Counselor Box
Byleth gives advice to others at Garreg Mach.
Overview
The Garreg Mach counselor is unlocked during Chapter 3, after completing the "Words of Wisdom" quest. They are located in the bottom left corner of the cathedral. Each week, a semi-anonymous writer will send in a letter to the Counselor Box asking for advice. At no activity point cost, Byleth can answer this question for a chance to build support with the writer. Choosing the correct answer will yield 10 support points, essentially for free. Note that you can always home screen during the answering part, effectively pausing the timer and giving you as much time as you need to look up the answer.
Guide Contents
This guide contains the following information.
Academy Phase
Notes written during the Academy Phase.
List of Academy Phase Notes
The following table lists all notes that can be sent during the Academy Phase. Note that this may not be an exhaustive list. If you see a question that isn't listed here, please suggest an edit.
| Note | Answer |
|---|---|
| Let me just ask you straight. What do you think makes a great mercenary? | The will to fight for those who can't protect themselves. |
| I've looked at the notes in this box before, and it seems like everyone's always worried and complaining about stuff! Is everyone really that bad off? | Worry often leads to growth. |
| Meat and vegetables are both delicious, but some people complain about not liking one or the other. I just don't understand how anyone can snub a good meal! | A well-prepared meal should be enjoyed by all. |
| I've never been very good at arithmetic, but I can see how it would be a great skill to have when negotiating with merchants. How do I make it easier to learn? | Ask a friend to instruct you. |
| I wonder if I'll ever find a partner who understands I don't mean any harm when I flirt with others. Does someone like that really exist? | You're bound to meet someone open-minded someday. |
| I don't like interfering in squabbles between noble brats, but the parents complain if I don't. It's annoying. | It could be entertaining to make the parents fight instead. |
| I often hear ridiculous rumors about ghosts appearing in the monastery. It's nonsense and it's disrupting my studies. There aren't really ghosts, are there? | You have nothing to worry about. There are no ghosts. |
| I typically decorate with red roses when I host a tea party but lately I am considering the virtues of variety. Do you have any thoughts about other flowers I might try? | White lilies are pleasant and calming. |
| I have some experience painting landscapes, and now I'd like to try my hand at a portraiture. Can you think of anyone who would model for me? | Manuela would be open to modeling for you. |
| I'm trying to read any book about reason I can get my hands on, but now and again, I'll come across one that's written in a foreign language. How can I read those? | You should start by studying the language. |
| When I was in the greenhouse earlier, a female student fled from me as if in terror. Why did she do that? I was only tending the flowers. | Perhaps you unintentionally scowled at her. |
| I've slept almost everywhere in the monastery, but lately I've been wanting to try sleeping outdoors. Do you know somewhere I could sleep under the stars? | A courtyard full of blooming flowers. |
| Nothing surpasses the Hraesvelg Treatise on War as a general study on strategy, but what book best covers local tactics? | Try reading Cichol's General Treatise on Mercenaries. |
| My fellow students have called me dour. They say I should joke around more often. But what's the point in that? | It can help settle prebattle nerves. |
| If you feel overwhelmed by teaching, just ask me for help. I predict that guiding these imps through their teenage years will be IMPortant for Fodlan's future. Get it? | I'll let you know if I have any concerns. |
| Despite my appearance, I have long wished to be a Pegasus Knight that I may indulge in the lofty view. Yet that dream has always seemed out of reach. Can you guess why? | Because heights make you uneasy. |
| I'm not good at talking to others. I can talk to birds, horses, and other animals just fine, but when it comes to people, I freeze up. | Try pretending the person you're talking to is a horse. |
| I am occasionally asked to attend tea parties, but in truth, I do not care for hot beverages. I have considering waiting until it cools to drink, but I fear that would seem rude. | You should just be honest with your host. |
| When I get into a Rhythm while cleaning, I always end up singing a song that I make up on the spot. It's so embarrassing when someone hears me! What should I do? | I bet people really enjoy your songs. |
| I found a wonderful painting at a shop in town. What a shame keeping this masterpiece all to myself! Can you think of an art lover in Garreg Mach I could share it with? | You should show it to Sylvain. |
| I am an only child. Because of this, I am worried that my parents will have to adopt a child or do their best to have another of their own if I don't carry the family title. | Relax. You can think it over before you graduate. |
