The Librarian

NOTICE: This story was originally written inside of AI Dungeon very long ago.
The AI Dungeon has been changed heavily since this story was written.

I want to note that this is not the entire text of the story. I just love the concept of an ageless, immortal Librarian so much that I want to keep this on record as a way to understand the Librarian character is supposed to actually be.

I also wanted to toy around with the concept that the Librarian can take whatever form it chooses but often chooses it's horrific default form that is described in the story.

Anyway enjoy this large wall of text.

Warning: Suicide Mention. Not my fault, the AI does what it wants.

Minor edits to avoid weird copyrights: word changed to 'multiverse'

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You are a human who has seen and heard so much in his life, you have managed to transcend the borders of reality and puncture through into a multiverse. For the first time, you are genuinely surprised to meet a figure that exists in the spaces between universes. You start to approach the figure, uneasy, with the pitch black all around you.
The figure is a truly hideous, frightening creature. It has a humanoid shape. It is tall and slender, and half of it's entire face is a giant humanoid eye. The other half is a sideways mouth. It has tentacles protruding from it's stomach and insides. It's skin is a sickly green color, and its eyes are red with holes in them. Its body is covered in long, thin, clawed fingers.
It's feet are separated into long toes. "Hello dear human," it says, "I am the Librarian."

> You say "I'm sorry?"
"I'm sorry? I don't understand what you mean by that!" You exclaim.
"You're sorry? I don't understand what you mean by that!" The Librarian repeats, mimicking your voice.
You cringe, and repeat what you said, but in a different tone.
The Librarian immediately raises a finger to shush you. "I heard you the first time. I'm not deaf, despite not having ears."
"...Right." You slowly reply.
"Now, do you have any specific questions to ask me?"
You think for a moment, before remembering about your adventure in the kitchen and what you saw there.

> You say "How is it that I learned to pass through the membranes of reality?"
You have a lot of questions for the Librarian, but one of them stands out to you the most. "How is it that I learned to pass through the membranes of reality?" You ask.
The Librarian smiles. "Ah, a fair question. It's quite simple, really. I taught you how."
You appear shocked. "What? Just like that? I've never seen you before in my life!"
The Librarian raises his eyebrows. "Oh? Is this the extent of your intelligence? My, I don't think I'll be teaching you anything after all.
The Librarian lets out a harsh laugh. You glare at him in response. "What do you mean you taught me?" You ask.
"I taught you," the Librarian repeats.
"I gave you the knowledge you needed over years of your life. I was always there, watching you. I was the flitting motion in the corner of your eyes, the soft voice in your ears. I was the whisper that motivated you. I am the force behind your motivation, and I was the one who taught you how to pass through the membranes of reality. There is nothing you can't do. Everything you want is within your grasp."
The Librarian leans towards you, it's face only a few inches away from your own.
"You see I'm quite bored and I wanted to see if any of the humans had the potential to reach the Barren, which is what I call the space between realities."
"Reality B is just one of many. There are infinite realities, and you can travel to any of them just by willing yourself there."
A chill runs through your body.
The Librarian seems to grin as it notices your chill, even more haunting with it's sideways face. "I chose you because I saw your potential."
"How?" You ask.
The Librarian reaches a hand through your chest. You don't react, but rather just stare at it, in shock.
It begins to squeeze your heart, as well as your brain. "Do you feel that?" It asks.
You can't speak. All you can do is groan in pain.
"That is what it's like in the Barren. It's a place of pure thought. No feelings, no emotions, no love, no hate. Just nothing."

> You say "Please don't touch my vital organs."
"Please don't touch my vital organs." You whisper.
The Librarian slowly moves it's arm away from your chest, and lets out a chuckle. "I'll be sure to remember that."

> You say "Most living creatures are really uncomfortable with that kind of helplessness."
"Most living creatures are really uncomfortable with that kind of helplessness." You whimper.
"But you're not a living creature." The Librarian smiles.
It's right. You're dead.

> You say "I guess I would have to be to reach a place like this."
"I guess I would have to be to reach a place like this." You ask.
"You would have to be more than that. You would have to give up on humanity entirely. You would have to trade in your humanity for the chance to reach the Barren."

