"G'day." The border guard put his hand out, "Passports, please."

As we handed the guard our passports and patiently waited for him to grant us access into the other subcountry, I had begun to wonder why exactly we were being asked to present said passports in general. Before, you didn't need any sort of passport to pass from subcountry to subcountry, only if you wanted to leave Trivis Numerica. Well, maybe it's just a byproduct of the war. It'd make sense if they wanted to improve security. Back then, I was told the Carmenians just sort of waltzed in without any issue, which is just plain horrible to hear. In any case, the guard handed us back our passports with a light snicker.

"Took yet another client from those asses, did you, Beth?" He glanced at our driver.

"I only take the ones that ask, D." She replied with an equally friendly and laidback tone, "And don't call them that. They're a bunch of idiots, but it's not like they like overpricing their fares. It's just business, in the end."

"Yeah, right." Cecily clicked her tongue as she muttered, "They totally wanted to scam us..."

"Beth, how're you doing on finances?" Asked the border guard, "You sure you're gonna be alright with such little pay? If you're ever in need, just..."

"I'll be fine, mom." She rolled her Eyes as she mocked her worried friend, "I make enough to keep myself afloat no matter what, and that especially rings true now that I don't have a debt to pay off."

"Tch, I get that..." He looked away for a moment, "Well, if you say so. I trust you to take care of yourself."

"Thanks." She nodded back, "I'll be sure to come visit soon. Tell auntie to prepare an extra plate of dinner in advance for me, 'kay?"

"I'll be sure to do just that." He waved us off as she applied some pressure to the pedal, "Sorry for keeping you folks up with our banter. Welcome to Secundis!"

"Thank you!" We waved back at him in the exact same friendly tone before I sat back in my seat, "Man, he reminds me of Ed."

"Right?" Cecily giggled, "I thought the same thing! That guy really gave off mad Ed vibes..."

"A friend of yours, I presume?" Beth glanced back, "Well, if this Ed is anything like D, then what can I say? My condolences for having to endure all that nagging."

"Nagging or not, it's still nice to have someone worry about you that much." I replied.

"Don't go getting any weird ideas, we just grew up in the same city." Beth admitted, "Before the war, he was always so reckless and stupid all the time, I practically always had to keep an Eye on him before he ran into a thorny shrub or something to that degree."

"Oh?" Cecily was surprised, "Then I might've gotten a wrong impression of him, cause this guy seemed so serious just now. If I may ask, what happened?"

"The war happened." She replied, making both of our hearts sink, "Tons of guys like that. Had a glorified image of what they thought war was, ran immediately to the nearest enlistment booth thinking they're gonna be some war heroes, and then, well... They saw what they saw - The bloody, vile and unforgiving truth."

"............"

"Well, it kinda served him right, in a way." She shrugged, "He really got his act together after that. Ran back to Station Arfa to cry to his mommy, and then shamelessly asked my dad to help him secure a job in the border police with him. Heh, even now after all that, in a way he's still protecting this damned nation of ours..."

"Well, as long as he's doing well, it's nothing to worry about, I think." I replied, "By the way, is D like a nickname or something?"

"Yeah, kinda." She replied, "His names Dean, but given the nature of the name, people often swallow the last letter, so yeah, D it is."

"Oh." I thought, "What a mundane reason to choose a nickname... I like it!"

And so we had entered the one place in the world where it all started for me - Secundis. The fresh air circulating throughout the meadows and valleys filled our lungs in an instant. It's actually incredible how abrupt the change is, almost to the point where it's funny. It's just like, "Hm, air..." then "BAM! Super duper fresh air that makes you thankful to be alive!" But don't just take my word for it, as both Cecily and Cene actually acknowledged and commented on it, with Cene outright stating how soothing it feels to breathe it in. Beth, on the other hand, didn't bat an Eye at all. It seems she frequently passes through the subcountries, so to her, returning to this unpolluted and gusty air probably doesn't make as much of a difference.

Before long, we had completed our not so arduous and actually pretty calm transcontinental journey. Since Beth said she doesn't drive to villages, she made sure to drop us off at the nearest city to Whitehood, a place I actually remember from my childhood. Given it was just an hour away from Whitehood even on foot, both mom and dad would often find themselves going there to deliver some orders, and whenever they could afford it, they'd ask if I wanted to join in. Astute readers might recall that there was a town that fit this description wherein my mom actually bought Schnell's Handbook, and this place is actually it. Yep, believe it or not, that town was actually... this town - Haggles!

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"That's all from me." Beth put her hand out, "Gas kinda got a bit pricies after the war, so let's round it up to around 75 silver, kay?"

"Here." I instead handed her 5 gold coins, "A tip for being awesome."

"...Man, if I knew you were rich, I would've let you get scammed by those idiots." She chuckled before handing me back 4 gold, "I don't need more than this, but thanks for offering."

"Huh? But...!" I went to insist, but she was faster.

"Guy, I said it before, right?" She smirked as she started up the engine again, "I do this job for the stories, not the money. Take care now."

"Ah, okay..." We waved at her awkwardly as she sped off, "All kinds of people, I guess. But never mind that, cause we're finally here!"

Ahaha, how nostalgic! It's like I'm a kid again! Most of the houses actually look exactly the same as I remember them, and given how often I'd scour the entire town just looking for bookstores to window shop in, I'll bet I still remember each street like the back of my hand...! Not.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"The tower's gone..." I looked up with a worried expression, "And I'm pretty sure there was a statue of king Mezzo Carmen where that solitaire is standing."

