Chapter 616: An Elf's Tale, Part 23

In the many days that would follow, the drizzling snow would fall in thicker, heavier clumps, encasing the manor grounds in a vast field of endless white, and rebirthing the many barren, naked trees as blossoming clouds rooted to the frozen earth. 

And as the season continued to run its course, the temptation of winter's biting breath was starting to have a troubling, prevalent effect on her performance. 

It started subtly; her mind drifting blank between the paragraphs during her studies, how the inked letters on the pages began appearing somewhat blotched and blurred. Then soon, she noticed how heavy her body seem to sway or just how frequently she found herself loss for breath, turning even the simplest of household tasks into an uphill battle struggling to keep her composure.