Chapter 6: Training Begins
During the last few days that the parents and teens were to spend with each other, much was talked about and rules were set into place.
This was not a vacation for them. No parties, no slacking off, make sure you floss, no unnecessary physical activities. It it wasn't training or resting from training, it was not to be done.
The teens seemed fine with the rules, Andorra was still too excited to able to wolf down any food in sight and not have to worry about it going straight to her hips or thighs or mid section. She was down for anything so long as she got to eat.
Her parents had thought ahead to her wardrobe changes and bought her some more clothes, mostly things she could work out and train in, as well as some normal clothes for when she wanted to relax.
The sheer amount of food that had been brought in was astounding Andorra thinking they would be set up for at least two months.
"Oh no, this will barely last the two of you two weeks. At least that is the idea. You'll be eating alot from now on, what with the extensive training and your metabolism being so much faster now." Elizabeth had explained to her. "You won't find much junk food in here, you need healthy stuff."
"Works for me." Andorra had said with a shrug. She wasn't much for sweets anyways.
"The cabin does have internet and Wifi, so feel free to look up recipes if you want something new " Eva had told them. "No questionable websites though. We haven't put parental locks, we trust you two."
"We're not Dante." Had been Vergils response.
It was their first morning and both were looking forward to getting started.
Meanwhile, the parents were all set up with the monitoring devices, Elizabeth perched on a chair in from of one of the monitors. Though she didn't necessarily need it, she had a cup of coffee in her hands as she watched the two teens get started.
Sparda showed up a few minutes later, coming to stand nearby.
"Are we doing the right thing?" The woman asked after a few moments. "Not telling them the truth?"
"We aren't technically lying to them." He responded. "They do need to train and hone their skills if they're to be in any shape for the coming threat."
"I know, but..." She sighed. "You've taught your boys everything from the very start. Andorra's basically like any normal teenager, I don't know if she'll be able to handle this kind of responsibility."
"She'll be fine. No one can fault you for wanting to protect your daughter from your past." He responded, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "If it weren't for Mundus's forces still trying to end me, the boys would have been ignorant of their heritage as well. I didn't want them to have to deal with my problems...
"But it couldn't be helped." Elizabeth finished with an understanding nod.
But she was still worried. She supposed that was normal for a parent to be concerned for their child. Andorra had been her saving grace, after all. If not for her, the world would be a very different place.
"Is there enough time?" She then asked.
"We can hope so." Sparda responded, removing his hand and then moving forward to adjust the view of one of the monitors.
They could now the two teens working on basic self defense. Andorra knew a little, but she was still very green. Vergil was not going easy on the girl, either.
They had only been at it for ten minutes and Andorras had already suffered a broken nose and would likely be bruised.
Elizabeth didn't want to see her child get hurt to this extent, but she knew the girls angelic half would more than be able to deal with any kind of physical abuse. Not to mention the girl was as stubborn as they came when she wanted something. And right now, she was wanting to prove she could kick ass. She'd always had this badass wannabe complex...
"She needs to work on her form..." Sparda commented. "But it is already better than when they started. She is a quick learner."
"He could try not beating the hell out of her." Elizabeth muttered before she could stop herself. "I'm sorry... That...I shouldn't have said that." Andorra needed to be whipped into shape, they couldn't do that by him being easy on her.
Sparda chuckled lightly. "I am fairly certain I would feel much the same were the roles reversed." He assured her he took no offense. "If it makes you feel any better, he is holding back. The fact the monitors can see his motions is proof of that."
Elizabeth went to respond but stopped as the monitor displayed Andorra falling to the floor, spitting blood.
The woman immediately stood her feet, ready to rush to the speaker to ask if she were all right. But her daughter turning her head and grinning like a mad woman stopped her.
"Had enough?" Vergil asked her, offering a hand to help her to her feet. She ignored it and hopped up with a laugh.
"That the best you got?" She challenged him, wiping the blood from her mouth. "Come on, try that again, I think I'm getting it."
The surprised look on the young man's face shower he hadn't expected that.
"Very well." He said, taking another step back. "Bend your knees more, keep your feet like you had them. You won't fall again."
Andorra nodded and took her stance, ready to try again.
"She should take a break..." Elizabeth said. "That was a hard hit..."
"She's fine, whatever internal wound he may have inflicted is likely healed by now." Sparda told her. "She has to push herself."
Elizabeth frowned, but nodded to show she understood. Damn her motherly instincts...
"What happens if they fail?" She asked, knowing full well she shouldn't be thinking like that. But she couldn't help but wonder.
Sparda opened his mouth to reply but stopped as the door to the room opened, revealing James having just woken up and came looking for his wife, a cup of coffee already in his hands
"Up already?" He asked, wiping at one of his eyes before spotting the activity on the monitors. "Damn...am I the only one just waking up?"
"Mmm-hmm." Elizabeth replied, quicksilver eyes glued to the monitors, still.
"Okay..." The human replied before covering a yawn with his hand. "How are they doing?"
"Good, so far." Sparda replied. "Andorra's taken a few good hits, but she is nowhere near ready to give up yet, as far I can tell."
"She get any hits in yet?" James asked, watching the teens spar.
So far it seemed Andorra had learned enough to dodge Vergils blows. She missed every time she retaliated, and it appeared it would take her awhile before she ever would land a blow.
"Not so far." Elizabeth answered. "At least she's not getting hit anymore, oh come on!" She was proven wrong as A doors had her feet swept out from underneath her, Vergil having swapped from using his fists to his legs.
The girl fell hard onto her back, having the wind knocked out of her. She fought for several seconds to draw breath before finally taking a deep, wheezing breath and gulping in air.
The fuck...you do that...for?!" She demanded, slowly managing to sit up, glaring at her partner.
"A test." Vergil replied. "You're focusing too much on one aspect of your opponent, you need to be able to see any indication of their next movements." He explained. "You didn't see me shift my weight, you weren't prepared for the switch."
Andorra didn't say anything, knowing full well that he was correct. She hadn't even noticed anything aside from what his hands were doing.
"Ready to try again?" Vergils asked, once more offering. Hand to help her up.
"Can we take a quick water break first?" She asked. "Having the air sucked outta you makes you thirsty."
The boy nodded. He didn't want to admit it, but his knuckles hurt from the few times he'd landed blows on Andorra. Angels were just as durable as demons, apparently.
"Dang, who knew our girl could take a hit?" James commented with a chuckle. "She's a natural, huh? Or is it the other half?"
"Both." Elizabeth answered, seemingly calmed down from her initial feeling of worry.
"Eh, they'll do fine then." James stated with a shrug.
"This is just the physical part, they'll still need to train with tapping into their powers. And who knows how well the two halves will take to each other. Angels and demons don't generally get along." Sparda explained.
"I know we didn't when we first teamed up." Elizabeth commented.
Sparda chuckled, nodding slightly. "We got along about as well as oil and water." He recalled. "But look at us now."
"And look at the kids." James added in. "They've been close friends since they met, I doubt their other halves would change that."
"True." Sparda and Elizabeth said at the same time.
Only time would tell though.