Into the Eye: Neru's Journey - Written by : Clide Staton

Neru stood at the edge of the storm-lashed beach, the raging ocean roaring before him. His surfboard under his arm felt heavier than ever, not from weight but from the burden of what was to come. Behind him, his family stood, eyes filled with a mix of fear and confidence. His father stepped forward." Are you sure about this, son?" his voice barely rising above the howling winds. 

Neru turned, his face resolute. He hugged his father and mother tightly, whispering words of reassurance. Then, he walked to the woman he loved. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but her voice was steady."Come back to me," she said softly, pressing a kiss to his lips. Neru nodded, and with that final touch, he turned toward the storm. The sky churned with fury, dark clouds swirling in a maddened dance as the hurricane grew closer. 

  He stepped into the wild waters, his body firm against the waves' pull. The storm roared louder, as if daring him to continue, but he mounted his board and paddled forward. As the waves towered around him, Neru stood and began to surf. The force of the wind and water was nearly unbearable, but he held steady, his eyes locked on the horizon. Suddenly, the sea beneath him shifted violently—a flash of yellow broke through the water. 

A shark, massive and menacing, burst from the depths, its teeth gleaming in the dim light of the storm. Neru’s heart raced as it lunged toward him, but with a sharp turn, he dodged the beast, his board carving through the waves like an arrow. The shark disappeared as quickly as it had come, and Neru pressed on. The storm raged on all sides, the wind screaming in his ears. But then—silence. Neru had reached the eye of the hurricane. 

In the stillness of the storm’s heart, a massive figure began to rise from the depths. The god of water, Aqua, emerged, his body towering above the ocean, muscles rippling like the waves. His voice boomed, shaking the very air." Who dares enter my domain?" Neru stood firm on his board, his voice unwavering. 

"My name is Neru, and I come from the village where your storms have destroyed many homes and lives. But I am not here to defy you. I am here to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage." Aqua's eyes flashed with fury, his roar echoing through the storm. But as he looked closer at Neru, something changed. 

His expression softened, his anger giving way to surprise. He leaned forward, scrutinizing Neru’s face."Your heart is pure," Aqua rumbled, his voice like distant thunder. "But beware. One day, it will be clouded."For a long moment, the god was silent. Then, with a deep sigh, he spoke again. 

 "You have my approval. Take care of her, and remember my warning."With that, Aqua vanished beneath the waves, and the storm began to break apart, the winds calming, the skies lightening. Neru, his mission complete, turned his board back toward shore. He surfed through the fading storm, the promise of a new future ahead of him.