Flashbacks and Factions

***Three years ago..***

Lepidus's pouch jingled with denarii as he ran, the sound echoing through the vast forest. For the first time in his life, he'd escaped his father's suffocating residence, - well his father's vacation home in Tibur to be exact, to-ma-to po-ta-to same difference. They came from the city of Rome and arrived two days ago and seeing that the vacation home has a vulnerable environment, he run away.

The cold treatment from his father as if he's not there, not existing, the bullying of his five older sisters, and the constant belittling of his father's wives - the feeling of being controlled even when he's only breathing had become unbearable.

Memories of his half sister's cruelty flashed through his mind: hiding his dog, breaking his wooden toys, and locking him in a storage chest.

His worn sandals had long since disintegrated from the constant running through the surrounding hills and forests.

As the small boy emerged from the forest, just a few kilometers from Tibur, the exhaustion of hours of walking and running seemed to bear down on him. Lepidus's foot twisted on a rock, sending him tumbling to the dusty ground. He lay there, unmoving, his thin body aching all over. Slowly, he sat up, wincing in pain as he gingerly assessed his injuries. His feet throbbed, and he could feel the warmth of blood seeping from his wounds, it only added to his misery.

Looking around, Lepidus found himself on a rocky road, surrounded by a tranquil farm area. He can smell the earthy and grassy smell of farms with a hint of rotting manure from the farm animals that the fresh air brings.

The farmhouses and fields stretched out before him, with kids that are playing and old people working in the distance, oblivious to his presence. He stood up, his worn brown cape dirty and tattered, he began to walk with a limp. Though unsure where he was headed, he knew he wouldn't return to where he just came from, not now. Tears streamed down his face as he struggled to come to terms with his newfound freedom.

Lepidus's tear stained eyes scanned the area, searching for a safe place to rest, - 'anyone, anywhere,' he prayed. He spotted a small wooden shed near the edge of the farm, partially hidden by a row of olive trees. Exhausted, hurt and nervous, he limped toward the shed, hoping to find refuge.

Just as he reached the shed, a figure emerged from the nearby farmhouse. A gruff looking farmer, with thick beard that was almost white due to age and worn leather boots, eyed Lepidus warily. Who was watching him through the window earlier although Lepidus didnt know.

"Who are you, boy?" the farmer asked, his voice firm but not unkind.

Lepidus hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "i..im just a traveller," he stammered.

The farmer raised an eyebrow, "A traveler, eh? You?", he looked at his feet wearing no sandals and a torn cape. "tch you're a long way from home, boy, aren't you?".

Lepidus nodded, feeling a mix of fear and desperation.

The farmer studied him some more for a moment before nodding, beckoning him.

"Come with me, boy. My wife can tend to those wounds, and we'll find you some food and sandal to wear."

Lepidus followed the farmer, unsure what lays ahead but grateful for the kindness.

A stranger's kindness brought more emotions to Lepidus than he ever anticipated. As he followed the farmer, memories of his mother's kind face flooded his mind.

He remembered the warmth of her smile, the scent of her cooking, and the gentle tone of her voice as she taught him the importance of honor, humility, loyalty, compassion, kindness, and justice.

Her words, though spoken in a quiet moments they shared, instilled in him a strong sense of morality.

This moral compass, forged by his mother's guidance, contrasted sharply with the harsh reality of his family's background. His mother, a daughter of a slave to a prominent noble family, had endured unimaginable hardships, yet her spirit remained unbroken.

As Lepidus walked alongside the grumpy looking farmer, thoughts swirled with emotions as he struggled to reconcile his family's past with his own desire for a better future. The rhythmic sounds of their footsteps and the rustling of leaves beneath their feet brought him back to the present.

Suddenly, the farmer's wife, a petite woman with a kind face and wispy gray hair, greeted them at the doorstep. Her eyes, a warm brown, sparkled with surprise and worry as she took in his disheveled appearance.

Despite the initial shock, she smiled gently and invited Lepidus to sit by the fire, Lepidus himself didn't know that he is trembling from the cold of Autumnus. As she tended to his wounds, his thoughts drifted back to his mother, and he felt a pang of sadness. The old woman, noticing his tears, offered him a comforting smile.

As she ladled a steaming hot bowl of vegetable soup, the aroma wafted up, his mouth watered at the delicious smell of a hearty vegetable soup, perhaps made with cabbage, carrots and beans - staples of a plebeian farmer's diet.

