Location: The Hideaway (ship)
Petitioner: Rodrigue, Physicker
Unlocked: Complete Do No Harm and A Song of Hope
Reward: 20 Sharp Fangs, 40 Magicked Ash, 25 Renown, 1,200 gil
In order to unlock this side quest you need to fulfil two prerequisites:
- First, you need to complete Do No Harm, a side quest from earlier in the game.
- Second, you need to complete A Song of Hope, a relatively short main story quest that takes place entirely in the Hideaway. Once that's done Tears of Mercy will pop up nearby.
(Note that Tears of Mercy can be locked by events that take place in the Infirmary, an issue other side quests don't typically have. Continue through the main game if the NPC is locked to clear up the problem.)
Speak to Rodrigue in the Infirmary. He insists that Tarja is overdoing her work, and needs to rest. Speak to Tarja on the other sid of the Infirmary and she'll counter-insist that she needs to stay with her patient, who is on his deathbed. She wants to create a draught that will end his suffering, with Rodrigue's help, but they need an ingredient from the woods to complete the 'medicine'.
Head to either Lostwing or Northreach (Northreach is faster if you can ride a Chocobo) and head to the Old Road, a narrow path through the woods that connects the two towns. In the middle of the road you'll find a small clearing infested with Mitelings. They're basic spider-esque enemies, and shouldn't pose much of a threat.
You'll receive a Spider Eye and Sharp Fangs for besting the Mitelings. Take the Spider Eye back to Rodrigue to complete this melancholy quest. Speak to Tarja in the Infirmary after the quest is complete and she'll give you a Medicine Chest for Clive's Wall of Memories, over in his chambers.