"Even if it was only a trace," Rowan rcer murmured after returning to his room, "the quality is incredible."
The Phoenix Force he had drawn out overnight was minimal, but its effect was unmistakable. That fragnt alone carried an intensity far beyond anything he’d absorbed before. Rowan was certain now. If he could fully refine what lay dormant inside Jean Grey, it would be enough to push him to a completely new threshold, even without touching Wanda’s power.
Quality mattered more than quantity.
At seven sharp the next morning, Rowan had just finished breakfast in the school cafeteria when Charles Xavier invited him aside.
"Rowan," Charles said, thoughtful but businesslike, "right now the school only has Hank and teaching full-ti. We’re stretched thin. What subjects are you most comfortable with?"
The school hadn’t existed long. Between governnt pressure and forced shutdowns, most of its students were still too young to beco teachers themselves. For years, Charles and Hank had carried nearly every class between them. That had worked when enrollnt was small. Now, it didn’t.
Rowan answered without hesitation.
"Because of my abilities, I’m particularly good at psychological counseling. That was my field of study before I ca here. I worked as a therapist. I’d like to help students stabilize emotionally and guide them through the ntal strain that cos with their powers."
It was true enough to pass scrutiny. And it served his purpose perfectly.
If Rowan could take responsibility for Jean’s ntal health, trust would follow. And with trust, resistance would fade.
Charles hesitated.
Of all the subjects, this was the one he took most seriously. Every child here carried scars. So minor, so deep enough to fracture under pressure. Mishandling their emotional state could ruin lives.
Still, the workload weighed on him. Jean alone required constant attention. And Erik was waiting for an answer about the future they’d discussed.
Then Rowan spoke again.
"There’s sothing else," he added. "I can help mutants stabilize their abilities. Not suppress them. Control them. Quickly."
Charles froze.
"You an... truly control them?" he asked, disbelief breaking through his calm.
How could he not be shaken? Fear of mutants wasn’t only about prejudice. It was about accidents. Powers awakening under emotional stress. People getting hurt. Families destroyed by mistakes no one ant to make.
If Rowan could remove that instability, half the problem vanished.
"Yes," Rowan said evenly. "For example, Scott. I can help him."
Charles didn’t hesitate again.
"Co with ."
They moved quickly to the training grounds. Charles called Scott Sumrs out of class, drawing curious looks from Hank and the students.
"Rowan," Charles said, eyes fixed on Scott, "go ahead."
Rowan placed a hand gently on Scott’s head. Power flowed. Not forceful. Precise.
A mont later, Rowan stepped back.
"You can take off the glasses," he said calmly.
Scott swallowed, then removed them, aiming carefully at a tree in the distance.
Nothing happened.
His eyes looked... normal.
"I can feel it," Scott said, voice shaking. "I can decide when it cos out."
A thought. A choice.
Twin beams of red energy erupted, slicing the tree clean in half. When the blast ended, Scott blinked and the light vanished instantly. No visor. No restraint needed.
Silence followed.
Then breathless disbelief.
"Thank you," Scott said, stunned. "Thank you, Professor rcer."
Charles approached Rowan and extended his hand, no trace of doubt left.
"From today on," he said firmly, "you are our psychology professor. You’ll oversee emotional guidance and help students gain control over their abilities."
Rowan accepted the handshake with a small smile.
The board had shifted.
And the first piece had moved exactly where he wanted it.
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