Christian or Stoic?

Emerging Christian perspectives dominate this historical memoir set in Nicopolis during Hadrian's reign.

In Nicopolis during Hadrian's peaceful reign, a Roman student becomes deeply immersed in Epictetus's teachings about inner freedom and the nature of true authority. As he wrestles with Stoic philosophy, he encounters tensions between ancient wisdom and emerging Christian perspectives. His mentor Scaurus lies gravely ill, and the student must confront his own fears and desires while navigating the complex relationship between personal conviction and societal expectations. The journey toward understanding what it means to live with integrity in a world of shifting power dynamics becomes both an intellectual challenge and a spiritual awakening. He must decide whether to remain bound by external circumstances or to embrace the unshakeable freedom found in aligning one's will with a higher truth.