Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter

Ethan Walker trudged through the crowded streets of Arcadia, lost in a sea of faces and the monotony of his daily routine. He was a creature of habit, always following the same path to work, stopping by the same café for his morning coffee, and returning to his small apartment in the evenings. It was a safe and predictable life, but deep down, he yearned for something more.

As he walked along, lost in his thoughts, a sudden cry pierced through the city clamor. Ethan's head snapped up, searching for the source of the sound. His eyes landed on a little girl, no older than six or seven, standing alone and sobbing on the sidewalk. Concern washed over him, and he quickly approached her.

"Hey there, are you okay?" Ethan asked gently, crouching down to the girl's level. Tears streaked her flushed cheeks as she sniffled, clutching onto a stuffed dragon.

"I-I'm lost," she managed to stammer between sobs. "I can't find my way home."

Ethan's heart went out to the girl. "Don't worry! I will help you. What's your name?"

"I'm Lily," she hiccuped, her eyes searching his face for reassurance.

"Well, Lily, I'm Ethan. Nice to meet you! I promise we'll find your way home together, okay?" Ethan said, offering her a comforting smile. He took her tiny hand in his, feeling an inexplicable connection to this lost child.

Ethan guided Lily through the labyrinth of streets, asking her questions about her home and family. She described a cozy house near a playground, with a white picket fence and a bright red front door. The more Lily spoke, the more Ethan couldn't shake off a nagging feeling that there was something extraordinary about this little girl. She seemed too mature for her age. Furthermore, there was something about her eyes. Her ruby-red eyes drew him in whenever he looked into them.

As they turned a corner, Lily's eyes lit up with recognition. "Ah! That's my street!" she exclaimed, pointing to a row of houses in the distance.

Relief washed over Ethan as they approached the address Lily had indicated. He rang the doorbell, and after a few moments, a woman opened the door. She had striking azure eyes and a warm smile that mirrored Lily's.

"Mommy!" Lily cried out, throwing her arms around the woman's waist. "I found my way home with Ethan!"

Amelia, Lily's mother, looked down at her daughter in surprise, then glanced up at Ethan. "Oh, thank god, I was just about to look for her. Thank you, kind sir, for her back. I hope she didn't cause you too much trouble. I'm Amelia Redwood. Nice to meet you."

Ethan was taken aback by Amelia's ethereal beauty and composed demeanor. "It was no problem at all. I'm Ethan Walker. Nice to meet you too."

As Ethan and Amelia exchanged pleasantries, he couldn't help but notice a glimmer of something extraordinary in Amelia's eyes. There was a connection, a familiarity he couldn't quite place. It felt the same with Lily a while ago. But before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, Lily tugged at his sleeve.

"Ethan, can you come inside? I want to show you something," she pleaded, her eyes wide with excitement.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, unsure whether it was appropriate to accept the invitation from a stranger. Amelia seemed to have read his mind.

"This wouldn't trouble us. I also want to thank you for bringing this playful little ball of sunshine back."

Lily laughed at her mother's description of her.

"Yeah, no trouble. Please come in, Mr. Walker!"

But his curiosity got the better of him. So he nodded, following Lily and Amelia into their home.

Inside, the air felt charged with magic. Similar to air ionizer smell. On the walls were paintings of breathtaking landscapes, and shelves overflowed with books on mythology and fantastical creatures.

"Looks can be deceiving," Ethan thought as he compared the modern architecture outside of this house with the exotic furniture inside.

As Lily darted away to fetch something, Ethan found himself alone with Amelia. The room seemed to crackle with anticipation as their eyes met.

"Please take a seat anywhere you like. I'll make some tea." Amelia said and made her way to the kitchen. The living room and the kitchen space are connected. Ethan sat on the sofa and saw Amelia brewing tea on the kitchen island. They fell into a comfortable silence. Ethan looked around the room and saw modern appliances mixed with the recurring fantasy theme that had been going on since he entered the house.

Before Ethan could contemplate further, Lily returned with a wooden box clutched in her hand. She carefully opened it, revealing a glittering dragon figurine nestled inside.

"Ethan, this is a gift for you," Lily said, her voice filled with innocence and wonder. "Because you're special, just like us."

Ethan's eyes widened in astonishment. His mind reeled, trying to process what Lily had just said.

Ethan contemplated whether to accept this gift or not. The figurine looked very expensive. But he did not want to come off as rude, especially not to a child.

"Wow, this looks very pretty. Are you sure?"

"Hehe," Lily giggled at his response.

But then Ethan thought about what Lily said and felt confused.

"What did you mean by special, Lily?"

"Hm?" Now it was Lily's turn to look confused.

"Ethan is like us, no?" She asked and turned to her mother, who was still in the kitchen.

Amelia took a moment before she realized what her daughter was implying. Her gaze then moved on to Ethan. There was a bit of confusion before returning to normal.

"Mr. Walker, are you not aware of your heritage?" Amelia asked calmly.

"Wait, what do you mean by heritage?"

Ethan could not comprehend what Amelia was talking about. He grew up in the US but moved to Arcadia for his job after his parents passed away from a fire accident. Ethan did not have other relatives since his parents were both orphans. He had not much of an ancestry, in his opinion.

"We have much to talk about, Mr. Ethan."

Amelia said as she returned with tea and some biscuits.

"Yay, biscuits!" Lily shouted in excitement and went to get some.

"Careful, don't spill the tea!" Amelia warned her daughter since she was aware of Lily"s clumsiness.

Ethan sat there and watched the interaction with a smile. It reminded him of his late family. Amidst the memories, there was a small thought invading his mind.

"Could there be more to my life?"

Little did Ethan know that this chance encounters would ignite a flame within him, propelling him into a world where the sky was full of dragon wings and the city streets hummed with the strings of destiny.