This isn't a plot, or anything detailed. It's just a rough idea. I wrote it originally several years ago, but I'm considering re-writing it.
Mages in a renaissance-style nation are separated from their families early in life and sent to train their powers in churches, under the supervision of the clergy.
Mages are only taught to restrain their power. Magic is often considered more a curse than a blessing, and mages are taught to be ashamed of themselves for being corrupt. However, the mage protagonist was hidden by his family until he was a teenager. Then, one of his family betrayed him. His brother is also a mage, and the same thing happened to him. (They are both prisoners now.)
The protagonist is not brainwashed due to his knowledge of the real world. He is miserable, but wants to follow the rules and simply move on with his life with the hope of one day seeing his family again.
He is finally allowed outside of the city with other mages as part of a final trial to prove that he can control his power. He is well trusted by his instructors. However, the protagonist is an apostate, and as such is hated and feared by many of his peers. A scuffle between the protagonist and several of his peers brought on by lax supervision and mutual hatred leaves the protagonist very injured when some people lose control of their magic.
His peers, afraid that they will be accused of murder, lie and say that the protagonist attacked them to escape. They hide his (unconscious) body. But he isn't dead. He is found and nursed back to health by apostate mages. . .
Anyone have any thoughts?
Mages in a renaissance-style nation are separated from their families early in life and sent to train their powers in churches, under the supervision of the clergy.
Mages are only taught to restrain their power. Magic is often considered more a curse than a blessing, and mages are taught to be ashamed of themselves for being corrupt. However, the mage protagonist was hidden by his family until he was a teenager. Then, one of his family betrayed him. His brother is also a mage, and the same thing happened to him. (They are both prisoners now.)
The protagonist is not brainwashed due to his knowledge of the real world. He is miserable, but wants to follow the rules and simply move on with his life with the hope of one day seeing his family again.
He is finally allowed outside of the city with other mages as part of a final trial to prove that he can control his power. He is well trusted by his instructors. However, the protagonist is an apostate, and as such is hated and feared by many of his peers. A scuffle between the protagonist and several of his peers brought on by lax supervision and mutual hatred leaves the protagonist very injured when some people lose control of their magic.
His peers, afraid that they will be accused of murder, lie and say that the protagonist attacked them to escape. They hide his (unconscious) body. But he isn't dead. He is found and nursed back to health by apostate mages. . .
Anyone have any thoughts?
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