Chapter 16

Day 1

Searcher versus Siren, the two stood face to face before the spar begins. Maya was amped and could not wait to show her capabilities after all the years of self-education. She glanced at Akari and even though it was childish, she wanted to impress her. Red was not as enthusiastic, he was taking the conservative approach. Stretching his body, mostly on his arms and legs, each time he did it, cracks could be heard. He took a deep breath and released it slowly.

"You don't stretch?" Red asked.

"I don't need to." Maya smiled. "You ready?"

"Wait." Red cracked his neck. "Yeah, I'm ready."

On a safe distance, Kharkov and Akari stood side by side observing the two. Akari turned towards the man beside her. "How is she in the real world?"

Kharkov turned to Akari. "Unlike the others, she lived in The Abbey."

"Ahh, she's purer than the others on worldly influences." Akari noted.

"Indeed, I think it was Athenas that the planet was called." Kharkov crossed his arms. "You know that planet?"

"No, I have not heard of it. But looking at her, she seemed to be well trained by the people of the planet."

"Searcher Red has made some research and said that Athenas has some Eridian influences, it could be a good sign for her to succeed."

"We shall see. Can you start the spar Searcher Kharkov?" She asked as she was eager to see the result.

"Affirmative my Host." Kharkov turned to the two and heightened his voice. "Hit fists to begin!"

Maya looked at Kharkov and nodded, it was time to spar and she was prepared. She looked at Red and the man has already had his fist waiting to be hit. Maya looked at Red and gestured to begin. She hit her fist with his then moved away from Red. Red did the same thing and created distance between each other.

"Fight!" Kharkov shouted.

Red stood in orthodox boxing stance; he was right handed and let his weaker left to be closer to Maya. His upper body was making slight movements, preparing to dodge any attacks. Maya had her hands low and her lower body ready to move to any direction. In her head, she wanted to use her powers and knocked Red out instantly. So she raised her Siren hand and focused on her powers. She fisted her hand and grabbed Red with her Phaselock. But to her surprise, Red advanced quicker than her Phaselock, her ability failed to hit and grab hold of him. Maya missed the target and Red dashed towards Maya.

Maya reacted defensively and leaned back, expecting a fist to come to her face. Red did not throw his fist; he gave a knee to her stomach and stunned her. Maya grunted and next thing she knew, Red pulled her head and slotted it under his right armpit. Red hastened to pull her down and smacked Maya's face to the ground. Maya couldn't do anything as his bodyweight and gravity prevented her to do anything. Her face hit the ground and Red landed on his back. The man wrapped his legs around her torso and locked it in. The hold on Maya's head was strengthened as Red connected his right with his left. Maya was cut of air and she felt the strain on her neck. Maya wanted to lift herself up and released from the hold but she was out of breath when the thought came.

She was not going to give up, she endured. She moved her hand and tried to find a weak spot to his Red but there was none. She desperately hit any body part that she could reach but it was ineffective. Red continued with the hold that he has towards Maya and strengthen the hold even more. Maya used her legs to move but the weight of Red and the way he holds her prevented her to move. Red felt the slight movement and saw Maya's leg moved, he countered with a tighter lock on the legs. Oxygen did not reach the brain and Maya was about to pass out. Her face slowly turned pale and her head was getting lighter. She tried her best but there was no way she was going to break the hold. She had no choice but to tap on Red's hip.

Kharkov saw the hand tapping. "Stop!"

Searcher Red has his eyes wide, she released Maya from his hold, both his legs and arms. Maya pushed herself away from Red and lay on her back beside him. Panting heavily with her reddened face. Red looked at Maya and see if there was anything to worry but just a glance was enough to know that she was okay. Red was surprised, he thought that the fight would go longer. But it seemed his expectation was not true. Red got up to his feet and pat all the soil on his clothes.

Red looked at Kharkov. "Did she really tap?"

Kharkov sighed. "She did."

Red looked at Maya who was still lying down beaten. "Did you really tap?"

Maya was embarrassed but admitted it, she nodded to him on the fact that she tapped out. Her spirit that before was enthusiastic now downed and shamed. She expected to give a good fight to Red and win it, showing her powers off to The Searchers and The Host. But the opposite happened; she covered her face in embarrassment. Red called her and she looked at him, a hand was offered. She took it and Red assisted her to be on her feet. Once stood still, she put her hands on her waist and looked down. She still breathed heavily to try to catch her breath.

Akari looked at Kharkov. "Are you sure with her?"

Kharkov curled his lips, having a hard time to answer. "It seems we might have made a slight mistake on predictions."

"Well, it's very odd to see her defeated so quick, quicker than the ones before."

"So it looks like it." Kharkov scratched his head.

"You have to do more work than ever it seems." Akari waved at Maya and Red goodbye. "I'll leave you three to do whatever necessary. If there is anything that needs to be inquired, find me at the temple."

"Yes Host Akari." Kharkov affirmed.

