Chapter 50
Maya passed the quiz paper to Searcher Red, the teacher glanced at the paper. Satisfied that it was filled, it does not mean that she was correct. Red put the paper on his desk and took a chalk that lay on top of it.
"Like always, I'll tell your results tomorrow morning." Searcher Red went to the blackboard. "With that finished, let's proceed with Nyriad."
He wrote Nyriad on the blackboard with beautiful cursive. At the end of it, he put a clear dot that made a loud knock. Searcher Red turned to Maya.
"You ready Blue?" asked Red.
"Always." She nodded confidently.
"Before we start, have you heard this name before?"
"No." She shook her head.
"Then we can start from the beginning. Ready your pen as I will tell you about her."
Maya readied her pen and dipped fresh ink. The pen glided above the blank paper; ready to write and her eyes gave full attention to the Searcher. The teacher began to speak like a professor, with detail and passion. It was absurd to see a man in his mid twenties have such stature. But once one saw his speechcraft, it was natural to see Red speak. He spoke about when and where Nyriad was born. Her family and her personality. The impact of Nyriad's existence and the outlook that The Siren Society had on her.
"She was exotic in appearance." Red explained without notes. "Her pupils were white while the white of her eyes were dark. Her lineage was Majoris. While the strongest Siren has four wings, Nyriad remains to be the singular Siren to have six wings. Her Channels were not typical, it surrounded her whole body and her face. The average Siren only has channels on the left side of the body while the right side and the face remain clear. From what I read, she was married to a real Eridian. Similar to Hewina herself."
"Wait, how is that possible?" Maya was surprised to discover such a feat. "Eridians are literal aliens that we can't even see sometimes. Are you saying that Eridians existed among Sirens?"
"That's why some Sirens do not talk about her. She's considered to be bad among Aldari Sirens." Red leaned to one leg and folded his arms. "I'll give you the books that I refer but in all honesty, I really can't make sense of it. A lot of it could be fantasy."
Searcher Red stood quiet for a moment more, pondering the ceiling. It was clear that something was bothering him.
"Is there a problem Red?" Maya asked.
"There is." He looked at Maya. "I'm trying my best to tell you the best information. Nyriad is a mix of legends and facts. Sometimes the fact is not worth talking since it's more about a prophecy that will happen and we might not see it. But to hell with it, let's talk about her and her immense power.
Red walked close to Maya and stood right in front of her.
"Nyriad was powerful. Too powerful for the Eridian themselves." He said with a serious tone. "It was said that Nyriad was the last one to see the Eridian in the flesh."
"Because she has a special vision?"
"Because she killed them all." Red said solemnly.
Maya gasped.
"It was before the time where The Siren Society had colonised the sister planets. Nyriad herself showed to the Sirens and people of Terra Hewina the Eridian corpses. Nyriad was the Nia at the time and she was proclaimed too dangerous among The Aldarise. The Aldarise means the group of Aldaris. So all Siren, be it Majoris or Minoris, were united to fight against Nyriad. A third of the population died but Nyriad was defeated.
Searcher Red went away from Maya and wrote on the blackboard.
The Kolaphe
"The Kolaphe. Also known as The Collapse. Nyriad died but before she died, she made a promise." Red looked at Maya; raised his arm high and pointed a finger to the ceiling. "Remember Sisters and Husbands! For I shall return and with my return, the end of all things. For I die with the knowledge of The Eridians. I will return with the knowledge of The Eridians. I shall be the last Siren and it will all end with me!
He lowered his arm. "She died soon after and her body faded away like mist. Two of her six wings remained and they joined together to form a baby Siren. An entirely different entity from Nyriad."
"So she gave birth by leaving two wings?!?!"
"As legends say it, yes. The Siren was said to be a normal Siren that had her own thoughts. That Siren was called Nairi and a new lineage was formed. The rarest of all Siren lineage. Called the Nairi Blood."
"Wait, why didn't they kill the baby? I mean, Nyriad could put something on the baby."
"Because they could not kill a baby and the world was already a third empty. In the end, Nairi lived to be a kind and gentle Siren."
Maya nodded and understood.
"And that's the story of Nyriad. The Siren Society believes that she will return and she will be the last Siren in the universe."
"So she will return and end the whole planet. But Terra Hewina is no more. So does that mean she will not return?" Maya questioned.
