Let me be real with you: even in 2026, Miraland is packed with people who see me, a humble stylist, and instantly turn into fashion critics. Auri, though? Auri has a very specific request that made me question whether I had accidentally skipped a tutorial. The boy near Shepherd Cottage wants clothes with claw mark designs, and if that sounds like the game is trolling you, welcome to my first attempt. I wandered around wearing every vaguely animal-adjacent top I owned, hoping something would click. Spoiler: it did not.
The Kindled Inspiration: Animal Traces quest is part of Infinity Nikki’s intentionally vague side quest family. The quest marker smiles at you, but the actual solution is hidden behind a chest guarded by Esselings. Honestly, the quest log is about as clear as a soggy sock, so let’s cut through the nonsense and get Auri his claw-mark glow-up.
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Where Auri Is Hiding
Teleport to the Meadow Activity Support Center waypoint. From there, follow the path west to the Shepherd Cottage. Auri will be hanging around, probably looking like he just lost a fight with a cat and wants to memorialize it. He doesn’t need a whole makeover; he just needs to see the right top.
The Actual Outfit Auri Wants
Auri asks for clothes with claw mark designs on them. The correct top is a shirt called Mark of Life. Not \”something edgy,\” not \”my best tiger cosplay\”—just Mark of Life. Equip it, talk to him again, and watch the inspiration spark. I nearly fell out of my chair when I realized the answer was a single crafted shirt, not some hidden boutique item.
How to Get Mark of Life and Craft It
Head to the Relic Hill waypoint on the eastern side of Breezy Meadow. From there, go south/southwest into the ruins underneath the waypoint. You will see a whole pack of Esselings doing their best guard-dog impersonation. Defeat them, and the nearby treasure chest will unlock. Inside is the Mark of Life sketch.
After getting the sketch, open your menu and go to Sketch > Rare Pieces > Mark of Life. It is a shirt with the Cool tag, which means your crafting panel finally gets something that does not look like a picnic. To make it, you need the following:
| Material | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Bitey Fabric | 6 |
| Tricky Patch | 6 |
| Thread of Purity | 40 |
| Bling | 4000 |
Bitey Fabric and Tricky Patch drop from combat-focused enemies, so bring your Purification outfit and maybe a snack. Thread of Purity and Bling are your everyday craft tax, no dramatic story here.
Reward and Final Thoughts
Once Auri is inspired, he thanks you with a hat sketch called Peace with Birds plus 20 Diamonds. The sketch is 3-star rarity, so it will not suddenly make you unbeatable in styling challenges, but it is a cute option if you want Nikki to look like she just returned from a very chic bird sanctuary.
So, if you are stuck, remember: the answer is not your best feline fantasy. It is Mark of Life. Grab the sketch from the Relic Hill ruins, craft the shirt, and let Auri finally stop staring into the distance like a misunderstood artist.
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My inventory was begging for a clear-out after that quest, but the Peace with Birds hat made it almost worth it. Almost.