CHAPTER 00009
The streets of Gurugashu were buzzing with excitement. It had been fifteen years since Hubok was defeated, and the village was freed of its dictorial leader. In that time, the bustling streets of the small village only became more crowded, leading to a huge expansion of the city limits.
The local government had decided to start investing in a marketplace centralized in Gurugashu, one that almost tripled the size of the one in Bay Harbor. The marketplace received an overwhelming amount of praise, leading to its exponential growth in the past ten or so years since its conception.
Nowadays, the marketplace served as what was essentially an extension of the Bay Harbor trade hub. Considering Gurugashu was further inland, it had more connection to cities further south on Heart Island, and therefore goods wound up here before being distributed across the island.
All of this meant one exhilarating thing, though — Gurugashu was getting more traffic then ever before. Hundreds of merchants crossed through the city every day, bearing items from across the world. The village was practically a global display, from a cultural standpoint.
And yet, Akar, who had just recently turned 20, still didn't find himself satisfied. As he hung off the side of a statue, watching the travelers traverse the streets around him, he couldn't help but long for a life outside of the village.
So, as both he and his mother had discussed when Okiji had made his pilgrimage to the village, at 20 years old, it was time for Akar to set off on his journey of exploration. Prioritizing essential supplies, Akar gathered his belongings, stuffing them into a pack that was way too small for his intentions.
He hugged his mother, an embrace with a fitting length relative to its significance. When they finally let each other go, Akar waved goodbye to all the people he grew up with. The various shopkeepers, civilians, and friends he'd made through his early life were all in the past now.
As he walked away from the village, not looking back, only one notion occupied his thoughts.
His life had truly begun.