The bustling plaza hummed with activity as Melianna made her way through the lively crowd. Merchants displayed their wares, customers haggled over prices, and the aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting a warm golden glow on the scene.

Melianna's heart raced with a mix of excitement and anxiety as she searched for her friends among the throngs of people. She spotted Erwann first, his familiar figure standing near a fruit stall. His eyes lit up as he caught sight of her, and he waved her over.

"Hey, Melianna! Over here!" Erwann called out, his voice laced with anticipation.

She hurried toward him, offering a smile that she hoped masked the turmoil within. "Hey, Erwann! Sorry I'm a bit late."

Erwann shrugged off her apology with a warm smile. "No worries, Melianna. We were just catching up on the latest news from the town. It's been quite eventful lately."

Melianna's gaze swept across the plaza, taking in the lively scene. She noticed children playing a game of tag nearby, their laughter echoing through the air. And she zoned out at the passing cart that had just arrived, its contents being unloaded and paid for by a grateful merchant. These small moments were a reminder that life continued to unfold around them, even as her own world seemed to be spinning out of control.

"Mel! How did it go? Did the statues accept your offering?" Rozeen asked, unable to contain her excitement.

Melianna took a deep breath, preparing herself to tell the lie that would shape the course of their conversation. "Well, you see... I... I've been chosen as a mage!" she exclaimed, her voice quivering slightly.

Erwann furrowed his brow. "A mage? That's... unexpected. Congratulations, Melianna."

Alana chimed in, her voice tinged with a hint of envy. "Wow, Mel, that's amazing! You'll get to learn all those cool spells and become a powerful mage."

Malo gazed at Melianna with a mixture of awe and concern. "But what about your dreams of becoming a seamstress? Won't being a mage take you away from that path?"

Melianna's heart sank, knowing that she was about to disappoint them. "Well, I'll still pursue my love for creating things, just in a different way. Being a mage opens up new possibilities, and who knows, maybe I can combine magic and art somehow."

Rozeen's eyes widened with excitement. "Imagine the beautiful tapestries you could weave with a touch of magic! It would be magnificent!" She said with diverting the conversation from the slippery slope:

"By the way, Melianna, you won't believe what I heard. There's talk of a famous chariot racer coming to town next month! It's going to be amazing!"

Melianna's heart swelled with a mixture of joy and sadness. She wished she could share in Rozeen's enthusiasm without the weight of her secret weighing her down. She couldn't help but wonder if she would ever have the chance to enjoy those simple time with her friend ever again.

"Yeah, Rozeen, it sounds incredible," Melianna replied, her voice tinged with a hint of wistfulness.

As they continued their conversation, Alana joined the group, her eyes brimming with excitement. "You won't believe what I found out, guys! There's a hidden waterfall deep within the forest, and I think we should explore it one day. It's supposed to be absolutely breathtaking."

Melianna's heart ached at the thought of the adventures they had yet to embark on together. She knew that her own journey would take her far away, and the idea of leaving her friends behind filled her with a mix of guilt and sadness. But she couldn't let them see the truth, not yet.

"That sounds amazing, Alana," Melianna replied, her voice filled with feigned enthusiasm. "We should definitely plan a trip to the waterfall before... well, you know."

Erwann's brows furrowed with concern as he looked at Melianna. "Before what, Melianna? You seem a bit... off today. Is something bothering you?"

Melianna's heart skipped a beat, and her mind raced for a suitable response. She couldn't bear to see worry in their eyes or have them question her further. She had to keep up the facade for now.

"No, Erwann, everything's fine," she said, forcing a smile. "I guess I'm just a bit nervous about what lies ahead. But I know we'll find a way to stay connected, no matter what."

Erwann's expression softened, and he reached out to gently squeeze Melianna's shoulder. "Of course, we will, Melianna. We're friends, and nothing can break that bond. Remember, we're here for you."

Melianna's heart swelled with gratitude and guilt simultaneously. She wanted to believe Erwann's words, to trust that their friendship would endure, but the weight of her secret threatened to tear them apart.

But as the minutes ticked by, Melianna's realization slowly dawned on her. She had lost track of time, completely absorbed in the conversation with her friends. A pang of guilt and worry shot through her. Her family would be waiting for her, expectantly hoping for good news, unaware of the web of lies she had spun.

"Hey, Mel, is everything okay?" Erwann asked, his voice laced with concern. "You seem a little off."

