Louise gave a bow as Saito finished showing off his skill with that talking sword of his. A modest applause came from the audience, followed by the pair leaving the prepared stage.

"Up next is Tabitha!" The professor called out.

Tabitha sighed as she walked up the three steps to the stage. Why was she doing this again? It would be better to simply show off Aselith's abilities than to do…whatever it was he called this.

As she and Aselith turned to face the standing audience, one person caught her attention. Kirche was waving, a brilliant and beautiful smile on her face.

"Oh, right…" Tabitha remembered how she was convinced to do this. Aselith said Kirche might find it funny.

He didn't specify if it was because someone who could easily beat a mage was doing it, or because she was doing it with him. Aselith had gotten Saito's opinion on it and he seemed to enjoy it. Saito had said the 'gap' was the funniest part, referring to Tabitha. After a brief explanation, she could see what he meant. No one would expect Tabitha to perform comedy.

Well, as long as Kirche enjoyed it, it was worth it. And if no one else did, they had a backup plan.

There were a few murmurs in the crowd, and more than a few heads turned to look at where Kirche stood, but Tabitha paid it no mind.

"I've learned a lot about mages since I was summoned here." Aselith began, smiling. "They can bend the elements to their will."

"Hm." Tabitha nodded, still looking at the crowd with him.

"They can change metals into other metals."

"That's right." Her voice was monotone.

"They can levitate up to girls' rooms to peak at them."

The first joke. Just as they practiced, Tabitha raised her staff slightly and bonked him on the side of his head with the curled end.

"Nobles don't do that." She said, still in the same tone.

"Are you sure? Mages are nobles, right?"

"Mostly, yes."

"They have colorful hair that can be any color of the rainbow?"

"Yes."

"They wield a wand or a staff to cast spells?"

"Yes."

"And they put bristles on their staves to make them look like brooms."

Another cue. Tabitha lightly bopped him on his head. "That's ridiculous."

The crowd was mostly silent. Saito laughed, though he quickly got his foot stomped on by Louise for his trouble. Kirche, however…well, she at least looked amused.

"This is confusing." Aselith let out a sigh. "Nobles have an air of power about them." He held up one finger.

"They should." Tabitha nodded.

"The strongest of them focus intently on their interests." A second finger.

"Of course."

"They shun fancy clothing and prefer to be naked." A third finger.

Another bonk. Tabitha extended her arm to the audience. "All these nobles are wearing clothes."

"Huh. I was wondering who all these people were." Aselith scratched his chin.

"Why would you think those strange things about nobles?"

"How else would you explain that boy riding a broom naked up to your room while he watched me change clothes?"

A few laughs from the audience. There was even a chortle from Osmond. Given what Tabitha knew about him—including rumors—he might have had something similar happen to him. Whether or not he was clothed was something she didn't want to consider.

"That's a lie. You don't change clothes." Tabitha pointed out.

"I must smell pretty bad then, don't I?"

Once more, another bonk. "You don't wear clothes."

"I don't?" Aselith quickly looked himself over. "No, I'm pretty sure I am."

"You're a physical spirit. That's your skin."

"Oh yeah…Technically, I don't have skin, either."

Another tap on his head. A few more people laughed, a few Tabitha recognized as the more studious among her peers. They knew what a physical spirit was. Still, the bulk of the audience was unimpressed. Except for Kirche. Her chest moved up and down as she quietly laughed.

"Boo!" A voice came from next to Kirche. "Your jokes are bad!"

That outburst drew many more looks, especially since the source of the voice was…Aselith. His husk, at least. It stepped forward, wearing a top hat that Aselith got from who knows where.

"What's more," The husk yelled, pointing an accusatory finger at Aselith, but smiling like the original, "that man is an imposter! I'm the real Aselith!"

"You dare!?" Aselith pointed right back at him, still smiling.

Tabitha held back a sigh of relief. Aselith promised to cut this little comedy routine short if it wasn't going well, and it wasn't. At least Kirche was leaning forward as she watched the husk jump up onto the stage.

"I can prove it!" The husk proclaimed proudly, turning to the audience. "Only the real Aselith can tell a proper joke! Now, what do you call a dog that—"

Right then, Aselith let loose two streams of fire from his hands at the husk, setting it ablaze. It flailed around, arms going in every direction, but that grin was still present.

"I'm melting!" It cried out as it dissolved into nothingness.

The crowd let out a collective gasp at the display. A number of them caught on and clapped at the powerful feat. Aselith took three steps to where the husk was and picked up the hat, which was completely unscathed. He then placed it on his head.

"Why did you do that?" Tabitha turned to face him, still mostly monotone in her delivery.

"He was pretending to be me. Everyone knows that copies try to get rid of the real thing to replace them." He said in his defense.

"He was just standing there. That was murder."

"He was reaching for a knife. Everyone saw it." The husk, of course, did nothing of the sort.

"But how do I know you're really Aselith?"

"Please. Did you see that hat he was wearing? Ridiculous! I would never wear something like that."

Even more laughs came from the crowd. It wasn't that impressive, at most double the already pitiful amount before. Saito and Osmond enjoyed it, the former getting his foot stomped on again.

Kirche let out a boisterous laugh as she held her stomach. Her breasts bounced as she made no attempt to contain herself. If nothing else, that more than made it worth doing this embarrassing act.

Tabitha and Aselith both gave a bow and left the stage on the side opposite of the one they entered, with another small round of applause.

"Comedy is hard." Aselith commented as they walked to join Kirche.

"Why did you want to do this?" Tabitha asked him.

"I'm—"

"Don't say you're whimsical." Tabitha cut him off.

Aselith chuckled. He didn't offer any other explanation.

"That was wonderful, Tabby!" Kirche called out as she wrapped her in an enveloping hug.

"!" Tabitha desperately held back her voice. She nearly let out a loud sigh as Kirche's breasts pressed against her head.

"Maybe I shouldn't keep letting Aselith pretend to be Kirche at night…" The thought was as deceptive as it was pointless. Tabitha enjoyed it far too much. She would just need to make sure she remained the same when she was with the real Kirche. Otherwise, she might give something away and ruin their friendship.

"Next up is—" The professor was about to announce the next student when a powerful rumble shook the ground.

Aselith kept Tabitha and Kirche steady, since Tabitha wasn't in a position to brace herself properly. Kirche quickly disconnected from Tabitha as she tried to keep balance.

"An earthquake?" Aselith asked.

"No." Tabitha pointed with her staff. In another courtyard, a huge golem was rising. It easily rose above the separating walls and turned to the Void Tower. A large fist was brought back and slammed into the tower, shaking the ground slightly.

"An attack!" The professor on stage called out.

"Protect the queen!" The queen's bodyguards quickly took up position around their monarch.

"Hey, Tabitha." Aselith tapped her shoulder. "What level of mage can create something like that?"

"Triangle, at least." She responded.

The ever-present smile on his face grew wider. "Good. I wanted a real test of skill of this world's mages. You all have been holding out on me. Shall I?"

Tabitha gave him a nod, and the two of them ran to next courtyard, Kirche right behind them.

Author's Notes:

The comedy bit was based on manzai comedy, where there's a straight man and a funny man. What? I'm cultured.