Now, now, just like Jon, Elias couldn’t predict the future; he could only know what foolish human nature would lead to foolish human ends. It was all so predictable after seeing things like this play out over and over decades, centuries.

People were so…simple.

“I see that your ability to work with authority figures hasn’t changed even after your unfortunate experience.” There it was, that easy patience that was difficult to crack, although many had tried. Elias simply smiled.

“Especially when I had been right.”

He had warned them. Warned Jon. Of course he had known Tim was still going to go, had needed him to, but that didn’t matter. The ability to use this as leverage was too good to ignore.

“But I assume that you hold me responsible for it somehow, anyway.”