Now that Lanling's plans to stay had been announced, those who had considered bolting didn't dare walk out on their own. As a result, some of the side castle's guest rooms gained new occupants over the next few days.
Lanling busied himself. Alba's appearance had thrown his heart into chaos, and the calmer he appeared on the surface, the deeper he panicked inside. He summoned all the available Silver Dragon mages and encased the side castle in an invisible shield. Teleportation was forbidden, and no one could pass through unless he allowed it.
Still, it did little to calm his nerves. So he copied the spell he had once seen on the walls of that underground hell, making it appear as though the castle's interior was filled with dirt. Should anyone attempt to magically see inside, they would see nothing but that.