Arcana Twilight: When The Star Falls (retelling)

15- The Banquet

The banquet.

The walls and ceilings were lined with flowers and ornaments. Beautiful fairy lights were lined up on the ceiling.

Gloria was standing against the wall in her banquet dress. Pollux forced her to come to his dorm earlier so he can adjust it if needed. She felt a bit insecure wearing it. The dress was so beautiful to her! The gradient from the silver sparkle to the blue skirt looking like a starry sky came out perfectly. It was very flowy, easy to move in when she wore her heels. The dress was gorgeous. Heck, Pollux even helped her get ahold of a few lipsticks she can use that isn't too bold but add a nice touch to her whole look.

But she couldn't help but feel so insecure. 

Someone more beautiful should be wearing it... It feels like I'm dragging the dress down with me...

She looks around the banquet to distract herself from her thoughts. A lot of the sorcerers from that incident have recovered. Some still had minor injuries, but they were able to attend without issues.

It felt like some eyes were on her...

She could feel some of the sorcerers' irritation of her for what had happened...

"Yo. So this is where-"

Gloria shyly looked up to see Alpheratz walking to her.

Alpheratz stopped speaking all together when he saw her in her dress. He was.... speechless? She looked... amazing in the attire. Alpheratz's cheeks flushed a little, "Wow... You and Pollux really..."

He was struggling to find words to speak.

Gloria shyly whimpered, "Is... it bad...? I'm not so sure about wearing this-"

"Hey," Alpheratz stepped closer, he picked up on the insecurity in her voice, "I didn't say anything about it looking bad, did I?" Gloria shook her head. Alpheratz softly smiled after composing himself, "You look great. It suits you well. Shockingly, the little boy did a great job as well." Now Gloria's cheeks had a tint to them. She shyly smiled, "Thanks... And Pollux would be offended hearing that!" Alpheratz chuckled.

Alpheratz leans against the wall near her and looks around the banquet, noticing some sorcerers were looking at Gloria with irritation. "Well... at least we get to have a banquet in the end. I thought it was getting canceled for sure after what happened." Gloria slumped against the wall, "Yeah..."

"It wasn't your fault."

"I know... but I still couldn't help but feel bad since I... harmed so many... by accident..."

"Yeah, by accident, meaning you couldn't have controlled it. Besides, everyone managed to get back on their feet." Gloria looked around the banquet at his words, "So crowded..."

She can feel her social anxiety slowly increase as she continues to feel the irritation directed at her. It was slowly becoming hard to stay there...

Alpheratz groans as he looks in a direction, "You know, this would've been way better without the old grouch- I mean man who insisted on coming to a student event."

"Old grouch?"

He slightly points, "That one, the one up there who's talking to everyone."

Gloria looks over at where he pointed. Taking in the figure that had long, pale brown hair. She tilted her head a bit since she never saw that person, and he wasn't in a clan attire. Was it... a professor? She looks back up at Alpheratz, seeing the irritation in his eyes. He really doesn't like that guy...! Gloria moves and stands in front of Alpheratz, making him raise his eyebrow. "Let's focus on something else then~! Shall we?" Alpheratz blinked before smirking, "You know... you're the only person who would ever try to manage and control a sorcerer like that." Gloria tilted her head, "Is that a bad thing?" Alpheratz shook his head, "No, I mean that in a good way. It's nice to have a distraction." Soon he titled his head and leaned forward a little, "So... what do you want me to focus on and how? You must have had something in mind." So... close..! Gloria tries hard to compose herself as her heart rate increases... she didn't have any ideas and her brain wouldn't work properly at the moment.

Alpheratz quietly chuckled. She didn't have anything planned yet wanted to distract me? He straightens up with a soft grin, "Never mind... Just stay there, don't go anywhere."

She blinks as she watches Alpheratz walk over to one of the many tables that have treats and snacks on them for the guests. What is he getting...? 