"No, she will return because she will bring the end of the universe."
"Holy fuck."
"It is what it is." Red shrugged, he seemed to already accept such fate. "So from there on, legends have it, Nyriad is dead and alive. She will return in some sort of way and bring the end of the universe."
"That is just… depressing but also fucking cool." Maya shook her head and could not believe what she was hearing. "So do you believe it Searcher Red?"
"Aaaahh no." The two ends of his mouth fall down. Not convinced. "By now it's just legends. I don't even think Nyriad is a Siren to begin with. Chances are she was more Eridian than Siren. But life has its surprises, that's why Kharkov and I often remind ourselves that Nyriad could return still. And if she were to return, we have to accept it."
Red went to his desk, wanting to grab his mug. "Because who knows, maybe she is alive right now on some inhabitable planet that we can't reach. If that's the case. then why does the universe haven't ended yet?"
Red arrived at the desk and took the mug, looking at Maya. "Or maybe she is dead and just being a bitch before she died. Saying that to spook generations to come just because she lost during The Kolaphe. Fact is, the universe will collapse. Just we won't be alive to see it."
Red smelled the fragrance of the coffee. "That's all for Nyriad." He sipped his coffee.
Maya wrote down all the notes that she felt important. Searcher Red gave her the space and time to reflect. She viewed her notes and revised back what Searcher Red had said.
She looked at her teacher. "So the Nairi Blood. Is there anything special about it?"
"Well to put it in a way." Red gestured to Maya. "You have pure Siren Majoris blood. Gravity Manipulation is one heck of an ability. The Nairi Blood enhances that even more. Rather than actually feel your powers, you on the onset understand it. They're rare so not much can be said about it."
"Have you ever met a Siren with Nairi Blood?"
"I have." Red nodded. "Just one that we can confirm. But I don't want to talk about it. It's really not important. Because you can train your way to the same level. You're a Majoris, you're special already."
"Okay." Maya nodded. "So the books?"
"At my desk there." He moved his head to his desk and there was one book. "One essay and that would be all for your homework. Other than that, we're finished for the day."
Maya got up from her desk and walked to get the book. She glanced at Red as he was wiping the blackboard clean. She took the book and stood still, eyes on Red. Realising that he had Maya's attention, Red walked towards her.
"Something not clear Blue?" He inquired.
"There is." Maya nodded. "Actually, forget about it, I think it's not important."
"You sure?"
"I am." Maya bowed slightly. "Sorry to trouble you." Maya walked to her desk.
"Alright then." Searcher Red takes a look at Maya's quiz paper, seeing the answer that she has written.
"Actually, it's about Alesia." Maya stopped halfway and turned to Red. "I wanted to talk about Alesia."
His face was not visible as his back was the only thing she saw. But it was suddenly tense when The Searcher heard it. A moment of silence; time was suddenly longer as Searcher Red did not respond.
Red put the paper down. "Why the sudden interest?"
"I never cared about her but when I think about it, I should." Maya said. "I did fight her but never actually knew her. As a future Prophetess, I think I should care more about other Sirens. There's not a lot of Sirens in the universe."
"Hmm…" Red nodded; face still could not be seen. "That's a good point."
Searcher Red went to the blackboard. Took the chalk. Wrote larger than usual. Maya looked at the board and was intrigued with what was written.
I can't talk about Alesia
Red put down the chalk and looked at Maya. "I hope you understand that Blue."
"Why?"
"I can't say why." Red folded his arms together.
"But you said that as a Prophetess, I need to know."
"Not yet you are, The Host override it as of now." Red walked to his desk. "Don't bother to persuade me Maya, I won't talk about her even though you ask me a thousand time. Not even her name."
Maya frowned but did not say anything out of respect. She looked at her notes and went deep into her thoughts for a moment. Then she remembered something before. Axton and the photo. The name behind the photo. It was…
"How about Thundalya?" Maya raised her head and looked at Red. "Can we talk about Thundalya?"
Red stopped again. He turned his head and gave a serious expression. "How did you know that name?"
"I…" She looked down for a moment. "I have my sources."
"Really huh?" Red turned his body. "I could only assume that your source is from your about to be boyfriend?"
"Can we talk about her?" Maya did not answer the question and diverted to Thundalya instead.
