If you want to understand how the world's magic actually functions, these little flavor-text boxes are essential.

How to actually get through it fast (if you must)

If you're on your fifth alt and just want to get to the library, fine. Use a mount with high ground speed. The enemies here are level 58-59, so if you're synced, they can actually be a nuisance.

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• Coordinate 1: 16, 23. Look for the glow.
• Coordinate 2: 16, 23 (slightly North).
• Coordinate 3: 16, 24.
• The Plate: It’s usually tucked away near the center of the search area.

Once you have the items, don't teleport out immediately. Look at the view of the Great Gubal Library from the bridge. It’s one of the best vistas in the game. It perfectly captures that "fallen grace" aesthetic that Heavensward does so well.

The connection to the Great Gubal Library

This quest is the direct prerequisite for the Great Gubal Library dungeon. You are literally finding the "key" to open the front door. The library itself is a masterclass in environmental storytelling, with its "Forbidden Tome" bosses and jazz-fusion soundtrack.

But without FFXIV Leafing through the Past, the library has no stakes. This quest establishes that the information inside is dangerous. It's not just a school; it's a vault of secrets that the world forgot on purpose.

Actionable Steps for Players

If you are currently on this quest or approaching it, here is how to get the most out of it without losing your mind:

1. Read the Research Logs: Take thirty seconds to actually read the pop-up text. It explains why the Sharlayans are obsessed with the "Star" and gives hints about the true nature of the Ascians' goals.
2. Unlock Flying ASAP: If you haven't finished the Aether Currents for the Dravanian Hinterlands, do them now. This quest involves a lot of back-and-forth across broken terrain. It will save you twenty minutes of frustration.
3. Check your Gear: The level 58/59 transition is where the gear curve starts to spike. If you're still wearing level 50 Ironworks gear, you’re going to get shredded by the mobs in this area. Buy some high-quality (HQ) gear from the Ishgard market board or use your Quest Rewards.
4. Listen to the Music: Turn your BGM up. The transition from the open-world theme to the "Matoya's Cave" theme is one of the most nostalgic shifts in the game, especially for fans of the original Final Fantasy on the NES.
5. Look for Side Quests: There are several side quests in this area that unlock additional lore about the goblins (Idyllshire) and their struggle to build a city. Grab them while you're already out here to kill two birds with one stone.

The quest ends with a return to Matoya. She’ll give you some gruff praise and send you toward the library. It's a small moment in a massive game, but it’s the glue that holds the middle of Heavensward together. Don't treat it like a chore; treat it like an investigation.