- "My brother wants to send a letter to a girl who likes books. You'll help him, won't you?" —Nina
Zeph and Mercedes (I) is a side story in Octopath Traveler. The tale begins by speaking to Nina inside Zeph's and Nina's house in Clearbrook after Alfyn's Chapter 4 and Cyrus's Chapter 4 stories have been completed.

Nina, Clearbrook
Resolution[]
Purchase /
Steal[]
Successfully use the Purchase or Steal path action to obtain Letter from Zeph from Zeph (

50 /
Lvl 1 ).
Travel to the Atlasdam Palace Gate in Atlasdam and enter the Royal Library of Atlasdam to the west to find Mercedes, located behind the library desk.




Travel to the Atlasdam Palace Gate in Atlasdam and enter the Royal Library of Atlasdam to the west to find Mercedes, located behind the library desk.
This chapter of the tale ends once the Letter from Zeph is given to Mercedes.
- "Zeph's letter reached Mercedes, and the two childhood friends realized the feelings they shared for one another went beyond mere friendship."
Epilogue[]
Upon completion of the side story, the following occurs:
- Zeph and Mercedes (II) begins immediately.
- Zeph relocated to the outside of his house in Clearbrook.
Trivia[]
- The contents of the Letter from Zeph are as follows:
- My dear Mercedes. How have you been?
- It's been eight years since you left.
- Whenever I close my eyes, I imagine what your days so far must be like.
- Remember when we used to read together in Clearbrook?
- We used to exchange our favorite books.
- The ones you gave me left such an impression on me.
- Remember the waterblooms? I know you loved them so.
- Being with you always made my heart feel... full.
- So when the time came, I couldn't just say "goodbye." I regret it now.
- Since then, I've become the town apothecary.
- What are you doing? Where are you?
- I'm sure you've had some hard times over the past few years...
- But I hope your days have also been filled with happiness.
- I miss you and wish you all the best, wherever you are.
- Oh, and I've got so many good books to tell you about!
- — Zeph
- Zeph does not carry the Letter from Zeph in his possessions until Alfyn's Chapter 4 story is completed.
- The typical notice "So ends the tale of Zeph and Mercedes (I)" does not appear upon completion as it is overridden by the message that the next chapter, Zeph and Mercedes (II), begins.
- Zeph and Mercedes (I) is one of only two side stories that does not reward anything upon completion.