Author's Note: Hey guys! It's been a while since I've posted something on Fanfiction. Anyways, here's the summary and explanation for this story~

Summary: In a time where ancient gods were still worshiped and given tribute, the land began to rot because the people on earth lost sight of the true meaning of living and became wrapped in worldly pleasures. The members of the Vargas family has been housing the spirit of the Roman gods in their bodies, becoming vessels that nurture the gods until they are brought to the Temple of Janus, where they give up their own lives so that their energy will be returned to the earth. For several centuries, this process of housing the gods has proved to be successful. The earth thrived, and the people lived in abundance. However, in recent years, the Vargas family has grown frail, their bodies unable to handle the immense power of the gods. This is the story of two brothers-Lovino and Feliciano-who make their way to the Temple, before time runs out for their bodies and the world.

Explanation:

Luciano: Grandpa Rome. In this story, he's known as a great warrior who housed Jove when he was still a vessel.
Lorenzo: Lovino and Feliciano's father. He never had to be a vessel, since the process skips a generation.
Serafina: Lorenzo's wife; Lovino and Feliciano's mother.

Prologue

The wind prevailed, pushing darkened clouds across the early evening sky. The sun was nearly gone, leaving a thin trail of sunlight-not that anyone could see through the patches of clouds. The old stems of grass swayed from side to side as they slowly withered into nothing but a memory of a spring day. As much as they wanted to stay attached to the earth, the air picked them up and carried them off to a unknown place. The trees stood their ground, remaining rooted as their branches subdued to the swift breeze. The land was growing more brittle as time passed on, eroding one grain at a time. There was a brief moment where one thought they saw a glimpse of the sky, only to be disappointed to see it swallowed by the clouds.

A man scanned the land before him, noting every little detail to himself. He crouched down, placed his hand on the ground and took a handful of the dirt, observing as it dissolved into the air once he let it go. He stood back up and patted his hands clean before looking at the land once more. "It won't be much longer now," he announced into the wind.

"Father," said a voice from behind him. The man turned around, keeping an observant expression. His son's sun-kissed face had grown paler these days, and his young, amber eyes seemed to be burdened. His body grew more brittle, just like the land before them. He walked slowly as his body swayed from side to side. The man walked over to him so that he wouldn't have to overwork his body. He smiled at the young man, hoping that he would find it comforting.

"What is it, Lorenzo?" he asked. His son shook his head, focusing on the ground.

"It's just as the high priest predicted," Lorenzo replied, his dreary eyes growing with tears. "A s-son...another son..."

"Well now, it can't be helped," the man said as he patted his hands on Lorenzo's frail shoulders. "Come now." He motioned for them to go back inside. However, the man's hand never left Lorenzo, knowing that the poor man would need the extra support. They made their way slowly, eventually getting through the front doorway.

Lorenzo's home was fairly small, but enough to support him and his wife. The wooden floors made life easier, considering all the messes their oldest son made. The walls were painted a warm, yellow color that paid homage to the sun. Lorenzo and his father walked into the home, knowing what was to come.

"Father, would you like something to drink?" Lorenzo asked as he motioned towards the kitchen. His father sighed. "Yes, I suppose some water would be nice," he replied.

The first thing both men saw was a woman sitting at the dining room table. She had a cream cotton shawl that covered her shoulders and wore a white dress that nearly reached the floor. Her dark hair was tied up into a bun, a few strands of hair framing her glowing face. At the table, she held a newborn close to her, never wanting to let go.

"Serafina," Lorenzo said as he picked up his pace, "shouldn't you be in bed? You just had the baby a few hours ago." She shook her head elegantly, letting out a soft chuckle. "It's okay, dear. I'm fine. But I can't say too much for the little one," she said as he cooed the baby in her arms. The newborn gurgled, a small hiccup released from it's mouth. She glanced over at Lorenzo's father. "Luciano, would you care to explain how your son came to be such a worrisome person?"

Luciano let out a hearty laugh as Lorenzo brought his hand to his forehead, gently massaging it. "My boy, worrisome? Ha! That'll be the day! Now, let me see my new grandson."

Serafina nodded, extending her arms out and passing the small baby to Luciano. The baby's eyes opened for a brief moment, gazing at the world through his amber eyes. Luciano smiled and said, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that this boy was my son when he was a newborn. Rest assured Serafina, this child will grow up to be strong."

"Of course he will!" Lorenzo snapped. "That's his and his brother's destiny! Neither Serafina, you or I can do anything to change it!"

"Hush, boy! You'll make the child cry," Luciano ordered softly as he passed his grandson back to his mother. He let out a sigh as he patted his son's shoulder once more. "My dear boy, if there was a way out, believe me, I would tell you," Luciano reasoned. "But...your sons have to bear the burden of the family. They will have to carry the scars I bear as well."

"They're just children," Serafina mumbled as she glanced over at her son. He gazed at her, as if he were trying to commit her face to memory. For a moment, Serafina could've sworn that the boy smiled back at her, but all traces of it disappeared in an instant. "You're just a happy baby, aren't you," she whispered as she traced her finger over his cheeks.

"That reminds me," Luciano said after looking around the room. "Where's Lovino? Shouldn't he be here with you?" He glanced at Lorenzo, who wore a grave expression on his face. He looked at Serafina, who sported the same look.

"Father, the high priest..." he started, "he took him to the temple several days ago. He's now a vessel for Sol." Luciano's eyes widened in horror. "But he's only three years old! How could they possibly give him the spirit of such a powerful deity?"

Serafina shook her head. "He's in his room now, recovering from the procedure," she explained. Her hazel eyes wavered, rejecting her command to stay composed. "Luciano...t-tell me," she continued, her voice starting to crack. "W-What's going to happen to my boys...?"

Luciano shook his head. "My children, I hate this as much as you do, but it has to be done. The Vargas family has been housing the gods for centuries." He turned to Lorenzo, and placed a hand over his chest. "Lorenzo, you should be thankful that you never had to carry the burden of housing a god within your body. But...I can only imagine the burden of watching your children grow with pain."

Serafina looked at both men and cleared her throat. "Lorenzo, dear," she murmured. Lorenzo walked to her side, smoothing his hand on her head. "Yes," he responded. She smiled weakly and looked back down at their baby. "Remember when we named Lovino and where his name came from?"

Lorenzo nodded. "Yes. We named him after 'rovinare,' hoping that his name would counter the pain he'll go through. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking," she said, "maybe, this child shouldn't have such a sad name. We'll name him something happy, so that he'll be able to endure the pain, no matter how painful it may be."

Luciano approached the couple. "Do you have a name for the boy?" he asked. Serafina smiled. "His name...will be Feliciano."

I hope you enjoyed this so far~ Until next time~

Please give constructive criticism~ ;P