CHAPTER 19
Nate and I arrived at the training grounds which was very secluded. It wasn't the same training ground that I went to. Jean said that this was only for the contenders from my kingdom. This is where my ancestors trained and started their grind onwards to the top. Indeed it was very secluded as we took many turns and went down to numerous stairs. The door looked very simple so I thought this was just a simple training room, but when we got there, I was definitely wrong. The inside was really huge and had different tools and practicing areas. In the middle, we saw Jean waiting. He was not in his uniforms and so were we. We have decided to wear clothes that would allow us to move freely so right now, I'm wearing tight but stretchable shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Nate on the other hand was wearing his usual attire as he wont be joining me in today's training. I only have a week now and the introductory event will be later on tonight at the grand hall. I sighed at how busy I am now because back then at home, I usually just go around the palace, would go to meetings with captain Elevi and sometimes just sleep most of the time. But now, I am deprived with sleep and rest, which sometimes makes me regret the position that I am in but now is not really the time to complain. I walked straight ahead to where Jean was.
"Are you ready your majesty?" He said with a smile.
"I don't really have a choice don't I?" We laughed at my response which again, took some worries away. Last night, when Jean told us that he knew, I huge baggage was removed from my back and what he said about father not lying about my situation did somehow placed my heart at ease.
"Now here are the things that you need to remember. What Kaval said about winning alone being not the way to go is correct. In the clash, you and your ally needs to improvise on the things you find. There are three necessities to survive inside the dome. First is, to find shelter. Each group will be released at a different zone inside the arena so that gives you some time to find shelter as that time, you can be assured that each group are doing the same thing as you and your pair, but you still need to be careful as to where you are going in there because you might encounter others and if that happens, either one of you will loose."
"Since we thrive in humid area in the lands as we belong to the water elements, we tend to gain more energy as long as any form of water exists in a certain are. That should apply to you as well despite you not having any power. So from the very start of the clash, you and your pair should find a place where the both of you will be stronger. That is where you are going to build your shelter. Despite that, you still need to find a very secluded place where you can't be easily found. Since you can't use your power, your best tactic to be able to survive is to hide with your pair. Your best chances is to just wait everything out. Fight when it's necessary but I advice that you and your pair retreat most of the time that you are going to encounter another enemy. You can depend on your pair to use their power to at least delay the enemy from finding and catching up to you."
"Second is food. Inside the arena, you need something to eat as the clash can span up to days. The last thing you would want is to fight with an empty stomach. There are a lot of available food in the dome but you have to look for them. But remember this. Not everything you see is edible. Some are poisonous and are most likely set up by an enemy so you have to be careful. In my case, I know when its poisonous by sticking my pinky finger in the food. If your finger tingles then you don't eat that food. But if it doesn't, then it's safe to eat. You need to be picky with what you eat because if you are poisoned, you are most likely half dead or paralyzed."
"Lastly is you need to know your tactics. It is inevitable that you have to fight at some point but since you don't have powers, you can improvise by creating tools. That is why we study science at the academia. This is an old tactic but it works like a charm whenever you need it. I have a book here about the things that you can do to defeat your enemy without using your power with science. Like for example, when they are near to you and there is a form of water present, you can electrocute them if you have figured the ways to do so. There are many points in the arena where you can obtain electricity and many more, you just have to have a sharp eye in finding those. Now that's all for today. No physical training yet. You still have a pre-show to attend to so it's better to go there first and find who you are going to be paired with. Let's just pray to the gods that you're going to be paired with Hade or someone that can defeat him. Or else we will have no chance. I know that the others know about your current situation. So your best shot aside from the other alternative is to be paired with Hade himself or someone who can defeat him. Now go. Meet me here tomorrow." I nodded at Jean before smiling at him. The moment I turned my back, I was praying to the gods that I should be paired with Hade because if not, then it's game over.