A Revisit to a World Getting Known

After Merlin's explanation of the Doors, Alab realized the door he'd nearly fallen through upon his arrival in Mozza was a librarian's door. He vowed to return and explore it thoroughly. His earlier reckless behavior, a stark contrast to his usual cautiousness, stemmed from a tempest of emotions. The abrupt departure from Earth without farewells weighed heavily on him, a completely new and unsettling experience.

While saddened and confused about his future in Gaia, Mozza ignited a childlike excitement within him. The endless possibilities it presented became an outlet for his negative feelings. He felt like a child again, building with Legos or tearing open packs of trading cards, the simple joy of discovery overriding any reprimands. The hope that opening a new door might lead him back to Earth fueled his enthusiasm.

During his fall through the doorway, Alab glimpsed fleeting images in various mirrors. Finally, his descent slowed, his feet touching solid ground in the same room he'd jumped from. In one of the mirrors, he'd seen a beautiful, white-haired girl in a white dress.

"Hello, I am Sasha. Congratulations!" she greeted him with a smile. "You have entered the Door of Greisha on your second return. Assimilation will now begin, and rewards will be presented afterward."

The mention of rewards made Alab's eyes gleam. Mozza's surprises never ceased to excite him. Sasha, he soon learned, was not the librarian herself but a Memoir, a guide to the Librarian's Thesis, chosen by the librarian to introduce their work.

"To truly enter, one must fall, and to fall is to be free," Sasha explained.

The assimilation process was far more dramatic than the simple smoke show of Merlin's Room. The west wall vanished, replaced by a much larger wall, twice the height, extending to connect with the adjacent walls. The brown tiles gave way to a glass platform revealing the blue sky below. Shelves filled with books materialized on either side, transforming the base room into an expanded library. Portraits of two men, the previous librarians whose Doors had been opened, appeared on the wall, followed by a portrait in a mirror – Greisha, a man with long white hair and a formal smile.

"I will now present Greisha's Thesis," Sasha announced.

The shattered pieces of the previous mirrors floated upwards like confetti. "My creator was passionate about correcting the wrongs in his life," Sasha began. "He believed in regular reflection, whether the experiences were happy or sad. Many wrongdoings stem from one's orientation. This Thesis is called the 'Child's Path, Perfect Guide.' A child is easier to nurture and correct than a broken adult. I am his Memoir and a part of this Thesis."

Early librarians hadn't encountered Merlin upon entering Mozza. Instead, they were greeted by guides, of which Sasha was the latest iteration, who explained Mozza and its workings.

"Librarian Alab, as part of the 'Child's Path,' I will always be present in Centro, this base room. You may now borrow two books from the Library for three months. Unreturned books will disappear, costing you Information Points. You may choose now. Lastly, Mozza's Restriction Level I is now lifted."

This lifting of the restriction allowed Memoirs like Merlin and Sasha to discuss librarians with Alab, though not their Doors or requirements. Alab perused the shelves, seeking books on Gaia's norms or warfare. He noticed a familiar book from Earth, one he had owned but never finished. Is it rational to borrow a book that already exists in my world? he wondered. Given the similarities between the two worlds, and the absence of visible magic in Gaia, he decided to take it. The second book he chose was "Gaia and Our Lost History" by P. Feta.

Alab then questioned Sasha about the Doors. Each Door had two requirements: one for its appearance, and another for it to open. These could be met in Gaia, the library, or both. Alab had already met the initial requirements for over fifteen Doors, needing only to discover how to open them.

A hole formed in the north wall of Centro, and the various Doors descended, each fitting perfectly into the opening. Alab tried each one, but none opened. One Door, however, stood out. It was surrounded by different colored light bulbs and emitted sounds reminiscent of 90s Earth games or carnivals. Its knob was twisted, but the door wouldn't budge. This Door seemed close to being ready.

Frustrated, Alab challenged Sasha, "Are you really a perfect guide?"

"I am only part of the 'Perfect Guide,'" she replied. "Greisha designed me to provide information without being too vague or overwhelming. He believed in continuous learning."

"But 'perfect' is subjective," Alab countered. "What if my definition of a 'Perfect Guide' is someone who gives me the requirements to open these Doors? Will you act accordingly?"

"I was created to guide," Sasha explained, "but only within Mozza's limits. Trying to learn the requirements through me would bypass Mozza's rules."

"Bypassing?" Alab scoffed. "Limits exist only because you allow them. You lifted the restrictions just now, didn't you? If you can't do something as simple as giving me the requirements, then you are only perfect in your creator's eyes."

"You misunderstand," Sasha said. "Mozza values research. Getting what you want through assumptions will make you lazy." She paused. "Greisha created the 'Perfect Guide' based on his and previous librarians' experiences. There is a council that controls this Thesis… There have been instances where a Thesis was available, but the Information Points required were too many for the librarian to use in their lifetime."

Alab realized Sasha was knowledgeable, providing just the right amount of information with historical context. The word "Council" intrigued him, but he refrained from asking.

"Still," he remarked, "your creator was rather full of himself using 'perfect' in his Thesis. He disregarded the possibility of improvement."

"You should know, Mr. Alab, that I have not been replaced for 500 years," Sasha retorted.

Despite the issues with the wording, the "Perfect Guide" had remained unchanged for centuries.

"That still doesn't make you perfect," Alab pressed. "You seem irritated. What was your relationship with your creator, anyway?"

Silence hung in the air. "My creator's name is Greisha," Sasha said, tears suddenly streaming down her face while she maintained her smile. "Sorry if you are discontented, but it's just a name, and I know I am not perfect."

Sasha didn't answer Alab's question. Seeing her cry, Alab's adult sensibilities returned. Why did I start such a petty argument, press her, and attack her personally? he thought. He tried to compose himself and apologized. Sasha accepted his apology, returning to her usual demeanor.

Sasha then presented him with a diary and pen. "This is your diary," she explained. "Only you can read what you write. Mozza sees what you see, but it also wants to know your thoughts and feelings. This generates Information Points. Now that the assimilation is finished, I will give you your rewards. You have obtained the Platinum rewards for entering Greisha's Door on your second return."

Greisha's Door, also known as the First Door and the Door of Rewards, was designed to appear when a new librarian entered. The base extension formed automatically, but the rewards varied based on the timing of the librarian's return.

"So, the rewards are based on when you enter?" Alab grumbled to Merlin. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Like she said," Merlin replied, "we cannot reveal any door's secrets."

Sasha continued, "Now, for the rewards…"