Chapter 19 – Training Day

Jenna and Vincent looks at each other, stunned like elementary students given a pop quiz. Then Jenna speaks her mind “How are you going to upload skills?”

 “By putting this helmet on.” Alfred holds up what looks like a medieval helmet, one used by the Knight Templar during the crusade wars. “This is a learning helmet, it can transform theories into practice and reflexes by infusing it direct into your DNA, so to speak.”

““Is it safe? Is it gonna fry our brain or something?” Jenna holds on to Vincent’s arm like a little girl going to the dentist for the first time.

“It’s safe. If you don’t believe me, let me show you first then.” Alfred walks down to a shelf, skimming the titles, then grab a book.  “Ah. I always want to learn French.”

He grabs the helmet, then rips the plastic from the book “This is brand new, by the way”

He opens the book, puts the helmet on, and starts reading at an amazing rate. Couple of minutes later, he yells “Done.” like a kid just finished his exam

“Je m'appelle Alfred.  Enchanté de vous rencontrer. Quel temps fait-il ? “ Alfred begins with common French expressions. Jenna tests him “What do you think of the month of April ?’

“En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil”

“Wow. You are telling me you never learn French ?”

“No, madamoiselle. ”

“That’s  perfect French. Sounds like a local, if you are asking me” Jenna claps her hand in amazement.

“How can you tell?”

“I spend summer in France a couple of years ago. I’m telling you, that’s perfect French.”

“So…who will be the first?” Alfred takes off the helmet, and offers it to both Jenna and Vince. Vincent turns to Jenna and says “I think so far as battle training, she will need it more than me” Jenna slaps him in the arm and gives him the evil eye. “That I agree” Alfred steps down from the chair and make a hand gesture for Jenna to sit on it. She mumbles and grumbles while keep looking at Vincent, and gets on the chair.

Alfred grabs some book. “Here we go…these are some books about martial arts, let’s learn Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Jeet Kune Do. This is Basic and Advance Weapon handling, and this is Demon Vital Statistics. Why don’t you start on these first and tell me what you think.” Jenna slowly puts the helmet on, and begins to read the book. To her amazement, she reads at the speed of light, and at the same time understands how everything works as if she’s been doing it for years. She finishes the whole stack of book in less than 15 minutes and takes off the helmet. She looks up and feels amazing and powerful.

“How do you feel?” Alfred and Vincent were chatting during her “education”. The air is full of the scent of freshly brewed coffee.

“Great!! Can I have more please?”

“That will be more than enough for you. Usually 3-4 books can have someone feeling lightheaded. You already absorbed 10. Now, let me give you some gears for the battle.”

Alfred opens up a chest and grabs two rings.  “Heaven Armor rings. Put it on and the ring will create invisible body armor all around you. It’s strong, durable, and li...”

“Shouldn’t we do the training for Vince too?” Jenna interrupts Alfred mid sentence.

“No. He already possesses the skills necessary. Adding more memories to what’s already there will mess up everything.  His memory must be restored naturally through the Manna Crystals.”

“I see…”

“Since you are quite well equipped, I think now you can start chasing these demons.” Alfred grabs two bottles of glowing silver liquid “Morning Dew. These have healing effect. Use them wisely.”

“Oh, one more thing. This is the Gate of Void.” Alfred hands them a small black box attached to a chain necklace. “Use it just in case you need to escape from a dangerous situation or to travel wherever you need to go. For now, you can use the Devil’s map to give it direction. Every usage will need 5 hours to recharge.” Alfred looks at Jenna “You know what to do”

Jenna nods confidently. “Last but not least, you will need this bag to carry all of those.” Alfred picks up two satchels and gives one to each of them. Vincent looks at the small bag “How are we going to fit all of those” while pointing to the heap of weaponry “into this?”

“Ah..ye of little faith. Watch.” Alfred picks up the Blade of the Holy Might and put it inside the bag. The sword just disappears into the bag. Jenna can’t believe her eyes. She takes the bag from Alfred, looks inside and finds nothing there. “How are you going to retrieve it?” Then she jolts like something zaps her. “Wait, I know this.”

She reaches into the bag and takes the sword. “How do you that?” Jenna looks at Vincent with a smug look on her face. “By thinking of the items that you want to use. Then just reach in. The bag will also give you what you need at the most critical time.” Alfred claps his hand “Bravo ! That’s exactly what the bag will do. This is called the Warrior’s Satchel. Now let’s put everything inside the bag. Don’t forget the Book of Angels and Angelus Diablo compass in your bag.”

By the time they finished packing, suddenly the security alarm rings loudly. The room’s gates shut down and are now glowing with red emergency lights.

“What is it??” Jenna knows that anything that begins with a loud siren and red lights is never a good thing.

Alfred rushes to the monitors and in horror he whispers “Phantom Wraiths.”