Spoiler Alert: This Story has a Sad Ending

Hey, Veina. What's that you've got there?

My favorite book: the legendary epic of an ancient, heroic warrior. This library happens to have the latest edition and I just had to dive right into it.

"Latest edition"? It isn't finished?

Not yet. The author is himself an elf and treats it as a lifelong work of sorts.

So he'll continue to add to it for as long as he lives? It must be pretty lengthy then.

Well, this most recent edition is 1,225 chapters in total, so I suppose you could say that.

1,225 chapters?! Wow, I don't know which is more impressive, writing that much or reading it all!

By the by, Palsifal Palace has quite the collection. So many rare works in such fine condition. It is a truly marvelous library.

You really love books, huh, Veina?

I do. At home I had a large collection of my own, but was forced to abandon it when I departed for my travels.

I was most upset that I could not take even my most prized volumes with me.

I guess carrying them around would only slow you down. You know, in the future they have a tiny device that you can hold in your hand and it stores them all for you.

You mean a SmartBook.

"Smart book"? What manner of tome is that, Riica?

SmartBooks are compiled from written materials in digitized form. They have many advantages, among those being their light weight and convenience.

"Digitized"? I have never come across such a word before. Whatever it means, this "smart book" sounds rather handy indeed.

If you're interested, why not take a trip to the future and see one for yourself?

I would like that very much. That is, if you have no objections, Aldo.

None here. Let's do it.

Really? Oh, how exciting!

A book that is so smart it can contain a number of books all on its own...

I cannot wait to make its acquaintance!

Heh, I bet!

We should be able to find one of those books in Elzion, right, Riica?

Yes. But unfortunately my systems don't support location sharing, so you'll have to find one by yourselves.

That's fine. We'll start with the Gamma District!

Well, here we are.

Now, where might we find one of these tomes of above-average intelligence?

Hey, you two aren't from 'round here, are ya? You lost?

Good afternoon, sir. We are in search of a place where we might peruse a "smart book."

A SmartBook, huh? Well...

Take a look at mine if ya like. Y'see, if you right tap here and press this thing there, you can bring up all the text on the screen, real easy. And if you download them in advance, you can read any book on it whenever you like.

Simply amazing! What else can you tell me about it?

Hoh hoh! Well, my favorite thing about it is the space! Believe it or not, this little beauty can hold thousands of books inside it at a time.

Oh, my! That is truly spectacular! May I ask how many titles your own "smart book" currently carries?

Let me think...Well, any number of about 30,000,000 titles or so.

30,000,000 books, all entirely accessible from a small metal box?! What manner of sorcery is this?

Ohoho! "Sorcery"! Kids these days and their crazy slang, I tell ya.

Yep, they're all in here all right, each and every one. Any you were looking for in particular, missy?

Oh, yes. Well, I wonder if the epic I was reading in Palsifal Palace has survived the ages.

Palsifal Palace? Is that what that new hotel they were building nearby was called?

Well, if you know the title, I can search for it.

It is called "Warrior Princess Vashdia."

"Warrior Princess Vashdia," right? Hold on a second.

What's this?! "Error"?!

"Air roar"?

Hmm...

Something wrong?

It looks like the servers are down.

And that's bad because?

As long as they're offline, the SmartBook can't perform searches.

Oh, no!

Good sir, is there nothing we can do to help this "Ser Verse"?

Well, if you could somehow get 'em online again that would do it.

"On...line"?

I think I understand. If we can restore this Ser Verse to health the "smart book" will work again, yes?

Boy, you young people nowadays have such a different vocabulary to when I was a lad. Well, yes. I suppose sickness is a universal phenomenon for both man and machine.

I see. Then we shall cure Ser Verse of his malady and save the smart books from debilitation.

Are you sure you've got this right, Veina?

Positively.

Now, then, where might we obtain a suitable medicine for our afflicted charge?

Hm...I can't say I have much experience in fixing servers but I'm sure you'd find someone at IDA School who does.

Thank you, sir. Then our first mission is to find a healer!

To the place they call "Eye Deed Hay"!

A healer?

I guess that'd be the school doctor over at the infirmary. Right there.

Very well. Thank you for your help.

Nobody's here. Maybe they're on a break?

Well, that won't do at all.

Forgive my asking, Aldo, but would you mind having a look around for this doctor? You are far more familiar with this place than I, after all.

Sure. I have to say, though...

I feel like we might be barking up the wrong tree looking for a doctor...

But she seems confident that she knows what she's doing, so I guess I should trust her.

You, there. What are you doing here?

Oh, Veina.

Oh! Good day, Ruina. What an unusual coincidence.

