THE IMPERIAL PALACE
The imperial carriage moved swiftly along the rocky road, the enchanted stones beneath its wheels smoothed their journey.
Alitalia sat stiffly beside her mother, opposite the advisor who had introduced himself as Lord Cassius. Outside, the familiar countryside of Meadowvale had long since given way to rolling plains dotted with the occasional manor house s or villages.
"We should be in the capital by dusk" Lord Cassius remarked, breaking the silence that had stretched for hours. "The testing ceremony will hold tomorrow morning"
Alitalia glanced at her mother, whose hands were clasped tightly in her lap. Since their hasty departure, Lina had been uncharacteristically quiet, her usual calm presence replaced by a tense vigilance.
"Why on earth am I being taken to the capital?" Alitalia asked, not for the first time. "The local magistrate conducts testing for common folk just fine"
Lord Cassius's lips curved in what might have been amusement. "Common folk without white hair, perhaps." His gaze lingered on her head. "Your... hair alone suggests Light magic affinity, a rare potential that merits the Emperor's attention"
"My hair is just a genetic trait, I'm probably albino or something" Alitalia insisted. "My parents have normal coloring. There's never been any light magic in our family."
"That you know of, And albinos have blonde hair miss, not this….white" Cassius replied smoothly.
Lina's hands tightened further, her knuckles whitening. "My daughter has told you she has no magic," she said quietly. "She has never shown any signs."
"Many powerful mages manifest late," Cassius countered. "Particularly those with rare affinities." He leaned forward slightly. "Tell me, Mrs. Sabbath, is there anything unusual in your family history? Any ancestors with notable abilities?"
"Really?" Alitalia asked stunned, looking towards her mother who turned away, ignoring Alitalia's gaze.
"We're tailors and farmers," Lina said flatly. "For generations."
Cassius smiled thinly. "How curious then, that your daughter caught the Emperor's interest." He withdrew a small scroll from his robes and unrolled it, revealing elegant script. "Three reports in the past year alone. A white-haired girl in Meadowvale who healed a dying bird. A child with unusual eyes who calmed a raging storm during last harvest. A maiden whose touch eased the pain of an elderly man's arthritis." He rolled the parchment again. "All anonymous, of course."
Alitalia stared at him in puzzlement. "Those things never happened,I never…"
"Well someone believes they did," Cassius interrupted. "And in matters of potential light magic, His Imperial Majesty investigates all claims, no matter how insignificant the source."
The carriage hit a bump, and Alitalia caught her mother wincing, not from the jolt, but from Cassius's words. Light magic. The implication hung heavy in the air between them.
"Light users have been extinct for generations," Lina said quietly. "Everyone knows that."
"Indeed," Cassius agreed. "The last confirmed light mage died nearly a century ago. Which makes these reports all the more intriguing." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Almost as intriguing as your daughter's coincidental resemblance to historical descriptions of light users."
Alitalia felt a chill despite the warmth of the carriage. "It's just hair," she said weakly.
"We shall see," Cassius replied. He turned his attention to the passing landscape, effectively ending the conversation.
As the day progressed, Alitalia watched the countryside transform. Farmlands gave way to more densely populated areas, with more frequent manor houses and eventually the outlying towns that surrounded the capital.
Her limited education had never prepared her for the scope of the empire that now unfolded before her.
Though she'd heard stories of the capital city of Lumine, the reality of its approach, the massive stone walls that appeared on the horizon, the sprawling structures that preceded them, the sheer number of people visible even from a distance were more than what she ever imagined.
"It's magnificent, isn't it?" Cassius observed, chuckling at her reaction. "The heart of the Arion Empire, home to the greatest number of magical talents in the world."
As they drew closer, Alitalia could see that the city walls were not merely stone but embedded with glowing runes that pulsed with magical energy. Guards were stationed along the battlements were not just armed with conventional weapons but occasionally released bursts of elemental magic, fire and air mostly, as signals to others.
"Wow "Alitalia whispered, beside herself with wonder at the sights.
Their carriage entered the massive gates without inspection, the imperial crest granting immediate passage where ordinary travelers waited in long lines.
Once inside the walls, the city opened up before them: a sprawling expanse of stone buildings, wide avenues, and magical displays that made Alitalia's head spin.
Lights hovered without visible support, illuminating streets despite the approaching dusk. Fountains danced with water that flowed upward before cascading down in artistic patterns. Merchants advertised their wares with small demonstrations of magic, dresses that shimmered with different colors, food that remained perfectly heated or chilled, toys that moved on their own.
Lina's hand found Alitalia's and squeezed tight. "Stay close to me," she whispered, her eyes darting anxiously at their surroundings.
The carriage continued toward the center of the city, where the buildings grew taller and more opulent. Finally, they approached a massive structure that seemed to touch the skyline.
The Imperial Palace.
A marvel of architecture enhanced by centuries of magical craftsmanship. Five enormous towers rose from the central complex, each glowing with a different hue: the red tower of fire magic, the blue of water, the green of earth, the white of air, and the purple of shadow.
