Murmurs of the Frost

In a charming, overlooked hamlet cradled by the looming, frosty peaks of great mountains, a secret dwelt, known solely to the venerable spirits. It was believed that each snowflake falling from the sky bore its own narrative—a soft-spoken echo from days gone by, sharing enigmatic tales that frolicked in the brisk, sharp breeze. In this village lived Elara, a young girl with a curiosity for the snow that outshone anyone else's. Where others escaped the nipping frost, she roamed the snow-blanketed pathways with eyes sparkling with enchantment, as though she could hear the snow's whispered secrets. One chilly winter's night, with the village under a white shroud, Elara wandered farther than she had ever gone. Led by an indiscernible guide, she found herself before an ancient oak, its limbs laden with a heavy dusting of snow. And there, she was greeted by the first hushed tones—a gentle, singing voice emanating from the core of the tree. "Child brimming with awe, seeker of the veiled," the voice gently intoned, "the snow is laden with recollections of lives that have crossed these realms.