| I have always despised the heat, even as a child. Still, one must be prepared to fight anywhere, no matter the conditions. Have you any advice for enduring the heat? | Look for clothing and armor which breathe better. |
| There are many citizens of the Empire who are currently in despair. I think it's time for a change in leadership. Perhaps someone new should ascend the throne. | You would do well as a ruler, Ferdinand. |
| It's my turn to clean, but I'm feeling under the weather. Even writing this note is a strain! I need to get someone else to do my cleaning for me. Who should I ask? | Mercedes might be willing to help. |
| What can I do to ensure than an independently-minded young woman does not fall into harm's way? | Keep an eye on her from a distance. |
| Life would be so much easier if no one had to talk face-to-face. Isn't written correspondence like this really the best form of communication? Or face-to-door chats? | Occasional human interaction is good for you. |
| You can always put on more clothing when it's cold, but you can only remove so many layers in the heat. How does one survive a hot summer? | Focus on reading to occupy your mind. |
| I am always looking to assist His Highness, but sometimes I find myself at a loss. What more can I do? | Guard him with your life. |
| There's a new place in town I hear has some really tasty food. I asked them to hold two seats under my name, but I don't know who I should go with. | I would be happy to join you. |
| Song and dance live on in our memories, but there's no real record of them. Even memories fade over time. Will anyone remember me when I'm gone? | I'm sure you'll live on in someone's heart. |
| Whenever I go for a walk, I get this strange feeling that someone is watching me. Who could it be? | The goddess is watching from on high. |
| I often overhear people commenting about how strange I am. I don't really get it. Shouldn't it be expected that everyone has their own unique perspective on life? | Just follow your own path and don't worry about them. |
| The library is a place I favor, but I am having a problem. It is lacking sufficient information about Brigid! I have the hope that I can be fixing this problem. | You should add to the Traveler's Journal. |
| Being a bit older than everyone else, I want the others to rely on me like an older sister. Is there anything I can do to make myself more approachable? | Don't worry, you already are. |
| I usually enjoy sweets, but the traditional cakes from Enbarr are a bit much for my taste. How could those possibly have become a traditional desert? | Who cares traditions are meant to be broken. |
| It's been a turbulent year. | Steel yourself by spending some quiet time alone. |
| There is a person with whom I do not get along. Childish as it may sound, we always end up quarreling. Is there nothing I can do to remedy this? | Try treating them like you would a friend. |
| You know, I don't even care when people say I'm short. But I'm definitely open to suggestions if you know of a quick way to grow! | Getting plenty of sleep might help. |
| I am trying to settle on a gift for a certain young lady who has experienced tough times as of late. Any suggestions? | An academic textbook. |
| I want to be able to enjoy my hobbies, but there's not enough time when I have to wait for everyone to go to bed and clear out of the common areas. | I'm so sorry. That sounds like an impossible situation. |
| Even if I find love, I won't be able to live without money. I would like to get married someday, but I refuse to go back to being poor. What should I pursue? | Love and money aren't mutually exclusive. Strive for both. |
| Everyone treats me like a child. Please do something about it. | You shouldn't feel pressured to act older than you are. |
| (There's just a drawing of what looks like a student throwing trash on the ground.) | Let's add trash bins around the monastery. |
| I'd like to borrow a book from the library, but there are so many to choose from that I can't decide. Do you have any recommendations? | A History of the Founding of Faerghus. |
| I have as many worries as anyone else, but I must always feign dauntlessness. It can be rather taxing at times. | Find time to relax every now and then. |
| Classroom learning isn't enough to become a strong knight! There's got to be someone around here who can teach me how to get as strong as possible! | Dimitri would be a good resource. |
| Flayn is an interesting young lady, but keep your distance. Seteth's quite protective, and you wouldn't want to fan the flames of his wrath - or should I say, fan the Flayns! | A hedge between keeps friendships green. |
| If I told you I was searching for someone who might like to share a cup of tea with an elegant noble, whose name would come to mind? | Ferdinand would be good company. |
| Lately I feel myself growing tired and out of practice. I wish there was someone around here with whom I could dance fervently and intensely. | What about Dorothea? |
| Words cannot express my disgust with the students here. So many of these fools rely on their noble status or their Crest's power as an excuse to shirk their training. | You should spar with them. |
