The “Stellar Seven” of Saint Dias Academy.
This was not merely the highest honor a student could achieve, but also represented an unshakable top-tier status within the academy.
Becoming one of them granted unrestricted access to the very top floor of the Stellar Tower—the luxurious and mysterious Stellar Lounge—a privilege that even many ordinary nobles could hardly hope to obtain.
The selection of the “Stellar Seven” did not consider a student’s family background or lineage.
Its core—and sole—criterion was absolute strength and extraordinary talent.
Therefore, countless commoner students scrambled and dreamed of becoming one of the “Stellar Seven.”
Once successful, not only would they immediately gain great attention from the academy’s upper echelons, but they might also catch the eyes of some powerful figures within the empire.
More practically, they could freely enter the Stellar Garden and have the opportunity to mingle with true aristocratic heirs, expanding extremely valuable networks—a shortcut to soaring to the pinnacle of life in one step.
However, despite many challengers over the past century, not a single commoner student had succeeded in breaking through this invisible barrier.
There were three ultimate conditions to become one of the “Stellar Seven,” and meeting any one of them would suffice.
The first condition was to possess an original Exclusive Magic.
Applicants needed to participate in a specialized test, demonstrating and proving the uniqueness and powerful strength of their magic under the joint witness of at least two current “Stellar” members, and pass the assessments they set.
The second condition was a recommendation by a current “Stellar” member, which had to be approved by at least three other members, and most importantly, by No.1—the chief member.
The third condition was to defeat any one of the current “Stellar Seven” members in a formally certified duel by the academy.
This last path was usually reserved for challengers when all seven “Stellar” positions were filled.
Since there was currently a vacancy at No.7, this condition was temporarily not applicable.
The path Selis was taking this time was the first one.
Under the strict supervision of mentors and officials appointed by the academy, she underwent a series of specialized assessments far more precise and rigorous than ordinary tests.
These included detailed evaluations of her mana level, extreme tests of mana fluctuation stability, purity, and control accuracy.
After passing all these harsh preliminary tests, Selis finally faced the decisive exam for her Exclusive Magic.
The central training ground of the academy was packed to capacity that day.
The stands overflowed with students who had come upon hearing the news, and even the corridors and entrances were crowded.
Everyone wanted to see with their own eyes just how astonishing the talent of this recently famed girl, known as the Iceflower Saintess, truly was.
After all, she was said to be a rare prodigy in ice attribute magic, a sight not seen in a hundred years.
Selis stood alone at the center of the empty battle platform, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her somewhat quickened heartbeat.
Her gaze involuntarily swept across the crowded stands, urgently searching for the familiar black-haired boy’s figure.
After a moment, her eyes fixed on one spot in the sea of people, where Aiden was looking straight at her.
Aiden sat in a corner of the stands.
Seeing Selis’s gaze, he immediately gave her an encouraging smile, waved vigorously, and clearly mouthed,
“Good luck!”
Receiving his encouragement, Selis felt as if a warm and resolute strength had been injected into her heart.
She nodded firmly, and most of her remaining nervousness instantly dissipated.
With Aiden’s watchful support, she believed that no matter who her opponent was, she possessed the courage and determination to pass this test.
However, when the opponent for the exam actually appeared and slowly stepped onto the platform, Selis’s expression froze, her pupils widening in shock.
Her opponent was none other than the discipline committee head of Saint Dias Academy—the crimson-eyed girl of unfathomable power—Akane Kurokami.
Selis knew her current strength was nowhere near a match for this No.3 ranked member of the “Stellar Seven.”
Even in her previously darkened state, she had been easily subdued by this senior.
But when she thought of how Aiden had been tirelessly running errands for Akane Kurokami and looked utterly exhausted, a fierce fighting spirit ignited deep within her.
For Aiden’s sake, she had to give her all—at the very least, she needed to show her opponent her determination and strength.
Akane Kurokami stood expressionless opposite Selis.
She slowly drew the Black Katana from her waist.
The cold blade shimmered with a dim luster under the lights.
