The Root of the Matter is a short, focused objective that moves Celeste’s questline forward and pays out reliably if you keep it tight. You have one run to locate a specific building, search a single room, and extract with the knowledge you need.

Quest quick facts

Detail What you need to know
Quest giver Celeste
Quest chain Follows “Untended Garden,” leads into “Handover.”
Core objective In one round: go to the Research Building, then search for the seed vault in the “room with a great view.”
Rewards 1× Vita Spray, 16,000 XP
Region note Listed location varies between Dam Battlegrounds and Buried City in different references. Check your map for the Research Building marker.

Objectives and the one-round constraint

The quest has two sequential objectives that must be completed within a single run:

  • Reach the Research Building.
  • Search for the seed vault in a room described as the “room with a great view.”

“In one round” means the game expects both tasks in the same outing. Plan your route before you leave your safe area, and be ready to prioritize the building over opportunistic fights or side looting.

Find the Research Building

Open your map and look for a named structure labeled as the Research Building in the target region. If your map rotation places the activity in Dam Battlegrounds, start from nearby landmarks and sweep toward administrative or laboratory clusters. If your rotation shows Buried City, expect a larger campus footprint with multiple entry points.

Once you’re close, watch for the standard quest interaction cues inside the structure. The game highlights relevant items or areas when you approach, so move room to room rather than clearing the whole complex floor by floor.

Locate the “room with a great view”

The seed vault prompt appears in a specific room called out by that in‑game hint. Use the description to narrow your search:

  • Favor spaces with a wide vantage point: large windows, an overlook, or an elevated office are good candidates.
  • Prioritize upper levels, observation decks, or corners that face open terrain. “Great view” usually implies exterior sightlines.
  • Scan for the interaction glow as you enter each viable room; the vault is discoverable via the standard yellow highlight when you’re close enough.

Interact when prompted to complete the search step. If enemies pressure you mid‑search, fall back to a defensible hallway, stabilize, then re‑enter. The interaction window is short enough to complete between waves if you keep the immediate area clear.

Squad and progression behavior that helps here

  • Quest progression is shared across your team. If one teammate triggers the Research Building objective or the seed vault interaction, it counts for everyone in the squad.
  • Glowing yellow objects mark quest interaction spots. Don’t overclear the entire complex—follow the glow to the exact room.
  • The quest list can branch, and exact ordering may differ between players. If the quest isn’t present yet, finish its predecessor (“Untended Garden”) first.

Rewards and what unlocks next

Completing the search grants a Vita Spray and 16,000 XP. The next step in Celeste’s line, “Handover,” becomes available afterward. If you’re on a progression push, pick it up immediately so you can chain your next run without retreading the map.

This is a compact objective built for a single clean route: get in, find one building, trust the yellow glow, and use the “great view” clue to zero in on the right room. Keep your squad tight, share the interactions, and you’ll bank the rewards with time to spare for your next contract.