Not really. I am a student here.

...Oh.

Your ears. They look like mine.

Oh, now that you mention it, they do. How nice to see a fellow elf in the future!

Odd how I feel such affinity for something so inconsequential. Perhaps it's because I've always been the only one with them.

Does that mean there are no other elves in your immediate circle, Ruina?

Then surely you should be considered a human by all rights? For an elf identifies themself by our culture and customs, whereas you were raised with and like humans.

I don't really know.

But I appreciate the attempt at consolation. Anyway, I should get going. My Uniform Inspection Committee rounds aren't finished yet.

I haven't seen you before. Are you a teacher? Because if you're a student, that clothing is against the rules.

I am neither. I am simply here to inquire about some medicine.

Huh? Well, I suppose that's fine. ...Oh.

Your ears. They look like mine.

My, now that you mention it, they do. I had not expected to meet a fellow elf in the future.

Odd how I feel such affinity for something so inconsequential. Perhaps it's because I've always been the only one with them.

Does that mean there are no other elves in your immediate circle?

Then surely you should be considered a human by all rights? For an elf identifies themself by our culture and customs, whereas you were raised with and like humans.

I don't really know.

But I appreciate the attempt at consolation. Anyway, I should get going. My Uniform Inspection Committee rounds aren't finished yet.

......

Sorry we kept you waiting, Veina! I finally found the doctor.

Thank goodness.

Doctor, I'm afraid that a gentleman by the name of Ser Verse has taken ill. We would ask that you lend us your aid in curing him, please.

"Ser Verse"?

Yes. We were told that as long as Ser Verse remains unwell, the smart books too will continue to suffer.

"Smart books"? Huh?

Ohhh, I get it! You want to get the servers fixed, right? Sit tight and I'll get the student who usually handles that stuff to come talk with you.

So, uh, are you guys the people who asked for me? I'm guessing you're users of the SmartBook service I'm running. Sorry that it's down right now.

Are you a relative of Ser Verse's, perchance?

Relative? That's a super weird way of putting it, but I guess it does sound kinda fancy. It might as well be true anyway. I've done nothing but fret over finding a fix for this thing for the past few days now, believe me.

Well then, have you thought of a cure yet?

Heh, "cure." You major in poetry or something? Nope. No magic medicine or anything so convenient springs to mind.

His condition is that severe? Terrible. Mayhap he requires the attention of an especially skilled surgeon?

Hey, now that's a punchy metaphor! Yep, I already asked someone like that to take a look for me.

Since the issue seems to be physical, I contacted the hardware guy for help but he's been too lazy to get back to me. All he needs to do is swap out a couple of faulty parts, the stupid sloth!

So repairing the server is only a matter of finding and replacing some parts?

Uh-huh. But as usual, there's no communication in this place and my hands are tied. Ugh!

I thought maintaining the the server was your job?

I do, but to tell you the truth, the hardware's installed in the Xeno-Domain.

Really? Then how'd you get access to such a classified area?

We students manage the SmartBook servers as one arm of a joint project with a large industrial corporation.

Meaning that the only maintenance we're allowed to do is remote. In times like these, when the issue is physical, we have to rely on a repairman from the company.

But because what we do doesn't turn much of a profit, any problems we encounter are right down at the bottom of the priority list. We're forced to wait it out until they can be bothered to get round to fixing them.

Looks like we're stuck. We have access to the Domain but not the knowhow to fix the hardware.

Not quite, Aldo. I believe I have the relevant knowledge.

Wait, what?!

You do? Awesome, you're a lifesaver! I didn't think you were an engineer, with that crazy getup and all.

I am not an engineer, but an elf.

An elf? Haha, that's the best one yet! An elf fixing a server. Now that's pure poetry!

Okay, so while you're getting that server up and running again, is there anything you need me to do?

Well, if you have the time there are a few things I wish to ask of...

Veina, could you just, um, try and keep it short? Please?

But of course. I do not wish to delay while Ser Verse is suffering his illness.

If you say so...

...Well, there you go. That should be all you need to know, right?

Indeed. Thank you for your help.

Thank goodness that didn't take long.

Now then, Aldo. To the Xeno-Domain!

Is this the right room?

I believe so. This is certainly the place that young man said we would find Ser Verse.

Okay, now what? You said something about using your elven knowledge, right?

Yes. I will provide the afflicted some therapy.

Therapy?

A legendary treatment used by the elven doctors for millennia. First, we shall scatter these about.

Okay. What is it?

A mixture of dried seeds, leaves and minerals all ground together. Now, let us begin the preparations.

