The cool water had done little to soothe the turmoil raging within Arion. He had scrubbed himself raw, but the humiliation, the memory of Kyon's cruel words and touch, was a stain that couldn't be washed away. Just as he was about to climb out of the tub, a sharp knock echoed from his bedroom door.
"Warrior Arion," a crisp, unfamiliar voice called out. "The King requires your presence immediately."
A jolt of panic shot through him. He was a disheveled wreck, still damp from the bath, his mind a chaotic mess. There was no escape. With a heavy sigh, he stood up, the water sluicing off his body, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He walked to the door and, after a brief hesitation, unlatched it.
The butler standing there was a different one from Kyon's—older, more formal, and his gaze was unreadable. He held a sealed scroll. "A summons from His Majesty," he said, his voice a dry rustle. "You are to present yourself in the main Council chambers at once."
Arion's heart hammered against his ribs. He took the scroll, his fingers trembling slightly as he felt the weight of the royal seal. He closed the door, his mind racing. Why would the King summon him? The only logical reason was a mission, a new assignment. He quickly dressed, his hands fumbling with the simple laces of his training tunic. It was a comfortable, familiar garment, a piece of his old life, but it felt alien and wrong now.
He caught his reflection in the polished surface of the wardrobe door and winced. His face was pale, his eyes still red-rimmed from crying. The mark on his belly felt like a brand, a screaming sign of his shame. He couldn't hide it, but he could hide the mark on his neck, the smaller, secondary one Kyon had made in his frenzy. He found a roll of a training tape, a plain white bandage, and carefully wrapped it around his throat, covering the spot. It was a small act of defiance, a pathetic attempt to regain some control over his body.
Once ready, he took a deep, steadying breath and walked out into the hallway. He felt like a condemned man walking to his execution. He was no longer the brave Dragon-Slayer, the hero of the kingdom. He was just a man with a broken spirit, a hidden brand, and a terrifying summons to an unknown fate.