Tertia in Protopia

Tertia is a kitchen slave and serving girl in the chapter “347 CE: The Imperial Library of Constantinople.” Unlike the scholars, philosophers, and emperors who shape history through grand ideas, Tertia exists in the margins of power, living a life dictated by the structures of empire, class, and servitude.

Despite her low status, she serves an important role in the narrative. While the gods, scholars, and rulers speak of wisdom, governance, and the fate of civilization, Tertia’s presence reminds the reader that history is not just made by the powerful—it is endured by the forgotten.