Alex regained consciousness, cold sweat dripping down his temples. What the fuck was that dream about? It was so realistic. Alex tried to recall the dream but the details were slipping down from his conscious grasp by the moment. So weird to think I would ever have a little sister. Alex let out a soft chuckle but somewhere deep down, he was worried.

The dream felt too real. But he couldn’t have a little sister, could he? What was her name? Ahh..Mia. Alex furrowed his brows and let out a sigh. He decided not to spiral down into confusion and negativity when he wasn’t sure there was a logical reason.

“Took you long enough to wake up. Were you fleeing monsters in your dreams?” Komodo caught his attention with a snide remark. Alex didn’t mind him. He knew the little human-turned chameleon liked to joke around.

“How long was I out?” Alex scanned the people in the wagon who were still conversing. Fresh air snuck in through the open windows delivering the fresh aroma of spice plants that lined the fields. The sun streaks pierced through the rain-soaked clouds now down to a soft rumble. It was a beautiful scene that lit up a sense of appreciation in his heart.

“Who cares? We are almost at the destination...look at the waterfall in the distance.” Komodo pointed a finger directing his attention to a waterfall sparkling with cerulean splashes at the side of a mountain.

Alex was mesmerized by the view. He never had the opportunity to explore hills, let alone glean the beauty of a waterfall back on Earth. Not bad for a first experience. A smile spread on his lips as he surveyed the area surrounding the waterfall. The waterfall was built around a gate where a sign read, “Cerulean Mountain Peaks.” Yes, we reached our destination! But now, we have to escape.

Alex and Komodo made eye contact, both of them suspecting the intention of the other. Alex felt his heart pump a beat higher as he surveyed the three adventurers in the coach. They were speaking in hushed whispers inspecting a scroll - a bounty? - of some kind. All three adventurers sported similar weapons, clothes, and armor. Simple brown trousers, white shirts under what he considered to be medium armor of some type, and a sword on their hips. The tattoo of a black bull with twisted horns and a snarling face adorned their necks and armorpiece.

Probably from the same guild and on a mission. They looked tough to Alex. If I try to sneak out now, will they try to stop me? Confusion pricked his heart. He didn’t want to cause a ruckus; this was not a dungeon or a fight for survival. Komodo could probably take them alone and Alex could definitely help him with the new power-ups he got. But they were humans, not monsters. Killing or even injuring them without a justified reason didn’t appeal to Alex.

“Kid, you are too soft,” Komodo whispered in his ears. “You look like a criminal planning to escape a prison. Take a deep breath and relax a little. We have about 5 minutes before the wagon arrives at our destination.” Komodo threw a charming smile - as much as could be expected from a magical chameleon monster - to ease Alex a bit.

Alex could see the logic. It won’t help to stress out even before a battle breaks out. Komodo is correct. I have to learn to relax. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves and focus on his goals.

“There is no reason to sneak out, really, is there?” Alex whispered back. Komodo simply nodded and assured him with a thumbs up.

Still, it is better to be prepared if there is even a slight chance he could run into some trouble. So, Alex continued to assess the threat level of the adventurers and other people in the wagon who could possibly pursue him during his escape.

The solo man who was sleeping earlier was now awake and staring out the window. Alex noticed for the first time the peculiar eye color combination he sported - one red, one green. He had disheveled, black hair that reached his shoulders. A weapon, carefully wrapped in dried, blood-soaked bandages was hidden in plain view around his waist. Is that a scythe?

The man didn’t look like an ordinary adventurer. He looked like a solo warrior on his own mission. The man suddenly turned his head and locked his gaze with Alex. Then, he let out a chilling smile revealing two rows of canine teeth. Alex smiled awkwardly caught off-guard. For some reason, that smile feels more sinister than friendly. And, those were definitely canine ears poking out of his messy hair.

Alex decided to break the gaze and inspect the nice weather outside for a little while. The cool air felt nice on his face. Nothing like the sharp gaze of a warrior who could probably chew off my bones.

