They always came to you for the same purpose. They come in different shapes, sizes, and ages, but they carry with them the same thing. It’s invisible, but you see it as clear as day in every one of their eyes.

You don’t recall anything beyond the confines of this wooden room, though you’re never curious about the past. It’s always your visitors who ask you who you are and where you come from. The disappointment in their eyes when you answer you don’t know always confounds you. After all, they did not come solely to learn about you. No one did.

One day, you simply appeared in the room with lavish decorations but no furniture. The visitors come soon after. You know not the world outside, but the door always seems to be connected to different locations each time it’s opened. The sight beyond the threshold never piqued your interest, to the confusion of many visitors.

No two visitors ever see you as the same thing, even when there are two of them standing in the same room. You don’t know how they perceive you, but they always react to you emotionally. Some with shock, others with anger, a few with a weary smile.

Each time, a visitor would walk in, bewildered, and you deliver the speech inscribed in your mind. You don’t truly understand what any of the words you’re uttering mean, but it always brings your visitors joy.

As you waited for their answer, you observed their reaction. There are those who responded without hesitation or delay as if they had long memorized what they wanted to say. As for the others, their countenances tended to be inscribed with agony. Some only needed time to reach an answer, but a few repeatedly questioned what they should say.

Eventually, they left. They all do. You give them no reason to stay, and they have better things to do now that they’ve crossed the finish line. Your room is but the mark of the end of their journey.

That is why you can’t help but be a little curious when a peculiar being steps into your room one day. Unlike the others, they do not appear to be in distress or ecstasy. Instead, they wore a calm smile and a huge backpack. Every other time, your visitor will pay attention when you recite your speech. However, they seemed more interested in the room than what you have to offer.

When you finish speaking, they stare at you, claiming they can see your “true form.”

You do not understand what they meant or mind what they said. All you did was urge them to provide a response. That was the “rule.”

To your utter surprise, they reject it, saying they’ll stay in the room as long as they please since you can’t eject them from the room.

For the first time in your existence, you experience what they claim to be panic. After all, their presence actively prevents other groups of visitors from entering the room, thus disabling your ability to carry out your sole task. There are no instructions given to you should any abnormalities occur because no beings walking through that door would ever act differently than you expect. Until that day, of course.

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As you attempt to piece together the knowledge you’ve accumulated by observing how your visitors behave, you watch them, Akaine, act as though they belong in the room. They emptied their backpack and set up living quarters in the corner with the least decorations. Often, they tried to chat with you, but you were often too occupied to notice or reply.

Eventually, you decided to break the rule to deal with the exceptional situation at hand. Unfortunately for you, that failed too. Akaine simply had no desire to leave the small room, no matter what you offered them. You were puzzled and stumped, wondering if your creator would be…

Then, Akaine smiled, saying you did have a soul after all, despite the legends. You do not understand what a “soul” is, but there is a burning sensation coming somewhere within you.

It is then Akaine made a request: to listen to your account of every visitor who ever visited your domain.

Once again, you were baffled since no visitor has ever desired anything else that isn’t related to the world they originated. However, you are glad because you can finally carry out your task.

Hence, you began recounting your every encounter with a visitor. Akaine listened attentively, scribbling on their device as they did. You thought they would simply absorb your stories, but they often ask you questions, seemingly intending to rouse an emotion within you. You do not understand their goal, but you go along with it.

You had every opportunity to exploit their questions to banish them from your room, but you were too intrigued to do so. You were not reprimanded in any way for breaking what you thought was an iron-clad rule, so why not indulge yourself a little?

Time does not pass the same way outside in your room. However, from how many times Akaine settles on and leaves their bed, you surmised it has been a long while. Every visitor in the past wanted nothing more than to return to their home as fast as possible, yet Akaine enjoyed their time.

With each passing tale, they amplified the mysterious sensation within you with their questions and remarks. You still don’t fully comprehend their aim for doing so, but you begin to savor the time spent with them.

Then, one day, you recounted your final tale. At that moment, you almost hoped you didn’t have to fulfill your task if it meant they could stick around longer. To your pleasant surprise, your wish was granted when they suggested you modify your realm.

They propose that if your realm could be turned into a hub of sorts, where people from different walks of life could stay for a little while and share their stories, then you could extend their stay. There would be an endless amount of tales you can regale to them.

Of course, that would also mean you’d be betraying what was inscribed in your psyche since your conception. Although, you had nothing much to lose in the first place, so you barely hesitated. Thus, your room expanded into an inn, and more than one door was installed into the walls.

Initially, things were hectic for you and your companion. Dozens of people poured in, all desperately demanding you to perform your task. Given your nigh-omnipotent power, no problem was too difficult for you to solve. Soon, your realm transformed into a place that you and your companion envisioned.

Now, as you watch a new crowd sauntering into your realm, Akaine approaches you, far older than they first arrived. You turn to them, asking why they wished for this.

They responded, “I just wanted an archive of our own, you could say. A repository of all tales from all worlds so none shall be lost to time. Stories are wonderful things, aren’t they?”

With a cheeky grin, you nodded.