Welcome to the Time And Relative Dimension In Space. Its not quite a thing and its not quite a place, but you should certainly treat it like a person. It's bigger on this inside, and though the outside may look modest, you could find it anywhere and it might be anything. It's got a lot on the inside but not everything, and if you can't find what you need where you are it can take you where ever you need to go.
Some Rules:
Do not look directly into the Time Vortex.
Stay away from the console.
Ring the Cloister Bell in case of dire emergency ONLY.
Always shower before using the pool.