you couldn't mistake the orbs, because you see them on the bottom of the screen after you pick them up. I don't know what the quill things you are talking about, but you collect different colored cards (what you shoot) to power up your attack (white/blue: increased range; red: pierce enemies; yellow: larger shot). Maybe you are talking about the 1-ups, which are shaped like Sayo's spirit-stick thing she uses as a melee attack.
That's about all there is to the game, mechanically. The rest is learning how to move and dodge.
