A wand mattered.
No matter the world, it always did. With one in hand, Rowan's casting speed and output would jump dramatically. At minimum, his overall effectiveness would double. Compared to Earth, this magic-saturated world made finding suitable wand materials far easier.
While his feline incarnation immersed itself in Fairy Tail's magic, Rowan's original body wasn't idle.
That day, he stood at the gates of the school with Professor Xavier, Logan, Gabriela, Isa, Caliban, and the children.
"You sure this is going to work?" Logan asked, cigarette between his fingers, skepticism written all over his face. In his long life, he'd never heard of a mutant capable of something like this.
Charles Xavier, by contrast, remained calm. "You should trust Rowan. Mutant abilities are endlessly diverse. We've learned that much already."
Xavier knew Rowan well enough by now. If Rowan brought them out of the underground facility, it meant he was certain.
"Wings."
Light flared as Rowan summoned white magical wings and rose into the air. From above, he traced a wide arc, chanting steadily.
"Muggle-Repelling Charm."
One spell became many. They linked together, spreading outward until the entire school was enveloped.
The charm targeted ordinary humans without magical sensitivity. Once under its effect, anyone approaching the area would unconsciously ignore the school's existence. Their minds would simply slide past it, convincing them nothing was there and guiding them to walk around instead.
Unless Rowan deliberately revealed it, the school might as well not exist.
"All right," Rowan said as he landed. "Let's test it."
They walked beyond the gates. Logan turned back.
"What the hell… it's gone."
The school had vanished from his perception entirely. Stranger still, nothing felt wrong. No empty lot. No missing structure. His mind insisted that the landscape was exactly how it should be.
Rowan pointed back. Instantly, the school snapped back into view.
"Oh my God," the children gasped in unison.
"When you come back, just carry this," Rowan said, handing Logan a glass marble. It held a trace of stored magic. Anyone influenced by it would naturally perceive the school.
It wasn't perfect. Rowan knew that. Against heavy bombardment or guided missiles, the charm alone wouldn't be enough. Once he mastered large-scale defensive wards, he planned to layer them on top.
But for now, it was a massive improvement.
"This is wonderful," Gabriela said, relief shining on her face. "The children won't have to live underground anymore."
The kids cheered. After months confined to concrete and steel, sunlight and open air felt like freedom.
"Remember," Rowan said firmly, "you can move freely inside the school grounds. Don't leave them."
Only Logan, Xavier, Gabriela, Isa, and Caliban received marbles. The children didn't. One mistake, one lost charm, and it could fall into enemy hands.
"That's fine," Gabriela said with a nod. "They'll be happy enough just staying here. I'll watch them."
Once they returned inside, Rowan turned to Logan.
"How's Tony Stark doing?"
Logan exhaled smoke. "Since the press conference, he's barely left his place. One visit to an Air Force base. That's it. Guess getting kidnapped scared him straight."
"Not scared," Rowan said. "Focused. He's probably finishing what he started in that cave."
He wasn't concerned. Stark took months to complete his armor. It hadn't even been three yet.
"When he's done," Rowan continued calmly, "we deal with Sandor Rice."
He hadn't forgotten. Waiting for an attack wasn't his style. Rice had already created artificial mutants, children included. There was no guarantee he wouldn't create more.
The Muggle-Repelling Charm fooled ordinary people, not necessarily mutants. One strange ability could tear through it.
That was unacceptable.
With Stark's armor, Logan at full strength, and Rowan's own magic and tracking spells, they'd take the initiative and end it.