All right, I scattered the mix like you said. What's next?

The fumigation.

"Fumigation"?! Veina, I really don't think that'd do these futuristic machines any goo...

Now, now, Aldo. This rite is said to banish any kind of curse or disaster. Of course, the smoke alone is incapable of curing disease, that is the job of medicine. However, it will staunch the flow of bad fortune that causes one to be taken ahold by that illness.

...?

Let us delay the rite no longer.

O rolling hills and murmuring boughs, I beseech you. Dispel the evil that has hither taken root! Hark to my call, o wafting zephyrs. May your blessed drafts smoke out this corruption!

Urk! Th-the smell, !

On this occasion I saw fit to increase the concentration of ingredients. A touch of naked flame would have been even better. But that young man did say that Ser Verse was rather impartial to fire.

Okay, sure, but... Did there really have to be this much smoke?! Ugh, I feel kinda...faint...

*COUGH* *HACK*

Veina? Was that you?

No, I did not say...

*HACK* *COUGH* URK!

I-It stinks in here! What the heck is going on?!

There! Is this the corruption that plagues Ser Verse?!

Uh, I really don't think so.

What is WRONG with you guys?! One minute I'm fixing the servers and the next you're in here smoking the place out!

This kid's definitely no corruption but maybe he really is the source of the server problems?

Speak, scoundrel! Are YOU the reason why we are no longer able to use the smart books?

Hunh? What are you talking about? No, all I did was switch out the old server board for a new one and...

Wait, all the servers are totally down? Hold on a sec, that wasn't supposed to...

Looks like he is.

...Oh boy.

Well, whatever! No way I'm letting you two goons get ahold of me!

Not before I've finished what I started. Later, chumps!

I might not be well-versed in this future technology stuff...

But I do know how to fight! Let's do this, Veina!

This shall be but another victory to add to our own epic. Have at thee, beasts!

Aw geez, this sucks... And all I wanted was to read the legendary final chapter of "The Life and Times of Queen Miglance" too!

Whatever excuses you have, save them. We're taking you back to IDA and having you answer to the server's real caretaker.

Sorry I kept you waiting. I got him to tell me everything.

Don't worry about it. What did he say?

His plan was to sneak into the Xeno-Domain and restore the server all by himself which, shockingly, he succeeded at half of! He made it in but when it came to fixing the tech, he slipped up and accidentally brought down the entire network.

And who exactly is this young man?

A student from my class, actually. He's definitely got a knack for this stuff but sometimes overconfidence gets the better of him. At the end of the day, he's not a bad guy, just a little overeager sometimes. Funnily enough, I remember a while back he was shouting something about unmasking the queen's real identity. Hadn't seen him since.

So he just wanted to see the ending to a book?

I must say, his dedication to literary pursuits is nothing short of admirable. A shame on this occasion it was...misdirected.

I guess so. Though I'll admit, I'm happy his actions finally pushed the company to do something about their faulty tech. Now the server's back online.

That's good to hear. Now Veina can read that SmartBook, right?

Haha, that's right! In fact, here's the one I promised. As a bonus, I've given it data permissions to access texts that usually aren't available to the general public. It's the least I can do.

Splendid! I cannot thank you enough, young sir!

Wait, what promise?

That which he made while I was questioning him about Ser Verse. Were you not listening, Aldo?

N-No, I was, I swear! Anyway, all that matters now is that you can read whatever you want with the SmartBook. We can ask Riica to show you how to use it and you're all set!

No need.

Let me see.. I believe if I simply enter the name of the book into the search window...

Wha?! When, where and how did you learn all of that stuff?!

Oh, you really were not listening, were you? The answer to that question is the same: when I was conversing with this fine gentleman only a short while ago.

O-Oh, right. Still, is that level of mastery something you can attain in such a short time?

Aha. Here it is, listed under the "Classics" category... And it even includes the last volume! Stupendous!

11,111 chapters... A glorious life's work indeed. Particularly for an elf, considering that our culture regards the number one as a mark of good fortune...

Forsooth!

What's wrong?! Another malfunction?!

...Thank you. This experience has been very edifying. I shall return this device to you now.

Huh? But we agreed you could keep the SmartBook.

I-I think perhaps its usage really is a little too complicated for me. My apologies.

What's the matter with you all of a sudden? This whole time you were so excited to use the SmartBook, and now you don't want one?

Not anymore.

Huh?

I...I pressed the wrong button and accidentally saw the story's conclusion. Had I known THAT was how it would end, I...Oh!

Aw, man. Spoilers, amirite?

*sniffle* This "smart" book...I highly doubt the superiority of its intelligence after all!

......