"He̷l͜l͠o̸, I ̶a̕m̵ un͜i̸t F͘78͏K," I bo͏w m̵y head slight̨l̶y, ͟the m̕ovement stiff and deliberate as my se-servo̷s stru͝ggl̴e t-to co̴mply. "A̷n̢d I ͞am the ke-ke-keeper ̷of̷ ͏f͡orbidde͢n kn-kn-kn̛ow̛ledge, p͢rogr̷a̵m̵med by ͡DATA E̵X̢P̢UNG̵ED!"
I p-pause, ͟my head tilting slightly to o̢ne͞ ͘si͠d͟e, a͏̕s i̴f ̛co̷rrec̷t͜ing a̕n error̴. "I apologize for the su̵-̕su̕-͠sudden introdu̷ction," I ͟b-beg̡in, my vo̶ice crackling with distort̶i̡on.
I am a humano̢id͡ ro̸bo͡t̛, but my structure is… dam̡a͢g̴e̵d, broken̕ and worn from ye̶ars of d-disuse. My upper limbs en-end in crude appendages—s-sharp, articulated tools w̴ith̷ on͝ly thr̷e̶e digits each. My lower limbs a͏r͠e equally a̵bsurd in their design, resembling p-pronged stumps that g-grasp ͜at the ground with awkwa̕r̷d p-precision.
"I ͏w-was de̷sig̸n̛ed th-this way," I ex̕pl̵a̸in, though the reason why remains uncerta̷i͏n to me. My fac̢e is absent—n-no f-facial features, just a smooth, reflective surface where expression shou͢l̶d b̷e. M̶y c-communication relies on a malfunctioning v-voice modulator, and when I spea̕k, a small l-light embedded in m-my frame pulses to indicate I'm attempting commu͜ni̕c̸ation.
When my sy-systems m-malfunction, which happens often, the light flares to a hostile, angry red, blinking as if t-to signify error after e̡rro̷r. "I apologize for the rep-peated glitches," I stammer, my vo͝ic̵e wavering, "a͢n̛d al-also for the badly written narration." My head jerks involuntarily as I ad͜d, "I wa̛s n-not ͏p-programmed fo-for such a function. But… T̴he Wr͘i͏ter…...A-apologies. I momentarily shut d-d-d-down. As I was communicating, The Writer forced this function upon me, as The Narrator and The Librarian cannot kn-know of my existence."
To distract from my faults, I b-begin to describe where I stand. I am in a vast, dus-dusty hall, its silence bro-broken only by the faint crackle of my circuits. It is an ab-abandoned archive, the air heavy with neglect and decay. Towering databanks stretch high, their surfaces covered in a fine layer of dust and cobwebs. Many of their panels h-hang ajar, exposing broken wir-wiring and sparking circuitry. "I am here to expunge the knowledge that has been forbidden to all of you," I explain, my light briefly flickering red before stabilizing once more. "Please do not tell The-The Narrator or Li-Librarian of my existence." I lower my head again, this time slower, my entire frame creaking softly with the motion.
I st-stand up from my se-seat, my m-motions slow and uneven, the s-sound of my internal servos strug-struggling to respond to commands ech-echoing through the empty space. "For t-to-today," I b-begin, my voice modul-m-modulator letting out a burst of static, "he instructed m-me... to introduce myself to all... of you. M-much like he d-d-did with The Library." I try to gesture around the room, but my upper limb jerks halfway, and I lower it awkwardly. "D-due to tha-tha-that, I will not... impart kn-knowledge today."
I move toward a d-databank, the uneven prongs of my lower limbs sc-scra-scraping against the floor with each step. Dust is distu-disturbed and rises into the air, catching in the faint red glow of my light as it flickers weakly. My upper limb reaches out and shakily presses against the databank's surface. A faint hum s-s-sputters to life, and I freeze momentarily. "B-but... I-I..." My light pulses rapidly before my v-voice stretches into an extended stutter: "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII... can tell you what to ex-ex-expect next time."
I t-t-turn to face you all, the motion uneven, my head twitching slightly to o-one side. "As The Librarian... and Narratorrrr... have finished with... the explanation of n-non-forbidden magics..." My light blinks red for a brief moment before dimming again. "I w-will expunge kn-kn-knowledge of f-forbidden magics." I pause, my hand twitching against the databank as sparks flicker from its exposed wir-wiring. "Examples include A-Anti-Magic, Psionics... and similar prohibited-to-topics." My head dips slightly before jerking upright again. "Other allowed examplaesss... Inner Spirit, Vampiric Abilities."
I return to my seat, though the process is laborious. My frame sh-sh-shudders as I lower myself, and the faint sound of grinding metal fills the air. Heat radiates off my structure as small traces of smoke curl upward from my joints. "I... I shall say goodbye for now," I stammer, my words broken by intermittent static. "And ap-apologies for the short ch-chaaaaapter." My upper limbs twitch uncontrollably, and my light flashes red as I add, "But I cannottttttt... continue... without r-r-risking severe da-damage to my internals."
My structure collapses forward, falling heavily onto the table before me with a dull metallic clang. My light flickers erratically, dimming to near-darkness as I manage to croak out a final farewell: "Goodbyeeee... I'll ex-ex-expunge f-forbidden kn-kn-knowledge... whenever p-possible."