Chapter 32

Maya floated in the middle of the waterfall pool, eyes closed, facing the sun, still naked but as cliché she might think, one with nature. Her lengthened hair spread in the water. She spread her hands and legs like a starfish. Breathing deep the moistened air that the waterfall provided. The water somehow seeped all her worries out of her body, cleansing it like a filter going into her body and releasing it to the surrounding water.

Maya opened her eyes slightly, wanting to ponder the blue sky but the sun made it impossible. She covered the sun with her hand and her eyes opened wider. She saw her Siren marks and contemplated on the unique shapes and flow of it. She touched it and rubbed her left arm. The Siren Mark was the one thing that made her unique but also the reason why she was suffering most of her life. All her life was about her Siren identity. She never chose the lifestyle, the lifestyle chose her.

She didn't keep track of how long she spent swimming. Her fingertips started to have the crisp shape, perhaps it was already time to stop. Maya took a deep breath and dive into the depths of the waterfall. She touched the sandy below and emerged to the surface breathing air again. She combed her hair to the back and started to swim to the edge. She paddled elegantly, when she arrived at the near rock, she pushed herself up to the dry. Her body was heavier than usual since swimming made her body lighter. She was fatigued with a grumbling stomach, she was hungry even though she had eaten.

The Blue Siren looked at her reflections again. She smirked seeing her body as lean and fit than she had achieved before. She was like an athlete, thin waist and firm thighs. She was still annoyed with her hair, undetermined with cutting it again. She moved away from the water and forgot about it for now. She needed to clear the habit of thinking light topics heavily.

Maya walked to the towel that Searcher Kharkov had hanged. Dry herself up with the towel then wore her usual yellow attire. Which now has reached to a point of baggy since she was fitter than before. She put the towel on her head and let it be. She wore her boots and moved to the soil staircase, hoping to catch up with Searcher Kharkov.

As she traversed the slithering staircase, she realized that she never really knew who was Kharkov and Red. After almost a third of the year learning, the two of them were nothing but tutors. Red and Kharkov were caring towards her wellbeing, always keen and attentive. Maya rarely opened up her personal life to both men but for some reason, they know her situation. Perhaps that was the reason that she felt comfortable with the Searchers.

The sound of wood crackling; Maya heard. She looked to her right and saw a small trail of smoke with a fragrance of cooked fish. Maya perused forward and saw Kharkov's hut. A small house among the tropical trees; made out of bamboo that had an aged green colour. Beside the said hut was a small water stream, no wider than two meters. A fire pit was at the edge with a number of fish cooked at the surrounding. With the sound of crickets hidden in the trees and the sound of water flowing to the side, the place calms the soul. No wonder Kharkov was a happy man.

She moved to the hut and saw the man's boot. She waited in front of the door and called the man. "Searcher Kharkov, are you there?"

No one answered.

"Searcher Kharkov?" Maya called again.

"Ah." The man answered. "Already finished Siren? Please, do come inside."

"Alright then." Maya put the towel on her neck and pushed the door slowly.

The door creaked and Maya put her head ahead first to see what was inside.

The house was more to a hut as the size of it was only bigger than Red's room by a few cubic meters. Right in front was a hammock that Kharkov was already comfortably in. Beside the hammock was a window to see more of the calm tropical forest. Above it a rack of books. On her right was Kharkov's clothes and at the floor was dumb bells. Perhaps that was the key secret of Kharkov physical prowess. Lastly, on her left was a desk similar to Maya's room, with Kharkov belonging on top of it.

Kharkov yawned and stretched his body, eyes droopy. "Awwwhhhh… come in, come in. There's nothing harmful inside."

Maya entered the room while bowing a little, showing some respect. "Taking a nap Kharkov?"

"Well, there's nothing else better to do." Kharkov shrugged. "By the way, I cook some snacks if you want to eat some. Skinny dipping makes you hungry you know."

"I knew it!" Maya pointed at Kharkov. "You peek; didn't you?"

"Awwhhhh.?" Kharkov yawned. "I was sleeping most of the time. Don't lie to yourself."

"No I didn't."

"Then why the sudden reaction then?"

Maya went quiet. Kharkov laughed.

"See, you can't fool me my friend. I'm a Searcher, remember that." Kharkov sat up and looked at Maya. "The water did help the stress, you look less stiff than a few hours before."

Maya nodded. "That I won't lie."

Kharkov gestured to the chair at the desk. "So, do you feel any better now?"

Maya pulled the chair and sat down. "No wonder you're so happy, the water is amazing. Do you often dip there too?"

"Sometimes but having a small more private waterfall beside the hut makes you lazy." Kharkov moved his head around to loosen stiff muscles. "Look at the book, Red has answered about your request."

