"You insult every noble here with your words, commoner." Malicorne clenched his teeth as tightly as he clenched his wand in his hand.

"I have insulted the weak and the arrogant." Aselith shook his head. "Truly a mystery how the two come together so often in those with," he brought up his hand and pinched his index finger and thumb together, "a speck of magic."

Malicorne leveled his wand at Aselith. "I'll make you eat those words!"

Kirche slammed her hands on the table as she stood. "That's enough! Are you really going to throw this much of a fit?"

Tabitha felt grateful for Kirche's words…and ashamed. Hearing her friend intervene on her behalf was wonderful, but the fact that Tabitha couldn't bring herself to prevent all this was terrible. She let her fear of Aselith, a powerful yet unknown being, delay her response.

"Stay out of this, Kirche!" Malicorne yelled. "He's insulted mages everywhere! Even Germania!"

"He insulted you, and who could blame him?" Kirche fired back. "You insulted his master with your accusations, and get upset when he defends her? Childish!"

Truer of her element than her nature, Kirche was adding to the fire that was about to erupt. Tabitha needed to settle things quickly.

"Aselith. Apologize." She looked back at him, attempting the quickest path.

"No." His response was even, a little joyful too.

"I wouldn't accept anything less than this commoner on his hands and knees." Malicorne stated.

"Even with such an advantage, you would never be able to defeat me." Aselith said.

Whispers broke out around them, the words 'challenge' and 'duel' being said the most. Things were going to get out of hand. Malicorne's expressions slowly changed, his fury turning to excitement.

"Are you saying what I think you are, commoner?" He then asked.

Aselith shook his head. "Unlikely."

"Hah!" Malicorne barked out a laugh. "You issue a challenge, then back away from it? Truly a commoner!"

Tabitha needed to think of a way to end this without a fight.

"You are unworthy of my limitless time, lowly mage." Aselith continued to instigate.

Malicorne's teeth were showing on his round face. "Then I'll just have to prove you wrong. We shall duel in the Vestri Courtyard after breakfast."

"Arrogant, weak, fat, and hard of hearing." Aselith shook his head again. "I will not waste any of my infinite time on meaningless social procedure. There is room enough over there."

He pointed toward the end of the row of tables, where even the servants had stopped to listen. The attention brought near them prompted them to return to their work.

"To fight in the dining hall? Are you a barbarian?" Malicorne laughed.

"I simply know the value of my time." Aselith answered, already moving. Malicorne, surprising, matched his speed on the other side of the table.

Either he didn't understand Aselith's words, or he disregarded them. The same was true for the other students. Aselith wasn't as young as he looked—somewhere in the early twenties for a human. He didn't say his actual age, but Tabitha had no reason to believe it was dissimilar to a spirit's. This would be a slaughter.

Tabitha stood from her seat and grabbed Aselith's sleeve, stopping him in place as Malicorne continued on. "Don't kill him." She whispered.

Aselith turned, placing a hand on his chest. "Summoner, I gave you my word, did I not?" His tone was hurt, but his eyes were playful, as if this was nothing more than a game.

"A commoner won't be able to fight a mage." Kirche spoke up and got closer. "I'd hate to see you injured, as much as I hate seeing Tabitha worry about your safety."

If only she could understand the type of entity she was speaking about. Tabitha would need to tell her. As much as she was able to learn about him, at least.

"There is no cause for concern." Aselith assured her, smiling pleasantly. "I will emerge triumphant with not a scratch on me."

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. If he wanted to win as easily as he claimed, he would have to show some of his magic. That would at least prevent this from happening in the future.

Reluctantly, Tabitha released Aselith.

As the two 'combatants' reached the end of the tables, a crowd was forming around them. There was more than enough space to avoid any mishaps with a spell.

"Show that commoner his place, Malicorne!" Guiche, one of Malicorne's friends, cheered him on. His signature rose-wand was in his hand, extended in a flourish.

"Teach him a lesson!"

"Make him regret mocking us nobles!"

A few of the others added on. More jeers came from the other students. Some were just hoping for a bit of entertainment this early in the day.

A tap on Tabitha's hand startled her. She looked down and saw she had grabbed hold of Kirche's hand without realizing it.

"It'll be okay, Tabby." Kirche tried to assure her, but even she didn't believe her words.

"I know." Tabitha lied.

"Maybe he has a trick up his sleeve." Kirche offered. "If not…I'll do what I can to help heal his injuries."

Kirche wasn't a healer. Neither was Tabitha, really. Most of her spells were tailored to offense and defense, with some utility. Kirche just meant paying for healing from one of the mages in the Water Tower at the academy.

