Mireille
Scribe
How do I talk about a magic system where society has created a classification system without it sounding like a game or D&D campaign?
My novel is a contemporary fantasy where the ability to use wild magic is a genetic trait accessible from birth (sort of like Jack Jack from the Incredibles). Over the centuries, the kingdom (yet to be named) has developed a classification system that is assessed when children enter secondary school and begin learning how to control it. Before children enter secondary school, they are banned from the magic zone (this needs a better name) where there is wild magic. Due to the potentially lethal nature of young children with powers either killing themselves or others accidentally. Think newborn trying to transport back inside its mother because the world outside mum is uncomfortable, or a toddler who wants something just summoning it magically.
When they finish school, they are given a license to be in the magic zone, with their classification on it. Adults are permitted to use magic any way they want, so long as it doesn’t harm anyone else.
People are ranked from 1 to 9, with 9 being almost no magic, to 3 being very high. Classes 2 and 1 are special cases. There is only ever 1 class 1 that is the monarch chosen by a magic sword when the previous one dies. (I am using the sword in the stone base for this) They get a boost to their natural magic and could be anyone with approximately 50/50 split between kings and queens. Class 2’s tend to be either genetic anomalies or children of monarchs. They make up the monarchs council. New class 2’s tend to be found when there is a change in the monarch, as they can seem like 3 unless they are in the presence of the sword. They can’t pull it but it sings to them.
This has led to a classist system amongst the higher classes with eugenic tendencies and an exclusion of women duet to caring rolls when they have children and are subsequently banished from the magic zone.
My novel is a contemporary fantasy where the ability to use wild magic is a genetic trait accessible from birth (sort of like Jack Jack from the Incredibles). Over the centuries, the kingdom (yet to be named) has developed a classification system that is assessed when children enter secondary school and begin learning how to control it. Before children enter secondary school, they are banned from the magic zone (this needs a better name) where there is wild magic. Due to the potentially lethal nature of young children with powers either killing themselves or others accidentally. Think newborn trying to transport back inside its mother because the world outside mum is uncomfortable, or a toddler who wants something just summoning it magically.
When they finish school, they are given a license to be in the magic zone, with their classification on it. Adults are permitted to use magic any way they want, so long as it doesn’t harm anyone else.
People are ranked from 1 to 9, with 9 being almost no magic, to 3 being very high. Classes 2 and 1 are special cases. There is only ever 1 class 1 that is the monarch chosen by a magic sword when the previous one dies. (I am using the sword in the stone base for this) They get a boost to their natural magic and could be anyone with approximately 50/50 split between kings and queens. Class 2’s tend to be either genetic anomalies or children of monarchs. They make up the monarchs council. New class 2’s tend to be found when there is a change in the monarch, as they can seem like 3 unless they are in the presence of the sword. They can’t pull it but it sings to them.
This has led to a classist system amongst the higher classes with eugenic tendencies and an exclusion of women duet to caring rolls when they have children and are subsequently banished from the magic zone.