Soon he walked back with a small plate of bite size cookies. Alpheratz picks one of the cookies up and gently places it between Gloria's lips. Her eyes widened as a little tint of rose appeared on her cheeks. She blinks a bit before slowly eating the cookie.

Woah! It tastes amazing!

Her eyes lit up as she finished eating the cookie. Alpheratz chuckled and softly spoke, "Good girl... What else do you wanna try?" Good girl...!? AH-! Gloria's cheeks increase in rose shade.

"Man! I was so shocked, I forgot to join your little conversation!"

Gloria and Alpheratz turned to see Pollux running up to them after he spoke. His eyes widened as he noticed Gloria's heels making her a little over Alpheratz's shoulder, "TALLER HEELS!? How tall are you in those now?!" Gloria blinked, "I'm six feet in these heels... Why, jealous?" Alpheratz snickered. Pollux huffed before he changed the subject, now focusing on Alpheratz.

"You can't just say that about the most respected person in school when everyone else is around!"

Oh! He's talking about what Alphy said earlier!

Alpheratz groans, "I never understood why you guys freak out every time I mention him." Pollux looks more upset, "Think about it, man. You're the only person in the entire college who makes him sound like a conman! And it's not just anyone, it's one of the most accomplished Senior Sorcerers who fought during the Great Disaster...!"

Gloria tilted her head, "Wait really...?" Pollux nodded and soon beamed as he spoke, "And he founded Contell! All these achievements are credited to a single Great Sorcerer, Principal Schedar!" Gloria's eyes widened, "THAT'S THE PRINCIPAL?!"

She instantly looked back at the "old grouch" after hearing what Pollux said. HOW!? He doesn't look that old?!

Pollux continued, "Oh, don't forget to address him as Principal or Headmaster when you're on campus! It's a rule we have."

"You really seem to look up to him."

"Of course!" Pollux cheerily laughed, "Everybody does. Everyone who lives in the Central Zone, at least. The Boundary is split into five zones and each is ruled by a Great Sorcerer. Our principal is currently in charge of the Central Zone." Oh! New Information of Arlyn! "We all just wish we had a chance to talk to him in person. Alpheratz is really the only one who's being a jerk about it."

Alpheratz rolled his eyes, "Okay, okay, I've heard enough creepy praises for the old man for one day."

Pollux grumbled, "Alpheratz... now you're just being mean! He's family to you, for star's sake-"

Soon a fork full of cake was shoved into Pollux's mouth by Alpheratz. He must have gone and got some when Pollux was talking.

"You love you some cake, don't you, Pollux? Eat up, that's how you grow taller."

"Errgh- Stop it! Knock it off! I can eat my own food!"

"Yes, you're a big boy now. Very good."

Gloria watches it unfold. She tilts her head at Alpheratz as she sees a small bit of annoyance in his eyes. He... doesn't like talking about his family either... Wait, the principal is his family?!

Alpheratz finally stops shoving cake into Pollux's mouth... only after Pollux surrendered. Gloria sighed, "Alphy... you shouldn't have done that! You could have accidentally choked him!" Alpheratz shrugged and looked away, still sounding annoyed, "... Fine... I won't do it again the next time the little boy annoys me..."

He continues, addressing Pollux, "Speaking of... you weren't always like this, Pollux. I guess you spent too much time with Fili Pfepers. It all changed when Arcky started to drag you around-.... Speaking of Arcky, where'd he go? He was running around all over the place when I got here."

Gloria turns to him. Arcturus was in a hurry when she first arrived and ran into him.

"Oh no, oh no this is bad...! I forgot something I was supposed to bring! Gloria, please tell anyone who comes looking for me that I'll be right back!"

"He apparently had forgotten something and will be back soon.... So he said..."

Alpheratz tilted his head, "So that was him just flailing about in embarrassment of forgetting? I thought he was working!" Pollux nods in agreement, "He's always doing twelve things at once. Of course he forgot. I wonder if he got any sleep..."