"As a noble, I feel it's only right to give you something to defend yourself with." Malicorne readied his wand, likely to make a weapon, but Aselith just laughed.

"As your clear superior," he then held his arms out wide, "I offer you the first strike."

Some in the crowd grew angry. Most, like Guiche, his friends, and Malicorne, only smiled. "Don't complain about your decision later." Malicorne said.

Then, it started. Malicorne chanted out a spell. As a dot mage, it wasn't a long chant, and but it could still do quite a lot of damage. Guiche's golems would be able to defeat numerous commoners, all while remaining safely behind them. That said, the chant seemed a little long.

"Wind Slash!" Malicorne completed his spell, pointing his wand at Aselith. The air in the room moved as his command, currents immediately gathering around Aselith.

It happened in an instant. A dozen cuts opened all over his body. His chest, his shoulders, arms, legs, and groin. Malicorne was sadistic in his attack, wanting to inflict pain and humiliation. But that wasn't the worst of it. A horizontal slash cut across Aselith's eyes, blinding him. He took a step back, arms dropping slightly.

"Hahaha!" Malicorne pointed and laughed. "Serves you right, commoner! Oh, Tabitha, now your worthless familiar is even more worthless!"

He laughed. The others laughed. Kirche's grip on Tabitha's hand, comforting at first, now tightened. But Tabitha didn't cry out in panic from the attack. She just watched her familiar.

The laughter only lasted a few seconds before people began to realize something was wrong. The wind had cut up Aselith, yes, but there was one component of that action that was missing: blood. There was no blood from the wounds. While it didn't look like any arteries were hit, there still should have been blood pouring out of the openings on his body…

Aselith straightened himself. His wounds, all of them, began to vanish. Perhaps she had more pressing concerns with him before, but Tabitha no longer had an excuse to not realize this. When she observed them, the cuts on his clothing were no different than the cut on his eyes, and they closed the same way.

It should have been obvious, given the visible runes near the side of his chest. They were on top of his clothing. That meant his 'clothes' weren't clothes at all, but another part of his body. He did say he was a shapeshifter.

"Right then." Without a moment of hesitation, Aselith lowered his body and lunged at Malicorne, closing the long distance in an instant.

"Shit!" Malicorne readied his wand again, but it was too late.

Aselith was already in front of him. He raised his hand high, preparing to strike. And then…

Slap!

Malicorne spun, stumbling over himself to remain standing. He held his hand to his cheek, where Aselith just struck him.

"Y-You…How dare—" And then, he was slapped again.

"Lowly—" And again.

"Damn—" And again.

Tabitha watched as Aselith continued the beating, an easy, content smile on his face as he repeatedly slapped Malicorne. After about 10 or 11, Malicorne fell to the ground on his ass.

"S-Stop it!" Malicorne cried out, tears in his eyes.

"Do you surrender?" Aselith asked.

Malicorne sniffled and, slowly, got back up to his feet. He looked up at Aselith, the familiar much taller than him, and snarled. His leg slammed up right into Aselith's groin.

The response was predictable. The boys gave a reflexive groan, but Aselith barely moved. He'd already suffered a worse injury there a minute ago, and previously explained his lack of anatomy to Tabitha. Also predicably, he slapped Malicorne again, knocking him to the ground.

This time, Malicorne let out a soft groan, and didn't rise again.

Aselith raised his fist. "Victory." He gave a neutral cheer.

No one else made a noise.

Tabitha wasn't sure what else he had planned, but it no longer involved Malicorne. He simply started walking back to the tables, the students quickly parting to make way. Guiche and his friends ran up to Malicorne to check on him.

"Where are you going?" Tabitha asked, seeing Aselith walk on the other side of the table than before.

"To claim my spoils, of course." He said.

What spoils? The answer to that came when Aselith reached Malicorne's seat, taking the half-full plate.

"You just wanted food?" Kirche asked, right behind Tabitha and also having followed Aselith.

"I'm whimsical." He responded with a smile. Tabitha gave him a confused look, demanding an answer. He then rolled his eyes and leaned down to her, whispering, "I'm giving the pink one's familiar some proper food. It's not as if the fat one needs it."

After he said that, he turned around and walked toward Louise. That was it? To give the other human-looking familiar food? She agreed he had little to eat, but still.

Was this to get close to him? Aselith said he wasn't interested in the other familiars…that were outside. Louise's wasn't there then.

She had to wonder how much of that whole thing was planned out.

Author's Notes:

At about 180% my goal/limit (plus these notes). I had a lot to say. The 1,000 words is more of a goal, anyway.