I need a simple test for magic ability.

My story requires my MC to perform a very simple, basic test to see if she has any talent as a magician. (Turns out she doesn't.) So, I need a reliable method that the magicians in this world can use to measure magical talent. Not how much magical potential they have, because my MC has that is spades, but rather the talent for controling and focusing it into spells. Even so, it has to be something that anyone can do without having to learn how.

Having a bit of trouble of thinking of anything suitable, though, so suggestions are welcome.

Magic in this story is mostly about mentally channeling a kind of natural energy, usually with some manner of staff or other tool, and use it to enforce ones will on the physical world. It's relatively limited and not terribly flashy by fantasy standards.

 

Not sure I like the crystal thing, but it would be kinda fun if the test was light a lightbulb that isn't plugged into anything.

Actually, I think that's a little too advanced. Levitating stuff seems like the kind of thing they would learn after studying magic for a while, rather than a test to see if they are worth the effort.

You are wise in the ways of science, sir knight.

 

I dunno, it seems a bit weird that only solving a puzzle would decide wether or not you have the talent to learn magic. I should mention that the magical and mundane worlds are fairly separate in this story - either you have magic potential or you don't, and the muggles can't even see magic stuff most of the time.

Plus, it can't be anything you can guess ahead of time just by knowing or observing the subject. (For example, if the MC's magician sister knows she is terrible at puzzles, there would be no need to even do the test.)

 

I'd rather it's something that can be done anywhere. Anyway, my mages don't seem to be the outgoing types and it's an urban fantasy so most of the story takes place in a city.

Like I said, it's about measuring natural talent, not "how much magic" someone has.

Magic energy in this story is called rí, which is literally what makes the world go around. My MC is basically a huge living generator of the stuff, but thats's the problem: Her rí is so unbalanced it threatens to destroy her body when it goes haywire.

There are a couple of ways to manage this problem, and the first they try is to see if they can simply teach her magic so she can control her rí on her own.

 

How do you mean, compensate?

 

It's an interesting idea. Might suit the magic system in one of my other stories better, though.

I don't think magic talent leaves biochemical markers.

 

It still seems too advanced. Basically, if you can move things with your mind, you are already using magic. And you can't use magic naturally, it's a skill that must be learned.

It's kinda like the Force in Star Wars. You can't have Anakin Skywalker prove his potential by levitating stuff before recieving the required Jedi training. So instead, they have to check his blood for midichlorians, which was pretty much a plot device designed for this expressed purpose.

(And, frankly, I'm starting to feel sympathetic to George Lucas now because coming up with this stuff is kinda hard.)

Yes, well, same difference I'd say.

Let me put it this way: I don't think my MC being terrible at magic has anything to do with her personality or mental faculties. She is just naturally terrible at it. It's kinda like how some people are tone deaf while other have absolute pitch.

Oh, I meant it more like focus as in "channel and project." Sorry for the misconception. The most important thing for a mage is the innate ability to manipulate magic power, as opposed to generating it.