She calmly pointed the tip toward Selis and announced in a cold voice,
“This test will be conducted by me. Selis, give it your all. Challenge me without holding anything back.”
“I understand.”
Selis took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
Her gaze sharpened and grew resolute.
She nodded, her voice a bit heavy.
It was precisely because she couldn’t tolerate Akane Kurokami’s casual and nearly exploitative treatment of Aiden that she resolutely decided to join the “Stellar Seven.”
And now, standing before her was the very “culprit.”
She would therefore fight with everything she had, venting all the dissatisfaction, concern, and anger born from Aiden in this battle, without reservation.
Thus, Selis no longer held anything back and began to reveal her astonishing true strength.
In an instant, a biting ice storm suddenly whipped up around her.
The temperature in the training ground plummeted.
Her long ice-blue hair seemed infused with life, becoming crystal clear and flowing without wind; the tips even crystallized into tiny ice shards.
Countless pure snowflakes swirled and floated around her.
Even more striking were six exquisitely shaped, razor-sharp longswords condensed from pure frost, floating like loyal guardians on either side of her body.
At this moment, the girl’s shoulders and hair were also adorned with delicate ice-snow ornaments, making her appear like an elf stepped out from an icy legend—both splendid and elegant, carrying an awe-inspiring, untouchable aura.
As Selis’s fully unleashed true form was displayed without restraint before all the academy’s teachers and students, bursts of uncontrollable gasps and admiration erupted from the crowd.
“Oh my god! This is so beautiful!”
“Is this the ‘Iceflower Saintess’? She looks exactly like the goddess of ice and snow!”
Aiden casually propped his chin with one hand, leaning slightly forward against the railing of the stands, his eyes focused intently on the radiant girl on the platform, unable to help but sigh sincerely.
“Indeed… very beautiful.”
The battle officially began.
Selis was a frost magic user specializing in long-range attacks and control.
She stood steadily, her mind highly concentrated, her delicate fingers moving like a conductor.
The six ice swords floating beside her transformed into six piercing blue streaks of cold light, cutting through the air with sharp whistles, shooting relentlessly from different angles and trajectories toward Akane Kurokami.
Faced with this dense and swift hail of ice swords, Akane remained composed and unhurried.
She didn’t even move her feet.
Holding the Black Katana in one hand, her wrist flicked with masterful precision.
The blade’s black light flashed and wove before her like a dark curtain.
Every slash was precise and efficient.
The hard ice swords shattered like fragile glass upon contact with her blade, breaking into a shower of ice crystals that made it impossible for anything to come within three feet of her.
Throughout the entire exchange, Akane’s expression never changed, her breathing steady as if she were simply performing an easy daily exercise, displaying a skillful ease that was alarming.
In contrast, Selis’s attacks, though fierce and dazzling, slowly began to show cracks.
With her massive mana consumption and mental strain, fine sweat beaded on her forehead, her breath grew labored, and the speed and accuracy of her ice sword control slipped imperceptibly.
The glaring gap in strength between the two became unmistakably clear.
Selis gasped slightly and, taking advantage of a brief pause in her assault, couldn’t help but steal a quick glance at Aiden in the stands.
The black-haired boy still watched her attentively, his eyes full of encouragement.
If she lost here… then all her previous efforts and resolve would have been in vain…
Aiden would still have to continue being at Akane’s beck and call.
This thought pierced through the girl’s will like an ice spike.
Aiden had done so much for her, even risking himself… and now, what she could do for him might only be this… If she couldn’t even do this one thing well… she couldn’t even accept herself.
So she absolutely could not lose.
At that moment, a powerful conviction dispelled the exhaustion in her body.
Selis took a deep breath of the icy air, her eyes sharp and resolute once again.
She pressed both hands forcefully downward.
The six ice swords, which had been attacking in flight, abruptly changed trajectory.
With several clear “clang” sounds, the ice swords neatly embedded themselves into the ground around her, forming a perfect circle of frost centered on her.
Selis lifted her head, eyes blazing as she looked at Akane Kurokami, still standing with her blade untouched.
Her voice was breathless but filled with undeniable resolve.
“Then let senior witness… my Domain Magic.”