Arcana Twilight: When The Star Falls (retelling)

17- A vile of fear

The orange haired sorcerer collapses to the ground.

"ARCKY!"

Gloria rushes over and kneels down next to him. Alpheratz sat on the other side of him. The crowd was still very loud from the puking, screaming and panicking.

"D-did he... did Sorcerer Arcturus just cough up blood?"

"He looks like he's in terrible pain...!"

"Does anyone here specialize in healing magic?"

The panic frenzy continues.

"It... it hurts.... My heart, it's burning...."

Pollux was also adding to the panicking, "Arcky! Arcky...! What do we do?! Alpheratz, please do something! You can save Arcky, right?!"

"Easy, kid. I can't concentrate with you panicking..."

All the yelling and panicking started to get on Gloria's last nerves, she was trying to fight back her urges, but at this point she decided to let it out. "EVERYONE SHUT UP! IF YOU AREN'T GONNA HELP, THEN KEEP YOUR DAMN MOUTH SHUT!" She projected her voice to reach everyone in the room. Slowly everyone started to settle down.

Alpheratz softly smiled at her before turning to the laying sorcerer, "Arcky, you gotta bear with me for a moment. I'll fix you up in no time..."

He lifts his hand up. A warm, welcoming light emanates out of his finger tips.

Pollux was still panicking a little. Gloria turned to him, "Pollux.. Calm down... please... stressing out won't do anything." Pollux turns to her, "B-But if something really happens to him, it won't just be some accident..!" Gloria kept her voice soft, "We won't let that happen. We won't let anything happen to Arcky. Alpheratz is already trying to help him." Pollux looked at Alpheratz, who had his eyes closed as he was trying to concentrate. HIs eyes soon widened, "I've never seen healing magic this intricate!" Alpheratz groans and looks at him, "Alright, kid. You're giving me goosebumps.... If you really wanna help me focus, just pretend I don't exist."

Gloria turns to him, "So... How is he holding up from your magic..?" Alpheratz turns to her, "Arcky's got a really strong grip, all things considered. I'm glad he's still conscious, but he's about to rip my clothes off."

As he said that, Arcturus loosens his grip on Alpheratz's cloak.

Alpheratz quickly turns to him, "No, no. Don't let go. You can still hold on. Hang in there, it's almost done." Gloria couldn't help but softly smile. He's adorable at times with the others~! There was something so cute about how Alpheratz wanted Arcturus to be comfortable while he's trying to help him. She soon turns her gaze to Arcturus after staring at Alpheratz for a bit, wanting to focus on the one in pain.

Arcturus' eyes were out of focus. Alpheratz soon seems to be lost in thought, "This isn't right. I thought it was an internal wound, but maybe not..."

Pollux soon speaks up, "You're healing him, right? It doesn't really seem to be working..."

Another groan came from Alpheratz, "Alright, go stand in the corner if you haven't got anything helpful to say." Pollux grumbled but went over to an empty table to sit at. Alpheratz turns to Gloria, "I need you to bring Spica right now." Gloria's eyes widened, "But.... I..."

"No need to ask Gloria to fetch me."

Spica was soon over them, he turned to the crowd and projects his voice, "The banquet is officially over! Everyone put down your glasses and lock down the Stellar Spire!"

The crowd all scampered around to do as Spica commanded. Spica looks at Arcturus and then sighs, "So this is what the commotion was about. All this, so conveniently while the professors are away..."

Did the Principal leave earlier?

"Perfect timing as usual, Spica." Alpheratz turns fully up at him to continue talking, "Don't you think this whole situation stinks? It feels like someone's creepy plan. We need to get to the bottom of this now so things don't get chaotic later..."

Gloria turns to where the little sorcerer was sitting, "Pollux, what happened exactly?"

Pollux stumbled over his words a little, "I-I, uh... so... So someone gifted me this drink... I-I was told it's an East Boundary import." Gloria sighed, "Even Alpheratz went to me to give me advice on how to be careful of drinks from strangers." Pollux whimpered, "I-I'm sorry... I really am. All I ever wanted was to let him taste it first. That's all I wanted..."

"It's alright Pollux," Gloria softly spoke, "It was an accident on your half."

Spica turns to him, "You said someone gifted it to you... Do you remember who it was?" Pollux was about to say something, but then struggled, "I... I don't know... why don't I know...?!" Spica sighed, "It's a miracle no one else drank it." He soon turns over to the fallen Arcturus, "Alpheratz, how bad is it?" Alpheratz soon sighs, "It's... pretty much how it looks."

Arcturus was curled up, still gripping to Alpheratz's cloak while his other hand was gripping to his chest. He was groaning a lot and coughing, there was some blood at the corner of his mouth that was dripping down. Alpheratz continued, "Something's stopping his inner mana flow. Maybe that drink had some sort of mana inhibitor in it." Gloria tilted her head, "Mana inhibitor?" Alpheratz nods, "In other words, the mana that's supposed to be traveling around his body is all getting stuck in one spot." Spica soon spoke, "His body won't be able to take this for much longer. Soon he'll go through a mana overload."

Soon it was quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts as Arcturus was still groaning on the ground.

"There is only one way to do this," Spica spoke up, "and that is to amplify Arcturus' mana. That shall get rid of the block by force. Quick, before it's too late..."

