After her first use of a mana shifted spell, the technique just seemed to click for her and shifting her mana to fire became easier, though using [Mana Shift] seemed slower than her classmates using [Affinity Layering]. Where it took her a couple seconds to shift her mana to fire, she knew that Aya could snap out an aspected spell near instantly just by running a mana tendril through her affinity Jun had to concentrate on manually changing her mana, and Shiori explained that it only worked when you had a concrete understanding of an aspect. For her, the only one she seemed able to grasp was fire. She had a visceral understanding of that element. She could still sometimes feel a phantom lick of flame on her body, especially when she shifted her mana to fire.

Desperate for more time to practice her magic and learn from her Master, Jun decided to take Sara and Gareth's advice and try to test out of her morning classes. The time spent on them was time that she could spend training and catching up, and between her studying with Sara and her enhanced memory, she barely learned anything in the classes. But being well prepared for a class was far different from learning months worth of lessons on 3 subjects in just a few days. It was a near impossible feat, one Jun wasn't able to achieve. But where her attempt to learn the material failed, her Master found a different way. The night before she was scheduled to take the first of her exams, Shiori had disappeared for an hour before returning and dropping a stack of papers on her desk. They were the answer keys to each of the tests Jun scheduled to take.

Jun had panicked at being handed the answer keys so easily, but Shiori had insisted, saying that even if Jun didn't use them, she would pass her tests. "I'll make sure of it," her Master had said. After her months of talking to Shiori, Jun had learned to read the cat's body language, and what she saw scared her. Cheating on a few tests was better than a bunch of dead or mauled professors, Jun rationalized as she started memorizing the answer keys. Three days later, Sara and Cecilia dragged her and Shiori out to a restaurant in the Noble District to celebrate, where Gareth, Lane, Corin, and Aya were waiting to surprise her. Gareth rented out a private room at the restaurant, where they dined on a specially tailored menu that seemed to hit every one of Jun's tastebuds perfectly. They even prepared special dishes for Shiori despite her friends thinking Shiori was Jun's pet.

After dinner Sara and Cecilia dragged Jun and Aya out dancing. It was a fun celebration even if it ended with a bar fight after a drunk man groped Jun's rear. Cecilia had all but beaten the drunk man bloody, and Sara had casually relieved the man of his purse for the offense. What surprised her the most was Aya, whom Jun had to talk out of burning down the club after security escorted them out. She didn't miss how Shiori disappeared after the girls were kicked out, but chose not to question her Master when she rejoined the girls a few minutes later. She definitely didn't turn to watch the squad of heavily armed guards sprinting towards the club nor did she hear the screaming coming from the club's direction. The end of the night found the four girls chatting in Jun, Sara, and Cecilia's dormitory

Luckily after she'd pulled off her fire spell, Practical Spellcasting had moved on to teaching defensive spells. Sam taught the class the [Shield] spell, though Jun was the only one unable to learn it as her [Barrier] spell was already an upgraded version of it. Their practice became each pair alternating between offense and defense, with the goal of protecting the training dummy from their partner's spells or hitting the dummy through a shield. Sam and his assistants also stopped allowing the students to choose their partners and instead people rotated randomly. Aya quickly became the most feared on offense, her creative use of affinity empowered spells shattering shield after shield, though no one seemed surprised by her performance. What did surprise people was Jun's own performance.

Despite her [Piercing Missile] being known to be at Apprentice rank and Jun managing to utterly destroy a training dummy, something not even Aya had managed, Jun still carried a reputation amongst her classmates as being 'talentless." Many of her classmates said that her mana shifted spell was just a fluke or that the training dummy had been defective and weakened by weeks of Aya pumping powerful spells into it. Only Aya and Sam seemed to believe in her, but that was more than enough.

Jun's first partner in Practical Spellcasting after the switch was a silver medallion wearing boy named Masato. When they first met, Jun learned 3 things from the boy's introduction. Masato was the son of a Viscount in the Duchy of Greygarten, also had Apprentice rank spells, and he was a pervert. "You're a pretty thing, though your tits are pathetic," he said by way of greeting. "I am Masato, heir to Viscount Hitoshi of Greygarten Duchy, I will give you the honor of receiving my thrust, so go ahead and cast your [Shield] spell wench."

