"Tell me Alice. When do you think a guest will arrive? Your company is loved but I crave new stimulation"

Yet another cycle out in the gardens. The foxes have already eaten, resting against the statue of my beloved. I wonder if they know how I tire. Truly, things have become dull.

Alice, with a bored expression looks on. Is she choosing to ignore me. How very mean...perhaps I should tease her? Her smile has always been a wonder that brings warmth to these cold lands, though id rather not risk frustrating her too badly.

"Alice? I would much like a response. Or are you too tired?"

Again and again she plays the time away. We can't let the foxes get too energetic, no matter how tired we may be. The wind feels a tad chillier than usual today. Perhaps something good will happen. Suddenly we hear it. The crunching of snow as fresh steps appear.

From seemingly out of nowhere a woman appears, a faint door of light fading behind her. Wearing light leather armor and with a charred wooden great sword in hand she approaches us. Her silver hair dances as the buckles holding her armor quiver in the wind. Cautiously she stops in front of us.

Just as she prepares to open her mouth Alice excitedly jumps up. With her eyes shining a curious light she approaches the stranger. Left? Right? From every angle Alice examines are new guest. Even so, our guest stays calm.

"What is my mission?"

Mission? That sword...I see the world has truly fallen. Ignoring our guest I prepare to take my after meal nap, leaving whatever happens to my dear Alice. Hmmm? Well now it's been some time since I've seen her this excited.

"So how's the outside? Why is your sword made of wood? Why does it look like a spikey burnt rock? What are the saints doing? Why are yo-"

"It...hurts?"

From her heart roots begin to sprout. Slow at first before exploding outwards. Her veins are consumed, the her muscles, then her bones, then her organs, and finally all that's left is a lively sapling where she stood. Dead within seconds.

And so more cycles pass without issue, the tree growing with every meal with the foxes. Eventually it becomes as tall as Alice. Bark smooth as marble with patterns resembling a rising flame it stands proud, it's branches covered in yet to bloom scarlet flower buds. Another cycle passes, Snow falls, and the foxes play.

Crunch Crunch Crunch

With heavy steps a mighty beast walks into view. With every movement of it's mighty legs the snow flies upwards, sliding against it's long fur. Pointed ears and sharp eyes accompany its slender mouth, it's body resembling a stream of flowing snow. Without a word it approaches the tree and devours it. With a single bite it swallows the tree whole.

"Well now how long since I have seen you brother. What drives you back into the garden?"

Alice watches on silently as I walk towards him. Waving my hands down I signal him to sit. At first he ignores me, choosing instead to stare at Alice and Alicia's statue. Eventually, he moves closer and sits. I swear he grows taller every time he visits. From just as tall as me to my head barely reaching his collar.

"Still not one for conversation? That's fine but I would like it if you stayed just a little longer. Alice misses your company."

Hmm? When did she get over there? Looking back I see her hiding behind one of the supporting pillars of the gazebo. Shyly she looks on, clearly wanting to speak but even more clearly hesitant. Brother, despite his beastly form shows a deep sadness.

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With gentle steps he approaches the gazebo. Suddenly azure flames sprout from his chest. Azure petals of fire falls onto Alice, splitting into a collection of floating lilies. Her eyes sparkle as a smile fills her joyful face, my brother taking the opportunity to gently pat her small head with one of his massive front paws.

"Stay as you are Alice. A lovely lady you are and an even lovelier person you will be."

"Okay! But please visit a lot more."

"Someone needs to protect the walls. Shame it must be me but you still have Piero to play with."

"...okay."

With shoulders slumped she sits next to him, leaning back against his cold fur. So silence begins. As things grow somber the statue moves. Opening it's eyes it smiles, a blue light shooting out and embracing my brother. Gnarled snake like roots phase out of his body, flowing into her before vanishing. Without a word we stare as a black spot appears over her hair.

"Well now, that's an unpleasant surprise."

That filthy thing is a part of her now. Without a closer look I can feel it. I spent so long carving these statues, capturing the essence of our time and yet here it lies corrupted. Brother...my dear brother how will you atone?

As we stare anger visibly takes over Alice. Hands shaking and eyes quivering a weak glow fills her joints. Light so weak yet so firm it outlines clearly through her thick coat. With a great roar a storm explodes forward. The foxes hide away as the winds slam wildly against anything an everything. Quietly her mouth moves, frost spewing forth with every silent word. With every movement a familiar silhouette solidifies behind her.

Her face blurred, a tall slender woman embraces Alice. Wearing a pure white kimono her waist length hair falls down her shoulders, blending with the unknown floral prints on her garb. As she embraces Alice tighter her hair grows longer, further enveloping Alice. A demon of pure frost begins to take over, the foxes growing more and more cheerful.

CRACKLE

Just as she almost takes over completely blue lilies begin to rain down. Bright flowers bloom in the winds, their petals firm despite the roaring cold and raging storm. From those flowers walks a flaming illusion of two young men, each asking for a loving embrace. Their clothes are ragged and their hands rough, their faces nothing but a blur. Even so, their deep love is apparent.

"Come mother. You need not anger. When the time comes the memory will be cleansed."

With my body frozen in fear I see him walk towards her. Slowly and gently he steps, the two illusions accompanying him. His giant legs swing calmly in the screaming wind, his eyes shining a brilliant blue. Just as he settles in front of her new flames bloom into existence. Small dolls barely the size of Alice's form and gather. Carefully he pats her head, the illusions wrapping around her with a loving hug.

"Out of all the dolls I made you are the most precious. Don't let her take over Alice."

Light fades and gales calm as Alice returns. Looking at the mounds of snow covering the garden I sigh. Tails of purple flames shoot from my back, covering the ground and consuming every mound. Despite their matching colors the lilies remain untouched by the growing flames as they consume the snow.

Within seconds the storm has faded. Again it snows calmly, the garden pure and clean left to be forever calm under the warm flames of the pair despite the eternally clouded sky. So he vanishes, the blue flames lingering for a few seconds before fading. Yet another moment gained and yet another bit of time lost.

Silently we sit, awaiting the begining of a new cycle. More of those filthy things show up. At first I let them do as they please but everytime they pass away and every time she's corrupted even further. Alice speaks and they fall victim to her curiosity.

And so I stop them. I limit where they can appear yet no matter how hard I try they always appear next to a statue. I'm beginning to loath this new stimulus. I trap them in the library without the chance to know anything yet they continue to fall. First ten, then twenty, and finally we surpass a hundred.

A statue is gone today. It's corrupted beyond repair. Beyond repair....we could never repair it. Brother has become more distant. Alice misses him so, yet he shows not his face until one falls. Peace...it would be peaceful if we only had to worry about beyond the walls.

More cycles pass. Today another statue fell. I think Alice has become numb. The power I can show has grown. Now I can put that accursed door wherever I want...I hate this is how I gained more control. I think I can help them now. Remove the corruption before it over takes them but If I do would Alicia take it upon herself to hold it within her?

The last statue is almost completely corrupt. This might be the last one. Perhaps another before we're all consumed by that horrid thing. I regret asking for more. In the end we were happier just us. Even if I was never as loved I will always be eternally grateful. This one...I'll let him appear in the dungeon. Pull open the gate and show him my strength. Should he harm Alicia...

It'll be just us.