Maya turned and saw the only book at the desk. She took it and opened to the last written page. Maya read the last note. "Blue, your friend Axton is with me and you can spend a few days with him. He's looking forward to meeting you but prepare for a test at the same time. Red."

Maya smiled. Then she saw a stickman doodle with a quote bubble. "Don't be too serious. Axton draw it, not me."

Maya giggled and covered her mouth. She shook her head and closed the book.

"Thanks. You guys are really good people." Maya put the book aside.

Kharkov got off from his hammock and stood up straight. "It's part of our job Maya, don't mention it."

Maya put the book aside. She saw a picture that was framed, a familiar face with an unfamiliar woman. It was Kharkov standing beside his seated wife who was pregnant. The wife was blonde just like him and had a Siren mark with the colour dark green. "Your wife?" Maya glanced at Kharkov.

"You do know I'm married." Kharkov raised one brow. "Kristina is her name." Kharkov pondered at the picture then moved towards the door. "I don't know about you but I want to eat."

"Well she's beautiful Kharkov." Maya stood up and followed her from behind. "You're one lucky guy."

"The luckiest, if I can boast, my friend." Kharkov exited his hut and went to the fireplace. "Come now."

Kharkov and Maya chat together for a moment; eating the fish that was stabbed with a stick. A swim makes the stomach empty. Kharkov made sure that the fish he cooked was more than enough to feed three people.

"You both are really committed to the Siren Cause." Maya looked at Kharkov while having a bite. "Don't you guys ever get tired?"

"These training don't happen much often Maya." Kharkov said. "Once in a while, after we do our work, we would find a Siren or two that is worthy to be trained. Most of the time, Red and I would do our mercenary work."

Maya nodded. After months in Tretho, constant training, reading and meditating, Maya honestly doesn't know so much about The Searchers. They were up for a chat but rarely do they talk about themselves. Wanting to get the Siren troubles out of her mind, she wanted to know more about Kharkov and possibly Red too.

"You really are not good with people Maya." Kharkov pointed out. "You're so serious."

Maya realised that she spaced out again. She was having a hard time getting the bad habit out. "Sorry, I was thinking about something. I don't really talk too much back in Pandora."

"Who do you often talk to my friend?"

Maya thought for a moment. "Lilith and Axton and maybe Gaige, they're very talkative so sometimes I just give in."

"Ah no wonder you were happy that you can meet Axton. You never been this loose before."

"Sorry if I was too serious on you guys." Maya scratched her head.

"Having a soft spot for Axton?" Kharkov teased.

"Look I like him as a friend but nothing more okay." Maya blurted. "Me and him, you know, Axton is a nice guy to talk with. He's someone that you could just open up too. You just don't mind if he ever wants to say something serious. He's just that type of guy."

"True, I could see that." Kharkov nodded. "I respect your privacy Siren."

Maya came to the realization that she often talks about Siren things when it comes to The Searchers and The Host. Rarely do they talk about their personal lives. If not, ever.

"Well at least you're no longer stressed out." Kharkov shrugged.

"Are you guys aware what this Siren Cause is about?"

"We do, we want Sirens to meet with The Host."

Maya was surprised. "Wait, how about the true main goal? Don't you guys know what Akari wants to do?"

"All we know, Akari wants capable Sirens to learn under her. Other than that, The Siren Cause is anything good for the Siren race."

"So why do you guys do this, do you get anything from Akari?"

"Hurmm…" Kharkov thought. "Me personally, I do this for my family. My wife was a Siren and our children should be too. So I do this for them."

"Oh." Maya nodded then finally took in what Kharkov had said. "Wait. Was?"

Kharkov gave a weak smile then pondered to the fire. He nodded and said nothing.

"I'm… I'm sorry for your loss." Maya put down her food and lowered her head a little. "So do you have any kids?"

"They didn't make it." Kharkov sighed and leaned his body back. "Kristina was a Majoris and she got pregnant with twins. We didn't know about the Siren thing until I met Red. Red told us about it but she insisted on trying to have a family. She may be a Siren but having twins maybe was too much for the body to handle. She died eight years ago."

Maya bit her lips, she shouldn't have asked about it. Kharkov raised his hand and gestured that it was okay.

"Nobody actually knows much about it aside from a few people. Red included." Kharkov expressed. "Now, my loved ones is at Vel'Asha."

"What is that?"

"The Afterlife in Old Siren" Kharkov looked at Maya, his smile returning back to what it used to be. "Hopefully, when the time comes, the whole family will wait for me."

"So why did you do this then?"

"There's a rumour, a stone text that Red founded, it told us about a Vault that could possibly grant one wish. Akari said if things go well, we might actually tame it. My wish is to meet my family once. I want to see Kristina and my kids. But it's just rumours, nothing more. Oh well, there's nothing better to do."

