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¬ HILN 

The outer castle walls had no gates—at least not the kind I had always known. The heavy walls had merely slid open to let us out and it had taken a considerable distance of sparse plains before we could reach the outskirts of the city. 

As Saffire was commenting about its lack of any fence or walls, I couldn't help but notice the flimsy shield surrounding it, even extending beyond the reaches of the clouds to close off at a considerable distance in the atmosphere. 

The city apparently didn't need any visible defences when it already has an invisible one. But my attention was then drawn to the vibrant busyness of the city, and how most of its inhabitants were unfazed by the carriage Saffire had chosen. Especially since nobles frequented the city from time to time as May had mentioned.