While one of Rowan Mercer's bodies was hunting dragons in the wizarding world, another finally received long-awaited news in the Fairy Tail guild.
Makarov sat at the bar with a mug in hand, his expression unusually serious.
"You've been asking around about dragons lately, Rowan."
Rowan nodded without hesitation.
"I'm researching a spell, Master. To complete it, I need to become a Dragon Slayer mage. That means I have to obtain a dragon crystal within the next two months."
Two months was roughly the same window he needed to complete his Animagus ritual elsewhere.
Makarov fell silent for a long moment. Then he sighed, as if committing to a difficult decision.
"If this truly matters to your path, and if anyone in this guild has the strength to try… then I'll tell you. Have you heard of the Hundred-Year Quest?"
Rowan's eyes sharpened instantly.
"The one no one in the entire magic world has ever completed? The highest-difficulty quest? It involves dragons?"
Makarov nodded.
"It does. But the details are sealed. You'll only learn the truth if you accept it. What I can tell you is this: the quest has existed for a hundred years. Every mage who accepted it failed and died. Even Gildarts took it three years ago. We've heard nothing from him since."
Rowan paused. Gildarts Clive. He'd heard the name countless times, spoken with awe.
"He's stronger than me," Makarov added quietly. "In truth, his strength already surpasses mine. And even he hasn't returned."
Rowan understood the implication immediately. This wasn't a quest meant for ordinary S-Class mages. Even among the elite, survival wasn't guaranteed. Three years without news almost certainly meant death.
Still, he made his decision.
"If it's connected to dragons, then I want to try," Rowan said calmly. "If Gildarts is still alive, maybe I'll find him. If not, I'll at least find what I'm looking for."
He wasn't accepting the quest to complete it. He was accepting it for information. Dragons. Dragon power. That was his real objective. If things became truly hopeless, he would retreat without hesitation. Survival came first.
In that regard, Rowan had absolute confidence. Escaping was one thing he never worried about.
What surprised him was that Makarov had told him about the quest at all. The guild's current financial stability depended almost entirely on Rowan's repair magic. If he left, the guild would feel it. If he died, the impact would be devastating.
But that was Makarov.
He had always believed that a mage should pursue their own path, even if it cost the guild dearly.
"If you've decided," Makarov said at last, "then take the quest after the Harvest Festival. And remember this: finishing the job is optional. Staying alive is not."
Rowan nodded.
"I know, Master."
The Harvest Festival was Fairy Tail's most important celebration. Nearly every member who could return would do so. There would be parades, magic displays, and crowds flooding Magnolia. The town was already being decorated. Rumor had it that tomorrow's daytime events included a beauty contest, with Erza, Mirajane, and others already signed up.
As Rowan turned to leave, another thought occurred to him.
"Has Jellal come back yet?"
After recovering, Jellal had joined Fairy Tail and formed a small team with former allies from the Tower of Heaven. A few days ago, he'd left to settle personal matters. Rowan suspected it had something to do with remnants of dark guilds from Jellal's past.
Makarov shook his head.
"He sent word through a lacrima. Not finished yet. He won't make it back for the festival."
Rowan sighed softly.
"That's a shame."
He had hoped to ask Jellal more about Heavenly Body Magic before leaving on the Hundred-Year Quest. It seemed that would have to wait until he returned.
If he returned.