Melianna snapped back to the present, a sense of urgency surging within her. "Oh, I... I lost track of time. I need to go, I... I promised my parents I'd be back soon. Sorry, guys. I'll see you soon, I promise."

Erwann, Rozeen, and Alana exchanged concerned glances, their voices tinged with worry. "Are you sure, Melianna?" Erwann asked, his voice laced with concern. "You seem really flustered. Is there something you're not telling us?"

Melianna forced a smile, hiding her inner turmoil. "Yes, yes, everything's fine. Just got caught up in my mind with the whole mage business."

With a quick goodbye, Melianna hurried away from the plaza, leaving her friends behind. Her heart felt heavy with the weight of her lies, the distance she was creating between herself and those she cared about. She couldn't help but wonder how long she could maintain the facade and what the consequences would be if her secrets were ever revealed.

As she walked briskly through the bustling streets, the world around her continued its relentless rhythm. Children played games, vendors shouted their wares, and life carried on, oblivious to the internal struggle Melianna faced.

Deep down, she knew that her path had veered onto a dangerous course. She had chosen to embrace the mantle of a mage, to journey into the unknown, all while concealing her true identity as a witch. The road ahead would be treacherous, filled with lies, sacrifices, and the constant fear of discovery.

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But for now, Melianna had to focus on the immediate task at hand—to return home and face her family, who awaited her return with hopeful anticipation. With each step, she braced herself for the moment when her lies would unravel, and the true weight of her choices would be revealed.

Little did she know that the journey she had embarked upon would test her in ways she could never have imagined, pushing her to the limits of her courage, loyalty, and the blurred line between right and wrong.

◆◆◆

Melianna stepped inside the cozy house, closing the wooden door behind her. The familiar scent of the hearth and the sound of crackling fire welcomed her home. She found her parents, Brendan and Naomi, sitting at the sturdy wooden table, waiting for her. Her brother, Judicaël, and her younger sister, Aelia, were also gathered, their eyes filled with anticipation.

"Welcome home, Mel," Brendan said, his voice filled with warmth. "Tell us, which statue accepted your offering?"

Melianna took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to deliver the lie she had carefully crafted. She put on a brave smile, trying to ease the tension in the room. "It was the mage statue," she replied, her voice steady.

Judicaël, ever curious, leaned forward. "A mage, huh? That's impressive! You'll be able to do amazing things."

Melianna nodded, internally conflicted. She wanted to correct Judicaël, to tell him the truth about her witch abilities, but she couldn't. She had to maintain the facade. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers tracing the edge of the table.

Naomi, always the observant one, spoke up. "So, Mel, does this mean you'll be leaving Venetia soon? Going to study at the imperial academy?"

A pang of guilt shot through Melianna's heart. She couldn't bear to see the disappointment on their faces. "Yes," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness. "I'll be leaving for Rome to study at the academy. It's an opportunity I can't pass up."

Alana, with her wide eyes and innocence, looked up at Melianna. "But you'll come back, right? You won't forget about us?"

Melianna's heart ached at her sister's words. She reached across the table, taking her little sister's hand in her own. "Of course not, sweetheart. I could never forget you. I'll always come back to visit."

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics, Melianna felt a heaviness settle in her chest. She longed to share the truth, to confide in her family, but the weight of her secret held her back. She couldn't risk their safety, not when being a witch was considered a crime.

Time passed, and the night grew late. One by one, the family members bid each other goodnight and retreated to their rooms. Melianna lay in bed, her mind racing with thoughts and emotions. She stared up at the wooden ceiling, contemplating the path she had chosen.

The next morning, the sun began to rise, casting a warm glow through the windows. Melianna stepped out of her room, finding her family already gathered in the common area. They exchanged morning greetings, but there was an underlying tension, an unspoken heaviness that hung in the air.

Until her mother finally decided to break the ice:

"You know, I had not been so supportive of your brother Deniel living so far away in the capital."She admitted before tempering "But now, I'm a little relief that you would have at least some family there so you could support each other."

"His letters..." She paused, searching her words. "I'm afraid his work as a Sculptor for the Empire is forcing him to keep quiet about things. I would always worry about the two of you. But I would feel relieved if he could find a confident in you. And if you could pass along a thing or two about how he is doing."

So that was what her mother had on her mind since she told her she was a mage, would not try to escape conscription and accept her fate, going to the Imperial War Academy in Rome. Honestly, she had tried her best over the past to years not to think about Deniel.

