74

"In there," I directed my gaze towards the imposing silhouette of the castle. "Rests something more precious than our lives combined," I said, a sense of determination underlying my words. "Protect her at all costs," I ordered, the weight of responsibility heavy in my tone.

A collective nod rippled through the soldiers, their resolve mirrored in their eyes.

With a swift motion, I mounted the white steed, the tension of the impending peril coursing through my veins. Beside me, Allan took his place upon the gray horse, his posture reflecting the gravity of our mission.

As we set off into the night, the looming darkness seemed to swallow us whole, our fate intertwined with that of the precious life we vowed to protect.

We plunged deeper into the eerie embrace of the dark forest. The oppressive atmosphere was palpable, thick with the wizard's malevolent magic. A suffocating fog clung to the air, shrouding our path in a veil of uncertainty, while the damp ground squelched ominously beneath