You can do this
Ava's POV
As the crowd cheered for Alexia's win, my heart started beating fast in anticipation and fear upon the next battle which was between Gwen and Jocelyn. Gwen had assured me of her winning no matter what but I was still scared for my friend's safety as Jocelyn wasn't someone one can trust to play fair.
I gripped her hands, scared for her and unwilling to let go.
“Ava,” Gwen called out softly. “I am going to be alright. I won the first round, didn't I?” As she said this, she unraveled her hands from mine and began gently patting it.
“I am sorry. You are right! You can do this! Fighting pumpkin!” I changed my countenance immediately. I wasn't about to allow that warlock snobby bitch down Gwen and I spirits.
The names for the next contestants were called out and Gwen and Jocelyn stepped out.
“Fighting Gwen…. You can do this!” I called out loudly. People were staring at me but I couldn't care less. My little pumpkin is going to win.
The air became charged with anticipation as Gwen stepped onto the arena’s stage, her heart steady, a stark contrast to the way her hands used to tremble before a fight during training.
The cheers from the crowd dulled to a distant hum, leaving only the steady beat of my heart. Across from Gwen, Jocelyn wore a smirk that reeked of arrogance and wickedness, the glint in her eyes daring Gwen to try anything worthy of her attention.
“Gwen,” Jocelyn sneered loudly for everyone to hear, her tone dripping with condescension. “I hope you don’t plan to take this too personally. After all, I’ll go easy on you… for Ava’s sake.” her voice dripped with sarcasm. She laughed softly, raising one hand, her fingers trailing a swirl of shadow.
To me, those two are unequally matched, the fight is not looking good for Gwen. Jocelyn is warrior and she can as well use magic unlike Gwen. Gwen is simply just a witch. I just hope she wins.
I see Gwen breathed in deeply, focusing her energy. She knew Jocelyn was underestimating her, but that was no surprise. The posture and confidence of Gwen assured me once more that my friend could pull it off.
“Gwen you can do this.” I screamed loudly.
The starting horn blared, and Jocelyn flicked her hand lazily, casting a wave of shadows towards Gwen, almost as if she were swatting away an insect. Gwen sidestepped the attack, her movements graceful and controlled, letting the shadows dissolve against her Veil of Light.
The ease with which Gwen blocked her attack made Jocelyn pause, but only for a moment. She raised an eyebrow, annoyed but not alarmed.
“Not bad, I suppose,” she said with a mocking smile. “But surely, that’s not all you’ve got?”
Gwen’s response was a silent, calm smug smile, and with a twitch of her wrist, she summoned her Glimmerbind. Glowing tendrils erupted from the ground, reaching for Jocelyn’s limbs with dazzling speed. Jocelyn leapt back, barely evading the trap, her arrogant expression faltering as she realized she’d nearly been caught.
“Oh, so you’re trying now?” Jocelyn muttered, and for the first time, her eyes narrowed with real focus.
She launched a new barrage of shadowy tendrils, but Gwen met them with Echoing Strike, her movements multiplied by shimmering echoes that followed her in a dance across the arena.
Jocelyn attacked furiously, but each strike passed through one of Gwen’s phantoms, leaving the real Gwen untouched and poised to strike. She darted forward, her sword a blur as it drew a thin line across Jocelyn’s arm. Jocelyn hissed in pain, her irritation clear.
But Gwen didn't look excited with the small victory she was simply in control, focused. Jocelyn’s haughtiness was fading, replaced by a simmering frustration that made her movements sharp and careless. With a swift motion, Jocelyn thrust her palm out, muttering an incantation that created a swirling vortex of darkness around Gwen.
Gwen felt the darkness closing in, but she remained calm, summoning Aether Sight to pierce through the illusion. In an instant, she could see Jocelyn’s true attack hidden within the shadows, ready to strike from behind. Gwen sidestepped, raising her Veil of Light to deflect the strike, the illusion dissipating in a flash of her newfound lucidity.
Jocelyn staggered back, disbelief written across her face.
“How… how did you see that?” she demanded, eyes narrowing. But Gwen’s silence only fueled her anger.
Jocelyn clenched her fists, the shadows around her thickening as she poured more of her energy into her magic, launching one dark magic after another, her magic becoming increasingly desperate. But Gwen countered each attack with growing ease, her Aether Sight allowing her to anticipate and dodge every trap Jocelyn set.
The crowd including I was beginning to notice Jocelyn’s faltering confidence, and whispers rippled through the crowd. Jocelyn’s jaw clenched as she took a step back, her fingers trembling as she raised them summoned more magic.
However, Gwen had already anticipated her move. With a flash of light, she released a radiant burst of light, a blinding pulse that left Jocelyn shielding her eyes, including the crowds around the arena. Jocelyn stumbled backward.
Finally, Gwen decided to end the match. She summoned her Lucent Chains, brilliant tendrils of solid light that shot from her hands and wrapped around Jocelyn.
The chains tightened, locking around Jocelyn’s arms and legs, draining the last of her strength. Jocelyn struggled, but there was no breaking free, her hands were as well as her legs. Whatever that Lucent chain was made of, Jocelyn with her warlock strength couldn't break through.
Jocelyn glared at her, even though she was defeated, fury was etched on her face. Truimph was on Gwen’s expression. I know this wasn’t just a victory, it was a confirmation of her own strength, a strength she had doubted for too long. She had beaten Jocelyn not out of spite or revenge but out of her own sheered will.
As the final horn boomed, it signaled her victory, Gwen released the chains, and Jocelyn dropped to her knees, panting and wheezing.
The cheers erupted from the crowd, louder and more fervent than Gwen had ever heard before. For the first time, they weren’t just cheering for a victory; they were cheering for her.
With a calm, gentle smile, Gwen turned and walked off the stage, leaving Jocelyn that was promising fire and damnation on her.
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