Rowan didn't back down.
"Erza, that's exactly why you shouldn't be the one driving," he said calmly. "You're our strongest fighter. Your magic needs to be saved. If we reach Grimoire Ironwood and you've already burned through half your reserves, that's when things actually get dangerous."
Erza crossed her arms. "Even without magic, I'll fight with a club if I have to. And I won't be alone. Natsu and Gray are here."
Natsu fired a burst of flame into the air, grinning wildly. "Leave it to Fairy Tail's strongest mage! I'll knock them all flat!"
"I'm the strongest," Gray shot back, already pulling open his jacket to show off his abs.
"You useless exhibitionist."
"You flaming idiot. Want to settle this right now?"
"I'll end it today!"
Erza calmly stepped forward, removed the mana bracelet from her wrist, and punched both of them into the ground with one blow each.
Rowan seized the opening and hopped into the driver's seat.
"My combat ability is limited," he said quickly, "but my mana recovery is extremely fast. If something goes wrong, you can always switch with me later."
He didn't bother mentioning that his mana effectively didn't run out.
Lucy hesitantly raised a hand. "Um… Rowan? Even if you can supply mana… you can't reach the controls, can you?"
She wasn't wrong. Rowan's current body was barely over a foot long. Even with the bracelet, driving seemed impossible unless someone else handled the controls.
"That's not a real problem."
A magic circle flashed above Rowan's head. In the blink of an eye, his body expanded, fur shimmering as he grew into a massive golden cat nearly the size of a tiger.
He climbed into the driver's seat, slipped the mana bracelet around his foreleg, placed his front paws on the steering wheel, and rested his hind legs perfectly on the pedals.
Lucy stared, then glanced at Happy, who was lounging on Natsu's shoulder chewing a fish.
"…Happy, you're both cats. Why is the difference this big?"
Happy looked from Erza to Lucy and replied with perfect timing, "Lucy, you're both female mages. Why is the difference that big?"
Lucy took critical damage.
"Hold on!"
Rowan slammed the accelerator.
The magi-car shot forward like a green bullet, vanishing down the road in seconds.
Rowan grinned as he spun the wheel into a smooth drift, overtaking a speeding carriage. "Didn't expect to enjoy street racing in another world."
Behind them, the stunned carriage driver rubbed his eyes. "Did I just see… a giant cat driving?"
"Rowan, can your mana really keep up at this speed?" Erza called from the back.
Rowan flicked his tail. No problem.
Half an hour later, near Gunukis Station, a squad of armored soldiers stepped into the road, weapons raised.
"C-cat… stop the vehicle for inspection!"
Erza stepped out immediately. "We're Fairy Tail mages. Is there an issue?"
After verifying her guild mark, the squad leader relaxed. "Apologies. Members of the dark guild Grimoire Ironwood hijacked a train near this station. We're conducting a search."
The car resumed its pursuit.
As they followed the golden arrow, the group discussed the hijacking. Trains carried far more people than carriages and moved faster along fixed routes.
It didn't take long to realize the purpose.
The arrow continued to follow the tracks.
Gunukis. Oshibana. Then Clover City loomed ahead.
"Found it," Erza said.
An abandoned train sat on the tracks. Still warm. Recently stopped.
Empty.
"They're heading for Clover City," Erza said grimly.
Rowan's expression darkened. "If I remember correctly, the guild masters' council is being held in Clover City."
Lucy's eyes widened. "You mean… the target is Master Makarov?"
Gray's voice dropped. "Not just him. All the guild masters. If the Cursed Flute is used there…"
Erza pressed her hand to the train wheel. "They haven't gotten far. Rowan, keep tracking. We stop them before they reach the council."
Rowan nodded. "Fairy Tail protects its own."
The magi-car roared back to life.
They caught up to Grimoire Ironwood on the streets of Clover City.
Erza stepped forward. "Erigor. Hand over the Cursed Flute. Don't go any further."
A shirtless man with bandaged arms and a massive scythe narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
He had been moments away from leaving the city. From reaching the villa north of Clover City. From wiping out every guild master in one stroke.
"How did they know?" he wondered. "How did they know about the flute?"
"Fairy Tail mage. Erza."
"Natsu!"
"Gray!"
"Lucy!"
"Happy!"
"…Rowan."
For a brief moment, Rowan felt a spark of reckless excitement.
Then it faded.
Charging in screaming about bonds and friendship wasn't his style.
Magic required clarity.
And this fight was just beginning.