Yes, you were right, I quite enjoyed this. 'Dragons' as extraterrestrials makes a good deal of sense - particularly so in stories set in our own real world. So many of the ancient gods around the world could be easily explained if this were so, though this one might be a bit embarrassed about such behavior in the past. One thing that seemed a bit weak to me though was the familiar 'last dragon' scenario, and particularly where it is geographically located, and the fact that there is some knowledge about their existence is known among some of our modern 'rulers'. With the 'last dragon' nearly succumbing to an accident, and the fact that they can die if grievously injured, one would think there might be at least one 'observer' of his kind, on every continent, and easily far more, and something that would give credence to so many 'sightings' of unidentified cryptids around the world, yet today. I could also imagine an ancient carnivore might subsist on more than just synthetic honey-gruel... and could safely hunt real game at night and in secluded places, unless it has become so 'enlightened' that all things are sacred.

Since gold is such a rare element on our own world, it could likely be a rarity throughout the universe, and the best metal for high tech applications as well as luxury goods. This would also better explain the universal dragon trail of hoarding it, for eventual transport back to their home world, or to make earth a real colony for their own kind if humans ultimately fail in their stewardship (as we may be close to doing right now!)

I think the creature should also have an ulterior motive to make the story a bit more believable, than simply to show an internet acquaintance he was more correct in wyvern anatomy. Perhaps he needed a local person to bring him some newer computer equipment to better monitor the state of the world and continue to communicate with both humans, and possibly other dragons in other parts of the world also 'posing' as just another person.

If you care to develop this further, and actually publish it someplace, I will be happy to proofread it a bit as there are some awkward places, grammatically speaking, that should be reworked a bit.

Ironically, I have been working on a story a bit similar to this, but with a slightly less benevolent dragon, as you will see!

All in all, a very enjoyable read, and thanks for sharing!

Thanks :)

Actually this story ended up having some rather serious "after effects" on my mind. Visions... quite unnerving visions... Reading your comment helped.

The weak parts you mention passed through my mind as well, I thought and re-thought a lot what should be included and what not to keep the story flowing well, without omitting anything too crucial.

For the dragons it isn't anything critical to have more than him on Earth, probably even better if they, a powerful immortal race, put only one valuable person of theirs at this risk (in this sci-fi there is no warp tech or anything, so a message takes some four years to arrive to them, and an interstellar travel about two decades, so they can't really help their observers in case of trouble). It is not directly uncovered in the story, but the dragons' presence is especially known by the observer. He communicates with Alpha Centauri, our technology would intercept it (as "unusual radio noise") since many decades. I went by the assumption that important powers know very well where exactly this observer is, and may even try diplomacy with him. They wouldn't dare to touch him! Just imagine them in their place. That you knew there was a member of some race perfectly capable of interstellar travel on Earth. Would you dare to raise a hand on him? If he just ceased contact, in twenty five years, a ginormous star destroyer might be coasting past the Kupier Belt for some friendly diplomatic chat over the matter... (And no, they could not hope to be able to impersonate him. Even we have the tech of digital signatures and encryption, theirs would only be better)

This turns the tables a little bit. It is not him who has to be careful to not reveal himself, rather those who know his existence have to do all to conceal it, lest the public shall know! He lives a very withdrawn life only respecting his people's decision, their experiment (so much he even decided on omitting the pleasure of hunting lest his footprints, silhouette etc. could reveal him to the wider public), working for them to observe how the human race matures. And as such, if he fancies, he may establish contacts, I just imagined this happening (why me? I mostly imagined the description of immortality in the cheetaan setting, which in this story by concept matches that of these dragons, making him a bit interested, maybe even just to freak me out for a bit of fun as he did).

I even had a chapter planned with him explaining some of the origins of his hoard, how under the turmoil of the second world war he "convinced" the Americans in secret to make sure a few German museums got their share of bombing, so a few items could silently "disappear". It remained just an idea to the end, didn't do any research on it, but I guess a dragon using the turmoil to his advantage could have made some good pile of riches delivered to his cave.

For the geographic location I though Hungary an adequate place. It isn't the territory of a major power, so he risks his life less should a nuclear conflict break out. There are no mineral resources here to make the region any important. The same time it is in Europe, if his physical presence was necessary to settle certain diplomatic matters, it can be easier arranged. Being here he can also easier tap the infrastructure, connect to the Internet so he can observe without interference. Such as streaming HD funny cat videos as to study modern culture :p

This story naturally drifted me towards a what-if... So a continuation.

As I told above, I got some rather unpleasant visions, a sleepless night. If I ventured to write that, it would use a different narrative (not first person), and some quite "strong" stuff. As you might put it, "slightly less benevolent" dragons. And some hard sci-fi, some concepts unseen before (the overall idea is of course similar to this story from you, but the execution rather different, the outcome neither necessarily similar).

Eh, bit tired, sorry for doubling... Just reading around.

Yes, some proofreading would be nice, and would be grateful for it if it happened! You can imagine how much I struggle with straightening my English out. I read a lot, and remember a lot of idioms, but frequently a little out of place, not with exactly the right meaning. Then if I see something fishy, I flip up Google, and start researching... How people use it. What the hell was that jumbled up idiom before it messed up in my head. You may well observe this on my posts: my English in writing I think is at least a magnitude better than posting (where I don't do this sort of research). And of course it hinders me a lot that there is no real world usage influx in my daily life (so I can't experience first hand how the language is actually used).

The other I missed, but I guess partially explained: with those assumptions he didn't need any ulterior motive, just wanted to have a bit of fun, which he was pretty much in the position to receive. Maybe that observer thing wasn't such a good decision after all (a thousand years alone is a thousand years alone even for an immortal). Of course he has a benevolent attitude, otherwise it wouldn't be him who decided on remaining.