| There are as many men in this world as stars in the sky, but you meet so few good men during your time on this planet. How does one meet a worthy partner? | Man or no man, lots of people care about you. |
| I have great love for the sea, but Garreg Mach has too much distance from it. I am needing to be in the water soon. Where is the best place for swimming? | You should visit a sea to the south. |
| I feel like the tough fighters who become legends mostly use swords and lances. Are those really the weapons you have to wield if you want to make your mark on history? | You should fight with the weapon the best suits you. |
| I try to hold back when swinging a weapon, but sometimes I misjudge my own strength. I've broken so many weapon this way. Is there anything I can do to remedy this? | Take care to repair weapons in between training sessions. |
| It's standard practice for a general not to stand on the front lines. What should I do if I see him deliberately ignoring this rule at the risk of his own life? | The "standard practice" isn't always the best practice. |
| I see it all the time. Someone falls for a scheme and then gets angry about it. But rather than being mad at the schemer, shouldn't they be busy plotting their revenge? | That sounds like the logic of a schemer. |
| There's someone whose Crest I wish to study. I've asked many times, but I can't get them to consent. There must be some way to persuade them. | Nothing beats sincerity. |
| I'm not good at cleaning up. I try my best, but before I know it, everything's messy again. | Cleaning is easy when you have a plan of attack. |
| A professor's job seems so repetitive. It's the same thing day after day. I used to be interested in teaching, but it seems way too boring for someone like me. | I'm too busy to be bored. |
| I wish to make new friends, but my brother always interferes. How can I get him to back off? | I'll persuade him to stop. |
| There's someone I just can't seem to beat. What's a quick and easy way to make them give up and say uncle? | "Quick and easy" never works. |
| (There's just a drawing of what looks like a broken vase.) | If you broke a vase, you should apologize to the owner. |
| I'm supposed to write a letter to my brother to let him know how I'm doing. But there's nothing that I want to write about, and on top of that, it's just too much work. | Why not tell him about your friends? |
| The tea here does absolutely nothing for me. I could send for some supplies from home, but is there truly not a soul in this place with tea fit for a noble? | Lorenz would be a good source. |
| I am more than capable of protecting myself from ruffians, but those around me tend to worry, and so I am often denied the pleasure of a private stroll. | You're too important, so I'm afraid it can't be helped. |
| I want to make somebody change his boorish behavior, but he doesn't seem to care no matter how much I urge him to reconsider his actions. I'm at my wit's end! | It's probably time for your professor to step in. |
| I'm hesitant to invite a girl to my room in the middle of the night with You Know Who living right next door.I'm terrified of the scolding I'd get the next day. | Maybe I'll rethink the room assignments. |
| I want to get better at cooking, but I don't know where to start. I wish I knew someone who could help me. | You should cook with Ashe. |
| I've reunited with my daughter after years of being apart, but I'm the one who left her in the first place. I don't know what to say, or even how to speak with her. | Just love her and treat her with kindness. |
| When I see the students enthusiastically eating together in the dining hall, I sometimes wish to join them. I wonder if that would be a bother. | I'm sure the students would be happy to share a meal. |
| Everyone seems to believe I only ever think about the buying and selling of things, but I'm very multifaceted! I also offer advice on longterm investment opportunities! | Worrying is a waste of time, and time is money! |
| The only physicians willing to work underground are ones who charge exorbitant amounts for their services. For the sake of the sick and dying, how do I correct this? | Ask the church for help. |
| All my problems boil down to not having enough gold. It's gotten so bad that even when I actually get my hands on some, I don't know what to do with it. | Next time you've got gold, I'll help you decide. |
| So I write my problems here, and you fix them for me? Yeah, right. This is just a setup for some hokey self-help nonsense, isn't it? | You could at least write me a good joke. |
| I could say I have no concerns, but of course I would be lying. My ambitions are endless! Soon I shall bind the very firmament to my will. The clouds will obey my commands! | That may actually be too much, even for you. |
War Phase
Notes written during the War Phase.
List of War Phase Notes
The following table lists all notes that can be sent during the War Phase. Note that this may not be an exhaustive list. If you see a question that isn't listed here, please suggest an edit.
Spoiler warning: the following notes and answers contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.