Gloria sighed. So he's clumsier than me? Alpheratz soon realized something, "Did anyone tell Gloria that this is hosted by Fili Pfeper...?" Gloria nodded, "Arcky did mention it after you went off on him for abandoning me in that crowd that one day." Alpheratz nods, "Oh yeah, he did kinda." Alpheratz turns more to face her as he continues, "They named this banquet the Raining Petals Banquet or something... and Arcky's supposed to be in charge."

Pollux's eyes widened as he looked in a direction, "Is it just me or is the Principal coming this way? Is he gonna ask us about... the accident...?" Gloria froze up hearing that mentioned. Would she be in trouble for what happened? Though that wouldn't make sense since it's been several days now!

Alpheratz groans, "What? Come on, he can save his fancy lectures for freshmens... I really wish he had worse eyesight." He quickly turned back to Gloria, "Lemme ask you for a favor." Gloria blinked, "Umm... d-depends on what you want and if it's something I'm ok with doing." Alpheratz quietly chuckled, "Good, good. That's how you start strong in a negotiation... But I'd really like you to say yes this time. I'm pretty sure that'll be best for you too." He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "So what you gotta do is... Please go find Arcky right now. That's not so difficult, right?" Gloria blinks as she fights to compose her beating heart from their closeness, "Can't I just summon him..?" Alpheratz shook his head, "There is no guarantee that he would have the thing he was getting still with him if you summon him. It's safer to just find him if he got what he was looking for."

He gently grabs her wrist and guides her quickly to the door. "Good luck, Gloria. Take as much time as you need. In fact, be as slow as possible... You know what I mean." She blinked as she was shoved out through the doors, she stopped him from closing the doors fully, "Wait! Why!? Huh!?" Alpheratz leans a bit to whisper to her more, "Let's just say... I'm trying to keep you from getting into more messes while you are here... So please."

Gloria's eyes widened. After a bit of hesitation, she nods and lets him close the doors. Alpheratz smiled, "Good girl." Gloria blushed hard as the door now closed. Hearing him say that to her felt so weird to her. How does he say that yet feel like he respects me!? It's so... weird...

She sighed as she walked off through the halls to look for Acturus.

The halls were quiet, Gloria has no idea how long she's been walking for, just that she was glad her heels were wedges, so they were slightly more comfortable to her than normal heels.

She soon perks up as she hears faint noises in the distance at an entrance of a balcony. She slowly followed it out of curiosity.

... Suddenly, a hand shoots out of the dark and pulls her behind the wall!

"MPH-!"

Gloria started to panic. As the hand was over her mouth and an arm was across her chest. Her instincts kicked in and she took a stance so she could slam a punch behind her aimed at the person's shins and knees!

"YEOCH! Hey! Hey! Gloria, it's ok...! It's me!" It came out as a whisper scream, the hand let go of her and she turned to see Arcturus. He blinks as he notices her dress, "Ah! That dress is so pretty on you-"

She glared at him as she whispered and screamed at him, "You scared the hell out of me! What sane person would reach out for someone in the dark and expect them to not try and defend themselves!?"

Arcturus whimpered, "I'm sorry...! I didn't want you to interrupt them...!"

She had a hand on her chest, trying to calm herself down as her body was now trembling from the shock. She leans against the wall, "Don't... ever do that again... I knew someone who did that when I was little... and attempted to... cut blood circulation in my neck cause it would 'be funny' scaring me, according to him.."

Arcturus's eyes widened, "... I... I'm so sorry... for what I did... and for what happened to you as a kid... I swear, I didn't mean to scare you and didn't mean for it to seem like I was gonna harm you..."

Gloria raised her hand at him, "Stop... lingering on it..."

He watched her with concern as she slowly composed herself so she could at the very least stand. "Now... you said 'them'... what the hell do you mean and why did it take so long for you to-"

Acturus peeks from behind the wall to the balcony, "Look..!"

Gloria reluctantly peeks as well, still pissed with him. Her eyebrow raises in confusion from what she saw.

Spica... and Sirius talking quietly to themselves on the balcony.