The train screeched to a halt, the metallic clang echoing through the sprawling, fantastical city of Aeridale. Steam hissed from the massive brass engine, mingling with the golden glow of enchanted streetlamps. Jorgan, a lean 19-year-old with tousled brown hair and a weary look in his hazel eyes, stepped off the platform, his boots crunching against the polished stone beneath.
The city loomed around him, alive with a mixture of the mundane and the extraordinary. Carriages pulled by clockwork horses rattled down cobblestone streets, while merchants hawked goods from stalls lit by floating orbs of light. In the distance, towering spires pierced the sky, their tops wrapped in clouds, and winged creatures glided effortlessly between them.
As Jorgan scanned the bustling crowd, his gaze fell on a striking figure standing near the edge of the platform. She waved enthusiastically, her presence impossible to miss. The woman had the appearance of someone who didn't belong to the crowd yet owned the space she occupied. Her long silver hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall, and her skin had a faint, almost otherworldly shimmer.
She wasn't human.
Her draconic heritage was evident in the subtle scales tracing the edges of her high cheekbones, the pointed ears peeking out from beneath her hair, and the golden, slitted eyes that sparkled with a predatory allure. Her figure was curvaceous and commanding, her tailored attire—a blend of fine leather and embroidered silk—accentuating every detail. She waved with a claw-tipped hand and called out with a voice that carried effortlessly over the noise.
"Jorgan!"
Jorgan's face lit up as he recognized her. He quickly made his way through the throng of travelers, his travel bag slung over his shoulder.
"Aunty," he said with a grin as he reached her.
Before he could say another word, she pulled him into a tight embrace. Her warmth was undeniable, her scaled arms holding him close with a strength that reminded him of her otherworldly nature.
"I missed you, Jorgan," she said, her voice soft and laced with emotion.
He chuckled awkwardly. "It's good to see you again, too."
She pulled back slightly, her golden eyes scanning his face, her expression both affectionate and intense. "You've grown," she said, her clawed hand brushing against his cheek before she took his bag from him with ease. "Come on, I parked just outside."
They made their way through the station to a sleek vehicle that seemed to be a blend of magic and machine. Its body shimmered like polished obsidian, and glowing glyphs lined the edges, humming softly as they approached.
Once inside, the air shifted. As Jorgan settled into the plush leather seat, the woman leaned toward him. Without warning, her lips met his in a deep, lingering kiss. Her hand rested firmly on his thigh as her other clawed fingers trailed lightly across his chest.
She pulled back slightly, her golden eyes locked onto his. "I missed you," she said again, her voice low and filled with an intensity that made Jorgan's pulse quicken.
"Aunty, you always say that," he replied, his voice shaky but with a hint of a smile.
Her lips curved into a sly smirk. "And I always mean it."
The vehicle hummed to life, lifting slightly off the ground before gliding smoothly onto the main road. As they wove through the labyrinthine streets of Aeridale, the city unfolded around them—a blend of towering skyscrapers draped in vines, glowing runes etched into every surface, and skybridges teeming with both humans and fantastical creatures.
Inside the car, Jorgan shifted uncomfortably, trying to steady his thoughts. His "aunt," as he called her, had always been a peculiar and enigmatic figure in his life—half-dragon, entirely unpredictable, and endlessly affectionate. Their relationship was complicated, filled with unspoken truths and a shared past he didn't fully understand.
"Wait until you see home," she said, breaking the silence as she manoeuvred the car. "There's so much to talk about, and even more for you to learn."
Jorgan nodded, looking out at the dazzling cityscape, unaware of the challenges and revelations that awaited him in this strange, enchanting world.