***Three days ago***
The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains of Alitalia's bedroom, casting a warm glow in the small room.
Alitalia sat crosslegged on her bed, her eyes closed, her fingers gripping her white hair, her mouth was open in a silent scream.
She thrashed her arms around the small bed in frustration watching as the pile of mending that awaited her attention were flung in different directions along with a parchment of paper.
Disheveled, she stared at the parchment and sighed.
In the quiet village of Meadowvale, nestled in the foothills of the Arion Empire, magic determined one's path in life. And Alitalia Sabbath had none.
"Ali! Come down, breakfast is ready!, we don't have all day!" Her mother's voice drifted from below interrupting her from her thoughts with a jolt.
"I'd be right down!" Alitalia yelled back, stealing one last wistful glance at the testing letter that had arrived yesterday.
An imperial summons she'd hidden from her parents.
In Arion, every citizen was subjected to a test on their seventeenth birthday , a test to determine what magic route they would have to take, it was a ritual that was highly anticipated, and she should have been excited too except she was born without a lick of magic, the test will be a mock formality, one that will seal her fate as a commoner forever.
She made her way down the wooden stairs which creaked with each step, to the kitchen where her mother, Lina, bustled about laying the table for breakfast.
"Morning mother" She groaned, giving her mom a quick side hug.
"Good morning child" Lina replied, returning the hug and planting a soft kiss on her daughter's head " Have you finished mending the Millers' shirts?" She asked , placing a steaming bowl of porridge on the table.
Unlike her daughter, Lina had dark brown hair with streaks of grey, however Alitalia had inherited her delicate features.
"Almost," Alitalia replied, taking her seat. "I'll complete them this afternoon after I return from the market." She took a bite of the porridge, the warmth flowing through her.
"You are up" Her father, Tomas, entered from the garden, carrying a basket of freshly harvested vegetables. "The Hendersons' boy manifested earth magic yesterday," he commented. "Fourth one this season. Seems like a good crop of talent this year."
Alitalia kept her eyes zeroed on her bowl.
The annual testing ceremony always brought this kind of talk-discussions of which families had produced children with magical talent, which elemental affinity was trending strongest, and which children would likely be selected for education at the prestigious Academy in the capital.
Never once had these conversations included any hope for Alitalia.
""I'm sure the Hendersons are pleased, darling…" Lina said, signalling a warning with her eyes towards where Alitalia sat, studying her bowl with an air of seriousness. "Earth magic is definitely useful"
"Hmm,Not as valuable as fire or air, of course," her father continued, seemingly oblivious to his wife's signals. "But better than nothing."
Giving up staring at the bowl, Alitalia stood and pushed her chair back "I should head to the market to get fabric for the Millers'" she said, rising quickly from the table. "Thank you for the meal" she said making for the exit.
Her parents exchanged a look that she pretended not to see, that familiar mixture of concern and helplessness that had plagued her for years.
"Its quiet chilly out" her mother called after her hesitantly, "Take the blue cloak,"
"Sure" Alitalia replied reaching out to grab the cloak off the hook by the door and fastening it securely under her chin, she looked at her reflection in the small mirror by the door, a pale skinned girl with violet eyes and silvery-white hair stared back, she tucked a stray lock well into the hood of the cloak.
'What a beauty' she thought, if only this beauty had been accompanied by magical talent.
The cloak was a necessity for more than just warmth. In the village, Alitalia's white hair made her conspicuous, an oddity. The hood helped her blend in, avoiding the curious stares that had followed her throughout childhood
She stepped outside into the morning bustle of Meadeowvale, Farmers hauled carts toward the central square, merchants arranged their wares, and children darted between stalls, laughing and showing off minor magical feats, small flames dancing between fingers, tiny gusts of wind that sent leaves swirling, pebbles hovering above small palms.
Alitalia kept to the edges of the crowd, her hood pulled forward. The village was small enough that everyone knew the Sabbaths' strange, magicless daughter, but strangers from neighboring settlements often stared. White hair was traditionally associated with light magic, the rarest and most powerful elemental affinity, extinct for generations, which made her appearance a cruel joke in the eyes of many.
She stopped in front of the old fabric merchant's shop, the shopkeeper nodded in greeting as she approached.