He was the prodigal son of the family, always eager to prove himself and craving to step out of the shadow of their father and elder brother. The irony was that he succeed above and beyond expectation with his coming of age ceremony and immediately ran away to the capital. And despite regular correspondence, it was unclear if he was actually happy with his choice.

Melianna always took it as a betrayal that he left his family behind and abandoned them all without even bothering to say goodbye. But it wasn't about him, but her concerned mother who desperately needed some peace of mind.

"I promise you I will try." She said and Naomi noded, satisfied with her answer.

They broke the bread together and were chatting about how she planned on spending the upcoming week before turning herself in to the Legion and accept her fate, when suddenly, a loud, resounding bang echoed through the house, reverberating against the walls. Startled, Melianna's family looked at each other, their expressions filled with concern.

"What could that be?" Brendan exclaimed, his voice laced with worry.

Brendan rose from his seat, determination etched on his face. "I'll go and find out. Stay here."

Melianna's heart raced as her father headed towards the front door. The uncertainty and fear clung to her like a cloak. She clutched her hands together, waiting anxiously for her father's return. Tension reached its peak. The loud banging at the front door could only means trouble, leaving Melianna and her family on edge.

◆◆◆

Melianna's heart raced as her father, Brendan, opened the front door to find Marcus Aurelianus, the Pro-Consul of Lugdunensis Tertia, standing before him. Behind the pro-consul were twenty soldiers, their armor glistening in the sunlight. The weight of the moment settled heavily upon Melianna as she realized that her departure was imminent.

Bren's expression turned grave as he glanced at the soldiers. He knew what this meant. "Pro-Consul Aurelianus, to what do we owe this honor?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

The pro-consul's gaze shifted from Bren to Melianna, a mixture of authority and sympathy in his eyes. "Melianna, daughter of Brendan and Naomi," he began, his voice steady, "by the order of the Empire, you are to be escorted to the port. Your journey to Rome awaits."

Tears welled up in Melianna's eyes as she looked at her family. Her mother, Naomi, stood beside Bren, her face etched with worry. Judi, her older brother, wore a solemn expression, while Alana, her younger sister, clung to her mother's side. Deniel's absence only added to the weight of the moment.

'How could they know so fast?' She thought.

She only told her friends and family about being a 'mage.' It was evident that someone must had betrayed her trust and informed the authority behind her back. But she could not figure out who and why?

Only her friend Alana could possibly need the money. But she would also rather die than betray her to 'Empire Scums' as she usually called them. Rozeen was a bit of a gossip but she knew when to keep her mouth shut. Erwann and Malo had always been loyal to a fault. As for her family, they had been with her the entire time.

She might never know. 'Did it even matter anymore?' She admitted to herself, defeated.

With a heavy heart, Melianna stepped forward, her family forming a protective circle around her. The soldiers maintained their stoic composure, their presence a reminder of the Empire's control. The street outside was alive with activity, people going about their daily lives, unaware of the turmoil within the household.

They made their way through the bustling streets of Venetia, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and the laughter of children filling the air. The closer they got to the port, the stronger the smell of saltwater and fish became, mingling with the nervous anticipation in Melianna's gut.

As they reached the bustling port, Melianna's heart sank. The sight of ships coming and going, the flurry of activity, and the smell of salt in the air only emphasized the finality of her departure. She clutched her family's hands, desperately trying to etch their faces into her memory.

The soldiers escorted Melianna towards the awaiting boat, her eyes scanning the crowd for a last glimpse of her childhood friends. And then she saw them, Mel, Rozeen, Malo, Erwann, and her friend Alana, standing at the edge of the bustling crowd.

"Melianna!" Erwann called out, his voice filled with concern.

She could barely hear him over the noise, but she shouted back, "I'll come back! I promise!"

Her voice carried over the chaotic scene, but deep down, she knew the promise was empty. She couldn't predict what lay ahead, the challenges and trials she would face in the imperial city.

Tears streamed down Melianna's cheeks as she stepped onto the boat, her family and friends growing smaller in the distance. The boat slowly pulled away from the shore, carrying her away from everything she had known.

With a heavy heart and a mix of emotions, Melianna waved frantically, shouting her goodbyes into the wind, hoping that her words would reach her loved ones. But as the boat sailed further into the horizon, she couldn't help but feel the weight of uncertainty settle upon her.

As the port became a silhouette fading into the distance, Melianna felt like she was leaving behind a shattered piece of her heart in Venetia, as her journey to the capital and a new life prematurely began.