Paladin's Shame

He couldn't believe what he was doing.

But here he was, slumped over a bench inside an arcane circle depicting the sun god Tryphon, his hindquarters put skywards, surrounded by his fellow paladins who were chanting from his god's teachings.
 A neophyte approached him with an elaborate rod in his hands.
He looked at the bent-over paladin blankly as he spoke.
"Are you ready to cast off our teachings, paladin?"
He nodded slowly as the neophyte walked behind him, and exhaled once to banish his shame.

  ---

The tower erupted into blinding light as the new champion was born again.