Read Online It Rained Red Upon the Arena by Kenneth Champion - Free Book Online Page A

that arena; you will need that on your side. But you also need to be smart. Do you plan on dual wielding short swords tomorrow?”
    “I plan to, yes. I’ll be able to finish him faster that way,” replied Nick.
    Phillip shook his head and looked at the floor, “No,” said Phillip. “No, you will not be dual wielding short swords. You save that for when you’re in the arena with a Paplon. When you fight a Reza you need to have a shield in one hand and a sword in the other. A Reza’s strong suit is long distance. Sure, they carry a sword with them but they will always prefer to blast fire and ice from their hands at you from a safe distance. You might be fast enough to dodge some attacks, but not all. A shield can save your face from burning off. Walking in there without a shield will result in you dying a painful death tomorrow.”
    “Alright, then, I’ll use a shield tomorrow. Let me go grab a shield,” said Nick.
    The two took turns practicing on the dummy for the next hour. Nick was back in his rhythm. His blazing fast blade made a few heads turn. Nick felt good hitting the dummy over and over. He felt a release of anger and tension as his wooden blade met with the bundle of hay.
    The Refect came in to end the practice session. It was time to go back to their cells. Single file and orderly, the inmates marched back to their cells. Hours went by and it was time for dinner.
    Same routine. The Refects came to open the cells and the inmates marched back to the kitchen. Nick got in line and got his hot mush of a meal and spotted Phillip at a table.
    “Can I ask why you’ve been helping me?” asked Nick.
    Phillip looked up to see Nick standing over the table, “Please sit,” replied Phillip. “I have seen too many new inmates come in and die within their first few matches. I am in here for six years. I was found guilty for three counts of murder. Two years for each. I don’t expect to ever get out of here. What I did I do not regret. The people I killed deserved it more than anyone I had ever encountered. I know I will not survive forever. One day in that arena someone better than me will take my life. But until that day, I want to kill as many bad souls as I possibly can. Fate put us all in here; we all deserve to die. But some of us, like myself and you, Nick, can, in fact, help rid Hentrio of despicable beings.”
    Phillip took a sip of his water and continued, “See, I want to help you because you are young, and there is something that shines in you that no one else possesses in here. What I see is hope in you. You do not plan on dying on the sand out there, do you?”
    “No,” replied Nick. “There are things in Hentrio that need my attention. I will not die in the arena.”
    “That’s good to hear. It seems as though I’m not wasting my time. Then good,” said Phillip. “Tomorrow you will step foot in the arena. You will walk out and see the crowd. They will cheer and some will mock you. Before your fight, though, we will have a chance to train once again. Now, let me ask you again because you did not tell me this morning. What is your name?”
    Nick was just finishing a bite of his mush and said, “We are not friends, remember, but my name is Nick Bint.”
    The two finished up their dinner and did not speak of much else. They sat and Nick observed other tables. He saw the cliques that normally sat and trained with one another. So many inmates, so many crimes done collectively, and they all sat in the same room. He did not understand how the inmates were not ripping at each other’s throats, how could they all sit there and converse over a meal, he wondered. Chaos is what Nick anticipated when he first arrived, but perhaps the chaos was left for the arena. That’s when the true beast came out.
    Nick went back to his cell and slept. He knew he needed the rest for his first fight.
    He was awakened by the steps of the Refect. They started opening the cells, same routine. Breakfast was ready in the