As Aries stood before the vast array of people gathered in the hall, his eyes moved slowly from left to right, taking in the unfamiliar faces, the rigid officials, and finally the king seated at the extreme front of the room. He breathed in deeply, then walked in.
As he did so, the eyes he had already found unbearable became even more suffocating.
But Aries continued onward.
Thoughts about what the discussion in this courtroom might entail and why, of all people, he had been summoned to stand before them tangled within him.
When he reached the very front, Aries's eyes finally met the king's. Instinctively, he straightened his posture. The hall fell so utterly silent that it seemed Aries could hear even the faintest sound.
His eyes drifted once more around the hall, confusion and unease tightening his chest. Then, without warning, he dropped to the floor.
A ripple of confusion spread through the room as people stared in disbelief.
