Wheel of Actual Fortune

Ms. Ryu Yong, our abilities teacher, is teaching about Natal Concepts, Core Abilities, and Extensive Abilities. It's something I already knew, but the institutions always kept shut about the specific knowledge one needs in developing them, which surprisingly was never mentioned in the novel.

"I'm sure you all heard of how everyone is born with a concept and can develop abilities from them, and I'm sure a lot of you who have made it here have a good understanding of themselves and their powers. Only those with great comprehension can rise above the rest.", Ms. Ryu wrote on the board as she listed down the three terms before writing a header in another section called 'Components of a great Ability User'.

"Now, we have official terms for these powers, so bear with me. Natal Concepts are the concepts in which one is born with, more specifically if one starts existing at that point. There have been numerous documentations of Ability Users defying death and undergoing rebirth in various ways, and no such case ever leads to their Natal Concepts changing.", Ms. Ryu seriously explains with a hint of disgust.

Some of the students frown from imagining. I just thought of thought of a little ol' Snake of Mercury from the Wheel of Fortune Pathway being a ice-cream obsessed brat.

"Despite what others tell you that your Natal Concept are fixed, they actually aren't.", I raise a brow, clearly that isn't that case. I've never seen anyone change their concept in the novel. It was impossible, even when people tried making abilities about it. Their attempts never worked.

"...At least, until your Core Ability manifests.", Alright, I'm listening.

"With research into concepts. A study held with 2 researchers, Yadda Iyadda and Ba Blabla, in 3068 who can see someone's future and fate respectively, have both states that while someone's Natal Concept stays the same. They can decide the direction they take their Natal Concept through their Core Ability.", With a look of understanding, I finally understand. This explains the 3rd arc too... I always thought Dystopia's origin story was kind of weird but now I get it. Also 3068? A whole 32 years ago, huh?

"Core Abilities were then termed from their research, since a person's first Ability decides the direction of their Concept and allows easier access to subsequent Abilities related to it down the line.", Ms. Ryu continues. My eyes drifting over the shining whiteboard and the new ink markings.

"According to a philosopher, Hocus Pocus, the Natal Concept is whatever you can be while the Core Ability is whatever you want to be. Lastly, Extensive Abilities are whatever you have achieved.", Ms. Ryu's expertly drew a comparison with a circle, and arrow and a section of dots along that arrow. She even went ahead and drew the faces of the renowned people with a little decorations on them like a bowtie, cat bell, or hearts.

Ms. Ryu is now my favorite teacher.

"Extensive Abilities are connected to both your Natal Concept and Core Ability, which is why those two.", She then points the latter terms on the board, "Have to understood well."

A confused student raises his hand, oh wait, it's mine.

"Yes, Kaizen."

"Now how does that work, Ms. Ryu? We can't tell our Natal Concept and one of the obvious ways is through developing a Core Ability. I'm sure there are other ways but among us students, our development is irreversible.", I internally pause at my own statement when I literally turned my Natal Concept to something else, reversing all the abilities the past Kaizen once had.

"Good question, Kaizen. Remember, while I say it's important. Almost everyone will involuntarily make a Core Ability without any knowledge on their Natal Concept. Even more so, we can't choose our Natal Concept, so while the most important aspects are about these two. This school will do it's best to teach you about the important steps after this.

Because no matter how you string it, it must be your ability and fate itself that decided your stay in Belladonna Academy, which means, you achieved one of the 3 conditions

You were born with a useful Natal Concept

You were made a useful Core Ability

Or, you were able to leverage what you got and made useful Extensive Abilities.

Now, what do you think about a person who is born with a controversial Natal Concept and Core Ability that people think is useless? Despite that, I consider a student who can make themselves useful through what can be perceived as useless abilities to be greatest among all of us.", Ms. Ryu smiles and rest her hand on the teachers desk. Her draconic looking eyes belying age of crystalized wisdom.

"Student, what I emphasize in my class is comprehension over not only you Natal Concept and Core Ability but also on how you utilize and understand your Extensive Abilities, and how everything interconnects and harmonizes. And with that, you can become the best you that you can be.", That seems to have stirred the motivations and emotions in class, giving them a clearer picture of what they should look for, and where they stand in the midst of their abilities.

I too understood what mattered in the lesson, even if my Natal Concept is very much different from how other develop. I'll to revise and reconstruct the teamwork and synergy that my abilities can yield with one another.

So is my Core Ability Muda?

[Negative, it is 'Gacha', which holds a repository of all the abilities you can draw.]

Oh, I get it now, Gacha System is the concept. Gacha is my Core Ability and my Extensive Abilities are whatever I get from it...

I put my finger inside my bag, my finger pops open to let down another marble. It feels like I'm a student preparing for a bombing, which technically I am but I'm not the perpetrator.

"Dude, are you preparing for a bombing?", Bleu glanced at my bag, looking quite miffed.

"Coincidentally, I also felt the same thing, but no... not in the way you think. By the way, what kind of passive?", I indicated his passive ability, at least I assume so because no one would actively use their abilities in class, right?

"Nothing much, just something to measure levels of toxicity everywhere."

"Oho~, what else you got. You can measure other stuff?"

"Pretty much.", Bleu says without going much into detail. In a way he seems guarded but the look in his eyes say that he's probably doesn't care to explain more.

Whispering in a low voice, I look at him is a grave demeanor, "Tell me if you have anything that can measure danger or...despair."

"Why would you need that? You know what, I don't even care, but sure, I'll do it. Just don't drag me into anything dangerous."

"Yep, no funny business!", I popped a thumbs up genially

"I still can't believe you're the VP.", Bleu sighs exasperatedly.

"You guys voted for me."

"Don't think I don't know what you did. Not everyone is simple minded."

"I'm not hoping for people to be simple-minded. I just hope for their neglect, which can stem from anything."

"I can already imagine you as a corrupt politician.", Bleu eyebrow twitches.

"I can already imagine you as a complaining bystander.", I eye him amused but with an unamused expression.

"As long as it doesn't bothers me.", Bleu shrugs.

"Then I'll be out of your coattail."

"Gladly."

"...Comprehension in various subjects differ among people. Researchers determine a person's comprehension to scale as they delves in a certain subject while other find the influence coming from how or where they're raised. Overall, remember that this is a deciding factor for growing your abilities. It's like cultivating a mindset, and only the right one can bring you to glory.", Ms. Ryu scans the class as she finishes up her lesson.

"Anymore questions?"

"..."

"Then be sure to get ready when the Philosophy teacher comes in. It is an essential part of Comprehension, as I've said.", Ms. Ryu places a few things in her handback before leaving. A true professional, both in manners and in looks.

We didn't have to wait for long until we encountered a very eccentric teacher.

"Is hotdog on a bun considered a kind of taco?"

Aw hell naw, I ain't letting that slide.

"That's impossible! Clearly there hotdog can't possibly count as something inside a taco."

"VP has a point. Bread does not equate to a Tortilla!"

"Wait, this teach might be on to something, Tortilla is like some kind of bread. Tack is a kind of hotdog on a bun!"

"Counter argument, whatever is inside that taco isn't a hotdog."

Me alongside what happens to the trio of Griff, Heinz, and Keene, all discussed with fervor.

I can feel a lot of people staring at me right now... safe to say Bleu and Wincy are mocking me in their hea-

Oh no, they're not even hiding it.

"Clearly my students are uneducated, let's go over what defines a taco...",