(Caption) Lost Soul and Snow Castle

Snow fell without end, covering the world in a vast expanse of white. He walked step by step through the snow, unable to tell direction anymore. His clothes had long since been soaked through, frozen into ice, clinging to his body like lead. His skin had split open, revealing red flesh; his fingers had lost all feeling, and his lips had turned blue. The wind howled past his ears—he could hear nothing clearly. The world before his eyes grew blurrier by the second.

He didn't know how much farther he could go. Just as he was about to collapse, he saw a light in the distance. It wasn't bright, but it pierced the wind and snow, like a beacon calling out to him from that endless white. He didn't know why, but he felt compelled to move toward it. His body was numb, nearly frozen in place, yet his legs began to move on their own, step by step toward the light.

Staggering forward, he passed through an iron gate and entered a vast mansion. There was no one inside—only high domed ceilings and long corridors. The light hovered at the center of one hallway. As he approached it, the cold began to fade, his mind cleared, and the pain in his body subsided.

His clothes began to change first. The tattered coat softened, transforming into a laced dress. The heavy pants turned into airy stockings, and his boots became white high heels. His hair grew longer, flowing smoothly down to his waist. His fingers became slender, his skin pale and smooth, the cracks and wounds disappearing. His body felt lighter, his breathing easy. Everything around him came into sharp focus. His chest swelled gently, his figure slimmed—he had become a girl.

She stood beneath the light, feeling a warmth she had never known. In the mirror-like window, her reflection looked back at her—long silver-gray hair, pale blue eyes, dressed in a black and white frilled outfit. She stared quietly at herself, feeling no fear, no confusion—only calm.

She turned and looked out the window. In the blizzard, silhouettes of others were still struggling through the snow. She knew she had once been one of them. She looked back at the glowing light, raised a hand, and lit another lantern in the air. Deeper in the corridor, a new light appeared—one that would guide the next traveler.

She stood between snow and light, waiting for the next lost soul.