Cursed (A Gwen Tennyson/Charncaster Story) (Pixiv Fanbox)

Art by Liljdude. Art and story commissioned by Mephy and posted with his permission. Enjoy! ======================= Gwen Tennyson frowned behind her shield as her ponytail swished slightly due to the cold evening breeze which blew through the huge hole that Charmcaster had created from her latest attack. This chilly air nipped at her stocking covered legs. She definitely was grateful that she was wearing her dark blue sweater, but with winter approaching, she considered that it might be a good idea to switch from black stockings and her black mini skirt to something that would actually keep her warm during her fights with Charmcaster. The silver haired woman did a spin and threw another spell back at Gwen, who blocked it once more. "Yes!" Charmcaster shouted. "I can feel it!" Charmcaster raised her arms up, a powerful magical ball in the palm of her hands "And now...I'll end you for good! Aswento eros selias!" Gwen planted her feet firmly and held her energ shield, ready for her enemy's attack. She was quick to counter it away with her own spell. "Arus felis nul!" "You'll have to do better than that" Gwen shouted. Charmcaster conjured up spell after spell, each one growing more powerful, but no matter how strong they were, Gwen always managed to deflect them.  The fiery young woman was growing slightly worried as the fight progressed. If Charmcaster kept this up, there was a possibility that she wouldn't be able to keep her nemesis at bay. With that in mind, Gwen quickly cast a spell of her own and shot it at the woman bathed in an aura of glowing fuchsia.  The two spells clashed and instantly nullified each other. Both women sighed, dissatisfied that their attack didn't finish the duel. The  light created from the spells ceased to light the surrounding area and served as an unintentional signal to stop fighting. Instead, both women paused for a brief moment, opting to stare each other down.  Roughly ten seconds passed before the silver haired sorceress spoke up, addressing her arch nemesis; the fiery redhead named Gwendolyn. She stared down at the young woman with a smirk. "What's the matter Gwendolyn? You seem to be a little hesitant today. Are you afraid that you'll be overwhelmed if you continue using your powers?" Gwen narrowed her eye as she removed her shield. She did not like that remark and the piercing glare she shot at the white haired sorceress conveyed that fact more clearly than words ever could. Charmcaster grinned, she loved getting this girl's goat and was loving the reaction Gwen gave her. "I know what your thinking, little girl. You're wondering how I've been able to keep raising my power during this fight, right?" "It doesn't matter. I'll defeat you any day of the week!" Gwen shouted as her aura flared up. The magic wielding half human hybrid launched another explosive spell and sent it at Charmcaster who simply defused it. "I know what it is now." Charmcaster continued her observation like Gwen's latest attempt to finish the fight didn't even phase her. "I can tell that you're afraid. You're afraid that you're reaching your limit. Just give up already." Gwen clenched her fists, her anger growing due to Charmcaster's petty insults. It didn't help that the woman continued to wear that sly grin on her face, as though she was mocking her without uttering a single word. "Aww, What's the matter little Gwen? Are you getting angry?" Charncaster cooed. "Go on, release that anger inside you and see if it will be enough to destroy me!" Gwen continued to tighten her grip as the power she harnessed, within her being, took the shape of two glowing purple orbs that appeared around each of her hands. The intense, pulsating magic matched the same glowing lavender that burned brightly in her eyes. She knew that couldn't take these insults for too much longer. That condescending tone that Charmcaster used on her pierced through her defenses better than any spell ever could.  "That's it!" Charmcaster cheered. "So what if you're going to lose control again? You do want your revenge against me right? Then give in and take me down if you can!" Gwen steadied her mind, trying to drown out Charmcaster's annoying taunts. Her conscious was telling her that she was better than this. She knew that the consequences, whatever they may be, weren't worth it if she were to use her full powers at her true potential. Even if she did defeat Charmcaster her condition would only get worse and she want to risk losing everything over a petty grudge. With that thought in mind, The fiery redhead took a deep breath and her powers calmed down until the orbs vanished. Charmcaster watched as Gwen ler her power die down and sighed. Her plan of getting Gwen to lose control had failed.  "I see…" The silvery haired sorceress spoke softly before turning on her condescending cooing. "So that's your decision, little Gwen? You want to try to defeat me without your powers?" Charmcaster asked with a chuckle. "You're just a weak child, just like your cousin!" That last remark made Gwen cring in disgust, but she knew better than to give in. For some reason, Charmcaster wanted her to give in, this she was sure. So, she maintained her calm demeanor and gazed up to her nemesis. "You think I'm weak, huh? Well let me show you just how weak I am!" Gwen brought the purple energy from within her body and manifested her powers into her hands. The purple orbs returned to her hands before Charmcaster could even blink and with lightning speed, Gwen threw each one of them at the demeaning woman.  With seconds to spare, Charmcaster jumped out of the way and avoided the incoming attacks, letting them hit a bookcase which had stood behind her before it exploded. The air filled with shredded pages that came from the ancient tomes once housed on that particular bookcase. While the remains of the magical books rained down around her, the young sorceress rolled out of the way and got up in a kneeling position. She rapidly sent out multiple hexes incantations at Gwen Tennyson.  Gwen quickly formed a shield and protected herself against the incoming barrage of hexes. Sighing as the hexes dissolved into nothingness, Gwen knew that she had to figure out a way to take Charmcaster down without using too much power. Seeing the raining pages of scholarly literature regarding spellcraft gave her an idea. 'If I can find a spell to limit or contain her powers, Charmcaster will have to give up!' Charmcaster continued to rain down blast after blast of magical energy as Gwen deflected each onslaught while feverishly searching through numerous ripped and scorched pages. She knew that there had to be some kind of binding spell or anything to weaken her nemesis. "It has to be here somewhere!" Gwen muttered to herself  "Shifting through the remnants of forgotten knowledge won't save you now!" Charmcaster declared with a wild laugh as she resumed her assault, casting down a volley of fiercely charged explosive spells. Each spell hit her shield, causing the poor young woman to use up more and more of her energy to keep herself defended. She was growing desperate as she tossed another scrap of paper away with her free hand. In the distance, she noticed a larger piece of paper, seemingly spared from the destruction of the bookcase and the ensuing magical fire fight. Gewn quickly did a somersault to avoid the last magical ball of energy and scooped up the page as she ducked behind another shelf of books. "What's this?!" Gwen exclaimed as she read the spell. One line did stand out to her in the vague description of the spell: "cursed cloth will forever have the properties of an infant", she didn't exactly have a lot of time to think about what the spell meant by that, but from Gwen's perspective, it most likely meant that the person wearing the cursed clothing would have a magic level of an infant's. Unbeknownst to Gwen, the top of the page had originally said "Cursed Cloth Will Be Turned Into An Infant's Smock" before it was sheared from the heat of the heat. Thinking that she had found the perfect spell to stop Charmcaster, Gwen exclaimed, "this is exactly what I need!" A loud explosion ripped through the bookcase Gwen had been hiding behind, exposing her to her nemesis.  "This is not the time for Hide and Seek, Gewndolyn." Charmcaster admonished. "Let's finish this!" "My thoughts exactly, Charmcaster!" Gwen shouted and proceeded to repeat the curse she had literally just memorized. "Some random spell won't save y-" Charmcaster was stunned into silence when an all encompassing light sprang forth from Tennyson's hands. This absurdly bright light bathed the once magnificent library in white.  'How is this possible?!' Charmcaster wondered as she did everything in her power to block this bizarre attack which struck her. A large shockwave emanated out from Charmcaster's position as she deflected the curse, dispersing it in all directions near her vicinity.  "Ahhhh!" Gwen cried out as she was caught in the blast.  The redhead ended up being thrown launched into the air from where she had cast the curse. She could only blink in disbelief as she soared through the air until she hit the main wall of the Library.  "Ugh…" With a huff, Gwen sat up, rubbing her head lightly, she breathed out, "Okay, I really should remember not to cast random spells," She then blinked as Charmcaster hovered towards her. "I have you right where I want you!" The silvery haired sorceress grinned as she raised her hand to cast a spell. Gwen closed her eyes, ready to be finished off, but nothing happened. In fact, the last thing she expected to hear was Charmcaster complaining. "I seem to have used up all my magic…"  Charmcaster admitted in an embarrassed tone as she begrudgingly left through a glowing purple portal. Gwen couldn't believe her luck! The random curse she found must've worked! To Be Continued...