Arcana Twilight: When The Star Falls (retelling)

18- Shadows of the room

They kept their gaze at where they sensed the suspicious presence.

Vega slowly summons his sword in preparation to defend him and Gloria. She stood slightly behind him as she closed her eyes.

... Wait...!

"There are two presences!"

Vega's eyes widened from her words. "Your senses are that sharp?" She shrugs, "I felt a lot of my senses to be... different... ever since I came here. Considering I used to have to wear glasses, but now I can see just fine." Vega nods, "Makes sense... It was similar to me when I first came here."

"Is that so?"

Gloria and Vega instantly turned around when they heard another voice. Sirius was leaning against a wall, looking at them. Vega points his sword at him.

"Sorcerer Sirius! How did you...?! Stellar Spire has been closed off, you shouldn't have-"

Sirius chuckles, "I was outside before it happened and haven't gotten to go back in."

Gloria tilts her head, "Wouldn't Spica have made sure everyone was in? Therefore wouldn't you be able to get back in due to being a Committee member?" Sirius chuckled, noticing how she was suspicious of him, "I still haven't earned the Summoner's trust? What a shame! But you are right to catch on to that." Vega glared, "Then why would you lie to us?" Sirius raises his hands up, "I didn't say I wasn't allowed to go back in, though I get it sounded as such. I merely rather not be around there while it's all stress with what's happening to Arcky."

Arcky!

She starts running up ahead. Vega yells to her, "S-Summoner! Wait!"

Arcky! Please hang in there!

Vega had to chase her down and grab her arm to stop her, "Wait! If you are not careful, you could trip and break the bottles!" She turned to him, "But... Arcky could be in a worse condition now! We-"

"We will get to him." Vega lets go of her arm, "We have to be careful though... you said you sensed two presences, meaning besides Sirius, there is something else out there..."

He was right. Being reckless wouldn't do anyone any good. She closes her eyes to try and take a deep breath to calm down. Arcky is strong.... He'll be able to hold up for a bit... No need to risk accidents...

Her eyes soon snapped open as she felt a presence approaching very quickly towards them. It felt... dangerous. Vega also feels it and drags her into the nearest reception room and quietly closes the door and locks it.

Gloria put her hand over her mouth to soften the sound of her nervous breathing.

Vega had his back against the door with his own hand over his mouth. He was listening for footsteps and other noises to figure out how bad the danger was. Gloria slowly sits on the floor, trembling as she can feel the presence approaching.

Please leave! Please leave! Please! Please! Please!

After what felt like an eternity, the presence quickly grows distant... as if, chasing something else? Gloria pulled her hand away and whispered, "What are we going to do...? That thing could come back...!" Vega nods, "It could.... But if we waste any more time here, we could lose Sorcerer Arcturus. Boötes will have to choose a new Arcturus." Her eyes widened. Pick... a new Arcturus...?!

The presence soon slowly comes back. Gloria trembles again. Why of all times do we have to be in danger?!

Vega quickly walks to her, "Wait for me here. I'll return after I take care of that... thing. Then we can rush to Sorcerer Arcturus."

Her eyes widened, "Are you crazy?! You have your hands full!" Vega puts down the bottles near her, "Keep watch of these until I return."

"No! Let me come with you! I can help with my summoning power.... maybe..."

She didn't feel that confident about using her power. That day just has to affect me so badly...

Vega spoke sternly, "If something happens to me, at least you will be able to escape and take these to the banquet hall. Now wait here."

Soon he went to the door, unlocked it, and ran out after closing the door behind him.

Gloria was left alone with the mana accelerants.

Her brain was so scattered as she waited there.

It felt like hours passed as she sat there with the bottles, her mind going back to the scene of Arcky on the ground, curled up as Alpheratz was trying his best to help him. Pollux in the corner struggling to sit still from worry. Spica trying to make sure no one panics.

Is Vega ok?

She stood up to take a peek through the door, just in case he was on his way back.

Gloria cracks open the door, just to see...

This... isn't the hallway of Neb Aula...!

She opens the door further to see a massive room that had a massive astrology machine in the center. Lots of rings all over with different symbols. The walls were lined with bookshelves and there was a spiral staircase that led to a second floor, which goes around the machine in the center. Gloria walks up to the machine, it feels... familiar... She puts a hand on one of the rings hanging low enough for her to touch. The symbols reminded her of constellations, she blinked as she looked it over. What looked like stars looked like little lights that were off. The constellation placements... are all close and near to what they would be near in the sky...! It wasn't moving. Did it even work? She looked up at the sky, there was a glass ceiling, allowing her to see the sky. A night sky with only some constellations in it. The sky was familiar to that place she sees in her sleep.

