Circa 1500 CE – Italy and the Birth of the Renaissance
By the time the Renaissance began, Marcus had already seen thousands of years of human progress. He found himself in Florence, where the great minds of the era—Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Niccolò Machiavelli—were shaping the course of Western civilization.
Marcus spent time with da Vinci, observing his experiments and drawings, occasionally offering advice on how to improve his designs. He was there when Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, offering a kind word to the artist during his struggles.
Despite his interactions with these great figures, Marcus remained a mystery. His appearance was ageless, and his wisdom seemed to transcend the boundaries of time. He was known in whispers as the "Man Who Lived Forever," a figure whose presence seemed to influence the course of history without ever seeking recognition.