"Do you get any pay from this? Any reward?"

"Nope." Kharkov laughed. "I would pay The Host if I could Maya haha!"

Maya nodded. She respected his commitment. Despite his jovial attitude, Kharkov had a sad life. Maya oftentimes dread her life, sometimes working on her abilities were strenuous. She wanted to give up because the pain of growth. The enormous responsibility that was actually true and legitimate made her want to run away from Tretho. Yet here was Searcher Kharkov, working tirelessly day and night without any complaints. Having faith on a rumour that could be false. If there was someone that was pure hearted, Kharkov was the man that Maya would point to.

"You both are really close." Maya faced Kharkov again. "You and Red."

"He's my brother!" Kharkov proudly said. "Trust me Maya, there are things that Red did for me that you don't know. He helped a lot. I lost my wife and children but never my family, life gave me a brother. That brother is Searcher Red."

"How long have you known him?"

"It was before we became Searchers, maybe around ten years ago." Kharkov leaned forward and grabbed two fishstick. "He was working under Maliwan, I remember that he was still so young yet so bright minded. He was among the leading researchers in Maliwan when it came to Sirens and I searched for him at the EchoNet. He helped a lot when Kristina had some problem with her Siren things. That's where our friendship began."

"What is his story?"

"If I tell you, you won't believe it." Kharkov took a bite of the fish. "But I'm going to tell you anyway. Her mother was a Siren."

"What!" Maya exclaimed loudly. "You serious!"

"Hah! See?" Kharkov pointed at Maya. "Red is a very interesting person, he just doesn't talk about it."

"Could he be a Siren too?"

"No but if you look closely at his left hand, you could see some marks that are very faint." Kharkov swallowed. "That man is really hard my friend, I had a normal family but him? He's a hard man because he had a hard life. Deep down, he's a caring man really."

"What did he go through?"

"Her mother was a Siren but she was a whore. Red told me that his mother didn't abort him because she wanted to get some government benefits." Kharkov shook his head and hissed. "Her mother died because of overdose and from there, Maliwan took him as an orphan. Possibly because he has Siren DNA."

"My goodness…" Maya said with a lump on her throat. "Then why does he do this thing?"

"He's loyal to the Siren Cause because Siren is a part of him." Kharkov explained. "Red knows that he's not going to be a Siren till the day he dies but he wants to contribute. He doesn't want money or fame, he just wants to contribute. His life was already meaningless from the beginning. So he committed to something that could be meaningful one day."

Maya put down her food and hugged her legs. Hearing Red's story manage to redden her eyes. No tears but her heart sank when she heard about it. She shook her head and gave her sympathies. Red was similar to Kharkov, committed to something that might mean nothing. She felt guilty because all in all, it all depended on her and she wanted to quit. She thought her past was worse but with Red, it gave her another perspective, that she was lucky that it could've been worse. Seeing how the things that Red had to go through to reach at this point, he was almost killed by Maya and yet he still persists. An inspiration was an understatement.

"Maya, can I ask you something." Kharkov asked.

"Yeah sure." Maya nodded.

"I want Red to be happy." Kharkov began. "I know this might be a weird request but that man never takes a rest. He will always make himself busy and always take things too seriously. A man would never be truly happy until he has a family to take care. Is something that only men will understand."

"So what can I help?"

"Your friend there with a robot arm, is she single?"

"You mean Gaige." Maya smiled. "I think she is single. You want Red to be with Gaige? Are you sure? Does he like her?"

"He doesn't like her." Kharkov shook his head and gave a sour face. "He doesn't care much about people to be honest."

"Then why do you want him to be with Gaige?" Maya giggled at the crazy idea.

"She left an impression on him." Kharkov ate one more fish. "Like and hate are just feelings. What is important is that she is memorable. And with Gaige, she's a memorable person for Red."

"I thought love needs to have some sort of affection."

"Is easy to like someone Maya but marriage is a different game. I'm betting five years of my life on Red and Gaige." Kharkov pointed at the fire. "If I could let them connect to each other and maybe have dinner or so, I could see him and her in a long relationship."

Maya laughed loudly. "You serious?!?! Haha."

"They're different Maya but they can work side by side. They accommodate each other! Trust me. I could see it." Kharkov confidently said. "Come on my friend, just tease him and her bit by bit. It will work!"

"Hahaha Kharkov stop it." Maya laughed again. "Okay okay I'll do it. The moment we meet with Axton, we arrange something alright."

"Opa! Meet with Host Akari and get her blessings. Then we plan out as soon as possible alright?" Kharkov smiled.

"Alright, will do."

After the entire heavy topic they discussed, it ended in a more light hearted way.