685 Northwards

In the opulent halls of the Great Palace of Constantinople, twelve-year-old Leo, the son of Emperor Antonius, represented a new hope for the Roman Empire. Born during his father's reign, Leo bore a striking resemblance to Antonius, yet his visage was unmarred by the scars of battle that marked the emperor's face—a testament to a life shaped not by the sword but by the pen and the peaceful corridors of power.