Islinda arrived just outside the castle, her heart pounding in anticipation. The medallion's power, as usual, couldn't break through the castle's barrier, so she was forced to land here. The tall, imposing walls loomed before her, and she carefully scanned them, searching for a spot to climb. The guards took the palace's security seriously, and there were no weak spots or openings.
She pressed her ear against the cold stone, listening intently. Now that her Fae side had fully manifested, her senses were sharper than ever before. She could hear the faintest rustle of leaves in the distance, the soft murmur of night creatures in the forest beyond, but within the castle grounds, there was nothing. No footsteps, no clinking of armor—nothing at all. The guards had moved from this section, probably to patrol other parts of the wall. But they would return soon, and she needed to act quickly.
