Few weeks passed quickly, Carla and Atlas properly settled down in their dormitories at the academy. Though it had been a while, the happenings during the entrance examination still felt surreal to them. Just as solitude said, they were each given spirit entities that were tasked to guide them. Carla's spirit guide Dahlia was one of the previous female warlords who had passed on during the war that ensued between bloodlines a long time ago.
Elias, Atlas spirit guide was also an ancient warlord like Dahlia .
These spirit guides could materialize into spirits visible to only Carla and Atlas, or they remain voices speaking to them through their minds. Each spirit guide followed their owners everywhere. At first this posed a big problem to Carla and Atlas especially since they hated being watched while handling their private business such as bathing, shitting among others.
Between the two, Carla hated this the most. This was because the first time she was accompanied to the loo by Dahlia, she kept asking weird questions.
'Is this an evil purifying device?'
"No it's a toilet." Carla snapped blushing hard,' woah, it's better than the ones we used back in my time.' She praised
Carla discussed the issue with Atlas leaving certain details out.
"He keeps asking me stupid questions." Atlas groaned. "Yesterday he asked me if I could squeeze my butt without touching it."
Carla kept mute, trying to keep a straight face but soon burst out in laughter.
"It's not funny." Atlas huffed
"It is actually." She replied, regaining composure.
"Seriously though, can u squeeze it without touching it?"
"No!" Atlas snapped blushing stupidly. I have never even tried to.
Carla grinned "well you should try to some time."
Just like that the topic ended. Apparently, they decided to normalize Dahlia and Elias presence, and soon got used to them being around all the time.
.....
Carla clutched her shirt with her left hand, gradually sipping tea from the other as she waited patiently on Atlas bed, Last night was anything but fun, she was beaten and injured by some of her mates in year one. With her low level of cultivation, she could only sit there sobbing.
Luckily the area were the incident occurred was close to Atlas room, so she managed to walk to his door, knocking for a while before passing out in his arms.
When she woke up this morning she cried with Atlas by her side, hugging her close.
"Hey don't let them get to you he urged, he urged".
Carla stared at him, more tears threatening to pour.
"I'm to weak, too weak….WEAK she cried in frustration, I need to get stronger, we both need to".
Atlas studies her face a while deep in thoughts. To him Carla's zeal to get stronger had greatly increased. It's was evident in her eyes and the way she was speaking. He feared her attitude towards him would change causing a great distance between them which would make them go from close friends to strangers again. Though they met just few weeks ago, their meeting at solitude lead to an easy bonding process, both revealing an important amount of personal information and some minor secrets and experiences.
After an hour Carla fell asleep, the healing potion taking effect again. Due to low funds, Atlas could only purchase a low grade magna potion as such, it just subsided the pain and slightly healed the wounds.
Atlas tucked her in bed, before heading to the small kitchen to cook. In actual facts it was just a corner with a table gas on a table, and a tap by the side with a bowl placed under to serve as a sink, ten plates, cups, spoons, fork, two knives, two pots and a pan.
He grabbed some veggies, rinsed them and then quickly sliced them with great expertise. After which he seasoned them and stir fried for a while. Alongside, he prepared some rice and other dishes. By the time he finished setting the table, Carla had already woken up.
The tantalizing aroma of the food elated a wide grin on her face.
"You cooked my favourite meal". Carla grinned "You were paying attention". She said sitting down beside him.
"Yeah of course I paid attention".
After that they both ate in silence. Atlas was thrilled by Carla's appetite, she gobbled up two plates of food yet she was still out for more neither regarding his presence nor looking up once until she was done eating.
Carla drank some water, and leaned back on the chair clearly happy.
Atlas on the other hand stared at her preplaxed.
'She eats this much yet still manages to maintain a proportionate silhouette'.
Carla glanced at Atlas food and then at his face, her eyes impatiently asking if he wanted the food or not, this made Atlas chuckle.
"You can have my food, I'm not really hungry". He willingly offered.
Carla grabbed the plate gently but swiftly and once again feasted on the food, not stopping until she finished eating.
Atlas cleared the table and after washing the plates, he returned to her side.
Carla's expression turned serious, they were about to discuss their main agenda.
"We haven't started training. Our peers have far surpassed us, we are weak compared to them, and we might even be left behind if we don't start training properly".
Atlas nodded in agreement, Initially before their meeting at solitude, he was quite stronger as he had already started training but then after, every ounce of power he had strived for was entirely flushed out. The good aspect is that with their new bloodline unlocked some inhuman attributes were also unleashed. Their strength now surpasses that of other humans who haven't even started any form of training. In comparison their strength ranged between times two to three more than that of the normal average strength of a human. Their eyesight had become sharper the same goes for their hearing, however the attributes are nothing really special but at the same time very useful.
The only thing that did not change was their physical appearance which still appeared the same. Carla's hair still remained pink, long and lustrous, her eyes hazel, her lips pink and smooth, her height 5'2, her silhouette an almost perfect hourglass shape. For Atlas his hair also remained black, his eyes brown and attractive, his jawline sharp and well shaped, his lips pink, his shoulders a little broad and his height 5'9.
Carla and Atlas created an after class training schedule and made sure it went in line with their capabilities. By the time they finished it was already afternoon.
"I should get going now", Carla said getting up.
"Yeah you should especially because you need some rest, don't over work yourself, and please try to rest a bit more". Atlas suggested
"Sure, see you later". Carla said strolling out.
Walking through the hallway Carla promised herself one thing
"I won't just get stronger, I will never let anyone step on me again".