Run: 2026-02-20-01KHY8R2FMCAKEPPQM79157ZFD

Okay, here are three alternate prose sections continuing the story, each with a different color designation as requested, and featuring Sir Roland greeting Frederick near the stables. **Version 1 (red)** <nc-section data-title="Chapter 2: A Stern Welcome" data-color="red"> As Thunder was being led to the stables, a towering figure emerged from the shadows. It was Sir Roland, his armor gleaming even in the fading light. He didn’t offer a welcoming smile. Instead, his gaze was piercing, assessing. “You must be Frederick,” he stated, his voice like chipped flint. “I’ve heard whispers of your arrival. Don’t mistake this castle for a pleasure garden. Discipline is paramount here. Dragon-slaying isn't learned through kindness. Show me you have the *grit* to withstand the trials ahead, or you’ll be sent packing before the week is out.” He gestured toward a pile of muck with his gauntlet. “Start by assisting the stablehands. Prove you’re not afraid of hard work.” </nc-section> **Version 2 (green)** <nc-section data-title="Chapter 2: A Knight's Observation" data-color="green"> I dismounted near the bustling stables, the scent of hay and horses filling my nostrils. Before I could fully take in my surroundings, a knight approached, his armor polished to a mirror sheen. It was Sir Roland. He observed me with a thoughtful expression, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Welcome to Blackwood Castle, Frederick,” he said, his voice warm and resonant. "A long ride, I presume? You bear it well. I've been watching your training reports from your village - promising, though raw. Here, we hone raw potential.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder, a gesture surprisingly gentle. “The stables are a good place to start. Understand the beasts we ride, and you’ll understand a part of what it means to be a knight.” </nc-section> **Version 3 (blue)** <nc-section data-title="Chapter 2: Echoes of Legend" data-color="blue"> The stablehands were already tending to the horses as I approached, Thunder gratefully accepting a fresh bucket of water. A figure detached itself from the shadows of the stable wall – Sir Roland, a knight famed throughout the kingdom, though I’d only heard tales of his valor. He carried himself with a quiet dignity, an air of melancholy about him. “Frederick,” he acknowledged, his voice soft, almost lost in the evening breeze. “They said you were coming. A new squire... it seems a lifetime since I was one.” He paused, staring toward the distant mountains. "This castle hasn't seen much joy since the last dragon fell. We prepare for another, though many doubt one will rise again. Help the stablehands, yes, but also... listen. The stones here remember things. They remember the dragons." </nc-section> I've tried to create distinct tones and characterizations for Sir Roland in each version, offering different possibilities for how the story can unfold. Let me know which direction you'd like to pursue!