บท 22: Captive

The silence that trailed behind me was unsettling, like an ominous cloak draped over my every step. As I closed one of the double doors behind me, a peculiar absence of sound greeted my ears. The door swung shut with an eerie grace, devoid of the creak or squeak I anticipated. It was as if the very air held its breath, suspended in hushed reverence. 

Stepping forward, I found myself facing an unexpected sight. Instead of the familiar expanse of a hallway or a grand chamber, I stood on a verandah that overlooked an open space within the castle. My breath caught in my throat as I took in the breathtaking scene before me. Snow cascaded down from the exposed ceiling, transforming the space into a surreal spectacle. The pure white flakes gracefully descended, settling upon a bed of cold, pristine whiteness several feet below the floor slab I stood on. It resembled a pool of glistening snow.

How was the snow not coming in?