Chapter 412: Elders Of The Centaur Village
Even though the entire brigade was charged with energy and youthful vigor, they still could not compare to Sigrid.
She was the finest warrior the village had produced in generations and there was a reason everyone called her Commander.
Her stamina was legendary, her speed unmatched, and her endurance seemingly limitless.
Round after round, the pursuing centaurs began to drop out one by one.
The younger ones fell first, their smaller legs unable to maintain the relentless pace.
"I can’t...I can’t feel my hooves..."
Then the older centaurs started to slow, their breathing coming in heavy pants as they stumbled to a halt, hands on their knees.
"Godammit! How can she run so fast for so long?!"
"She’s a monster!"
Riley was the last to remain.
Her impressive stamina and potential were on full display as she pushed herself beyond what should have been possible, her legs pumping furiously as she refused to give up the chase.
Sweat poured down her face, and her lungs burned with every breath, but still she pressed on, driven by pure, unadulterated fury.
Until finally, her body betrayed her.
She collapsed onto the ground and lay there panting like a wounded animal.
"Curse you." She gasped, her voice hoarse. "Curse you, Hero..."
Luca, still comfortably seated on Sigrid’s back, simply waved his hand at her with an infuriating smirk.
"Good effort! Maybe next time!"
Riley’s resulting scream of frustration echoed across the entire village.
—
Sigrid slowed to a halt, finally allowing herself a moment to catch her breath. Her own sides were heaving slightly, though nowhere near the state of her pursuers.
But just as she thought she would finally get a break, another centaure approached.
Sigrid tensed immediately, ready to bolt again, assuming the newcomer was also there to challenge Luca.
But the centaur quickly raised her hands in a placating gesture.
"Commander, please—I’m not here to fight or interfere!"
She glanced nervously toward Luca, her posture still somewhat timid despite her attempt at professionalism.
"I’ve come to deliver a message. The elders have requested the Hero’s presence."
Luca’s eyebrows rose. "The elders?"
The messenger nodded quickly. "Yes. They asked that you come to the town council hall immediately."
Sigrid’s expression shifted to one of curiosity. "Did they say why they want to see Sir Luca?"
The messenger shook her head, already backing away. "I’m sorry, Commander. I don’t know the details. They simply said to bring him quickly."
And with that, she turned and scampered off, clearly eager to remove herself from the situation.
It seemed the events of yesterday had left a lasting impression on the younger members of the village.
"The elders want to see me?" Luca felt a flutter of nervousness stir in his chest. "What could they possibly want? Are they going to kick me out of the village? Voice complaints about my behavior?"
"Demand I leave and never return!?"
Sigrid, however, simply shook her head with a reassuring smile.
"You have nothing to worry about, Sir Luca. The elders were among the first, along with myself to question the dreams and examine your actions and involvement. If there is anyone in this village who is truly on your side, it is definitely the elders."
Luca’s expression shifted to one of dawning realization.
"They will not harm you." Sigrid continued. "I can assure you of that. Whatever they wish to discuss, it is probably nothing bad at all."
Luca nodded slowly, feeling somewhat reassured.
—
The town hall was one of the larger buildings in the entire village, a structure with a longhistory.
In the past, it had hosted war councils when the centaurs prepared to battle other races, but now it served a far more peaceful purpose: a gathering place where the elders met to discuss the village’s future.
The atmosphere was considerably less intense than the war councils of old, though the building itself still carried an air of solemn importance.
Luca found himself in a medium-sized hall, its walls adorned with swords of past heroes on one side and colorful banners on his right.
The space was surprisingly cozy despite its official function, with soft lighting that gave everything a warm, inviting glow.
Sigrid settled herself onto a thick, fluffy mattress that had clearly been made specifically for her.
And Luca, true to his shameless nature, was sitting directly on top of Sigrid, treating her almost as though she were his own personal cushion.
Sigrid had given him a look when he’d first positioned himself there, but she hadn’t actually protested. She was growing accustomed to his presence in ways she didn’t quite understand.
And directly in front of them sat the six elder centaurs of the village.
These were the senior members of the centaur race itself, women who had spent their entire lives protecting the late Queen Matilda, Poppy’s mother.
They were veterans of countless battles, warriors who had seen things that younger generations could only imagine. Now they served as guides for the next generation, their wisdom and experience invaluable to the village’s continued prosperity.
Even though Sigrid herself was the commander of the Galloping Brigade with substantial power over the entire settlement, the elders wielded considerable decision-making authority of their own.
They often discussed what was best for the village and could be considered the council responsible for the welfare of Queen Poppy and the village itself.
Strangely, though, Luca found himself thinking that these women did not look like elders at all.
He had imagined them as old and shriveled—withered creatures with sunken eyes and hunched backs, the way elderly women in his own world often appeared.
But the reality was something entirely different.
Instead, every single one of them looked quite beautiful and elegant, with only a hint of maturity marking their features.
They resembled middle-aged women in their forties, perhaps early fifties at most with maybe a couple of fine lines near their eyes.
