In the Embrace of the Cold

Silence. Then, a faint rustling of wind through the trees. Whirling snowflakes dance in the air. The ground, a radiant white, sparkles under a diffuse light. A column of brilliant light pierces the heavens, fading slowly. At the center of this column lies Veil, arms outstretched, his back against the snow. His breathing is slow, his eyelids quivering. Veil (groaning): "It's... cold... so... cold..." He slowly opens his eyes. A grayish sky looms above him, framed by snow-covered branches of towering conifers. He blinks several times, his thoughts struggling to settle. Veil (staring at his hands): "My... hands? Why... what's happening to me?" His gaze falls on his fingers. His skin looks smoother than before. He flips his palms, inspecting his nails. Not a single sign of wear, no calluses, no scars he would have expected to see. An unsettling chill runs down his spine. Veil (internal thoughts): This isn't right... This body... it's not mine. He struggles to sit up, his body still numb. His muscles react sluggishly, as though they're learning how to move for the first time. The snow beneath him melts slightly, leaving a clear imprint of his form on the ground. He scans his surroundings with wide eyes. Veil (internal thoughts): Where am I? This... this isn't home. He stands slowly, his legs trembling. The icy wind bites at his skin, and he wraps his arms around himself in an attempt to stay warm. His clothing is ill-suited for the biting cold. His gaze drops to his frame. His torso is leaner but more defined. A strange sensation of "newness" washes over him, as if he's rediscovering every movement of his body. Veil (whispering): "I need to move... I'll freeze here..." He glances around, searching for a landmark, but the forest stretches endlessly in every direction. There are no roads, no houses, nothing familiar. The towering trees loom over him, their branches heavy with snow. Faint cracks echo as ice shatters on the branches, punctuated by the howling breaths of the icy wind. Veil (internal thoughts): I have to stay calm. Move... just... move. He begins walking, his heavy steps sinking into the deep snow, every motion requiring immense effort. The cold pierces through his legs, each step more painful than the last. But he presses on, one foot in front of the other, his teeth clenched. Unbeknownst to him, he was being watched from the shadows.