Alexander's slightly uplifted mood was short-lived, as an ear-splitting roar cut through the air, making him feel as if the world was ending. The sound was a primal scream that resonated deep within his bones, reminding him of the T-Rex in Jurassic Park, but he had no time to dwell on the comparison. A massive shadow passed over him, and another deafening roar echoed through the clearing. He froze and had only one thought, "was that a dragon?!" Trembling with fear, Alexander looked up and saw a real-life dragon. Its dark green scales shone brilliantly in the sun, and he was completely in awe of the magnificent creature. Its wings were vast, spanning what seemed like an entire football field, and its eyes glowed with an inner fire.
Staring at the flying creature about half a mile away from him, he realized that the dragon was coming closer and closer to him. "Oh shit!" Alexander cried out in terror and bolted towards the small opening in the ruined gates of the castle. His heart pounded in his chest, and his breath came in ragged gasps as he ran, the dragon's shadow growing larger and larger.
Alexander's gaze shot back to the descending dragon, panic still ringing in his ears. But as he looked up again, he noticed something odd. The dragon's flight path was clearly veering away from the building. Its wings were flapping wildly, but something was off. Despite his fear, Alexander couldn't help but analyze the dragon's movements, the nerdy part of him kicking in. He'd seen enough movies to know what a dragon's flight should look like in theory. Then it dawned on him - this thing was definitely not healthy. Its movements were erratic, and its body seemed to be wracked with spasms.
He barely had enough time to process the sight before him as the dragon plummeted down and crashed into the forest with an ear-splitting boom. The ground shook under his feet as debris and dirt were sent flying everywhere. He watched in disbelief as the creature disappeared from his sight. Though he couldn't see the dragon's impact, he could see the significant clearing of trees where it fell and birds flying away from such a destructive sight. The forest seemed to tremble in the aftermath, leaves quivering and branches swaying.
As if in a trance, Alexander stood frozen, unable to come to grips with what he had just witnessed. Finally, he willed himself to move away from the wall and collapsed into a sitting position, his head buried in his hands. It took him a few moments to gather his thoughts and process the situation. "Well, that's something you don't see every day," he muttered to himself, his voice tinged with disbelief. After a beat, he added, "I think I'll pass on checking out that thing's landing spot for a while."
As Alexander walked towards the entrance of the main building, his mind was racing with thoughts and questions. The castle loomed before him, its ancient stones whispering secrets of a time long past. Vines crept up the walls, and the wind howled through the empty windows, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
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"Okay, I think it's time to come to terms with what's happening here," he thought, his mind still reeling from the dragon's appearance. "At least until I learn more and find out if I can get home. I need to know what happened with the reactor. Is my team ok?" Alexander pondered, his thoughts turning to his friends and colleagues. He had no recollection of what had taken place after everything went black, but he hoped that the ball did not reach Erica and everyone else. His death and current weird circumstances could be accepted...with some time, but Alexander couldn't live with himself if his drive to achieve his dream ended up killing innocent people.
Ducking through the opening in the door, he walked into a grand hall with high ceilings and a massive chandelier hanging overhead, now tarnished and covered in cobwebs. The hall was dimly lit, with light filtering in through the cracks in the walls and the boarded-up windows. The walls were lined with tattered tapestries, depicting battles and hunting scenes, with dust and cobwebs covering them. Alexander could see the remnants of what was once a great throne, now reduced to a pile of rubble and wood. The floor was made of worn stone, with cracks and weeds growing through it, and the air was musty and stale, with a faint smell of decay. The only sound was the echo of Alexander's footsteps as he walked further into the building, leaving the eerie quietness of the forest behind him.
"Let's get back to the quest, shall we Ser Loriend?" Alexander's voice echoed through the open hall, a hint of humor in his tone. As he wandered around the room and examined the throne, a sense of unfamiliar excitement overcame him. He had never imagined seeing what he just had, not even in his wildest dreams. Though his life had been comfortable and devoted to his work, Alexander knew it wasn't particularly adventurous. Sure, his contributions to engineering and physics had helped many people in the world, or was it his old world? But compared to seeing an actual dragon and exploring a ruined alien castle, his years spent at a computer and attending board meetings seemed so mundane.
Alexander was determined to push his unnerving thoughts aside and distract himself. He scanned the open hall for any clues or interesting items, but nothing caught his eye. With a shrug, he made his way through a doorway and into the next room. The sunlight seeping through the cracks in the walls and windows provided enough illumination for him to see clearly. As he walked, he noticed the walls were covered with cobwebs and the tapestries were worn out. However, he was intrigued when he spotted shelves and tables sparsely stocked with books and several old-looking papers throughout the room, which appeared to be a library. "I hope they have a 'How to Train Your Dragon' book in here," Alexander quipped as he approached the shelves, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.
The room was filled with the musty scent of old books, and the shelves were lined with tomes of various sizes and colors. Some were bound in leather, while others were wrapped in cloth or paper. Alexander's fingers traced the spines, feeling the texture of the materials and the embossed letters. He could sense the history and knowledge contained within these pages, and he felt a thrill of excitement as he realized that he might find answers.