Yet their eyes themselves were as bright as ever, sparkling with intelligence and vitality. Their hair was only graying in a few places here and there, which somehow only made them appear more distinguished, giving them a rather regal look.
They genuinely did not look like the old women one would expect to see, and Luca found himself slightly disoriented by the disconnect between their title and their appearance.
What further accentuated this point was the fact that their upper bodies were also quite...impressive.
Unlike older people in the human world, whose bodies would become saggy and out of shape with age, these centaurs all looked strong and in the prime of their youth.
Some of the warriors sported powerful arms that showed off years of training, with defined muscles that would have been the envy of women half their age.
Their breasts were full and perky, left to hang loose beneath simple garments that showed generous amounts of cleavage.
They carried themselves with the casual confidence of women who had long since stopped worrying about modesty.
Luca found it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes on their faces rather than drifting downward.
Finally, he leaned over to Sigrid, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"Sigrid. Question. Why are they so young? How old are they, exactly? Are these really the elders, or did someone make a mistake and I’m about to get ambushed by a group of very attractive middle-aged warriors?"
Sigrid, who had grown somewhat used to Luca’s proximity by now, simply smiled and whispered back.
"They most definitely are the elders, Sir Luca. Most of them are over seventy years old."
Luca gulped. "Seventy? You’re joking right?!"
"I am not." She shook her head. "Centaurs have much longer lifespans than normal humans. Not quite matching the elves, but still far longer than one might expect."
Then, with a peculiar look in her eyes, she added.
"And when centaurs and members of many other races grow old, the female members do not age in the way humans do. Their appearances change only slightly. Far less than you might imagine."
Luca was amazed. It seemed like every female race in this world had some kind of youth serum installed inside their bodies.
Instead of looking like old prunes, these women looked like mature, wealthy, elegant ladies who took excellent care of themselves.
They looked, frankly, like the kind of women who would spoil you with riches and then expect you to attend to them in the bedroom as well.
The mere thought ignited a sudden, dangerous fire in Luca’s heart.
’Oh, I am definitely not sleeping on the elders of this village either!’ He thought, a devious grin pulling at his lips.
He was already giving the elven elders back home the absolute time of their lives every single night—there was no reason he couldn’t extend the exact same charitable service to the centaurs!
Meanwhile, the elder centaurs had absolutely no idea that the young Hero sitting before them was already mentally plotting how to explore their mature bodies and give them a taste of their long-lost youth.
One of the elders, a woman with warm brown eyes and silver-streaked auburn hair smiled fondly and spoke.
"You two seem to be keeping quite the secret over there. Would it be nice if you shared it with us as well?"
Luca was about to quickly shake his head and wave it off. But Sigrid, ever honest, stood straight and said,
"Sir Luca was asking why you all look so youthful and pretty."
The elders blinked in surprise, while Sigrid continued, completely oblivious to the mortified look forming on Luca’s face.
"He said that humans, when they age, become quite old-looking. But it’s not the same here. And every single one of you looks quite beautiful."
The elders, despite being seasoned warriors and distinguished leaders, visibly brightened at the compliment.
After all, they were still women. And no matter how old or accomplished a woman became, a genuine compliment never lost its charm.
Meanwhile, Luca poked Sigrid’s back, making her flinch slightly.
"Sigrid! Come on! How can you just throw me under the bus like that?! You could have just said it was nothing!"
Sigrid’s response was perfectly earnest.
"I cannot tell a lie to the elders, Sir Luca. I have respected and looked up to them my entire life. Deceiving them would be deeply wrong!"
She spoke like a schoolgirl who had never committed a single sin in her entire existence, and despite his frustration, Luca couldn’t help but laugh at her sincerity.
The elders, hearing this exchange, chuckled softly.
"Don’t mind her, Hero." One of them said with a knowing smile. "That’s simply how Sigrid is. She’s always been remarkably honest. She can keep a secret if she must, but when she’s in front of us, she becomes a little girl again—eager to please, unable to hide anything. It’s quite endearing, really."
Another elder added fondly: "She may be a difficult one to deal with sometimes, with how stubborn she is and how fiercely she upholds her values. But she has a good spirit. A truly noble heart."
The words made Sigrid squirm with embarrassment.
She had faced down enemies and monsters. But in front of these women, she would always be that young filly who had looked up to them with stars in her eyes.
Luca, meanwhile, was surprised by how relaxed the atmosphere had become.
He had expected the elders to be stern and intimidating, especially coming from a race that placed such emphasis on tradition and virtue.
But instead, they were far more carefree and approachable than he had imagined.
It was almost as though, after a lifetime of rigid discipline, they had finally realized that life didn’t always have to be so serious.
They had earned the right to relax, to joke, to enjoy themselves.
He found himself loosening up as well, settling into a more comfortable position on Sigrid’s back.
Of course, the elders noticed this immediately.
They exchanged meaningful glances, their eyes flickering between Luca and the commander who carried him.
The sight of the proud Sigrid calmly allowing the Hero to sit upon her back as though it were the most natural thing in the world...it spoke volumes.