"Welcome dear, the usual?"
"Yes, please. I need a full length blue cotton and half length of jute cloth "
As the shopkeeper measured out the lengths of materials she'd ordered, a sudden commotion at the village entrance drew everyone's attention.
A crowd soon gathered, pointing and talking in hushed tones as they watched the imperial guards, in the unmistakable red and gold uniforms of the empire, ride in formation through the main street.
"What is going on?" The shopkeeper muttered. "Why are the imperial guards here when It's not even tax collection day?"
The Imperial visits to remote villages like Meadowvale were unheard of outside of the regular taxation cycle and even that was done by the magistrate's guards
The curious crowd parted quietly, allowing five guards on horseback through as they moved in the direction to the central square, their armour gleaming in the morning light, the seemed to be escorting an elegant carriage which bore the imperial crest.
"People of Meadowvale," the guard in front announced, his voice loud in the silent square. "Emperor Valerian commands us to find one Alitalia Sabbath."
A wave of whispers swept through the crowd, and heads turned in her direction.
Alitalia froze, her hand clutching the fabric the shop keeper had just handed her. The hood of her cloak had slipped back, revealing her telltale white hair.
"There she is," a child called out innocently, pointing.
The lead guard's eyes locked onto hers, his authoritative demeanour melted away replaced by reverence.
He got off his horse and walked towards her, kneeling at her feet , head bowed "Lady Sabbath" he said, his tone respectful.
"His Imperial Majesty summons you to the capital for the annual testing ceremony".
Confusion rippled through Alitalia's mind.
'What?'
'The Emperor summons her for a testing in the capital?'
The testing ceremony had always been conducted locally for common folk and only those already showing significant magical promise were taken to the capital, she was quite the opposite, clearing her voice and smilinging apologetically at the still kneeling guard.
"There must be some mistake," she managed to say. "I have no magic."
The guard's eyes flickered to her hair. "Our reports say otherwise ,please prepare to come with us, we leave in an hour"
"What reports?" Alitalia asked, her voice rising with panic. "Who would report anything about me?"
The guard did not answer but stood and gestured to two others, who moved to flank her. The crowd had grown larger now, villagers abandoning their morning tasks to witness the extraordinary scene. Alitalia spotted her mother pushing through the throng, face pale with fear.
"Wait," Alitalia pleaded. "I need to speak with my parents. I need…"
"Rest assured, Your family will be informed of this great honor bestowed upon you," the guard said firmly. "They may join you in the capital after your testing, should the results merit it."
Lina finally broke through the circle of onlookers, her breath coming in short gasps. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, reaching for her daughter's arm.
The guard stepped between them. "Madam Sabbath, your daughter has been summoned by imperial decree. It is an honor few receive."
"She's not going anywhere without me," Lina declared, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. Something in her stance impressed Alitalia, her mother had always been deferential to authority, yet now she faced down imperial guards with unexpected firmness.
A new voice entered the conversation-smooth, cultured, with the refined accent of the capital. "We should grant her request"
The elegant carriage door opened, revealing a slender man in the deep purple robes of an imperial official. He stepped down gracefully, surveying the scene with lazy eyes.
"Lord Advisor," the guard said, bowing.
"The girl's mother may accompany us," the advisor said, his gaze fixed on Alitalia's hair while he stroked his beard "we wouldn't want to take the child from her parents forcefully, and His Majesty values the comfort of his subjects." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Especially those with such... unique potential."
"I don't have potential," Alitalia insisted, her voice firm with belief "I've never shown any signs of magic. Not once."
The advisor's smile widened. "Then you have nothing to fear from the testing, right? Think of it as doing the testing in this village, but in a different more sophisticated location" He turned to her mother, his smile disappearing "You have one hour to prepare. Pack lightly."
Watching the advisor walk back to his carriage, Alitalia felt her mother's hand grip hers, her palms sweaty and trembling but firm.
"It will be alright," Lina whispered, though her voice trembled. "I'll be with you."
But as they made for home under the watch of the imperial guards and the whispers of the villagers, Alitalia caught her mother casting fearful glances toward the eastern road that led away from the village, away from the empire. For the first time, she wondered if her mother had always considered running.