The castle loomed over the city like a mountain carved by artisans, its sprawling wings and towers stretching beyond what the eye could take in at once. Inside, it was no less impressive. Each corridor seemed to echo with history, its walls adorned with tapestries of battles won and alliances forged. The air was cool, carrying the faint aroma of polished stone and aged wood.
Our guide, a young steward named Callen, led the way. He was a slender man in his late twenties with neatly combed chestnut hair and sharp, piercing blue eyes. His uniform, a tailored doublet bearing the imperial crest, was immaculate, a reflection of his meticulous nature. Despite his professional demeanor, there was a subtle warmth in his voice as he described the castle's history and the legends behind its architecture.