The next morning Dawnriver felt tense. Subtle ripples moved through the plaza like quiet waves of uncertainty. Merchants whispered about counterfeit potions. Adventurers checked their gear twice before leaving town. The Guild of Names stood with its glowing crest shining brighter than usual, as if declaring its presence against the shadow of deception.

Evan arrived early, carrying the counterfeit bottle that had started the crisis. Brannor and Varro followed close behind, each bearing tools and supplies. They had spent much of the previous night designing the authentication system Evan envisioned. Today it had to be tested.

Inside the guild, Evan placed the counterfeit bottle on the central table and drew a circle around it using chalk infused with mild perception magic.

“This,” he said, “is our teaching point. Before we strengthen the market, we must help people see the truth with their own eyes”

Varro nodded nervously. “Do you think the adventurers will trust us again”

“They already do,” Evan replied “But trust is delicate. We must reinforce it before others try to break it again”

Brannor placed a small metal stamp on the table. The stamp bore the symbol Evan had modified overnight—a new version of the Hammer of Brannor, now with a tiny inner circle shaped like a pulse. The new glyph was subtle but meaningful.

“This inner pulse mark,” Brannor said “cannot be carved without proper emotional alignment. If someone tries to copy it with malice or greed it will warp”

Varro placed a glowing node beside the stamp. “Same with my Blaze Heal. I added a signature flare. A small upward shimmer that stabilizes only if the brewer’s intention is honest”

Evan smiled. “Perfect. Now let’s test them”

He placed a replica sword blank on the table. Brannor heated it gently using a controlled mana ember. When the metal glowed, he pressed the new pulse hammer mark into it. The symbol lit with warm orange resonance, steady and rhythmic.

“Real mark,” Brannor said proudly “Stable”

Varro lifted the counterfeit bottle. “Now we test the fake”

Evan touched the corrupted flame icon with Brannor’s tool. Immediately the stolen symbol flickered erratically, and a faint hiss escaped the bottle. The flame icon warped, bending into a distorted shape like a broken curve.

The room darkened slightly as the false resonance collapsed.

Varro gasped. “It reveals the counterfeit instantly”

Evan nodded. “This is our defense. A brand signature that cannot lie. A mark that collapses when forged without true intention”

Brannor grinned. “This will make the Silver Ledger furious”

Evan exhaled. “And it will protect our craftsmen”

He stepped outside the guild and gathered the merchants already forming a line.

“Dawnriver. Listen carefully”

The crowd hushed.

“We are introducing a new system today. Authentic brands will carry a resonance signature that cannot be copied. If someone tries to forge it their symbol will collapse. This protects your craft and protects customers”

He held up the counterfeit bottle. The corrupted symbol warped again, drawing gasps from the crowd.

“This fake came from outsiders. It carries unstable mana. Do not trust similar bottles. Bring them to the guild immediately”

An adventurer raised his hand. “How do we know which is real”

Evan lifted Brannor’s stamped sword. The hammer mark glowed with steady warmth. “Real marks will feel stable. They will glow with a clean pulse. They will resonate with the identity of the maker”

A merchant nodded. “Like a heartbeat”

“Yes,” Evan said “A brand is a heartbeat. It reflects the maker’s truth. Copying truth without belief breaks the mark”

Varro stepped forward. “Blaze Heal now has a signature shimmer. Like rising sparks. If you do not see that shimmer, it is not mine”

More murmurs spread. Trust began to rebuild.

Evan continued. “Every new brand we create will receive a resonance signature. A mark that cannot lie. And soon everyone will know how to recognize the real from the fake”

The merchants cheered softly. Adventurers exchanged relieved looks.

But not everyone was pleased.

Near the edge of the plaza a man wearing a silver trimmed coat watched silently. When their eyes met, Evan recognized the cold presence of Cassian Vale. He did not approach. He did not smile. He simply turned and vanished into the crowd.

Brannor growled. “He is planning something”

Varro shivered. “Something worse than forgeries”

Evan returned inside. “Then we stay ahead of him. We protect the guild. We expand faster than they can sabotage”

He wrote new notes in his book:

Public education
Display of authentic marks
Merchant training
Resonance awareness sessions

Brannor folded his arms. “Whatever storm is coming we will face it together”

Varro nodded. “We have identity now. We are not alone”

Evan touched the guild’s glowing crest. “This is only the beginning”

And the brand empire prepared to counter its first real enemy.