Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Elder Race" is a science fiction novella by Adrian Tchaikovsky, published in 2021. It tells the story of a junior anthropologist, Nyr, who is stationed on a distant planet to observe its inhabitants, who are living in a medieval-like society. Nyr's presence is mistaken for a powerful sorcerer by the locals, and he must grapple with the implications of his advanced technology being perceived as magic while trying to help them face a threat they believe to be a demon.