"Well, it's been years since you've last been here, right?" Cecily didn't read too much into it, "Obviously things are going to change."

"Yeah, but this is too much." I thought, "Well, Secundis was the subcountry that was hit by the war the hardest, I guess..."

"Hm." She grunted a bit.

Yeah, judging by her reaction, she assumed the same thing I did, just didn't want me to acknowledge it. Yeah, the war happened, and we're currently in the country where most of the trenches were dug, battles held, and lives lost. Neither Primis nor Tertis had to endure as much pressure from the enemy soldiers as this place did, so it'd make sense that a lot of the structures got destroyed and had to be replaced. Which leads me to the next question - just how much did Whitehood change? The Saints said dad and mom returned to the village to reclaim their house, but I wonder if there even is a house still standing. Ohhh, now I'm worried again...

"Hey!" Cecily clapped her hands together in front of my face, "Get it together, dummy! Cene said he's hungry, so we're relying on you to find us a good restaurant."

"Ah, o-okay." I shook my thoughts off, "Sorry to disappoint though, but I'm not the best guide either, it seems. The town changed so much from the Haggles I'm familiar with."

"Well surely there's gotta be someplace with good food..." Cecily looked around before gasping, "No way, don't tell me...!"

"Whoa, even here?" I brightened up as well as soon as I saw the giant letter A in the distance, "Heh, it is! I recognize that signature Red color anywhere!"

An Arthur's! So they had it set up all the way here in Haggles as well! Makes sense though, Arthur's is almost a global brand by now, with only Abyssus Solis and some parts of Simpleton not having their respective branches of it. On the other hand, Secundis is where it all started, so it really is obvious to assume Arthur and Anna spared no expenses on making sure each and every city in the subcountry had one. But that's all the more lucky for us, cause it's the one menu you can never get tired of!

"Good day!" The spiffy waiter welcomed us in the moment we set foot inside the establishment, "And welcome to Arthur's - Home of the best and most reliable food in the world. Please, have a seat wherever you like."

"We've got options." I surveyed the interior, "What do you say, Cene? Which table suits your fancy the most?"

"Who cawes, I'm hungwy..." He rubbed his stomach.

"It really doesn't matter, dear." Cecily lightly scolded me, "He's hungry, give him a break."

"Hunger is no excuse to just 'pick whatever' " I shook my head, "Pick one, son."

"Fine, then this one." He chose the one nearest to him, "I want fwies."

"Oh, no no no, my dear boy!" I moved my finger from side to side as I lectured him with a wry grin, "You're still young, so I'm not blaming you for picking wrong, but let me tell you something, bud - Whenever you have the chance, always pick the table farthest from the door!"

"Eh..." He didn't seem to care as he held the menu in his hands and tried to get some light reading practice in, "Okay. Hm, piss-tash-ee...?"

"Pistacchio." Cecily helped him out after sitting at the wrong table as well, "It doesn't go well with fries."

"I want that!" He happily said to the waiter, "Fwies and pisstasheeoh!"

"You sure?" Cecily thought to prank him a bit, "You're not gonna like it, y'know."

"I will!" He adamantly ignored his mother's warnings, "I'll eat it all!"

"Okay then, you heard the man." Cecily stifled her laughter as she gave the waiter the go-ahead, "Fries with, pff! Pistacchio..."

"Haha, right away, ma'am!" He returned to her a thumbs up in response as he looked to his left at me, "And you sir? If you wouldn't mind sitting down before you order, though."

"Dear, sit down. Don't be a bother." Cecily frowned.

"Ugh, fine..." I finally gave in after all three of them started urging me to do so, "But just know for next time - The best seat is the one farthest away from the entrance!"

"Heh." The other old guy sitting right at that fabled table snickered over to his wife as they ate, "Kid knows."

See?! I'm not crazy! That old guy definitely gets it! Ah, I see with age comes wisdom, and thankfully that rule still applies even in today's times... Or maybe he was just talking about something unrelated with his wife. Can't really hear all they're talking about from the other side of the room, but I'm still gonna assume he was agreeing with me on the seating principle because it makes me feel better.

"Well, whatever." Cecily put her hand out over the table, "Alright Cene, if you don't want anything else, then could you give mommy the menu so she can order as well?"

"Mhm. In a minute." He made her wait until he finished reading the page, "L-Laift... beaver ages."

"Beverages, son, not beaver ages. And in that case, the G and H together are silent." I corrected him before glancing over to the waiter, "Sorry about him. He learned how to read recently and just can't get enough of it."

"No worries sir, I'm in no rush." The waiter gave a polite smile with the hidden meaning of "Order already, my feet are starting to hurt from standing around so much".

"Ugh, he's not gonna be finished anytime soon, so I'll just take a hamburger." Cecily resorted to her default option whenever we're in an Arthur's.

"Yeah, I'll have one too." I chuckled, "And for the dessert - A chocolate banana cake."

"Hmph!" The older lady from the other table sounded annoyed, "Damned thieves..."

I wonder what they're talking about...? I don't remember Secundis ever having any issues with thieves, but maybe it's another case of the times changing after the war. Makes me worried about Cene, what if he gets... Hm, Cene?

"Awe you my gwandma and gwandpa?" Cene somehow found himself in front of the older couple.

"Cene!" I ran to their table to scold him, "Don't bother the poor folks! How many times do I have to tell you, they're not...!"

"Lune?" The older lady stared right into my Eyes with her own wide open in shock.

"Ella?" Her husband was taken aback by her calling me by name.

What the hell? There's just no way Cene's strategy actually worked... M-Mom and dad are...?