The consequences were public because the wrongdoing had been public. knight Garran lost authority in front of the same witnesses who had watched the insult. Investigators seized relevant devices and records. Those who helped preserve evidence were protected; those who lied were required to give statements under penalty.
For Rowan, the reversal did not erase the missing years. Wealth, rank, or a restored name could not instantly repair trust. dragon Avarn understood and offered no demand for forgiveness. The first promise was smaller and harder: complete records, honest answers, and no decision about Rowan's future without consent.
The final restitution plan reflected that demand. Independent oversight replaced private promises. Archives were digitized, complaint channels moved outside the authority of local managers, and workers received protection for preserving records. Money recovered from knight Garran's hidden accounts funded the reforms. For once, the cost of repair did not fall on the people who had already paid with years of their lives.