"Welcome to Genesis, Life's city!"
As Aku stepped through the gates, he was immediately greeted by the full splendor of the city.
Before he had entered the grand metropolis, he had missed one detail.
All over the city, beautiful, vibrant plants were covering the walls of buildings. Vines were spiraling up the columns and beams, trees akin to the enormous one just outside the walls were growing, albeit much, much smaller versions. Flowers lined the streets, blooming all different kinds of colors. There were reds, blues, pinks, yellows, and everything in between. It was as if the city itself was one big creature, held together by the plants it harbored.
Not only that, but the streets were filled with people. Wagons were rolling down the marble roads, pulled by horse-like creatures with silky brown hair and spiraling horns sprouting from both sides of their heads.
Each building was different, but also all the same. Each one was built from the same beautiful white marble, with golden ornaments and ruby roofs, but each one had a different shape and purpose.
Aku recognized bakeries, shops, smiths, even libraries. Some had smoke rising out of chimneys, some had grand windows and terraces, others had statues guarding their doors.
And it was all covered in plant life.
It was magnificent.
And it was also quite loud.
Aku weaved through people, making his way down the street. He bumped into more than a few people along the way, none of which seemed terribly rude as he had feared they might be.
In fact, everyone seemed awfully friendly.
He kept walking, happy to have a paved road beneath his feet rather than the awful dirt path he'd been trekking all day.
He had stepped on more than a few sharp rocks on the way here.
After a while of walking, he found a building that appeared to be an inn and made his way inside.
Sounds of drunken laughter and chatter washed over him. It was still loud in here, but a decent bit quieter than the busy street outside.
As he stepped inside, he looked around the inn.
The floor, as well as all the furniture, was made of light brown wood. Bright lanterns lined the walls, illuminating the space, and there was a big fireplace off to Aku's right. There was a rough looking man behind the bar, serving drinks to customers who were laughing loud enough to be heard across the room.
As Aku was walking towards the bar, a bulky arm was suddenly thrown around his shoulders, and a rosy cheeked man was smiling stupidly at him.
"Why hello there, kid!"
'Again with calling me a kid!'
The man burped in Aku's face, his breath reeking of alcohol.
"Care for a drink?"
He raised his mug up towards Aku, who ducked out from under the man's arm, causing him to stumble slightly, and backed off, smiling politely.
Before Aku could say anything, however, a gruff voice called out from behind the bar.
"Leave the poor kid alone, Alek! Go sit your drunk ass back down!"
Alek giggled drunkenly, waddling his way back to the table from which he'd come and sat back with a group of men all playing cards. The bartender, the man who had come to Aku's aid, was polishing a glass mug.
"Sorry about him, kid, he gets a bit too friendly when he's drunk. How can I help you?" The man chuckled, shaking his head, a warm smile on his tanned face. "Ah, but I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, aren't I? I'm Geoff, I'm the innkeeper here, and I own the place. Can I get you a drink?"
Aku shook his head, smiling at the older man. "Ah, I'm alright. I'm just looking for somewhere to stay tonight, if you have any rooms open?"
Geoff nodded, reaching up to stroke his long black beard.
"A room? Sure, we've got a few open. But um, kid… I don't really know how to say this, but… you don't look like you've got the coin for it."
For the first time since waking up in that cave, Aku felt like an idiot. How had he not thought of that?! Of course he wouldn't be able to pay for a room! He still didn't even have shoes, much less enough money to rent out a room at an inn! The best he had was his lantern, but…
No, he wouldn't get rid of his precious lantern.
"Ah, well… to be honest, sir, I hadn't thought of that."
Geoff stared at him for a few moments, seemingly dumbfounded, then suddenly burst out laughing.
"Ah, kid, you're gonna need money if you want a thing around here. Gods know nothing's cheap around here anymore. Sorry, but we don't offer any free rooms, but hey, I could spare you a pair of old shoes, it seems like you're in a dire lack of 'em."
Aku's face flushed in embarrassment and he sighed heavily.
"That would be appreciated, sir, thank you."
The innkeeper nodded and retreated into a back room behind the bar, coming out moments later with a pair of rough looking boots. He tossed the boots to Aku, who caught them and set them on the ground. He wasted no time putting them on, sighing in relief. It had been almost 2 days now walking around barefoot on rough ground.
Geoff coughed, leaning on the bar.
"Well, kid, I wish there was more I could do for you, but you know how it is…"
Aku sighed, nodding, but before he could thank the man again, the door to the inn burst open, and in walked 3 men all wearing armor and carrying long swords on their backs.
These men's armor was different from the knights Aku had met at the gate. It had a lot more red, the same ruby red color as the roofs of the city buildings. It was also decorated with gold in some spots, making it almost painful to look at with how shiny it was.
Aku shifted his gaze to look at one of the new men who had just barged in and was walking to the bar. He sat down on a high stool and pounded his fist on the wood, cracking it.
"Hey, old man, great to see you again."
He was sneering, looking down on the innkeeper, his bright red eyes gleaming in the dim lantern light of the inn.