Exploring Magic Schools Beyond Hogwarts: Diverse Themes and Stories
When it comes to writing a story about a magic school, the possibilities are vast and varied. Hemming yourself into trying to emulate the popular Harry Potter magic school could lead to a lackluster storyline. Instead, why not stretch your imagination and explore different themes and settings related to magic schools?
Personalized Magic: Studying Electrical Engineering of Magic
Imagine a magic school where magic is not like a mysterious, ancient force but something quantifiable and studied systematically, similar to modern engineering. In this setting, students learn the principles of magic through rigorous academic methods, much like students studying electrical engineering today. This school could resemble a place like MIT, where the focus is on practical application, research, and innovation.
Speaking of Schools, Let's Talk About Lawlessness
In another setting, magic may be completely outlawed by a brutal regime. Aspiring mages end up in small, secretive underground classrooms, taught under the cover of darkness. The curriculum offers them a chance to escape the regime through a secretive "Underground Railroad." This narrative could explore themes of revolution, survival, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Abstract and Intangible: Sexuality and Rage
Alternatively, what if magic is channeled through sexuality or rage, accessible only to a few? A secretive society could teach the art of sex magic since the 1500s, blending psychological and physical techniques to channel extraordinary energy. This school setting could mirror a deep, underground network of practice, with its own unique traditions and dangers.
A Dancer’s Tale at a Magical Institution
To illustrate this idea, let's dive into the experience of N May at a school similar to the one just described. When she arrived late to her first class of Visualisation, May found herself immersed in a rigorous training program centered on focus and concentration. Her first task was to hold a mental image of a blank sheet of paper, a practice designed to heighten her focus.
“Now that we’re all here,” Sophia said, directing an accusatory look at May. “Today we talk about visualisation. The most crucial skill I can teach you is how to hold an image in your mind regardless of what your body is doing or what is being done to it. Focus is central to unlocking your potential. Close your eyes. Take in your breath. As you hold it let an image form in your mind of a blank white sheet of paper. Hold yourself still as you imagine it.”
May’s mind was filled with distractions—the tightness of her new clothes, February's breathing, and the distant rush of the ventilation system. She pushed them aside, focusing on a sheet of paper. As she visualised the brush and the circle, Sophia's voice guided her through the exercises:
“Let out your breath slowly. Pause. Now visualise yourself adding new strokes to your circle, whatever way you like. Hold the thought in your mind. This will become your centre, your root symbol, the base from which you build everything else. Do not share it with anyone. Engrave it into your mind. It will become the anchor of your focus from now on. Now stand. Hold this symbol in your mind and stretch your arms over your head…”
Through this experience, May came to understand the importance of focus and learned that her training would involve much more than just learning sexual techniques. It was about building a ferocious and unstoppable application of will, rooted in focused concentration.
“If you want to learn what I have to teach you,” Sophia said, her voice sharp, “I will ask you to do the exercises even if they don’t make sense to you.”
The narrative can continue to explore the journey of N May as she delves deeper into her new life at the school, unlocking her potential in ways she never imagined.
Conclusion
A magic school doesn’t have to be just another version of Hogwarts. By exploring unique settings, themes, and personal journeys, your story can stand out and captivate your audience. Whether it's a school that teaches magic as a sophisticated academic pursuit, a refuge for mages in a regime that seeks to suppress them, or a clandestine institution that taps into the human psyche and emotion, the possibilities are endless.