ENF Academy: For Some Reason, She Can Only Save the World if She’s Naked

Ch 3.12: Intrusions

Flora always did her best to project confidence. It was usually easy, just letting her general aloofness shine through, but every now and then the person she thought she was didn’t show up to play, and the person she was afraid she was showed up instead.

Her hands were calm as she opened her room, though she let out a sigh of relief when she found it empty inside.

Her uniform was off in a matter of moments, neatly folded up and placed in her dresser as her underwear was tossed to the corner. She was in her bed only seconds later, and she finally let the hold she had on her [Nature] relax.

She started shaking immediately, hands most of all. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation, but it was better than holding it in for the last half hour. 

“Why again…” she muttered to herself, tossing the covers over her head and groaning. She really didn’t enjoy hiding herself away, but sometimes being away from everything else was what she needed, whether she needed it or not.

She sat there like that a while, hands quaking, eyes watering. It was freeing at least, not having to hold things back with her aspect, but she couldn’t help but long for the days just a year prior when things like this didn’t ever happen.

She threw her walls back up as she heard the door lock, tossing the covers off her and sitting up as the door swung open.

Maribeth, her roommate, took a small glance at Flora as she walked by, but didn’t pay much attention. She’d long become used to Flora’s lack of attire in the dorm room, and while she didn’t show any interest in it the matter didn’t seem to bother her either.

“Heya, Mari,” Flora said, [Nature] already back up, body relaxed again even if her mind was still screaming. “What’s up?”

“Not much,” the girl said, placing a book on her nightstand and flopping onto her bed, letting out a long sigh of her own. “Didn’t expect you to be here on a rainy night.”

“I did my stormwatching earlier,” Flora said, throwing herself back onto her pillow as well. She wanted to sigh herself, but she didn’t want to worry Maribeth. “Just trying to relax for now.”

“Still not even sure what relaxing is for you,” Maribeth said as she pulled her book up. “You’re always relaxed.”

“Yep! That’s me.”

“Even last year during that practicum, you were fine, which was wild. I would’ve been fucked up for days.”

“More like months…”

“Huh?” Maribeth said, looking over the rim of her book.

“My new team’s going pretty well,” Flora said. “Sorry about ditching you all.”

Maribeth shrugged, looking back at her book. “It’s not a huge deal. Teams always change a little bit at the start of the new year with people graduating and stuff. I’m sure we’ll be fine when we actually get sent out. I just hope I don’t actually have to do anything this time.”

Maribeth’s memory seemed to clash with Flora’s own. She didn’t remember anyone but herself stepping up when the caravan they were supposed to be escorting together was attacked, but that wasn’t worth bringing up. It would only make keeping herself in check even more of a drain on her mana than it was already. 

“I think I’m going to sleep early tonight,” Flora said.

“Oh, should I turn the lamp off? I mean, I kind of need it right now, for at least an hour.”

“No, it’s fine.” Flora tucked herself back under the blanket, pulling it tight over her head. “It’s dark enough like this.”

Maribeth laughed at that, but Flora ignored it. She was just happy to be alone again for the time being.

“Alright, I’ll let you know when I’m gonna turn the lights down.”

“Don’t bother. I’ll just sleep like this tonight.”