The entitled prick of a noble's words pissed Jun off. Perhaps it was because she'd been sheltered by her friends this whole time, but she hadn't met anyone this bad in the city before. She'd certainly overheard some comments, but she'd shrugged it off as just bravado and pointless posturing. But this boy was just a pervert and a predator. Cheeks flaming with rage, Jun refused to respond and just channeled her mana into her [Barrier] spell, adding multiple modifications and devoting a full half of her mana pool to strengthening the shield. She'd also learned a new trick from Shiori's guidance and shifted some mana into fire and fed it to the negation aspect of her spell. If she did it right, it would consume some of the mana from anything that struck it and use it to fuel itself, making her spell stronger. Jun's spell materialized as a vaguely pink transparent oval with the rim tapering towards the dummy that it fully covered. Spell cast, she turned to the pervert she was partnered with and stared at him expectantly, her arms crossed across her chest.

Masato seemed to misread her flushed cheeks and body language as he smiled disgustingly. "My, you got ready to receive me quickly. You're quite eager aren't you? Don't worry, I'll be gentle even with my Apprentice rank spells. [Fire Javelin]!" he shouted, as if announcing his spell would make it more impressive.

As his spell coalesced Jun had to admit it was impressive. Where the Novice ranked [Fire Dart] was like a small arrow of flame, and Ava's [Fire Bolt] was more like an arrow, Masato's [Fire Javelin] was a massive spell near as long as she was tall and made up of fiery red and orange flames. Standing near it was like standing near a campfire as it radiated heat before lancing off to strike her [Barrier]. But like all boys more confident in their gifts than they should be, his skills were lacking. Even as the spell flew, Jun instinctively knew that much of the spell's mana was tied up in flourishes that made it look impressive but didn't do anything for performance. As it struck her spell, the spear of fire exploded, obscuring the target in flames as Masato turned with a triumphant look on his face.

Jun could tell from her connection to her spell that her barrier still held. The spell's impact had barely eaten into the mana she'd empowered her spell with, barely weakening her barrier by 10 of the 70 points of mana she'd devoted to her barrier's stability alone. The heat of the flames ate away another 3 points of mana. But the flourishes to make the boy's spell visually impressive had made up more than half of the mana in it, and that mana just fed Jun's spell, making it even stronger. As the flames were slowly sucked into her shield, Jun absentmindedly muttered a single word as she analyzed her spell's performance. "Weak,"

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Jun didn't realize she'd said it out loud until she noticed Masato's perverted face twist with rage. "What did you say, you slut bitch?!" he screamed, drawing the attention of their classmates as Jun recoiled a bit.

She'd been pissed and hated the pervert, but she hadn't meant to speak her mind, wanting to just get through it as quickly as possible while still trying her best. But that ship had sailed. Steeling herself, Jun glared back as she took a steadying breath and spoke, her voice shaking with anger. "I said you're weak," she hissed.

Most of her classmates stared at Jun as they realized they'd rarely heard the girl talk, and certainly never defended herself before. Only Aya didn't seem to be surprised, smiling encouragingly at Jun from the corner of her vision.

"I'll show you who's weak whore! I'll make you beg for mercy while you service me!" screaming with rage, Masato channeled an even larger [Fire Javelin] and sent it screaming at Jun's barrier. Her classmates watched wide-eyed as the spell collided with Jun's barrier, washing it in flames. They were certain Jun's spell had been broken, only for gasps to break out around the range as the flames cleared to see her barrier still standing strong. Snarling, Masato manifested spell after spell, the lances of fire rhythmically thumping into Jun's barrier every few seconds and washing the entire far end of the range in flames. Soon, the boy leaned against the low counter separating the students from the shooting lanes, his face covered in sweat as he gasped for breath. After a handful of seconds the flames subsided and Masato's eyes widened to see Jun's barrier glowing brightly, seemingly even stronger than when she'd first cast it. "What?" he said, stumbling as he pushed himself upright, disbelief on his face. "No one's barrier could withstand that many [Fire Javelin]s! You cheated!" he screamed, pointing his finger accusingly at Jun.

Jun stared hotly at the boy, her fist clenched as she fought the desire to punch him in his pampered face. As she tried to calm down, she missed the glint of savagery in his eyes before he brought his fist up, throwing a sucker punch right for Jun's face!

The slapping sound of flesh on flesh filled the room as the boy's meaty fist slammed into Harold's hand. The older student looked disdainfully down his nose at Masato as he moved to stand between him and Jun. "Enough. You're a disgrace to your station, Masato," the older student growled.

"Harold, release the poor boy," Sam said, moving to join his assistant. His eyebrow raised, he stared at Harold until the older student released Masato with a scowl. Nodding at his assistant, Sam turned to Masato and bowed slightly. "Please remember that this is a school and act in a respectful manner appropriate with your station, Lord Masato," Sam said neutrally.

"She cheated! I want her expelled and handed over to me for punishment immediately!" Masato demanded with a wild look on his face.