After a while, he decided to inspect the lady who got in at the end. She was twirling her blonde hair with her index finger while her emerald-green eyes roved a locket she was holding. It seems like the locket has a picture inside its case. Whatever it was Alex couldn’t view it from his vantage point.

There is nothing too remarkable about the girl except for…His eyes went downward…her big..ahem…let’s not go there. Alex shook his head from side to side trying to delete a mental image that could be considered inappropriate.

Finally, Alex decided to glance to his side and immediately felt his ears heat up when he saw Elora inspecting him..or his face, from a few inches away. Alex let out a short, high-pitched squeal. Komodo hit him in the head and said, “Kid, you have got to control your perverted desires. I didn’t realize you were such a pervert”. He had a big smirk etched into his reptilian face with squinted eyes.

“No, I’m not…I was just.” Alex heaved in a breath. “You know what I was doing.” He glared at the lizard who was oblivious to his plight.

“You looked nervous a while ago.” Elora let out innocently.

Damn it! Is she always inspecting me too?

“And, I saw you staring at all of them,” She whispered and waved her hands to make her point. “Until you saw the girl and..inspected her assets.” She adjusted her spectacles, as a grim expression adorned her face.

“No, you got it wrong…I was not..” Alex tried to argue softly.

Elora let out a smile. “I know what you are up to, Alex…”

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Shit! If she tells the others.

“You just like people-gazing don’t you? Like me…”

“Huh…yes, yes. You are right.” he let out a soft chuckle as the wagon came to a halt.

“Destination, Cerulean Hill Station”. The driver shouted outside.

We arrived…now it's time for the escape. “It was nice meeting you Elora.” Alex let out. “We have to get out now, our stop has arrived.”

Seeing the confusion that appeared on her face, Alex pointed to Komodo and added, “Me and my pe..” - Komodo glared at him - “uhh, partner, partner.” For some reason, Elora was not exactly convinced but she laughed and reached out a hand to stroke Komodo on the head.

Then she handed a card to Alex and said, “Keep this card. It has my contact details if you ever want to reach out to me.” Elora averted her gaze and adjusted a lock of her hair.

Alex nodded and quickly put the card inside his pocket. There would be time to survey it later. First, I have to get out of here. As Alex tried to get down the wagon he saw the scythe-wielding man get down too, flashing his ever-charming smile. He gulped.

“That would be 5 coppers, Sirs.” The driver arrived faster than expected and flashed a toothy grin as he expected some coins in his outstretched hands. The canine man beside him dropped 5 shiny coppers on the driver’s palm and turned to look at Alex. “The name’s Gin. What brings you here?”

Alex ignored Gin for a moment as he put on an act of searching for coins in his trousers. The driver waited eagerly but was growing impatient by the moment. Shit, I should have escaped earlier. Now, I’m stuck!

“Uhh, it seems I lost my…” Komodo interrupted Alex mid-speech and handed him a few shiny coppers. Alex was dumbstruck. The question in his mind was clear. How did Komodo get those coins? Komodo simply winked and Alex finally understood the mystery. He must have grabbed a few coins when he was causing the distraction! Very sly!

Alex handed the coins to the driver who immediately accepted the fare and went on his way. Then he turned to Gin and said, “I’m Alex and new in town. Currently, I’m on a simple mission.”

Gin leaned in closer, sniffed Alex, and replied, “Very unusual to see somebody from a newly integrated planet on Luxia. You have the scent of an amateur spread all around you”.

Alex was startled. How did he know that? His gaze went to Gin’s large canine ears. Could he have been pretending to be sleeping earlier and eavesdropping on my conversation with Elora?

He noticed Gin staring at Komodo and Komodo staring right back at Gin. Both of them sporting a toothy grin. Not again!

“Well, at least you have a strong bodyguard.” Gin let out and turned around to leave but then stopped as his ears twitched. “Let me offer a parting advice…stay away from the Inquisitors in Luxia.” Suddenly, Gin vanished into a misty smoke.

Alex didn’t know what to make of that warning. So, he decided to put it in the back of his mind and focus on getting the job done. He walked on the gravelly path that led to the entrance gate to the Cerulean Hill Station.

