Kago no Naka no Alicis

About

Kago no Naka no Alicis is a visual novel that follows Sumeragi Runa, a girl dragged from her mundane life into a strange realm called Luche. After encountering enigmatic guardians and a red-haired man named Harvey, she’s thrust into a world where a decaying tree and ancient curses shape the fate of its people. The story blends fantasy and drama as Runa navigates this surreal land, uncovering secrets tied to a tragic past where love and sacrifice altered reality. Gameplay centers on dialogue choices and narrative progression, with branching paths influencing relationships and outcomes. The game stands out for its lush art style and layered storytelling, weaving themes of light and darkness through its characters’ backstories. Developer Icing Candy crafts a melancholic atmosphere, balancing quiet introspection with high-stakes conflicts. While its 2011 release date means it’s showing its age, the emotional core and intricate worldbuilding have kept it a niche favorite. Players drawn to bittersweet tales with moral ambiguity might find it compelling, though its pacing and presentation may not appeal to newcomers.

Storyline

Long time ago there was a peaceful and prosperous land. The central tree there supplied life to the world. One day, the tree began to wither. The people of the world began fighting, but one girl came up to the tree and began crying in front of it. Her tears were filled with love and they began to rejuvenate the withered tree. With her love, the tree flourished and all was right with the world. She became known as ‘Alicis’ and was locked into a cage. One day, Alicis fell in love with a man. The tree began to wither because Alicis had given all her love to the man instead of the tree. The two decided to escape the cage and go to a different world. Once they entered that world, a bright light shone and the girl died. The man despaired and hated all light from that moment on. His hatred covered the world and brought darkness to a world that never knew anything other than light. The heroine, Sumeragi Runa, once again sees the tree in her dream. It’s her quiet place where she can just relax, but all the sudden the tree begins to wither. She attempts to save it, but before she actually does anything she wakes up. On the way to school, she hears a voice and is suddenly transported to a different world by M and L, the guardians of that world (Luche). Before she hounds them for answers, a guy with red hair appears and whisks her away at the guardians request. While walking, he introduces himself as Harvey and asks that she not tack on a ‘-san’ at the end of his name. He’s happy that she seems like a good kid though she’s kind of tainted with noir. He brings her to a castle called Sefira and introduces her to the rest of the Roacrysto.