"I used to be human." The Archivist acknowledges in a voice that is still glitching along its edges despite his mild tone. "Then I died blowing up an evil mannequin. I decided against being dead, however. Instead... I became something else."

It has been as simple as Jon's words: He was afraid to die. And while he would have never willingly chosen to become a monster and doom his world, just that ended up the final result.

The Archivist shrugs. "I could try to ease your mind now, but... You're more useful to me when you're afraid."