"I didn't cheat, you vulgar brat," Jun spat, her anger finally overcoming her restraint. "You're just mad that your spell sucks!"

"Student Jun! I ask that you refrain from provoking your classmates," Sam said in the same neutral voice.

Jun managed to get her anger in check before she lashed out at her Professor and gritted her teeth.

Turning back to Masato, Sam continued speaking in a even tone with his head slightly bowed. "I'm afraid I can't allow that, Lord Masato. No school rules were broken and Jun legitimately cast the spell herself."

"I refuse to believe some commoner whore could cast a defensive spell that I can't break! She must have used a spell stone!"

"As your Professor and a Master Magi, I can feel the threads of mana binding Jun's spell to her. She cast the spell herself without aid. Her [Barrier] is clearly the type of spell that can consume opposing mana to enhance itself. She used your own mana against you." Sam finally said with authority as his aura lightly pressed down on the surrounding students.

Gulping as fear crossed his face, Masato relented. "Fine, but I still think she's a cheater. I refuse to deal with her again."

"Very well, Lord Masato. Please go and rest and recover your mana." Sam gestured to the doors to the range, where there was a study area immediately outside the doors.

Nodding as if that was what he wanted all along, the proud boy stomped out the door with his head held high as the assembled students watched him go. As the doors closed behind him, Sam turned back to the remaining students. "Well? Get back to practice the rest of you," he said with a smile as if what had just happened was nothing to see. With a few uneasy glances at Sam, Harold, and Jun, most of the students went back to their positions. All except Aya, who lingered until Jun made eye contact with her and shook her head, and Stephanie who moved to join the three of them with an unreadable look on her face. "Don't mind Masato," Sam said with a smile at Jun.

Don't mind the predatory asshole after the things he said? Jun raged at the Professor's lukewarm response. That piece of shit said such vulgar things to her, and this man who's supposed to be her Professor kissed his ass rather than reprimand him. Disgusted with her teacher, Jun was unphased at the man's handsome smile. The only heat she felt in her cheeks was anger at him for kissing a noble's ass. Before she could unleash her anger at the man that controlled her grades, Jun's self-control caught up with her emotions as she swallowed her anger. "Fine." Jun said tersely, refusing the look her Professor in the eyes as she smoldered.

Frowning, Sam turned to look at his assistants. "Harold, keep an eye on the students, Stephanie, partner with Jun while Masato recovers," Sam said before turning his back on Jun.

Harold and Stephanie shared a quick look behind Sam's back before Stephanie nodded. "Understood Professor," they chorused.

Jun turned to stare at her [Barrier] still hanging in front of the dummy, ignoring Sam, Harold, and Stephanie as disgust at the whole class ate at her.

Jun blinked as she felt the movement of crisp and cool mana coming from Stephanie as the older woman cast a spell. The sounds of her classmates talking and casting spells winked out, leaving the two of them in silence. "So, that was your first true experience with a nobleman, wasn't it?"

Silently nodding, Jun continued to stare at her barrier spell as it stood strong.

"I figured," she said with a sigh. "Are you okay?"

"Can they hear us?" Jun asked quietly, her voice shaking a bit.

"No, I cast a privacy spell. You can speak freely if you want."

"I just... he said such disgusting things and no one spoke up. No one stopped him until he tried to attack me. Why?" A tear leaked from her eye as she started to shake.

A loud sigh escaped the older woman's lips as she leaned against the counter, looking at Jun's spell. Lazily, a light blue spell coalesced and shot forward, forming into a spike of ice that shot off and shattered against Jun's barrier. Jun couldn't help but notice that her barrier's reserve of mana shrunk slightly without replenishing as the spell hit it. "Most nobles treat us commoners as little more than tools to be used," Stephanie said as another spike of ice hit her barrier and drained a bit more energy. "Men are used up and thrown away once they can no longer fight or labor, and women are treated worse. The pretty ones tend to attract the worst attention and are used until their beauty fades and are discarded." Every few seconds, a new spike of ice formed and struck Jun's barrier as Stephanie spoke.

"I don't agree with what Sam did, kissing that boy's ass, but Masato is a higher noble than Sam is. The only reason Harold got away with blocking that punch is because his father is the head of Duke Brightmane's knights. And the only reason you didn't get thrown to him for punishment is that you didn't do anything wrong, though you didn't win any friends amongst the nobles like Masato today for showing him up."

Jun's barrier had shrunk to half it's original strength. "Be careful of that 'vulgar brat,'" she said as a spear of ice the size of her arm formed in front of her and lanced through Jun's spell, shattering it as it impaled the target dummy. "Though that's a good barrier you have there. Put a couple of those between the you and him and he'll never touch you," she said with a warm smile.