But it was a sixth tower that caught Alitalia's attention, it was separated slightly from the others, smaller and distinctly dark. Unlike its glowing counterparts, no light emanated from its windows.
"What's that?" Alitalia asked quizzically.
"The Light Tower," Cassius explained, following her gaze. "Dormant for generations. Perhaps not for much longer." His smile was enigmatic as the carriage passed through the palace gates and entered a grand courtyard.
Servants appeared immediately as they came to a stop, opening the carriage door and bowing deeply. "My lord," one addressed Cassius, "the rooms have been prepared as requested."
"Excellent," Cassius replied, stepping down. "See that Lady Sabbath and her mother are comfortable. The Emperor wishes the girl well-rested for tomorrow's ceremony."
"Lady?" Alitalia whispered to her mother as they were escorted into the palace. "Why do they keep calling me that?"
Lina's face was pale in the magical light of the grand entrance hall. "It's just court formality," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.
They were led through corridors of increasing grandeur, past rooms where nobles and mages conversed, their fine clothes and casual displays of magic marking them as the empire's elite. Many conversations stopped as Alitalia passed, her white hair drawing attention despite her simple village clothes.
"The White Maiden," someone whispered. "So it's true."
"Impossible," another voice murmured. "Light magic is gone."
"The prophecy speaks of white hair..."
Alitalia felt her cheeks burn with each comment, while her mother's grip on her arm tightened protectively. Finally, they reached a set of ornate doors that opened into a suite of rooms more luxurious than anything Alitalia had ever imagined, plush carpets, silk hangings, furniture carved from expensive woods and inlaid with precious metals.
"These will be your quarters until after the testing," their escort explained. "Dinner will be served shortly. His Imperial Majesty requests that you remain here until summoned tomorrow morning."
As the doors closed behind the servants, Alitalia turned to her mother. "What exactly is happening?" she demanded, her voice shaking. "Why am I here? What prophecy were they talking about?"
Lina moved to the windows, checking that they were securely latched before drawing the heavy curtains. She then inspected the room carefully, running her fingers along the walls and furniture as if searching for something.
"Mother? What are you doing caressing the walls?"
"Listening spells," Lina explained quietly. "The palace is likely riddled with them." She sat heavily on one of the ornate chairs, suddenly looking exhausted. "I had hoped this day would never come."
Alitalia felt her stomach twist with dread. "What day? What aren't you telling me?"
Lina looked up, tears brimming in her eyes. "Your father and I... we've protected you as best we could. The isolated village, the discouragement from trying magic, the hood to hide your hair... we'd hoped it would be enough."
"Protected me from what?" Alitalia demanded, her voice rising despite her mother's caution.
"From this," Lina gestured around them. "From the Emperor's attention. From becoming a pawn in a game you don't understand."
Alitalia sank onto the edge of an upholstered bench, trying to process her mother's words. "Are you saying... do I really have magic?"
"I don't know," Lina admitted, her voice barely audible. "We've done everything possible to ensure you never tried. Magic that isn't used rarely manifests."
"But why? Why would you hide it if I had a gift?"
Lina's eyes darted to the door, checking again that they were alone. "Because of who you might be. Because of what they would use you for." She leaned forward, her voice dropping even lower. "There's a prophecy Ali…an ancient one that the imperial family has obsessed over for generations. It speaks of a white-haired Saintess with light powers who will bring either salvation or destruction to the realm."
Alitalia stared at her mother in disbelief. "That's absurd. I can't be the Saintess. I'm just... me."
"To us, yes," Lina said, reaching to stroke her daughter's cheek. "But to the Emperor? You're a potential weapon. A means of control over powers he fears."
"What powers? I don't understand any of this!"
A knock at the door made both women jump. A servant entered, bearing a tray of food that she placed on a small table. "Your dinner Miladies' " she said with a bow and a cheery smile. "Is there anything else you need?"
"No, thank you," Lina said, her earlier tension masked by a polite smile.
As the door closed again, Alitalia noticed her mother eyeing the food suspiciously. "They wouldn't poison us now, would they?" she asked, half-joking.
"Not poison," Lina replied, her expression serious. "But there are herbs that can enhance magical sensitivity, the food could have been spiked to ensure tomorrow's testing shows what they hope to see." She pushed the tray aside. "We should eat nothing tonight."
Alitalia sank back onto the bench, the weight of her mother's revelations settling over her. "What happens if I do have magic? What happens if I'm this... Saintess?"
Lina's face grew grave. "Then you'll never again be simply Alitalia Sabbath. You'll belong to the Empire…to the Emperor…and your power will be shaped to his will."
"And if I don't have this light magic?"
"Then we pray they send us home and forget about us," Lina said, but her expression suggested she didn't believe this was likely. "The reports Lord Cassius mentioned... someone wants you here, Alitalia. Someone has been watching you."
***
"Seems I won't be going home, mother" Alitalia said, turning to her mother, her eyes as round as saucers with both wonder and disbelief as she raised her still glowing hands. "I'm the Saintess now"