Akari turned away from Kharkov and went back to the temple where she would meditate like she usually would. Maya looked up and saw Akari walked away, it demotivated her even more. Kharkov walked up to Maya, he realized that Red was surprised but not in a good way. Kharkov arrived to the scene and looked at Maya; he shook her shoulder and caught her attention.

"Are you alright Maya?" He asked.

Maya nodded then sighed.

"That is good, that is good." A small creased formed on Kharkov lips. "There is still a long day, raise your chin my friend, you will fight again. Until the sun goes down, you will fight until you beat Red, do you got that?"

The way that Kharkov said the words, it motivated her to try again. Mistakes happen, but it's a stepping stone to become better, Kharkov reminded. Maya took a deep breath and made a decision to fight again. She looked at Red and he was ready to spar again. Her face turned serious, she raised her fist waited for Red to bump his. Kharkov moved outside of the circle, Red cracked his neck again and hit his fist with hers. The spar began again.

...

Things did not improve for Maya, it was afternoon and Red told Kharkov that he wants the spar to be postponed. From morning to lunch, the Blue Siren experienced consecutive defeats. No rounds won, just defeats. Kharkov insisted Red to continue and give her another chance whenever she was defeated, to a point that Red felt irritated towards Kharkov. Red reminded Kharkov that food and water was necessary for learning, Kharkov took his advice and finally let Maya rest from sparring. Maya was surprised with Red fighting capabilities, with every trick that she had learned; Maya still couldn't topple Red from his feet, let alone beat him.

Maya was sitting at the table in The Courtyard, bruised and hurt, resting her head at the table. Now she regretted on Red not giving him some slack. The man was quick and his feet and precise on his actions. Maya wondered how many Sirens that he beaten before she came. Thinking further, what Kharkov has in his sleeves, she didn't want to know. Clearly the older Searcher was better in combat comparative to the younger. Maya sighed long, she was not confident that she would pass the teachings so easily. She heard something was put on the table; Maya raised her head and saw a bowl of biscuits and a cup of water. Maya traced the hand and looked at Kharkov, the ever smiling blonde.

"Hey, you alright?" Kharkov snickered.

"Ughh…" Maya laid her head on the table again.

"Hahaha.." Kharkov patted her back. "First day is always like this, quite overwhelming, I know. But you need to eat Maya."

Maya raised here head, looking at the food in front. "Is it the biscuit grass?"

"Yup, taste like biscuits." Kharkov sat beside her. "Made out of grass."

Maya sat up and took one. She looked the biscuit from every angle that she could think of then smell the food. It smelled like grass and she pulled her head away from it. She looked at Kharkov and realized that the man was already having a few biscuits in his mouth. Maya looked at the biscuit for the last time and decided to eat it without thinking too much. The moment when the biscuit hit her taste buds, she was confused. She looked at Kharkov while munching on the food.

"Hmmm…." Maya sounded.

"Taste good eh?" Kharkov finished one biscuit and ate another.

"Taste like a biscuit." Maya swallowed her food. "Honestly, I didn't know what to expect."

"You don't have to worry about it my friend. As long as Red made it, I assure you that the thing is safe to eat, at the very least, of course." Kharkov took his cup and drank the water. "Eat more Maya, you need the energy."

"Where is Red?" Maya asked.

"He's doing something I guess. He should be here any minute now."

"Okay. Kharkov, can I ask you something?" Maya turned to the man.

"Sure."

"If I fail to beat him, am I disqualified?"

Kharkov took in the question and munched another biscuit. "There is a possibility."

"There is?!?!"

"Some Sirens don't cut out Maya. That's nature doing its job, natural selection. But it depends on the circumstances. Sometimes The Host thinks that the Siren is not doing it right, sometimes The Searchers have to discuss it and decide to out a Siren. It's highly circumstantial."

"Damn it…" Maya looked away. "I'm so getting disqualified."

"Who are you trying to impress Maya?"

Maya looked at Kharkov as he ate another biscuit.

"Are you trying to impress anyone around here?"

"Maybe…" Maya's eyes focuses on another direction.

Kharkov shrugged. "That's one good reason to disqualify you."

"Are you guys planning to?"

"No, we're not but I'm telling you this because you need to know. Maya, you don't come here to impress people, those are for kids. You are now with the big boys or big sisters, whichever suits you. I know you can beat him, you just not that serious, that's all." Kharkov said.

Red arrived to the place and stopped when he saw Kharkov and Maya. Red called Kharkov and told him to come to him.

"Well Maya, I need to do some work with Red." Kharkov moved from his chair and stood up. "Red and I will have some long talk, which means more rest time for you. We'll meet you at The Plains, so be there as soon as you finish eating."

"Alright Kharkov." She raised her hand and waved goodbye. "Meet you guys there."

"You can beat him, Maya, I know you can." Kharkov pointed at her. "You just need to push yourself, that's all."