Arcana Twilight: When The Star Falls (retelling)

11- How did it go wrong?

Gloria is taken back, "You... want me to... summon people...?"

Her, Pollux, and Arcturus were just informed on the idea of Gloria using her summoning powers to get some slackers to do work.

"Think about it, how will I get 'em all back if they don't even pick up their Tabs? We'd save a lot of time if we could summon them back, right?" The Tharaval sorcerer's eye twitched as he spoke up again, "By the way... you guys need to loosen up! I was just trying to talk to her and you guys looked like you were ready to fight!"

When the sorcerer had approached them, Pollux and Arcturus had jumped in front of Gloria to block him from getting closer to Gloria due to being nervous of being approached.

Arcturus sighed, "I know you're in a hurry with the banquet and all, but you kind of scared us." Pollux nods in agreement, "Yeah, you were wearing that mean look on your face! I seriously thought you were here to pick a fight with Gloria."

Gloria nods, "Y-yeah.... you were..... aggressive looking." Pollux sticks his arm out, "See!? Aggressive. You could've relaxed a little, it's not like we refuse to help people!" The sorcerer sighed, "Alright, fine. I'm sorry. I really am. Will you help then?"

Pollux turned to Arcturus and Gloria, "I know summoning magic's the way to go here, but... you need an imprint to be summoned! Especially if you're a living, breathing person!" Gloria soon became lost in thought.

Imprints....

She soon was reminded of what Alpheratz said when she summoned him by accident earlier.

"Why am I imprinted onto you? And it's not just me, your mana is entangled with a few others too...."

Gloria continued to be lost in thought. He was already imprinted on me... so could that be the case with...?

She was cut out of her thoughts.

"Maybe Gloria can pull it off? I mean... I don't know how she summoned me but... maybe it's possible?"

Gloria turns to Arcturus, "But... doesn't magic have like.... rules? Most of the magic in media like D&D have rules and stuff for it to not be chaotic."

Pollux raised his eyebrow, "D&D...?"

Arcturus nods, "Yeah magic here does have rules and calculations for why it works. You must have something, I just can't figure out what.... Maybe imprinting is supposed to be a failsafe rather than a requirement...?"

Pollux sighed, "Alright, alright. If that is the theory at the moment, then try summoning right now, Gloria. Let's just see for ourselves how it works." Arcturus nods, "If we are to do his, let's do it in the garden so we have more space."

"Come on... focus...."

Gloria was in the garden, eyes closed, as she tried to focus and use her summoning magic to bring the slackers to them. She's been at it for a few hours.

"Come on.... They need you to do this.... You can't let them down... you... you..."

She slumps over, feeling defeated.

Pollux huffed as he sat against a tree in the garden, "Well that was definitely a failure."

Arcturus elbowed him after putting his Stella Tab down, "Poll shush!" Gloria put on a smile, "Sorry.... I really tried..."

The word failure started echoing in her mind. Stupid mind... Please don't be like this...

"Gloria tried... Don't be like that...!" Arcturus continued. Pollux sighed, "I didn't mean for it to come out like that, I wasn't making fun or blaming her... I meant that this ain't the kind of thing you get right the first time." The Tharaval sorcerer groaned, "We really need to bring 'em back..."

He turned to Gloria, "Summoner, do you have any magic weapons? Maybe that could help." Gloria blinks, "Magic weapon? No I don't... I only have this necklace." Arcturus's eyes lid up, "Oh! So that's what it is! I thought it was just a nice thing to go with your uniform!" Pollux chuckled, "It does go well with the uniform! I dunno if it can replace a magic weapon, though."

Gloria went quiet. So they all have different weapons in their clans they summoned to aid them? Since Pollux summoned a gun back in the tower, Arcky had a staff, Vega a sword, and Alpheratz a book....

The Tharaval sorcerer spoke up, "Why don't we lend her a weapon?" Arcturus soon looks concerned, "You know sorcerers normally can't wield others' magic weapons." Gloria's eyes widened, "But Arcky.... I'm not one...!" Arcturus and Pollux both look at her with an eye wide look, getting lost in thought. Maybe borrowing a weapon could help?

Pollux put his hand on his chin, "It... could work.... Do you even want to try it?" Gloria thought it over, "I... Ok, so," she claps her hands together, "Despite the fact I'm not a sorcerer, I have no idea why sorcerers can't wield each other's weapons. This could be-"

The Tharaval student stood up and summoned a spell book, then went up to Gloria and shoves it to her, "It's no big deal, Summoner. Here, try holding it!" Gloria blinked, "Wait...! I'm worried that-"

As quickly as the book was put into her arms, an icy chill sped into her body.

"AAH-!"

Gloria threw the book onto the ground, heavily breathing from fear. What... was that...!? A crack noise was soon heard...

Pollux blinked, "You all heard that, right?" Arcturus nods, "I did.... The weapon looks fine...."

"Hold on," the Tharaval sorcerer points at something, "Something's not right." They all looked at where he was pointing, just to see groups of sorcerers in the garden start to collapse and groan in pain....!

"The mana flow's getting outta control! Why is this- AAH!" Pollux soon falls to his knees, "It hurts...!" Arcturus soon also collapses, "Gloria.... Please... Contact back up..."

"Arcky! Pollux!" Gloria rushes to their sides, she tries to reach out just to pull her hand back. WHAT DID I DO!?!?! In a panic, she pulls out her Stella Tab.