What Rowan Mercer saw in the memories of the two boys was far heavier than he had expected.
More than four centuries ago, Sting and Rogue had been chosen by a Celestial Spirit Mage named Anna Heartfilia to take part in a plan that defied time itself. They were not alone. Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy had been chosen as well. Anna taught the five children language, history, and survival, while five dragons each took responsibility for passing on Dragon Slayer Magic. The Fire Dragon, Sky Dragon, Iron Dragon, Shadow Dragon, and White Dragon each trained one child.
Their goal was singular. Four hundred years into the future, they would face and destroy Acnologia.
Before the time jump, the Shadow Dragon and White Dragon had reached the end of their lives. They transformed their remaining essence into Dragon Lacrima and embedded it within Rogue and Sting, sealing the boys' memories afterward. The Fire, Sky, and Iron Dragons chose a different path, hiding themselves within Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel to prevent dragonization, sealing their memories as well.
When the preparations were complete, Anna used all twelve Golden Keys to open the Eclipse Gate.
The children were scattered.
Sting and Rogue awoke four hundred years later with no sign of Anna or the others, holding only fragmented memories of dragons and familiar names. Natsu appeared near Fairy Tail. Gajeel emerged near Phantom Lord. Wendy was found by Mystogan and brought to Cait Shelter. Sting and Rogue remained together, wandering until they encountered two Exceeds and eventually made their way to the capital after hearing about the Grand Magic Games.
Anna's whereabouts were unknown.
"So the gate really does cross time," Rowan thought quietly.
The memories aligned too well to dismiss. The Eclipse Gate had worked, but not cleanly. Whatever forces governed time had scattered them across the continent and fractured their reunion.
Rowan didn't act on the information immediately. The others were sealed within Fairy Sphere, and without a lunar eclipse, the Eclipse Gate itself was unusable. Anna's purpose had been to defeat Acnologia, and Rowan shared that goal, but not yet. The timing was wrong.
What mattered now was returning to Fairy Tail and consolidating what he had gained.
After two more days in the capital, once every spellbook in the Magic Development Bureau had been duplicated, Rowan led Fairy Tail's original members, the new recruits, the princess, and her escort back to Magnolia. The guild entered a period of rapid expansion. Rowan began equipping members with standardized magical tools he designed himself, keys for spatial access, storage boxes, wands, cloaks, reinforced constructs, and upgraded weapons.
When the guild finally stabilized, Rowan withdrew underground once more, handing day-to-day management to Macao and Minerva.
Elsewhere, in another world, time moved on.
At Hogwarts, the second year's final term was drawing to a close. With the aid of precise time management, external magical foundations, and direct guidance from Dumbledore and Snape, Rowan had finished nearly every branch of magic and alchemy available to him. Herbology and potion brewing held less appeal. The materials themselves were world-bound, and many effects could be replicated more efficiently through spellcraft.
That didn't make him weak in those fields, only uninterested.
He had barely interacted with Harry and the others that term, even brushing off their attempts to discuss Sirius with a few distracted replies.
A few nights before finals, Rowan sat in the headmaster's office.
"There's nothing more I can teach you," Dumbledore said at last, amazement undisguised. "At least not in magic or alchemy."
Rowan listened.
"What you need now is time," Dumbledore continued. "And practice."
Practice.
Rowan understood what that truly meant. Knowledge alone wasn't mastery. He had learned across worlds, but this world had its own magical ecosystem. To truly internalize it, he would have to step beyond Hogwarts and into the broader magical community.
"I'd like to apply for early graduation," Rowan said after a pause. "And request placement at the Ministry of Magic. I want to refine what I've learned through real work."
Dumbledore smiled, slow and approving.
...
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