Chapter 14
Maya stretched her body and looked outside the window, Tretho was a beautiful place in the morning. She could see the sun almost about to rise. The bugs and birds started making sounds. The calm chilling temperature made her eyes fresh. It was the perfect start of the day. Maya turned to the desk and put all her essentials in a small pouch. She put the button on the bag and could not wait for the training that she will embark.
Maya heard an arrow entered the room through the open window. The arrow stuck on the wall and had a piece of paper wrapped around the body. Maya pulled the arrow from the wall and took the piece of paper. She spread the paper and read the contents.
Dear Maya,
Meet us at the courtyard near the temple, Kharkov and I would be waiting. Breakfast is also ready so hopefully you have an empty stomach. The rest will be informed during the breakfast.
Informing with purpose,
R
Maya smiled, the two Searchers manage to make a good impression on her. Red and Kharkov managed to make an atmosphere similar to the Resistance back at home. Homely without the violence. She folded the paper properly then put it among the many books at the table. She knows where the courtyard was as last time she visited the temple to meet with The Host. She exited her room and went to the stairs to which it would lead her to the temple.
...
"Ah there you are." Kharkov said. "I thought you were still asleep."
Maya arrived at the courtyard and saw the duo setting the wooden table. Red was busy at the fire, cooking breakfast that was one of a kind. Kharkov was setting the table, putting the plates and forks and spoons.
"Morning Kharkov." Maya asked. "Is there anything I can help?"
"Morning my friend, well you can help Red with the food." Kharkov said. "Take these bowls with you."
Maya put her bag on one of the four chairs and started helping. She took three bowls and went to the fire. She greeted Red that was busy looking at the food.
"Morning Red." Maya said.
"Morning." Red answered. "Early bird?"
"It's my daily routine, I wake up early and do the chores quick."
"Really?" Red crossed his arms together. "Didn't know that people in Pandora have chores to begin with; aren't you guys go shooting 24/7?"
"Depends on why you came to Pandora to begin with." Maya shrugged. "I personally fight whenever I want to, other than that I do the typical chores such as laundry, cleaning and reading. Whenever there is downtime, I would do some research with Tannis."
"Hmm, interesting." Red stirred the food.
"Kharkov said that I can help you on something."
"Yes, the job of putting the food." Red called for the bowl. "Now we have you eat it you clean it policy, meaning you clean your own plates. Do you get that?"
"Yes sir." Maya gave the bowls that was a total three. "Only three of us?"
"Yup, it's always been like that." Red filled the bowls with food. "The Host rarely eats with us, I have never seen her eat what I cook, so maybe she eats her own food."
"Ohh…" She was a bit down because of it.
"Hey, a bit of help?" Red waited Maya to take the bowls from him.
"Oh sorry." She immediately took it and held it.
"Don't worry, you're gonna meet with her after this. The first assembly of your teaching and she will be there to tell you about the basics." Red gave the second bowl and held the third one, then walked towards the table. "Now you gotta eat all you can, not until you full but until you're about to puke, you got that?"
"Huh?" Maya followed behind Red.
"Shove it as much food as you can because eat time is limited, your training starts when the sun comes up and finish till sun down." Red glanced at Maya. "We have breakfast, a light snack during the afternoon and dinner. Three times a day, every day. Light snacks consist of pure water and dried biscuit grass."
"Biscuit grass?" Maya was surprised.
"Gotta love the face when they hear about the biscuit grass, never gets old." Red snickered. "You gonna hear and eat more weird stuff from now on. I'm the chef and I will decide your diet from now on."
"That's amazing." Maya complimented.
They both arrived at the table and saw Kharkov finished with table. Each person was given a set of utensils, a fork, spoon, knife, plate, cup and bowl. There were all made out of wood, with a distinctive brown colour. Shiny and clean, it was a rarity to see it in Pandora with its clean and shiny finish. Kharkov saw Maya and Red, he welcomed the both of them and pointed Maya to sit in the chair opposite to Red and him. Kharkov had a jug with him and filled the cups almost full. The refreshments were purple in colour, dark and thin with no aroma whatsoever. Maya put the two bowls, one for her and the other for Kharkov. Red was already holding his bowl and just sat at his place. Kharkov and Maya followed soon and sat at their respective chairs.
"So how was your sleep Maya?" Kharkov asked. "Is it good?"
"It is." She smiled. "The place is so different to Pandora, in a good way. Just warm and cosy, even I don't know how to point but it's just nice. How about you guys?"
"We have our own places, just like Red said. I'm at the waterfalls. Red at The Academia. The Host is at the temple." Kharkov spoke. "We have our own rooms and accommodations, feel free to visit when there is time. Oh, before I forget, since Maya's new, why not Red explained what we are eating for breakfast?"
"It's like a tradition by now." Red commented. "So ladies and gents, today we are eating Tonki Soup or Stone Soup. Recipe is simple, just rock add boiling water, with some veggies and vinegar in it. As you can see, there are a lot of veggies in it and that will be enough until dinner. Mostly minerals, protein, a lot vitamins and fibres. Enjoy."
Maya looked at it and the soup was thick green. Maya could see some recognizable veggies and others that were out of her knowledge. It smelled rather tangy but a few minutes of adaptation made her use to it. Stone Soup seemed to be a crazy breakfast but knowing Red's reputation on making bad ingredients into delicious food made her wanting to eat. She took hold of a spoon and took a good amount of soup and veggies. Kharkov and Red silently observed her. She then took a small sip of the soup and let the taste buds judge it. To her surprise, she likes the taste. A smile formed and she started to chew the vegetables that were soft for the teeth to chew. The taste was sweet but just enough. Then she took a spoonful of rock and put into her mouth, she discovered that it was the source of the sweetness.
"Amazing!" Maya had a mouthful.
Then she realized, Kharkov and Red looked at her weirdly. Kharkov tried to hold his laughter while Red coughed amidst the awkward moment. Maya realized that she must have made a silly mistake. Her cheeks reddened and spit all the small rocks. She then looked back at the two and they were really struggling to hold their laughter. Finally, Red and Kharkov laughed together and Maya did not know what to say.
"Hahaha." Kharkov laughed. "It works every time."
"So…sorry Maya." Red couldn't properly breathe. "We know that you're gonna eat a mouthful of rocks. You're supposed to suck the rocks like candy after you finish the soup."
"I mean…" Kharkov laughed. "Have you seen a person eat a mouthful full of rocks?"
"Show her man!" Red wiped the tear at his eyes.
Kharkov picked all the rock at his soup and put in his mouth until it filled the whole. It was hilarious to see, like a hamster having a mouthful of sunflower seed. The puffed cheeks, the narrow eyes and the lips struggling holding the rocks. Maya, who felt embarrassed a few moments ago, now laughing together seeing how silly Kharkov look. She now wondered how silly she looked and reasoned that she herself would laugh if she saw it. Red was having the laugh of his life; his serious face was nowhere to be seen. Kharkov spitted the stones and laughed together with the two.
The laughs started to fade, Kharkov shook his head, Red wiped the tear on his eyes and Maya was playing with her food. They looked at each other and what were left were smiles that seemed unlikely to fade. From that point, Maya felt that the two Searchers were worth to trust. Rapport between each other was unlike any other, she never felt such rapport this quick not even his friends back at Pandora. The friendship made in the Resistance took a long time, but for The Searchers, they took a quarter of it.
Kharkov and Red, when Maya pondered, they were like brothers to her.