I started going to school when I was six years old, six years ago.
It was the first stage of school for children. The elementary school, for the age of six to twelve. It was when toddlers become children, the moment they enter a place where they can learn more about the world.
On the first day, I noticed that I was the only one who walked to school by myself. Whenever I looked around, I noticed a bunch of children my age who are heading to school for their first day with their parents. They aren't alone, and they seem to be quite happy that they can head to school accompanied by someone.
Unfortunately for me, the only person who can accompany me was too busy with her work. Grandma had to prepare for the opening of the diner which will happen in about an hour, so she won't be able to walk beside me to school.
For other children, their first time going to school was accompanied by their parents. For some, especially the noble children, they went on a carriage alongside their parents, which made the travel a lot less scary.
I always wondered what it must be like, walking to school with a parent beside you. I always imagined how exciting it must be to always have a hand that you can hold as you walk on the big streets all the way to school.
And for the first time… in my five years of school…
"We're off, Grandma!" I shouted to Grandma who is currently sorting items at the kitchen, and she just waved her hand at me lazily.
It is still early in the morning, and she usually waved at me every morning in front of the diner. I guess she doesn't really care as much anymore considering I'm no longer alone.
I turned around to the two adults waiting behind me, and their faces looked like they were excited for this journey as well.
"Well? Should we go?" Dad asks as he lends his right hand to me, and Mom did the same with her left hand.
Seeing their invitation, the jolt of happiness and excitement inside my chest cannot be more painful.
Just how long… have I been waiting to see something like this?
"Yes!!!" I shouted happily, and I grabbed their hands with my respective hands.
The three of us began walking towards the school. We are much earlier than what I'm used to, considering we're planning to just take this walk a lot slower and simply enjoy the moment. I usually go to school thirty minutes faster than this, and I always walk very fast considering the distance isn't exactly close.
But, when you have your mom and dad come back to life, taking the walk slowly can be rather fun.
"It's very cold here. I guess Cytus is geographically a lot higher than Veldonia?" Dad commented as we enjoyed our morning walk, and it is indeed cold. It's very early as well, and the sun is barely shining on the horizon.
"It's just still very early. Even Veldonia can be cold at this hour… Fuahh~…" Mom added while yawning, and she must still be feeling quite sleepy.
"I don't usually walk at this time. But, it's actually a lot nicer than if we go later." I gave my perspective, and Dad looked at me weirdly.
"If you go a lot later, then wouldn't you be late? Pretty sure the school starts in just an hour."
"Yeah. I just walk very fast."
"Still… it's quite far, you know?"
"Hehe~. I guess I'm a bit late, sometimes."
Dad guessed exactly what my habit was, and he shook his head a little after realizing. Mom is keeping her eyes on the surroundings, studying the shops that are still being prepared at the sides of the street.
"Surprisingly, there's not that many shops." Mom commented, and Dad chuckled hearing it.
"It's a small city, Liz… You can't compare this to what we're used to."
"Right. It's also a lot smaller."
"Again, small city…" Dad seemed to be trying his best, but Mom is still having trouble understanding. I only studied their faces to see what exactly is going on in their heads, and I can only guess.
They are in the midst of adapting to the place. Because Veldonia no longer existed, they had no choice but to get used to the new city that they were going to be staying at. And compared to the glory days of Veldonia, Cytus is going to be a heavy disappointment. A good comparison that is quite similar is between a tiger and a cat. You just can't compare the two.
During the walk, Dad told me a little more about what the streets of Veldonia are like. In comparison, a normal street in Veldonia would have at least a hundred people walking around and a hundred more trading at the shops. Hearing the number coming out of his mouth, I had a suspicion that he was exaggerating, but I realized it might not be an exaggeration. In fact, it could even be undervaluing the actual number.
Mom then explained to me how Veldonia was so populated. It was something I've already learned from various school subjects, but hearing it directly from the empress herself made me realize how significant it was. The empire was simply so mighty and wealthy that it is just a waste not to live there.
Considering it was the wealthiest country in the whole continent, why wouldn't it be so populated?
"Oh? Milly?"
A voice called out to me during our walk, and I realized that we have arrived at the district that is probably my favorite. I turned my gaze to the left where the call came from, and I noticed a bald middle aged man waving his hand at me from his shop stall.
