EDGE OF THE STORM

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Akuku woke up to the warm feeling of the early morning sun on his face as he squinted and stretched on the bed. He looked around and observed that the window blinds were folded up to the hook on the wall. He sighed and stood up looking for his slippers as he went to the bathroom to wash his face.

He knew there was no need calling out to anyone as they must've left for the farm. It's been his life since he's always been the frail one in the family. He had energy deficiencies and easily gassed out even when trekking some distance.

Since finding it out, his mom has been extra careful with Akuku and made sure that he's always properly fed, while restricting him from undertaking any tedious jobs.

All of his protestations were met with even stiffer opposition from his family who were scared of losing him to a mysterious disease that has never been observed in their family. He was constantly treated as the egg of the family, given premium care and attention, more out of fear of losing him than of their love for him.

Just as he stepped into the kitchen, it all just seemed like another normal lonely day, and as usual his food was already prepped up on a stool with his special plate so everyone would know its his food.

The sight of the food brought back memories of his meal time with his late friend, the king. The old man was so fond of Akuku that he'd sometimes not eat up until he was by his side. It was as if their spirits connected and Akuku could still remember his best moments with the king, the stories he would tell and the lessons he had learnt.

He had met the king on one of his visits to the palace as a cleaner and due to his diligence and timely nature, the old man had taken him under his wings, sometimes even treating him like the son he never had.

The king was so fond of him that he would sometimes jovially refer to him as his son. But it still felt good to be considered so highly by such a personality. Then melancholy set in when he remembered how the king died smiling at him while he held onto his hands. That's when he felt his fists tightening and in a swift moment he felt as if someone had taken over his body.

His fists softened and his legs seemed to be taking orders from another brain. He looked around but couldn't see any other person in the room, and when he was wondering how he got back to his room, he found himself on his bed again. At first he was confused, it was as if he was possessed by a spirit, but one that felt really familiar.

Then he felt a tumultuous rumble from afar off that seemed to be heading towards the house. Moved by still the same compulsion, not of himself but by whatever spirit was possessing him, he went outside to meet a huge whirlwind rumbling towards the village. Running towards it in a move that bewildered his senses, he found himself face to face with the storm.

And with a spread of the hand he stood up to the whirlwind wind withstanding its ferocity with a strength and stamina that surprised him and as he struggled to bring his two hands back together in a clasp. The wind was moving too fast and he had to do something fast or else the whole village would be swept off.

Letting out a loud cry, he summoned all the powers within him and his spirit seemed to be working on a different pedestal to his mind, tapping from a higher source of energy as he forced his two hands into a clasp and immediately the whirlwind seemed to retreat just as fast as it had come.

Then he was brought back to consciousness by his parents and siblings squatting beside his bed. Feeling tired and weak, he opened his eyes to behold their weary and worried faces.

"what's wrong" he asked them

"we noticed the whirlwind from the farm and were worried that you might be hurt, that's why we rushed back the moment we could" his mom exclaimed "I hope you are okay"

"yes I'm fine" Akuku murmured

He wasn't ready to be queried on anything at the moment. Realizing that what had seemed like a dream was actually reality - but how it happened, he cannot tell - he smiled to himself feeling triumphant. As he stepped into the kitchen again and grabbed his food, that's when he remembered what the king once told him "he who overcomes the storm shall rule".

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