Some of the stars started to glow in the constellation.

Alpha Boötes, Arcturus.

Alpha Virginis, Spica.

Alpha Andromedae, Alpheratz.

Alpha Lyrae, Vega.

And...

She felt drawn to the constellations, some of them feeling... familiar...

My voice...

Gloria's eyes widened as she heard something, unable to tell where it's coming from.

The universe... Heed my words... shall restore...

Her heart starts racing. The air around her starts to feel cold as the scenery starts to fade.

Heed my words, the universe shall restore its flow...

Vega was out of breath as he was running through the halls. The suspicious presence was fully gone it seemed. He was still on alert however.

"It has to be related to what I saw earlier...."

He sighed as he put his magic sword away. I better go back... why do I feel so... anxious...?

Vega makes his way back to the room he left Gloria in. Each foot step echoed in his ear as he slowly started to feel more anxious. As he got to the door, he slowly opened it to not startle her. "Summoner, let's go back to the-"

He finds an empty dark room, the bottles of mana accelerants on the ground. Vega's eyes widened, "Summoner?! Where are you...?! This is an urgent situation, so please don't joke around!" He starts walking around the room, trying to see if she's hiding. "...Gloria..?!" This is bad...

After thinking for a bit, Vega picks up the bottles and starts to run. He knew that if he couldn't find her... then maybe they could...

"Alpheratz, how is Arcturus?"

Spica was hovering over him.

Alpheratz groans, "Oh my gosh... is it your turn now that the little boy is quiet?"

Spica gave an unamused look, "Stop wasting time with useless stuff and try explaining properly." Alpheratz sighed, "Give me time to sort out what to say, please. You're not the only one who's serious and urgent!" Once Spica backs up a bit, Alpheratz continues, "Anyways, in a nutshell... just the status quo. No more, no less. It's a matter of how much longer he can hold out... There would be nothing to worry about if Vega and Gloria would come back soon."

The banquet hall doors open suddenly, Vega rushing in, out of breath, with the bottles in hand.

Pollux's eyes lid up seeing the bottles, then he looked confused, "Where...?!" Alpheratz also caught on and turned to Vega, "Where is Gloria? You both went out together!"

Spica walks up to the exhausted Vega, looking down at him. Vega looks up at him, "Sorcerer Spica... Summoner... she..."

He takes a deep breath before he continues talking, "Summoner has gone missing. I need your help, sorcerers."

Alpheratz's eyes widened, "What..?!"

Spica puts on a straight face, "Where was the last place she was at?"

Vega tells him which hallway they were last in, telling everything that happened before he lost Gloria.

Spica nods and quickly gets a search party together, sending them out.

Pollux gets out of his seat and starts to head to the door, but Spica stops him, "Where do you think you're going?" Pollux groans, "You can't expect me to not do anything! What are you, my mom?"

"Damn it...!" Alpheratz groans, "I lost my concentration again!" He turns to them, "IF you don't want to see Arcky in more pain, please take your nagging somewhere else!"

Spica sighs and walks across the room to a corner to talk to Pollux.

"Pollux, I get what you mean... But... it could be dangerous with that suspicious presence going around the halls. It will only make it worse if you wander around in a situation like this."

"But...!"

"You're too stiff..."

Spica and pollux turn as they see Sirius walking up to them. Sirius continues, "Since things unfolded like this, you could give him a chance, right?" Spica sighs, "Took you long enough to return..."

Sirius chuckled, "Can't help but give some space as it was chaotic in here earlier~! Anyways, let's give him a chance, Pollux might find Summoner."

Pollux couldn't help but feel suspicion with Sirius. He remained quiet however since something told him in his gut to do so.

Spica sighed. He thought it over for a bit. Sirius continues, "Also, I'm sure it'd be helpful to get him out of here and doing something that would be helpful." Spica sighed again and nodded, "Fine. I'll allow it." Pollux's eyes widened. Spica continues, "Just be careful, and contact us if anything happens."

Pollux was walking through the halls.

The hallways were dark, the only light coming from some of the windows when there were any.

"This isn't even Lagoon Hall! Why is it so spooky?!"

There was a thud coming from one of the rooms, starling Pollux. He instantly summons his gun and points it towards the room he heard the noise. He starts to approach the door, finger on the trigger....

S L A M !

Pollux kicks down the door and without haste, fires his weapon... just to instantly regret it.

"NO!"