The tan-skinned bald man is Uncle Blank, the shop owner of this sandwich shop that I always buy from. He was a resident of Cytus for a long time, and he has been selling sandwiches for the children's breakfast for many years now. I am one of his loyal customers that has bought from him for many years as well, which made us know each other well.
"Uncle Blank, good morning!" I waved my hand that is no longer holding Dad's hand, and Uncle Blank noticed the two who are right next to me.
Mom's red hair immediately gave away what she is to me, and Uncle Blank realized right away that these two are my parents. However, he also knows something else that he has known for many years.
"A-Are they… your parents? I-I mean, good morning to the two of you! My name is Blank, and I sell sandwiches for breakfast time." Uncle Blank quickly fixed his words as both Mom and Dad approached the shop alongside me, and it didn't look like the two minded Uncle Blank's casual attitude.
I was a little worried considering the two of them were once royalties. They were the emperor and empress of a very large country. I was a little concerned that they might not understand how to act and talk to commoners.
But, looks like I was worried for nothing.
"Good morning, Mister Blank. I'm Milly's dad, and this is Milly's mom. We just came back from a very long and tiring mission from a far away place." Dad quickly introduced himself to Uncle Blank, and I can tell why he even bothered telling that.
For whatever reason, Dad realized that Uncle Blank knew I was an orphan. Even though I never told Dad about it, he just knew from Uncle Blank's reaction when he first saw us. That's the emperor's intuition, right there.
"O-Oh, I see!! I wasn't aware of that, I'm very sorry. "
"It's okay! Because the two of us are gonna be by Milly's side from now on. If anything, I'm glad Milly has someone who she is quite close with." Dad turned to me with a soft smile, and I'm so happy that he is acting very casual and polite to Uncle Blank.
"How much for the sandwiches?" Mom, on the other hand, seemed to be getting straight to the point.
"I'm selling these to children most of the time, so it's pretty cheap! Just three bronze coins!"
"O-Oh!! Give me five."
"Huh?"
She is just… exactly how I expected her to be. Dad may have been a surprise, but Mom's spontaneous behavior is exactly like I predicted. She is a little like me, maybe? Or am I like her?
Uncle Blank's sandwiches were always quickly made. In no time, he whips out five sandwiches for Mom as well as two more for me and Dad.
During the rest of the walk, we simply enjoyed the delicious breakfast of Uncle Blank's sandwich, which I have eaten many-many times and have fallen in love with. As I expected, the response coming from Mom and Dad were positive. They are loving the sandwiches.
Dad wondered if there were other street foods that were just as tasty as Uncle Blank's, but I don't really shop around much considering our family's monetary state. As such, he promised something that I never thought was possible.
"R-Really!? We can go shopping!?"
"Yeah! Why not? Your mom and I got our own little pocket money from our days as emperor and empress. We can spend a little bit of it to buy some things, right?" Dad turned to Mom for support, and she just shook her shoulder while eating her fourth sandwich.
"If there's more tasty stuff, I'm in."
"She's a glutton. I hope you're nothing like that, Milly…" Dad turned to me with a concerned stare, but I just chuckled at him.
I kinda am…
"That did not assure me. Nevermind, then."
"You say that, but you're the one who eats more than anyone in the world."
"I have a big appetite when I eat! At least I eat only three times a day."
"Three, but each time you eat two to three plates of rice. Don't call me a glutton, you pig."
"???"
Honestly… every time they argue about something stupid, the tension does genuinely feel like they're about to throw hands. Obviously, I know they're joking, but the way they delivered them is so realistic as if they're really fighting.
Of course, I'd realize it right away if they actually wanna fight. I've seen their mean faces when they were against the dragon god. These jokester faces are nothing compared to those cold enraged stares they gave when the dragon god was around.
After the long walk, we've finally arrived. My school is a public school, but it is by no means small or poor. It's one of the only schools within the city, which means it has plenty of backing that supports it. Many nobles have become the school's patron, allowing the school to deliver much higher quality lessons to the students.
We walked all the way until the front gate. I do feel terrible because we've now arrived. Not because of the weird stares around me coming from children who recognized me, but because it is going to be time for us to separate.
We've made it to school. It's time for Mom and Dad to bid farewell to me.