章 1: The Fall of Rome
Rome, May 10, 472 AD
A dark dawn rose over Rome, heralding a day that would change the course of history forever. Threatening clouds darkened the sky, casting ominous shadows on the ancient walls of the city. For days, a sense of oppression had hung in the air, an impending omen of what was to come.
Quintinus, a baby of just five months, slept peacefully in his crib, unaware of the chaos that was about to descend upon his life. His mother, Lucia, looked at him lovingly, stroking his soft blond hair. Despite the fear that gripped her heart, she tried to convey serenity to her little one.
Suddenly, a roar shook the house. A heart-rending scream tore through the silence. Lucia jumped to her feet, her heart in her throat. It had begun. The barbarians, led by the ferocious Ricimer, had broken through the city's defenses and were pouring into the streets, wreaking havoc.
Lucia's husband and Quintino's father, Marco, a brave centurion, grabbed his sword and rushed out of the house. "Stay here, Lucia," he ordered, "protect Quintino at all costs."
Lucia nodded, clutching the child. But fear gripped her insides.
As the barbarian hordes pillaged the city, Marco fought his way through the angry crowd, bravely fighting against his enemies. With his sharp sword, he cut down several barbarians, but there were too many. A tall, powerful Ostrogoth warrior faced him in a fierce duel. The two men exchanged powerful blows, but in the end, the barbarian prevailed. With a precise blow, he pierced Marco's heart.
Lucia, hearing her husband's screams, rushed out of the house. She found Marco lying on the ground, his eyes dull and his body bloodied. A cry of pain escaped her lips. Clutching Quintino to her, she tried to escape the madness that had broken loose.
But the barbarians were everywhere. As she tried to hide in a small side street, a group of warriors discovered her. One of them, a young and ruthless barbarian, grabbed her arm and cut it off with an axe. Lucia screamed in pain, but did not let go of Quintino.
With only one arm, she managed to drag herself away, dragging her terrified son with her. They took refuge in a dark and damp cellar, hoping that the barbarians would not find them.
The days that followed were a nightmare. Lucia, wounded and exhausted, took care of Quintino, breastfeeding him and cradling him in her arms. The child, too young to fully understand what was happening, felt his mother's fear and anguish.
After a few days, when the barbarians' fury had subsided, Lucia decided that they had to leave Rome. With only one arm, it was a difficult task, but for the sake of her son she was willing to do anything. She tied Quintino to her with a cloth band and, using a stick, began to walk.
The road was long and winding. Hungry and wounded, Lucia and Quintino wandered for days, until they reached Naples. Here, they found refuge with some relatives who welcomed them with open arms.