Leon was born from an unfaithful union between a Dominus and his slave. His childhood was spent doing the duties of a slave, yet he was sheltered by his father. This allowed him to learn the workings of the class above his station. In his adolescence his father and Dominus passed away. In an act of either mercy or hatred, his Domina set him free into the world. Leon walked the streets of Rome with only his wit and guile to guide him. He soon decided to join the army and was assigned to Julius Ceasar’s 13th legion. Through five bitter years he fought in the Civil War, where he met a beloved friend named Atticus. Atticus was a young officer of an equestian family who surprisingly bore a striking resemblance to Leon. The two could practically pass as twins, and their fellow soldiers often confused them for one another. To Leon’s dismay, Atticus suffered a fatal injury and died during the final Battle of Munda against the Pompeian forces. Little did he know, this death would lead to the bittersweet change Leon had been searching for.
Leon returned to the streets of Rome to seek out the family of Atticus. He had made a promise to deliver a letter sending Atticus’s love to his family and his last sentiments before he died. As Leon walked into the grandiose home of Atticus’s parents, he admired the beautiful decorations and fine build as it reminded him of the house he served in as a slave long ago. In a whirlwind of emotion, Leon turned to see a man, women, and daughter with tears of joy streaming down their faces. He stared at them in confusion until he realized who they thought he was. Before Leon could speak the family embraced him, and his heart broke as he braced himself for what he needed to tell them. This never happened though. Leon could not bring himself to correct them, and was welcomed into a position and home that did not belong to him. As he tucked Atticus’s letter into his pocket, hardly believing what he was doing, he never could have prepared for the consequences of his actions. This path of betrayal he set down upon to find a place in life would be full of complications, after all, for how long and at what lengths would he go to in order to keep this up?