Seeing her insistence, Red was curious on what would've happened if she were to know about Thundalya. It was a demand that was not against anything Host Akari had set. It showed how much Maya improved. So Searcher Red entertained Maya by walking to the blackboard and began his lecture.
"Do you know what Thundalya means?" Red wipe the blackboard clear.
"No." Maya shook her head but her attention was all on Red. She did not expect Searcher Red to be cooperative.
"Thunder Tigress." Red held the chalk with three fingers. "Thun means thunder, Ale means tiger while Alya is the female tiger. Thundalya."
Red wrote the name Alesia on the blackboard.
"There were two Sirens before you that Kharkov and I were absolutely confident that they would be the chosen one."
Red pointed at the name Alesia. "Thundalya."
He wrote another name beside Alesia. "Layla.
Red looked at Maya. "These two Majoris were high on the list. Layla was rejected because Akari felt that her attitude was problematic. She gave a thorough explanation but as for the other one." Red pointed at the name before. "Nothing. She just rejected Thundalya with no explanation. Saying that Thundalya was rejected outright."
Red quickly wiped the two names. The blackboard was never cleaner than before.
"Sure, reject them." Searcher Red put down his chalk. "But why no explanation on Thundalya?"
Somewhere unknown.
The Former Chairwoman was still bashing her shoulder at the grey wall. Alesia was persistent, resilient to get to the other side. Where her daughter waited for her.
"Mother, is that you?" Called Angel.
"Yes Darling!" Alesia looked at the wall again "Wait for your Mother!"
Not knowing what to do. Alesia distanced herself from the grey wall. Then sprinted with all her energy and punched the grey wall. Her attack was halted but there was no sensation of pain for the dead.
"So are there any books about her?" Maya asked.
"No. Not even a single one in The Academia." Red turned and slowly approached Maya. "All of my sources were outside of Tretho."
"What about Ale- I mean Thundalya that made her so great?"
The teacher stopped right in front of her desk. "During her short time in Hyperion, she was making more profits than Handsome Jack. A random person came to a dying megacorporation and made it effective in a few months. Do you think that's a coincidence?"
Alesia sprinted again and bashed the wall with her shoulder. No changes whatsoever.
Maya thought for a moment and felt a slight shock. Red was correct, Hyperion was winning the war bit by bit under her leadership.
"The one Siren that I know that has the Nairi Blood is Thundalya." Red said. "A prodigy since birth. She was special, an Aldari in her thirties when the average age of the Aldarise was sixty."
Alesia bashed the wall again and again.
Red pinched his chin and moved around, making sense of the thing he learned. "She was excommunicated. Not long after being an Aldari."
"Why?"
"I don't know." He shrugged. "But that doesn't make her any less of what she is. A powerful Siren that was more eligible to be chosen. I think that begs the question Maya." Red pointed at her, wanting her to finish what he said.
"Why no explanation or record about Alesia…?" Maya looked down and pondered.
Alesia sprinted as fast as she could, leaped high, punched the grey wall with Siren hand.
She remained on the other side but for a moment, the wall shook.
A loud thud happened.
Both Maya and Red were surprised by the sudden sound and reacted.
They both looked at the back and at the entrance was Host Akari. She approached the two.
"It seems that you forgot to cook Searcher Red. Maya needs her nutrition right if she were to train." Said Akari.
"Sorry." Red folded his arms together. "Maya and I were fully immersed with the subject."
"Really now?" Host Akari stopped close to Maya. "What did you learn Little One?"
"Nyriad." Maya sat straight, she never saw Akari interrupting a session unless it was something important. "Searcher Red was teaching about Nyriad."
Akari smiled and nodded. "Ahh The Last Siren. Hopefully you get to learn a few lessons from her."
Red went to his desk and organised all the notes properly, not wanting to leave it messy. "Alright Maya, our session ends with Nyriad. I will tell your result tomorrow. I'll be off cooking then. See you both later."
Red bowed to Akari and Maya then left The Academia. Host Akari and Maya was left alone. As Red disappeared from sight. Akari looked to Maya.
"Come now Little One, let us meditate while Searcher Red prepares food for you." Said Akari.
"Yes, Host Akari." Maya immediately stood up and cleaned her desk.
"Is there something wrong?" Akari raised her brow. "Why are you so uptight Maya?"
"Nothing's wrong." She smiled nervously. "Just tired of learning. That's all."