Arcana Twilight: When The Star Falls (retelling)

9- Lazy, but kind

Wet.

Everything feels wet.

Gloria opens her eyes to see the familiar scene of the starry sky and the shallow water stretching for miles. Once again, she was laying in the water, gazing directly up.

As she looks up, she sees the constellations in the skies that are bright. Virgo and Boötes.

Spica and Arcturus shone in their constellations, but the sky still looked very dull and dark. Gloria sits up in the water, her shoulders tensing a little. Please.... I don't want for... it... to come....

She can sense something from under her....

Gloria quickly stood up to run, trying to get away from what she's sensing.

Water shot up in front of her, something shadow-like tried to reach out for her. Before she could react, the stars came down to her to protect her from whatever was grabbing her, shining to lure the thing back. Gloria's eyes widened. This... hasn't ever happened before when I've been here!

The two stars continue to shine when something else grabs Gloria's leg, pulling her into the water and dragging her under. The usual sight appears before her.

Sinking rapidly as everything slowly goes dark. The stars slowly fading. Whispers all around her. Images appear all around her, slowly becoming clearer, but still hard to see. Are those.... E-eyes...?

Once she recognizes the shapes, she starts to feel a painful sensation in her chest. It slowly becomes unbearable.

Someone.... Help...!

Gloria shots up in a medical bed. She looks around panting and trembling, her hair falling over her face.. An.... Infirmary...?

Arcturus, who was sitting in a chair near her, sharply turned his head up to her, eyes widened, "Gloria...! You're awake...!"

He tries to reach out to her just for Gloria to flinch. She was still shakened from her nightmare. That... never happened.... Why did it change...!? Gloria continues to tremble, gripping to her arms tightly now. Images of the eye played in her head as her chest still slightly hurts. Arcturus soon looks down, thinking he shouldn't touch her in the state she's in but still wanting to help.

"I'm glad you woke up," He starts, "We all were worried when we couldn't find you. I was happy that Alpheratz found you, but you were out cold! You were like that for a few days."

She didn't speak, only made a noise in acknowledgement. Memories prior to when she collapsed played in her head. How could she bring herself to speak after that happened? Acturus tilted his head as he saw her widened look, "Did... something happen when I was chasing the wolf..?" She quickly shook her head. I can't even respond to him normally right now... I don't think I'd be able to tell him what happened even if I wanted to. Arcturus sighed, "The last thing I want is for you to have bad memories of this place..."

Gloria slowly turns to look at him, ".... did you.... find the wolf...?" Her voice was slightly shaky, she was trying hard to compose herself. Acturus shook his head, "I wasn't able to catch up to it... it ran really fast," his eyes soon widened, "The wolf didn't somehow come back for you, did it?!"

Shaking her head, Gloria quietly spoke, "How would it have...?" Arcturus shrugged, "I... I don't know..... I lost sight of it after a while and spent time trying to find it before I went to go back to you.... Are... are you alright?" He couldn't shake off how worried he was for her.

Before Gloria could say anything, her stomach growled.

Acturus blinked, "You haven't eaten for days so no wonder.... Hey, let's go to the cafeteria! You need to restore your energy!"

Soon they both leave the Infirmary and head to the Stellar Spire's Cafeteria. They pass by a small bird bath among some of the floors outside, Gloria couldn't help but go over and see the little birds using it. The little birds quickly flew away.

Gloria couldn't help but softly smile at the birds flying away, she always loved animals. She looks back at the bird bath to admire how it looks... before noticing something in the water...

Her hair... there was a streak of silver!

"Wha-!?"

She grabs at the bit of hair to look at it. It really was silver! Her eyes widened looking at it. Acturus blinks at her, "What's wrong?" She turns to look at him, "I... how long did I have this silver streak in my hair...?!" He shrugs, "Ever since we met.... why?" Gloria turns to him fully, "Arcky.... I never had silver in my hair!"

He blinks in surprise and shock, "That... did coming here do this?" Gloria tries to take a deep breath, "... Maybe... there is an explanation... r-right...?" Arcturus nods, "Oh there is! We just don't know it yet! But it'll be ok, we can ask Spica later and it doesn't look too bad on you."

She nods, hoping Spica would maybe have an idea of the hair change, and maybe the thing with some of her senses. She still wants a proper reasoning as to why she doesn't need her glasses anymore.

The two continue walking to the cafeteria.