The Ifrit remained a bit too long next to Kael, enough that he began feeling the burns even through the muted effect of [Presence].
That was the part that made true panic creep back in. Presence dulled sensation, but it couldn't erase physics. Heat still radiated. His clothes still dried and tightened. The skin on his hands felt like it was being cooked slowly, and he could sense that the rune was working harder to keep him "irrelevant" this close to something so attuned to flame.
Thankfully, after more painful seconds, the Ifrit moved ahead to look for its invader. The space it left behind felt like a breath of relief, like a hot door being opened and then shut again.
Kael's lungs finally pulled in air more freely, and he exhaled through clenched teeth, careful not to let it become a sound.
This gave him the only chance he could ever use; he stood up and hurried toward the pit of fire where the Ifrit was staying atop.
