"Rowan, the doll. Now."
The moment Horvath's scattered forms were frozen in place, Balthazar called out sharply. Rowan retrieved the nesting doll and tossed it over without hesitation.
Balthazar caught it in his left hand and immediately began chanting. The air thickened as ancient runes flared to life around the doll. The young-looking female mage, her true age hidden behind borrowed flesh, began to crumble. Her body dissolved into fine sand that spiraled inward, layering itself neatly over the doll's surface. When the magic settled, a new outer shell had formed, her likeness etched faintly into the lacquered wood.
Without pausing, Balthazar moved to Horvath.
The frozen swarm of insects shuddered. Then, just like the woman before him, Horvath's form disintegrated, reduced to drifting grains that wrapped themselves around the doll's exterior, sealing him as the final layer.
Rowan watched closely, eyes narrowed in focus.
This sealing magic wasn't in Morgana's grimoire. It was something else entirely. Merlin's work.
Clean. Absolute. Terrifyingly effective.
He filed that away immediately. If he ever faced an enemy he couldn't kill outright, this spell would be invaluable.
Once the ritual ended, Balthazar exhaled slowly and secured the doll.
"Thank you," he said, turning to Rowan with genuine gravity. "Without you, I wouldn't have recovered this so cleanly. And I certainly couldn't have sealed them both again."
They had known each other for only a few hours, but shared combat had a way of compressing trust into something immediate and solid.
Rowan glanced toward the distance. Sirens were growing louder.
"This isn't the time for gratitude," he said calmly. "We need to leave."
He grabbed Balthazar and lifted off before another word could be spoken. Moments later, after collecting David from the rooftop, the three of them returned to the high-rise where everything had begun.
Once they were safe, Balthazar turned serious.
"David, what you saw tonight is only a fragment of this world. There are others who want Morgana freed. This time we won, but unless she's dealt with permanently, there will always be another attempt."
He held out the dragon ring.
"I hope you'll consider joining us. Not as bait. As a mage."
Rowan added his own quiet push, his voice carrying directly into David's thoughts.
"Magic is worth knowing. Not just for battles or destiny, but for yourself. When the people you care about are in danger, it helps to have power of your own. And honestly," he added dryly, "it doesn't hurt your chances with girls."
Balthazar spoke of responsibility and the world.
Rowan spoke of practicality.
Between the two, and his own lingering fascination, David finally reached out and took the ring back.
"All right," he said. "I promised I'd help you turn back into a human. I won't go back on that."
Balthazar smiled, relief plain on his face.
"Then we'll find a place to begin. From now on, I'll teach you everything Merlin taught me."
Rowan smiled as well.
With Balthazar and David together, he would have front-row access to both sides of this world's magic. With Morgana still a looming threat, Balthazar would have no reason to refuse his presence or guidance.
For now, this body had two priorities.
First, constant meditation. Longevity in this world wasn't a myth. Once this body crossed the threshold, the benefit would echo across every version of him.
Second, learning. Every spell. Every system. Merlin's magic and Morgana's alike.
David led them to a forgotten underground station, an abandoned subway turn-around once used for maintenance. It was vast, hidden, and perfect for study.
Their new routine began there.
Elsewhere, in another world entirely, another version of Rowan spent his days buried in a library, studying transformation magic. To speed things along, he carved a Morgana-style magic circle into the floor and shared it openly.
Few had the patience to use it.
One did.
"Rowan, this circle is incredible," Levy said late that night, stepping out of the formation. "With this and my glasses, I'm learning twice as fast."
"That's enough for today," Rowan replied, checking the time as he rose. "We should head back."
Fairy Tail had been quiet lately. Natsu and the others' reckless S-Class stunt had resolved itself, thanks largely to backup arriving in force. The guild was calm again. Almost too calm.
Levy nodded, and together they left the library.
In the main hall, two exhausted guild members were asleep at a table, waiting as usual. Rowan woke them, locked up, and the small group headed toward the city.
Not long after they disappeared into the night, a man with long black hair and multiple piercings stepped into view outside the guild hall.
He smiled.
"Iron Dragon Art: Iron Dragon Club."
...
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