Location: The Hideaway (ship)
Petitioner: Clive's Reading Table
Unlocked: Begin Back to Their Origin
Reward: Scholar's Bonnet, 30 Renown
In order to unlock this side quest you need to progress through the majority of Final Fantasy XVI. Once you've fought Ultima during the Streets of Madness main story quest you'll be returned to the Hideaway, and you'll need to speak to several important NPCs. Once you're done talking with Jill a bunch of new side quests will pop up, including An Inconvenient Truth.
Check Clive's Reading Table and you'll find a missive from Vivian, the Hideaway's map reader and top scholar. (Sorry, Harpocrates.) She wants Clive to track down a tome called From a Distance, one that is, to say the least, a bit inflammatory.
Agree to the quest, then speak to Vivian in the Map Room. She'll point you to Harpocrates, over in the Shelves. Harpocrates will tell Clive about a shadowy group that keeps such titles under wraps - though he suspects that an old... and likely dead... friend of his may have a copy of the book.
Jump to the Vidargraes Obelisk, in the far north of Ash. Your destination, the ruined village of Garnick, is on the west side of Vidargraes, just off the main road that leads to the fortress walls in the far south. The house you seek is in the north of Garnick, up a set of stairs. Inside the house you'll find a chest containing an Empty Shard, twenty spools of Steelsilk, and twenty Bloody Hides.
Also in the house are a number of documents that you can peruse. The one you want is in the upper-left of the house, inside a cabinet. Check and read it to receive From a Distance. Head back outside, and, unsurprisingly, a mystery man will demand Clive turn it over. This results in a battle with a group of Inquisitor Aides and an Inquistor. Leave the Aides to your party members while Clive handles the Inquisitor, who is a fairly standard, brutish enemy with a big axe. You've fought his kind many times by now.
You'll receive Clutchmine, Wyrrite, Steelsilk, and Magicked Ash for defeating the group of inquisitors. A cut scene follows, and after you'll have to return to Vivian to wrap up the quest. This will unlock another side quest, A Tail to Tell.