"So then where's the library?"

Tilting her head Alice looks to me confused. Before I can say anything she perks up. Her eyes shine with a bright curiosity as she looks to me again. I wonder how much information I can get out of her? Before she does anything she makes sure Piero is asleep. Turning around the walks towards the closest wall and opens a new door, muttering safe before opening it.

It's cleaner? Unlike the others, this one doesn't have a cracked frame or rotted wood panels. There's even various flowers different from the garden's painted on. While it's smaller than Piero's doors I still manage to get through by pulling my shoulders tight.

Before I can examine the library itself Alice turns to me with a spin. Her coat hem spins upward as her boots squeak. With open arms, a wide smile, and unsuppressed curiosity in her eyes she welcomes me.

"Welcome to Dad's library mister! It's super big but I can help us move fast! You wanna go over there? Door to the rescue no need to use your flesh feet a lot! Oh what do you like to read? Can I read a story to you? I really like this fairy book but the other kids don't wanna listen. Big meanies! Oh yeah welcome to my third favorite room! ...again?"

.....it might be a bit harder than I thought to get straight answers out of her. Still, there's nothing wrong with asking a few questions. Third...it is a nice library. Wait. Where's the roof?

In front of me is a grand circular maze of stacked bookshelves as high as the sky. Gold lines the stone floors leaving clear paths capable of fitting three men. Balls of gentle light float randomly about, emitting a warm golden light. A bundle of flowing light blue clouds take the roofs place. The walls are made of a glazed brown wood with the boards making them up being simple and undecorated, occasionally an icy stone rim appears, almost as if marking a new floor.

"It's really shiny right! I really like the walls. They're super smooth to touch. Oh, but the statue is the best!"

"Hmm? Can ya take me to the statue please Alice?"

"Okayyy!"

My god this thing is a bundle of energy. She must've really been holding herself back around Piero. Grabbing my left hand she pulls me towards the center of the library. With my bum and back sliding across the I blankly look up. Despite her hand barely holding three of my fingers she's dragging me like an old pillow. Did she forget about her door talk? Eh at least I can look at the book covers as we move.

Yup. I have no idea what any of the books say. Despite her clear excitement she isn't running. Let's seeeeee. That book cover is gibberish. Oh! That one too! Hey that one's even more gibberishy. Hmm? With a small grin she looks to me happy yet concerned. Ah, did she slow down for me?

"Your a kind girl but if your worried about me maybe you should try carrying me. Those old bones are so weak. I bet even a kid like you could beat me."

"Of course I can beat you. I'm so strong even dad has to hide when I get angry!"

Without hesitation she chucks me into the air and grabs me with both hands. Because of her size it ends up more like I'm floating along on failing at a dog walk with my hands and feet dragging against the ground.

"Here it is. Can I put you down? Your bones are weak right? Oh I know!"

With her hands she straightens my spine and lays down on the ground, placing me directly next to her. Suddenly, her smile vanishes replaced by a face of absolute, unabashed, and mighty seriousness.

"Don't stand up too fast. Let me help you up okay mister."

.....maybe I shouldn't have lied to her. I'm starting to feel a little bad. I guess I'll stand up on my own. Should calm her down a bit. The statue...its pitch black.

The same saint sits between two large foxes, undefined small blobs of shadow trying their best to break the wall the two beast has created. Wearing the the same priestly cloth she clasp's her hands tight. Even now, despite the apparent rage in the the two beast eyes hers remain closed, unseeing to the happenings around her. Even so, the beast rage isn't directed at her, and even odder is its not directed at the shadows attacking.

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"Alice can you please read me a book about the saintess?"

"What kind of story? They're lots."

"I'd like one about how she passed."

"Okay!"

And so without a care she runs off, jumping onto one of the higher points on the shelves before crawling away. While she's away I examine the statute closer. The black somewhat resembles soot. Charcoal burns? Carefully I position myself to fall towards it, making sure to graze it with my fingers as I fall.

Aaaanndddd down we go. My fingers slide across its smooth surface aaaanndddd...nothin. No sudden visions or memories and feelings. I mean it's not exactly fun to face plant but now I know brief contact won't harm me. It might just be waiting to react like the other statue. Best to wait for Alice to return and help before I can properly test anything. Ah, no marks left on my fingers either.