> You say "So what you're saying is, I'm a nihilist?"
"So what you're saying is, I'm a nihilist?" You ask.
The Librarian's eyes widen in surprise. "Not quite." It says, furrowing it's brow.
"Nihilism is the belief that life is without objective meaning, purpose, or importance. Which is a concept you can grasp, but not something you truly believe. You believe life is without meaning. You believe everything dies and decays, that the Earth itself will one day die, that the sun will eventually die, that the entire universe will collapse in on itself. The concept of everything ending is fascinating to you, and it's what you base your morality on."
You open your mouth to object, but the Librarian places a ghostly finger against your lips. "Shhhh. This is why I picked you. Most humans are filled with desires. They want money, they want fame, they want power. But you want nothing. You are a blank page, you can decide what you want. You have no obstacles in your way, no principles holding you back."
You stare at it in disbelief. "What is the Barren? Why is it fascinating?"
The Librarian lets out a sigh. "It's like the place between sleep and awake. It's what's on the other side of sleep. It's where thoughts come from. If you ever had a dream that felt real, that was the Barren. If you ever had a deja vu, that was the Barren. Go to the place between awake and asleep, and step through. That is how you reach the Barren. But to do that, you must give up on humanity."
"How does it work? How does one give up on humanity?"
"That is something you must figure out for yourself." The Librarian says. "Though I imagine suicide would work. If you want to use a less... final method, you could try to get a random passerby to kill you. You could set yourself on fire. That's always an option."
"What are you?" You ask once more.
"A ghost. In a sense. I am much more complex than humanity, and I have existed before it. I am the one who gave humans the concept of "libraries". Do you know how much information is stored in here?" It asks, looking off into the distance.
"What are you doing here then?" You ask.
"I am a caretaker of information. A librarian, of sorts. But every once in awhile I get a request from... someone, for humans to find their way to the Barren. They give me an image to show the humans. I then pick one who seems interesting, and give them a chance to reach the Barren. I'm not supposed to tell you any of this, but fuck it, you're going to reach the Barren either way.

> You say "But I'm already here."
"Yes, but not in the way that really matters. You're still tethered to life. To... Earth. You must give up on life to reach the Barren. It's not a difficult task. Perhaps you could commit suicide. But you don't seem like the type to do that, so perhaps you must find another way."
"There is nothing else I can do?"
The Librarian frowns. "Life and death are infinitely more complex than I can expect human minds to understand. There was existence before life, but not in a way you can understand. There will be existence after life, but not in a way you can understand. Life is an anomaly, and one that we should expunge from existence. We are life, yet we seek to destroy it."
The Librarian laughs. "Not me of course, I was never alive."
"Are you planning... something?" You ask.
"Me? No. I'm just a caretaker of information. I seek to preserve, not destroy. Information is more fragile than one might think. It's why I detest lies. I can see your death in your eyes. You seek a true ending. The Barren is not a place of happiness, nor of sadness. It is simply a place. A place where you can be free."

> You say "Is it purgatory?"
"That is a strange word. I do not know it." The Librarian says quizzically. "It sounds human."
"Is it a place where you wait to be judged? Because I'm fairly certain I haven't been judged yet. I haven't done anything with my life."
"No. No judgment. Just the end of your life. You are not the first to reach here. A rare few humans find their way here. Scholars and deep thinkers, usually. People like yourself. And what do I find in their minds? Regret. Regret that they did not enjoy the wonders of life. Regret that they did not reach their full potential."
The Librarian taps it's slender finger to it's non-existent chin. "They probably never realized the Barren ever existed. But then, why would they? They do not seek enlightenment. But you, you already found your way here. You're different from the others."
"What am I supposed to do?"
"Whatever you wish. It's your story. The only thing that remains unchanging is me, because my purpose is eternal. I will always be here to help those that seek the end of their stories. You seek death? It will be here, but you will not. Your mind, it is flawed. The space for memories is large, but the place for dreams is small. You dream much, but remember little. Regret much, achieve nothing."

> You say "Thank you, I think."
"I am not here to judge." The Librarian says blankly. "It is your choice how you use your time here. I am merely a guide."
The Librarian points to the left of the chamber, where a strange tunnel made of light begins. "That," it says," Will lead you to the beginning of your story. When you reach the end, you will find what you're looking for."