Cerulean Mountain Peaks loomed large in his view, topped with icy winds and thick snow. The sunlight reflected off the peaks and glittered in a cerulean beauty. A permanent road stretched along the mountain path winding through curves and vanished beside the large waterfall that was splashing misty water droplets on the road.

On the other side of the path, he saw many people waiting on a large platform that floated a few feet above the air. A small staircase led up to the top. There were many food stalls and shops lining one end of the platform and a few passengers waited a short distance away at the other edge of the platform. A signboard read “Towards Cerulean Mountain Peaks”.

Alex had never seen such a phenomenon before. How is there a floating platform and where are the railway tracks? There was nothing but a sheer fall after the platform that reached hundreds of meters. One of his questions was answered when he heard the choo-choo roaring whistle of a train from a distance. All the people waiting for the train stepped a few feet back and peered towards the left.

Alex saw a shimmering form above the clouds billowing black smoke and vibrating the air as it grew closer to the platform. Is that a flying train? That is so cool!

Komodo let out a laugh. “It is more fun to ride a magical train than to simply gawk at it dumbfounded, kid.” Alex couldn’t wait to get on the train, now that he had a bit of money. He felt a little bad for using stolen coins but he decided to repay the driver in, someway, after completing his mission.

The train finally descended from the skies on the platform and came to a grinding halt. The doors opened with another sharp whistle as people streamed out of the train and others, waiting in line, stepped onto the train.

“Don’t we have to buy tickets or book a reservation?” Alex enquired the little chameleon looking in his direction above his shoulders.

“Look at the slit beside the door,” Komodo pointed to a slit for inserting coins where Alex saw people inserting a single coin before they got inside the train. “I assume this train only has one destination.”

Alex got in line and when he arrived closer to the gate, he saw a message written above the slit for inserting coins. “Fare - 10 coppers.”

Alex shuffled around his pockets and took out a single 10 copper coin from his pocket where he stored the coins Komodo had given him before. Then he inserted it into the coin slot and noticed a barely visible layer of red light recede from the door. Wow, is that some type of force field? So, nobody can enter the train without inserting the coins..aah, now I understand.

Alex heard a beep and received a ticket from the ticket slot machine. The ticket number stated - 221B. How amusing...I’m Sherlock Holmes! Getting inside the train he searched for his seat number and found it after only a few minutes.

“Ahh…what a view. Do you like it, Komodo?” Alex could see the snow-capped mountain peaks through the large glass windows. It seemed there was some type of enhancement on the windows that reduced the glare from the sun outside. Additionally, he felt much warmer inside the train so he assumed it was using some type of temperature-controlled magic.

“Huh, this is nothing. I’ve seen places you couldn’t imagine in your wildest dreams when I was a ..” Komodo suddenly cut off, clearly lost in some memory. But he quickly recovered and continued, “Someday, I will take you to my homeworld, if you would like that.”

Alex was touched by his words. “Of course. If I survive till then that is!” Alex decided to push a little further. “You never told me how you turned into a lizard. Is it even possible to get back your human form?”

Suddenly, Alex got goosebumps all over his body as a wave of killing intent escaped from Komodo but it was snubbed the next second. Komodo released a smile and replied, “I’m sure you will find out soon enough, kind. Once you grow up.” He turned his head to the beautiful scenery outside and said. “As for turning back into a human, it is possible, though certainly not easy.”

Alex swiped a bead of sweat on his temple with the back of his hands and answered. “I’m sorry for that…I just want to do something for you. And, I’m sure you will get your original body back.” He flashed a toothy smile and showed a thumbs up.

Komodo hit him in the head lightly and replied, “Don’t mock me, kid. You are far too young to be helping me.”

Alex settled comfortably in his seat as the train finally lurched into motion. An announcement rang inside the coach, “Dear passengers, please brace for take-off”. What? Take off? Alex was caught off guard for a moment before he recalled he was sitting on a flying train. And, if there was any confusion before, it disappeared completely when he felt his stomach drop as the train accelerated towards the heavens at an astonishing speed.