Gavin sank onto a rough stone, his breaths coming in heavy, uneven gasps. The fight that was meant to be his moment of transformation, his official passage from a henchman to a knight, had instead become a cruel farce. He had approached the challenge with all the seriousness and determination he could muster, but the knights had turned it into a spectacle of mockery. Their derisive laughter and scornful jeers had stripped away any semblance of honor or respect from the event.

Now, with his pride in tatters and his body aching from the ordeal, Gavin struggled to contain his anguish. He buried his bruised face in his hands, trying to stifle the sobs that racked his frame. The weight of their ridicule and the sting of their betrayal left him feeling utterly defeated.

The silence of the moment was heavy, and the weight of his disappointment and pain was palpable. The transition he had hoped for, a mark of respect and recognition, had become a reminder of the scorn he had faced, leaving him grappling with the harsh reality of his situation.