Pollux shot up, "Wait, wait! That'll give Arcky side effects even if it works!" Spica turned to him, "That is still preferable to a mana overload, Pollux!" He didn't take that well, "So we're just gonna... sacrifice him for the others?! I-is that what we're gonna do?!"

Gloria speaks up, "In his own ways, I'm sure Spica cares for Arcky too! He is strong, and very compassionate. Even Spica can see that in Arcky!" Spica nods, a bit surprised from her defending him, "We cannot lose him and his goodwill, not like this. I won't allow it." Gloria continues, "But that being said... that shouldn't only be a last resort! We need a safer option to help him if possible..."

"There is one other way."

They all turn to see Vega walking up to them.

Alpheratz tilts his head at him, "Vega..?" He spoke, "The problem is with his mana circulation as said before. Then I suggest using a mana accelerant... That should neutralize the effects." Spica blinks, "That's a good idea except we have to go to town to get some." Vega shook his head, "No, I have plenty in my room. I'll be back with them soon. So please... give me permission, Sorcerer Spica."

Spica nods, "Of course."

"Let me come too!"

Gloria stood up instantly after speaking. She was a bit nervous speaking up, "I want to help Arcky! If it wasn't for him, I would have been dead when I first arrived here... so let me help him too!"

Spica was quiet for a moment, thinking to himself. Vega turned to Gloria, "It would be easier if I went alone." Gloria wasn't going to back down, "I can't just sit here doing nothing! My friend... our friend is hurting! I want to be able to be of assistance!"

"Quiet guys..."

"Sorry Alphy..."

"Go with Vega," Spica finally speaks up, "Be quick though.... We can't afford to waste any time." Vega reluctantly nods and turns for the door, with Gloria following behind after.

The two walked through the quiet and dimly lit halls.

There was urgency in their walk, but Gloria couldn't help but glance at Vega every so often. I haven't had a chance alone with him since...

Her mind couldn't help but wonder how Vega saw her. Did he hate her? Envy? Did he care? She was confused.

"... Vega..?"

Vega made a noise in response. Gloria continues, "I... never got a chance to say thanks, for what you said to me then." Vega looks at her in slight confusion, "Wha-?"

Gloria continues, "You... I... I have always been... scared... of who I am. My views on myself have always been negative as long as I've lived. I have lost... so many people... So when I had the mana malfunction... I..."

She soon stopped walking as tears were fighting to fall. No no! Don't cry! Stop being so damn emotional!

"It all came crashing down on me... the years of pent up negativity I've had on myself... I have always tried so hard just to only seem like I fail at everything I do... I feel useless way too often... S-so the mana malfunction, it hurt so much, especially seeing the people who are trying to help me suffer from my own doing! I didn't know what I was doing! I don't even know how I fixed it... I... I... I'm sorry..."

Vega listened as he stood in front of her.

"I get why people would hate me... it doesn't matter how many times I'm told it wasn't my fault! I hurt so many and wasn't able to do anything until you said crap to get me to focus! I understand why the others that day would hate me... I understand why you could hate me-"

"Who said that I hated you?!"

Gloria looked up at him when he asked that. Vega continued with a stern look, "Why would I hate you for being in a situation no one asked for?" He sighed before he closed his eyes, "The Sorcerers were the ones that told you...?" She nods, "That you are also from Mid Earthiem? Yeah... that's how I found out..."

Vega opened his eyes and looked at her again, "I want to make sure you understand this, Summoner. I don't hate you, I hate the situation you have fallen in. This world is harder than our world. It's surprising that you are willing to even try to fight against the hardships here, and it should be admirable." Gloria's eyes widened from his words. Vega continued, "You were willing to stand up to me when we first met. You tried to fight back when we all were in the tower, despite your fear. You stand up to Sirius'.... unusual advances. You were willing to prove that you have a place here regardless of what I shared. You were able to stop your mana malfunction. Most of all, you instantly did things in the motive to help Sorcerer Arcturus. You keep fighting. So how can you be useless and believe I would hate you."

She was shocked with what he said, speechless even.

He quickly turned away, "Don't give me that look..."

Is he embarrassed now..?

There was silence between them. "Thanks..."

Vega looks back at her. She continues, "You know... you have been surprising me a lot recently. But thanks, it was nice hearing that."

"Don't... mention it. It wasn't some massive act."

Gloria wipes her tears away, "Vega... we've wasted enough time. Let's hurry!" She took off running.

Vega's eyes widened, seeing her holding her dress so she could run in her heels. He runs after her. A part of him felt like something was off about her though, her tears stopped very quickly. Apong further looking at her face, he sees it.

Tears in her eyes, but her forcing them to not fall

Soon they arrive at Vega's dorm.

Vega quickly rushes over to a drawer and starts to dig through it.

Gloria stood at the doorway, looking into the dorm room where the lights were turned off.

"Here it is!" Vega held up a few bottles, he was grabbing a few more. "I'm bringing as many as I can bring, just in case." Gloria nods, "Makes sense, in case one isn't enough to help Arcky." Vega nods as he walks over to her, handing some for her to carry.

They both leave his dorm room and carefully walk with a fast pace back.

Arcky... hang in there... we're coming...!

The halls remained quiet as neither of them wanted to waste a second.

Gloria's eyes soon widened as she stopped in her tracks, quickly turning around. She saw nothing behind her besides the scene of the halls. Vega turned to look at her, "What is-?"

Soon his eyes widened.

Gloria spoke, "You feel it too...?"

Vega nods, "... we aren't alone..."