"Found one! It's super short but it says all about how the saintess was before and after becoming the saint of snow."

"Well please start reading. I'll sit right here. It's fine if I lean against the statues base right?"

"Ummmm. As long as you don't touch the hands. Everything else is okay. You can even kiss her!"

"....no thank you. Now please tell me that story."

And so we sit on the ground, Alice leaning against me as she starts. Despite the big words her voice remains clear and steady. The statue remains as is, no changes as she speaks.

"Saintess Alicia is a pure-blooded lycan from the desert tribes of the scale clan. Her father leaned towards the animalistic aspect while her mother leaned towards human. Despite her treatment by her mixed blood superiors she remained kind. On the day of the harvest offering a man and woman appeared. The fae that enslaved their people were killed."

.....does she even know what she's saying? As if reading my mind she sends a glare and pout my way. For a second she stops, as if getting ready to scold me before returning to the book.

"Yet they knew not freedom. The sky was clear once again but without guidance what could they do? Their farms wilted and and their homes no longer weathered the storms. All were angered by the pair but none spoke as the pair brought what guidance they could. Alicia, curious and uncaring asked them. Why did you kill them?"

Not why would killing them cause all that damage? Fae huh. The people were dependent on them for certain. The sky cleared?

"What was the sky like before?"

"For her it's said the sky was eternally embraced by a yellow sand storm. Anyways the pair took a liking to her. They offered her the body of the fae but she refused. Intrigued by Alicia the pair invited her and so the duo became a trio. Years they killed and many times were the people left confused but they would never leave the free alone without the gift of knowledge."

"So where does the snow come in Alice?"

"...if you keep interrupting I won't tell you anymore. Every other guest waited and teached me how to speak. Don't be a bad one okay."

With clear frustration she glares at me, an icy blue glint flashing across her eyes for a second. With my arms up I show defeat. Id rather not fight something I don't understand. Though I might have an idea but that needs more information.

"When the trio met a really strong fae Alicia offered herself as a seal. They struggled but in the end it worked. The fae and it's many vessels were sealed but she did not fade. So the trio remained. Alicia calmed the people best. From the hell the peoples masters brought she would bring a gentle snow and accompanying cold, the past wiped away by a sheet of white as a new future was presented."

Suddenly Alice goes still. Somewhat conflicted she looks to me. Silenty she mouths to me, the other kids wanna play. Can I finish then leave please?

"Of course."

"And so! She disappeared. The sky cracked and the ground screamed. As a balance returned it was taken away again. Oh! I can show you! Outside you can see the trees."

"Please show me."

Jumping up she opens another aged door. Quickly it slams open, revealing...it's calm. The trees they're so small. They're about as wide as me. I can climb them so easily. The branches look half as thick as my wrist.

I...can see the sky beyond the branches? The ground. The roots aren't overpowering. It's smooth yet rough. Wet...so wet and cold but it's still nice. There no cracks in the sky or spires. Beyond the horizon I see light. Pillars of warmth peeking through the slow moving clouds. Is that the sun? Why it is it white?

It's. Everything is so calm. It's equal. Nothing overtaking anything else. Where is the all-father? Piero know him so he should be here. WHERE IS HE!!! Just before the confusion can overtake me I feel someone grab my fingers.

"Mister?"

Alice...she's so small compared to me. Everything here is so small. Whats happening? I need to know more. No it has to be an illusion. Some kind of trick!

"Mister please your scaring me. I don't wanna see you get mad like the others. Please?"

...the wind. It's so gentle. The cold has made my nose a bit runny but it's nothing overwhelming, if anything it feels nice. Her hand, despite her inhuman nature is warm. She's alive. Even if it's just here and so is Piero. I need to know. What is this place and what does it have to do with the all father. I can't help it. Doubt has taken seed within my heart with a few words they've bloomed and born unknown flowers.

"Alice. Can you show me around after your done. I wanna talk to Piero too."

"Okay. Just don't be mean okay."

I need to know more so for now I'll stop treating this as a simple spire. It's beyond anything. It can't really be a memory of the past can it?