The Last Push

[Elias POV]

I felt happy when seeing Jonas finally reunite with his kin.

But at the same time, I felt like I was an open book.

It took me a few moments to process what had just happened. But the Centaurs breezed through like the wind, leaving me unable to react as they left faster than they arrived.

Not only was every action I would have taken anticipated with great detail, but even the limit of my current state was taken into account, and then factored into a very simple maneuver.

The leader of the Centaurs had judged that I was agitated, and presented a threat to Jonas. And he was right, in more than one way. Because the runes on my body are scorching hot, and any close contact with Jonas might have injured him greatly in his severely wounded state. Moreover, the Centaur had accurately judged that I might hurt Jonas by trying to fight, and had me lower my guard enough to execute a flawless rescue.