Innate Ability Protocol

Atsuo felt skeptical about his talent. To him, it seemed like more of a curse. And yet, he was still grateful because of the times he could put it to good use. Like the time with Kiyo.

“Now, some of you might already know what they are, but some of you have still to find out. Rest assured, that we will help you with that.”

“Drezore Academy of Magic is considered the best because of a hidden art that was passed down to each head since the beginning. It is the ability to expedite the process of learning your innate ability, as well as its total mastery.”

“There is however, a very dangerous line between good and bad when taking some abilities into account” she said, glancing at Atsuo again.

“Your abilities can be ranked by usefulness and impact. All measuring relative to ‘Dike’s Pentagram’…”

“The measures are as follows:”

    - Manipulation

    - Threat to society

    - Benefit to society

    - Luck

    - Other

“Most of you don’t realize the extent of your abilities, but those who do, know just how they might fit into those categories.”

“Let us have a visual demonstration. A volunteer…” she said, looking around, “…you young lady. Come over here please.”

‘So much for a volunteer…’ Atsuo thought to himself, after no one raised their hand.

Atsuo twitched from shock, it was Kiyo.

He looked back at her empty seat, and sure enough, she came with Ivia.

“Now,” Arete said, pulling something out, “this machine here will give you a visual representation of your measures, based on your potential.”

“If I recall, you were ‘Vast’ dear?” Arete asked, to which Kiyo nodded uneasily.

“Okay, go ahead an put your hand over the smooth surface,” she instructed, pointing at the top of the machine.

A little time passed when the machine reflected the results as a hologram.

Kiyo sighed from the results, seeing that her innate ability is not a danger to society and not manipulative.

But something was wrong.

Arete looked from the machine to the hologram, then back to Kiyo, she was unsure about something.

“I don’t think you are Vast, dear. There was a mistake…” she said, “I’m sorry but–”

Atsuo flinched, turning to Arete.

“What if the machine’s broken?” he asked sternly.

“Despite how old this thing looks, it doesn’t break…” Arete said.

Lord Kaiser turned to her as well.

“…But I can try reading your potential again…” she said suddenly, “please give me your hand dear.”

Atsuo was watching as Kiyo gave her hand to Arete while smiling at him.

He twitched. The all-black phenomenon disappeared like it was never there.

His eyes widened as he stared at Kiyo, bewildered.

Arete had a similar expression on her face.

“…My… this is unprecedented…” she said, amazed, looking back at Kiyo, “I am sorry for the machine’s malfunctioning earlier, dear… You are our seventh limitless...”

Everyone in the room was confused at what just happened.

Though for a different reason, Atsuo could not comprehend the situation either.

‘How… Why… Where did it go…’ he thought to himself as he blinked, confirming the ailment’s absence.

‘Did she remove it…?’ he thought glancing at her.

Suddenly, she turned, their eyes meeting. The two of them blushed, quickly turning to the floor.

Lord Kaiser glanced at him surprised.

“Hmm? What’s wrong sleeper?” Lord Kaiser said, slapping him on the back, “…are you sick or something?”

Atsuo did not respond, and Lord Kaiser was about to reiterate when Arete sighed out of nowhere.

“Now is a good time to talk about the Innate Ability Protocol.”

“As you are well aware, all of you possess a lot of power, with some beyond normal understanding. This means that some of you are potentially dangerous and / or uncontrollable. As such, you are going to sign the IAP” she said coldly.

Lord Kaiser and Atsuo twitched.

“You are to inform the authorities about your ability, regardless of potential, age, or race. This ensures that all of you are ‘on the right path’. Rest assured, none of your rights will be taken away from you. Failure to adhere to this law, however, would lead you down a thorny path, tantamount to losing everything. As such, you are going to sign these as soon as possible to avoid such fate.”

Atsuo and Lord Kaiser now both understood what Deimos meant in the postscript of the letter.

“But first, you are to fully understand and master your abilities,” she said getting up, “I’ll see all of you tomorrow, where you will start your expediting process.”

Without another word, she left the cafeteria and went straight back to the faculty office with her broken machine.

“We’re definitely leaving today…” Atsuo whispered to Lord Kaiser, who nodded.

The friends cast each other uneasy looks on the whole matter and agreed to meet at some other place to mull over everything.

Atsuo and Lord Kaiser had to be careful not to slip any important or suspicious details relating to their ‘departure’.

They left first, waiting for the friends back at the dorm.

In the meantime, they discussed the possible reasons for the IAP being forced on them.

“They would probably try to exploit us if they found out,” Lord Kaiser said, “especially you, sleeper… whatever it is you have, seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. I’d be concerned too if I were them.”

“I want to go back to Brimor…” Atsuo said gloomily.

“You’re not alone…” Lord Kaiser said longingly, thinking of Yuna.

“I wonder if we should tell them not to sign the IAP…” Atsuo wondered.

“We can’t…” Lord Kaiser said, “while I’d love to, we’d only be dragging them into our own problems. I don’t want to see them knees deep in shit beside us.”

“So what do we tell them?” Atsuo asked.

“We should pretend like we will need a lot of time to fully understand our abilities, hence we can’t sign the IAP…” Lord Kaiser said, “after all we’re both limitless potential. Who knows how specific they can be…”

“You’re right…” Atsuo agreed.

He then turned to Lord Kaiser and asked something that was on his mind for a while.

“I’ve always wanted to ask… what do you think our abilities are?”