Here are three alternate prose sections continuing the story: **Version 1 (red)** <nc-section data-title="First Impressions" data-color="red"> Thunder snorted, pawing the ground impatiently as I dismounted. The air hung heavy with the scent of hay and sweat. A gruff voice startled me. "Well, you're a long way from home, aren't you, lad?" I turned to see a towering figure clad in dented armor. A scar ran down his left cheek, giving him a perpetually menacing look. "Sir Roland, I presume?" I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt. He grunted, a humorless sound. "The one and only. Now, let's get you settled. We've got a lot of work to do." His eyes, sharp and unwavering, seemed to pierce right through me. </nc-section> **Version 2 (green)** <nc-section data-title="A Welcoming Smile" data-color="green"> Thunder settled with a soft whinny as I slid from his back. A figure emerged from the stables, his armor gleaming in the fading light. A warm smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. "Welcome to Castle Blackwood, young squire," he boomed, his voice surprisingly gentle. "I'm Sir Roland. You must be Frederick. Come, let me show you to your quarters." He clapped me on the shoulder, his grip firm but reassuring. The scent of leather and horses filled the air, a welcoming aroma that eased my nerves. I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. </nc-section> **Version 3 (blue)** <nc-section data-title="A Moment of Doubt" data-color="blue"> Thunder's hooves clicked on the cobblestones as I approached the stables. A figure in worn armor leaned against a post, his face obscured by the shadows. He didn't move as I drew closer, his silence unnerving. "Sir Roland?" I ventured, my voice barely a whisper. He turned slowly, revealing eyes like chips of ice. "So, you're the new squire," he said, his voice a low rumble. A shiver ran down my spine. His gaze seemed to strip away my bravado, leaving me feeling small and vulnerable. My stomach churned with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. What had I gotten myself into?