Saint Dias Magic Academy holds a monthly assessment test for all students.
This test comprehensively evaluates students from three aspects: Magic Origin Level, mastery of magical theory, and practical combat ability.
Every six months, the academy conducts a larger, more rigorous Semiannual Large-scale Test, and based on the monthly assessment scores from those six months, all students are reassigned to classes.
Students who achieve high rankings not only gain priority access to classes with better teaching resources but also see their status and influence within the academy rise accordingly.
Therefore, the monthly assessment is a crucial milestone for the vast majority of students, determining future resource allocation and personal development.
Today was the day of the monthly assessment.
The morning session was a written exam on theoretical knowledge.
The examination hall was silent except for the faint scratching sound of quill pens on paper.
Ethan sat at his desk and, with Ruby’s covert “reference” provided through the system, quickly finished all the questions in no time.
After reviewing his paper, he didn’t hesitate to lay his head on the desk, seizing this precious exam time to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
This was almost the only time since becoming a Discipline Committee member that he could openly slack off and rest.
He really had no idea how the other Discipline Committee members balanced work and study… or was it just that his workload was especially ridiculous?
That senior, Akane Kurokami—who seemed to enforce rules strictly, perhaps overly meticulous and stubborn—was she really deliberately tormenting him?
Could this be… workplace bullying?
However, Ethan currently had no way to change his situation.
After all, becoming a Discipline Committee member and obeying Akane Kurokami’s orders was a promise he had made himself, an exchange to guarantee Celeste’s safety.
Not only that, Akane Kurokami was not only the head of the Discipline Committee but also the second female lead target to be “conquered” after Celeste on the System Task List.
This meant that this seemingly iron-willed girl would, at some point in the future, also walk a dangerous path of corruption.
Yet for now, Ethan lacked the proper opportunity to approach or understand her, let alone begin the so-called “conquest.”
He could only suppress his feelings and obediently carry out the various tasks Akane assigned, searching for possible openings within.
Next to Ethan, Celeste was diligently answering the test questions while occasionally glancing sideways at his tired profile, which seemed weary even in sleep.
Seeing Ethan’s “pitiful” state, Celeste’s resolve grew even firmer and clearer in her heart.
The theoretical exam ended quickly.
The afternoon practical session was arranged for Magic Origin Level testing and subsequent combat trials.
The magic test was conducted on a transparent crystal apparatus, meticulously developed by the Magic Engineering department to resemble a pillar.
Students only needed to place their palms on a designated sensing area and steadily inject their own magic into it.
The device would then provide a comprehensive magic rating based on the strength, purity, and characteristics of the magic.
Students went up one by one in order of student ID.
Most results clustered around Grade D; a few with decent talent reached Grade C, and hardly any made it to Grade B.
After all, it was still their first year.
Most students’ magic was in the growth and accumulation stage, leaving plenty of room for future improvement.
Ethan was the penultimate to take the test.
He took a deep breath and forced himself to step forward.
Under the watchful eyes of many, he pressed his right hand onto the cool crystal sensor.
To be fair, due to his unique body, he didn’t possess even the slightest trace of magic, let alone a magic origin.
The various “magical” effects he performed were entirely reliant on magic card effects granted by the system.
To handle this test, Ethan secretly activated a Support Card that simulated faint magical fluctuations, pretending to have magic and “injecting” it into the device.
Soon, the display screen atop the testing device flickered several times and showed a clear letter—
E.
Ethan’s expression twitched involuntarily.
Grade E… this probably wasn’t indicating his magic truly reached the E standard but was rather the lowest rating the machine could display.
Ethan had long prepared himself for this result.
Although some of his classmates looked at the rating with subtle strangeness, unlike before, no one dared to openly mock or ridicule him this time.
After all, Rufus—a ruthless figure with a powerful background and solid strength—had been completely defeated by this “Grade E” transfer student.
Especially after hearing increasingly exaggerated rumors, these students gradually understood that raw magic origin level was not the sole criterion for evaluating someone’s overall strength.
The last to take the test was Celeste.
She walked to the testing stand with a serious expression, slowly raising her pale palm and gently pressing it onto the sensor.
After a deep breath, she began injecting her magic into the device.
In an instant, her long ice-blue hair billowed like a waterfall, with tiny, sparkling ice crystals forming between strands.
The surrounding air temperature dropped sharply, and faint snowflake-like illusions swirled around her.
A powerful, chilling aura radiated from her, causing nearby students to shiver involuntarily.
The device’s display flickered violently before settling on a dazzling letter.
A.
When the brilliant “A” grade appeared on the screen, the gathered students instantly erupted in astonishment, and even Toronto, the instructor in charge of the practical course, revealed an expression of undisguised surprise.
He clearly remembered that last month, Celeste’s rating had hovered between Grade C and B.
How had she managed such a huge leap in just one month, soaring directly to an A that many upperclassmen struggled to reach?
Had Celeste undergone some unknown specialized training this month, or had she been deliberately hiding her true strength all along?
Seeing the expected rating, Celeste’s tense shoulders relaxed slightly as she exhaled softly.
She turned around, calmly scanning the stunned crowd below.
Her hesitant gaze was now replaced with an unprecedented resolve.
She no longer intended to hide.
She was a genius mage, and she was laying her cards on the table.
In the past, due to family background and inner insecurities, Celeste had avoided attracting attention, carefully concealing her talent and never daring to reveal her brightest self for fear of unnecessary trouble and envy—her life was already difficult enough.
But now, for the person she wanted to protect, she had made a complete resolution.
Watch closely, this is my true self.
During the subsequent combat test, Celeste held nothing back.
She unleashed her exquisite ice magic—once withheld out of caution—without reservation.
Ice shards danced like living creatures at her fingertips, freezing barriers instantly formed and shattered into countless sharp fragments, and she could even momentarily freeze the air around her opponents.
Her fighting style clearly showed the influence of Ethan’s flexible, adaptive, and unpredictable tactics but was infused with her own icy elegance and sharpness.
Everyone watched in awe, as if witnessing not a student but a saint emerging from an ice-and-snow legend—majestic and untouchable.
The result was inevitable: Celeste’s combat test score shattered the record for first-year freshmen, reaching an astonishing height.
This instantly attracted the close attention of the academy’s leadership.
Shortly after the test ended, Celeste was summoned for a meeting with the academy’s top officials.
In the solemn conference room, facing the academy’s leaders, Celeste showed no sign of intimidation.
She straightened her back and clearly, resolutely made her request:
“I want to run for the ‘Stellar Seven.’”
After all, with Rufus expelled, the No.7 spot among the Stellar Seven was vacant.
The leaders’ faces showed varying degrees of surprise.
This was the first time in Saint Dias Academy’s history that a non-noble student had actively applied to run for the Stellar Seven.
However, the selection rules for the Stellar Seven had always been based solely on strength, regardless of background.
After brief discussion, they decided to consult with the current Stellar members before giving Celeste an official response.
Celeste calmly met the uneasy gazes of the academy staff stirred by her request, her expression growing unusually serious and determined.
Akane Kurokami… you said I have no right to speak with you, didn’t you?
Then I’ll show you.
In her heart, Celeste had declared war on the high-ranking, black-haired, red-eyed senior.
Once I become a member of the Stellar Seven and gain equal standing with you, I will formally demand justice for Ethan and the unfair treatment you have shown him.