"Eat," she said, placing a steaming hot bowl of soup in front of Lepidus.

Lepidus's small trembling hands reached out to the ligula that the kind old woman is giving him, and he slowly took a taste of the soup. The scalding hot liquid stung his tongue, it brought more tears to his eyes but he did not complain, not wanting to seem ungrateful. The old woman, noticing his discomfort, smiled widely. "You have to cool it down, slowly blow on it" she advised, demonstrating with her own spoon.

Her voice, warm and soothing, reminded Lepidus of his mother's gentle tone, and he felt a sense of peace wash over him.

After eating, the male farmer arranged a pallet bed in the corner of the room, gesturing for Lepidus to lie down. "You should rest," the old man said, his voice gentle but firm. "You're safe here, boy. Sleep."

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Lepidus fell asleep immediately, exhausted from his ordeal. Hours later, he woke up to the sound of laughter and loud voices carrying through the night air. The sun had set, casting a dark shadow over the farmer's house. He looked around, disoriented, and saw that the farmer and his wife were already asleep. The fire where the old woman had cooked was now reduced to embers.

Lepidus decided to stretched his aching body, being careful not to disturb the owner of the house, he stood up quietly.

As he stood up, he heard a voice, singing in the distance. The voice was angelic, with a purity that sent shivers down Lepidus's spine. It was so melodic, like a miracle, and he felt like it's calling specially for Lepidus's soul.

Full of curiosity and something he couldn't explain, he followed the trail of the voice.

As he walked, the singing grew louder, he felt the hair in his back rise in every step. He realized that it was coming from a nearby camp.

People were gathering at the campfire, sitting on the ground with their backs to him. The smell of something burning, like a wood fills the night air.

He approached cautiously, finding a perfect spot to hide behind a wide tree, not wanting to be seen or heard.

The camp was bathed in the warm glow of the campfire, torches are lined up on the nearby tents, he studied the people sitting around the fire, listening to someone sing.

Looks like soldiers - a castrum? but whose? The loyalist factions? Germanicus perhaps?

Then he remembered, his father's outburst and angry words from the previous day.

"Vae Germanicus! choosing to side with the council!"

His father had been furios, throwing plates and bowls everywhere. The wives had stood nervously in the corner of the triclinium, their eyes cast down while their husband raged.

"Does it make sense that his family is from a long line of loyalist factions that supports Imperial family but now he is colluding with the council factions, the council, per deos!!!!"

Lepidus recalled the tensions between the three ruling factions.

The Council Faction, composed of senators with their noble lineage and influence mostly patricians and the Loyalist Faction, also mostly patricians with different beliefs that supports the Imperial Family. The equestrians can freely choose whichever side brings them the most profit.

They are the main contender for the throne. These are the two of the three factions thats been vying forever for power. With the council seeking to overthrow the loyalist factions, and the loyalist who will stop at nothing to maintain the Emperor's grip of the throne. The third faction, although they are the largest class in the social hierarchy, the Freeborn Faction, composed of plebians and libertis, has the most minority voice. On the other hand, they are unpredictable and make decisions based on emotions and personal interest.

Now, as Lepidus watched the soldiers, if it's a castrum then it's general is Germanicus, even though there are five more generals in the imperial military, Germanicus is the general who stands on top and ultimately has a hold over the military. A loyalist that changed his factions to the council.

A divine voice, so pure and melodious, woke him up from his thoughts. His eyes scanned the camp and found the source of the singing.

'I must have died!', when he finally saw the owner of the angelic voice, Lepidus doubled over, fell in his ass, and scraped his hands, convinced that he had indeed passed on to the afterlife. Ignoring the pain he is feeling that proved he is very much alive. 'A goddess!' he argued with himself, his mind is reeling with wonder, he is mindblown.

The piercing blue eyes left an impression on Lepidus's head. She's so beautiful, with a radiance that seemed almost otherworldly. 'Who is she????' he stand up and peek behind the tree again, not caring about the scrape in his hands thats bleeding. His heart is racing like a million drums. He can feel himself turning red.

"I must have really died..", his voice barely above a whisper.

But he realized something as he look more intently. He could not believe his eyes.

"He's a boy....."

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*last revision (021725)*

INDEX:

1. Autumnus - autumn

2. Vae Germanicus - damn Germanicus

3. per deos - by gods

4. castrum - military camp