Training Body and Mind (2)

"What you did back there was hilarious! Advertising the restaurant using your weak body, wow, that's a new trend huh? haha," Flint came back rolling in laughter after suppressing it for too long, who would imagine that a weak guy like Atlas would advertise a restaurant using his body.

"Shut it! I just want to get rid of my stuttering okay?" Atlas said.

He was so ashamed of himself, why the hell does he need to copy what Flint said he wouldn't be embarrassed if he just thinks it through first.

"If you want to get rid of it it's easy, I've observed this: when you stutter you tend to rush your speech so maybe slowing it down will help. How about you try it?" Flint said to Atlas after calming himself.

"Look see that girl over there? Talk to her! Go!" Flint pushed Atlas to a girl standing by the sidewalk clearly waiting for someone.

*tugs*

Due to his frail body, a slight push from Flint cause him to crash into this young lady.

"U-uhm s—"

'No, you need to slow down Atlas!' Atlas reminded himself.

"Uhm sorry about that miss" Atlas said slowly.

'Woah it really worked!' Atlas was amazed by the advice Flint has given him.

What he didn't know was that Flint specifically researched this method to help him. After getting bullied by their classmates for being a stutter Flint decided to help Atlas get rid of this hobby. Fortunately, Atlas was willing to change himself because if not it would be quite rude to ask him to change himself just because he's a stutter.

"It's okay!" The girl smiled gently.

Now that she's in front of him, he noticed that this girl is quite cute. She braided her like that makes her look cute, coupled with her height that only reached Atlas' chin. Atlas couldn't help but smile after seeing her.

At this moment Beatrice who can't sleep thinking about Flint and Shirley's affair, together with Alia arrived at the restaurant. Alia who was saw everything couldn't help but feel sour after seeing Atlas smiled at that cute girl. Now both her and Beatrice are in a sour mood.

When they reached the position of Atlas, Beatrice was about to ask him where fatty is but Alia pulled her in for unknown reasons. After entering the entrance there they saw Flint talking with Shirley. Flint came in earlier because he doesn't want to disturb Atlas and that girl, there he saw Shirley, he approached her to talk about their free dinner this night.

Flint noticed the 2 ladies entered the restaurant he was about to but Beatrice just looked at him coldly and walk pass through him.

'Hmph! Jerk!' Beatrice said in her head.

Beatrice kept this cold treatment to Flint. Flint who still doesn't know what he did wrong is constantly thinking about the consequence he'll face because of Beatrice's anger.

'God save me! T.T' Flint prayed in his head

Atlas who was oblivious to everything that just happened is still talking to that girl. Keeping Flint's advice in his head he tried to talk slower while swallowing his shame for a moment to continue this conversation with this girl.

Atlas came to know that her name was Sophia, she's a freshman as well and she's a BSME student. That's the reason why they're conversation lasted long, Sophia kept asking him questions about the school and the course BSME. It turns out that she was just out of the hospital that's why her parent to her to rest for a week before entering the class. So, next Monday she'll now enter the class where Atlas and Flint are in. The two of them manage to talk about many things they have in common, sadly Sophia's bodyguard arrived.

"So till we meet again Atlas! See you on Monday" Sophia said cheerfully. She's so excited to go to college, as she was homeschooled all the time this is the only time she was allowed to go out of the society, and thankfully her first acquaintance is Flint.

For some unknown reason, Atlas was so comfortable with Sophia like how comfortable he is with Flint. He can talk to her without stuttering he was glad he found another friend.

In some unknown place, after receiving a report. a lady hugged her husband. "Look like our daughter finally met his brother hon!" the middle-aged man said as he wraps his huge hands around the weeping lady. "I *sob* I miss him, Dear!" the lady continued to weep as she tried to say something in the midst of her sob. "Soon! We'll meet him soon my dear" all he could do was hug her wife tightly to console her.

Back to the restaurant.

After they separated Atlas entered the restaurant where he saw Beatrice and Alia. He was about to approach them when he saw Alia glaring at him coldly, when he turned to Beatrice, he saw that her mood wasn't any better. He decided to stay away in case he suffered an unexpected calamity.

'Atlas!' the old man emerged at the right time.

'What?' Atlas answered while he slowly walks back out of the restaurant.

'Remember when you scanned your campus?' the old man asked

'Yes, the campus was so big!' Atlas answered as remembered the shocking 82,879.09282 square meters land area of the campus.

'Well ever since you scanned it, the data was stored in the core of the rubrics cube, it will show you a 3d map of the school, go instruct the system and go to the forest area' The old said

'The forest area why?!' Atlas asked, even though they've only spent 2 days in the university, myths and legends are easy to spread. It was said that the forest is hunted by a ghost that's why the admin chose not to cut it. And with his cowardly nature Atlas wouldn't want to go there alone or with a company.

'Just do as I say! They don't need you here after all the troubles you made today.' the old man reminded him of his failures for this day.

Atlas has no choice but to follow. After changing his clothes, Atlas said to Flint that he'll probably get home late tonight just in case he'd worry about him. He didn't bother saying anything to the 2 girls because of their mood.

Atlas proceeded in entering the campus, with the help of the rubrics cube he was able to enter the school gate without the guards noticing him. After 15 mins of walking from the gate, he arrived at the entrance of the forest. Just looking at it makes him shiver in fear. Atlas didn't bother opening his flashlight in fear of being discovered by the guards. The moon is full tonight so it's not dark but that dim light provided by the moon just makes everything eerier. The shadows of the trees touch the grassy ground, it was clear that there's no one taking care of this forest.

'What now?!' Atlas asked the old man in annoyance because who in the right mind would want to enter this forest at night?

'Proceed! Enter the forest, I'll instruct you what to do' the old man replied nonchalantly.

Atlas sighed and proceeded, he entered the forest slowly while maintaining vigilance towards his surroundings. The more he looks around the more scared he gets.

*Swoosh*

A figure pass by the bush. This one sound scared the soul out of him, he stands still afraid to make any movement that will make him noticed by that figure. He started to shiver in fear.

'Hey, Gramps what was that?' Atlas asked the old man, he has forgotten that he still has an ability to scan his surroundings.

'It's just a r-'

the old man was about to say something when the figure came out of the bush.

*swoosh*

'Rabbit' both the old man and Atlas said at the same time.

Atlas was embarrassed by being scared because of a rabbit. He proceeded with his walk to avoid embarrassment. The old man decided not to tease him because he's tired of this foolish appearance of Atlas.

'There you can see that branch over there, right? Pull it!' the old man instructed after seeing a tree. That tree is no different from other trees in the forest but the old man noticed it.

Atlas decided to just do whatever the old man would say to finish this early and go home.

*Creak*

Surprisingly the branch was indeed a lever and Atlas heard a door opening. He looked around but he can't see any door.

'Go around the tree' the old man instructed

Atlas immediately go around the tree hoping to see the door, but he saw nothing. He keeps looking around, but he can't see any opening or some sort.

'Look down' the old man said

On the ground, Atlas saw a stair leading underground. He was surprised by what he saw, he didn't see it earlier because there's no light coming from it and he's looking horizontally.

'Go down!' the old man woke him up from his fascination.

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