The Emperor, amused by the whispers of a new faith, commanded Genesius to create his greatest satire yet: a play to mock the Christians. Genesius, ever the loyal servant of his art and his Emperor, accepted the commission. It was just another role, another mask to wear. To perfect his mockery, Genesius delved into the world he meant to ridicule. He studied the Christian's texts and learned their rituals, not with an open heart, but with the sharp eye of a satirist searching for flaws to exploit on stage. The night of the performance arrived. Before the Emperor and all his court, Genesius was magnificent, His parody was sharp, his timing impeccable. The theatre echoed with laughter. Then came the climax: the mock baptism. As the stage water touched his brow and the hol l ow words were spoken, a light, unseen by any other, pierced Genesius’ s soul. The satire crumbled, the character dissolved, and for a silent monument stage, only the man rem...
